2023 Nebraska Offense vs. Purdue
I’ve been wanting to take a deeper look at the offense, and finally had some time (unfortunately). Obviously the offense has been a complete shit show with injuries, lack of production, and criticism of the offense. I’ve been no different, and have been pretty critical of Satterfield…especially during the games when the beers are flowing.
After watching it a lot closer, I’m much less critical of Satterfield…but think WR, TE, and FBs need to get in gear, because it’s costing us…big time IMO. There’s a pretty clear plan of attack from Satterfield, I think he sets up plays well, does a nice job setting up shots, and trying to figure out ways to RTDB. Still several things I question, but whatever.
So I clipped up the first 3 quarters, the file I had of the game, for whatever reason, wouldn’t let me clip up the 4th.
Also, a disclaimer. I don’t claim or think that everything I’ve looked at and posted so far is 100% accurate. I may very well be wrong on some verbiage, made mistakes in identifying schemes, routes, etc. But I do have a fair amount of confidence that I’m generally close. The passing stuff is especially hard to ID from a broadcast angle, so I’m going to focus mostly on the run game (RTDB). And this is all my opinion of course...
Zone Run Game
First off, Nebraska ran quite a bit of Inside Zone (IZ) and what looks to be their version of Outside Zone (Looks more like Mid Zone to me, but whatever). This was one of my personal criticisms was running IZ into a bear/double eagle front. You don’t have any B gap bubbles, the 3 techs present problems, the double teams present problems, and how Purdue plays IZ and they were able to play some games to get some free hats to the ball.
1st Up - Midline OZ. Thought this was their best version of the dive read game they ran. Reading the backside 3 tech and locking the backside 5 with the tackle.
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Next is the traditional IZ Read. Purdue is basically playing Nebraska the entire time with 7 in the box, double eagle, 1 high defense. You can see on clip one the spike by the playside 3 tech which frees up the ID backer.
Same thing basically happens in Clip 2, spike, movement from the 5 tech in as well and frees up the ID LB again. Pretty simple tactic to attack 1:1 blocks in the zone.
Clip 3 shows a mesh charge by the BSDE, also shows the backside LB lagging behind to play the inside portion and the double can’t get to him. As I mentioned before, running IZ into a bear front just sucks.
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Nebraska also attached some perimeter screens to the IZ read game or RPOs. Many of them, the perimeter blocking was pretty poor. But also resulted in the first touchdown on a nice pick play. The one thing you can tell about the perimeter game attached, is they are attacking the man coverage with motion trying to get his man either crossed up or late to the ball.
Clip 2 they try and bring the perimeter throw across the formation. Not great timing, but really played well by Purdue passing it off. HH does a nice job just pulling it down and getting good yardage which set up the next play, a TD where they brought Fidone into a nasty split and snag and arrow. You can see the OL getting off the ball and blocking zone.
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But what was probably the most Hi’s and Low’s of their Inside Zone game was the freeze option. It resulted in solid gains, a TD off the action + a fumble. Better perimeter blocking would have resulted in some bigger gains in the run game. The Freeze option is just a slight pause by the back and QB, feinting the zone read mesh and busting out on a speed option path. I thought Purdue picked up on it a bit by back depth and played it better down the stretch, but still a solid play and scheme.
First clip, could have been a big play, slot misses, but you can also see JEJ come off the ball like a freaking lightning bolt.
Second clip isn’t a Freeze Option, but it’s a speed option opposite the back and they blocked it up pretty well for a nice gain.
Third clip is the bad…1st play out of the half, different formation, sets the D a little different, and really the OL could not get to any of the backers, you can see late that Purdue is 2 for 2 on the option + the alley player…not a good time for the offense
Fourth Clip - end with the good, Tuddy. With that alley player playing so fast, it’s a great call and they get good protection on the Freeze Option to work Lloyd on the homerun shot.
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That’s it for the Zone game. On to the Gap family.