Actually, the last play was smart...

[Husker.Wed.]

if it had been executed correctly. By rolling out rather than diving into the line, more seconds run off the clock. Then, after the play a few more seconds would be spent getting the ball over to the right hash and the official holding it there until both teams relocated to that side of the field. All together, it could have bled 10 more seconds off the clock, and it also avoided a handoff. Not excusing a whole game of throwing bombs in high wind, but technically the last play made sense.

 

[Bill_Callahan2.0]

meh

 

[Diplomat_Dean]

Wow, not even one bit did it make sense. One of most mismanaged and worst calls ever to close out a game.

Considering once ball is blown dead for previous play the 40-second play clock begins. The most a team can run off is 400 seconds regardless of where ball is on the field (unless put of bounds).

Run or even kneel the ball. Take a delay of game, punt. Worst that happens is Illinois ball with 15 seconds left at 20 yard line and zero timeouts

 

[chicolby]

I agree with this. Illinois was pinching the middle with everything they had to stop the inside run. If executed properly, the QB roll-out/sweep could have actually picked up a first down. I've heard that a TE didn't do his pre-snap motion to put another blocker in space, which could have made the difference. In my opinion, Tommy's decision to pass was a panic move, not much different than a turnover. The kid was trying to win the game, and in a panic, he felt he had to pass. It was a mistake, not different from any other, and as always the later the mistake, the more a microscope was on it. I don't blame the coaches for this particular play. I, like many others, believe the earlier play calling was questionable, but can't pin this loss completely on them or that play.

 

[oldred]

if it had been executed correctly. By rolling out rather than diving into the line, more seconds run off the clock. Then, after the play a few more seconds would be spent getting the ball over to the right hash and the official holding it there until both teams relocated to that side of the field. All together, it could have bled 10 more seconds off the clock, and it also avoided a handoff. Not excusing a whole game of throwing bombs in high wind, but technically the last play made sense.

Would agree but should have called time out to make sure everyone was on the same page, also tell TA that as soon as someone got close go down.

 

[ebred]

if it had been executed correctly. By rolling out rather than diving into the line, more seconds run off the clock. Then, after the play a few more seconds would be spent getting the ball over to the right hash and the official holding it there until both teams relocated to that side of the field. All together, it could have bled 10 more seconds off the clock, and it also avoided a handoff. Not excusing a whole game of throwing bombs in high wind, but technically the last play made sense.

Have you seen a screen shot of the play? Cotton, Carter, and Ozigbo running routes and the line is pass blocking.

 

[Husker.Wed.]

Have you seen a screen shot of the play? Cotton, Carter, and Ozigbo running routes and the line is pass blocking.

Please see my note about "if executed correctly"

 

[Cdn Blackshirt]

If Danny called a designed roll out run, it appears Tommy may have called the wrong play in the huddle....

 

[Tuco Ramirez]

I don't have a problem with the play they said they called (a QB run). But that wasn't the play they ran, which was a run/pass option. According to McKewon, the TE ran a route, so his presnap motion wasn't the only problem. Obviously Jano did as well. So at least the TE, Jano, and Armstrong thought it was run/pass option.

I'm actually in the minority who didn't absolutely hate the play they ran. If they convert, the ball game is over. I don't like the call. It's not playing the odds correctly. But it's forgivable to go for the kill vs. giving them 10-15 seconds for last second heroics. I can see the temptation. But it was still the wrong call.

 

[jeans15]

Horrible call..only way they win if we attempt a pass. Which we did.

 

[leodisflowers]

I would have rather seen the off tackle power play with Jano leading for OZ. Same concept of getting outside the tackle, and we also seemed to have success on that play.. Instead we are 2-3.

 

[Tulsa Tom]

If Danny called a designed roll out run, it appears Tommy may have called the wrong play in the huddle....

This is the only thing that would make sense in this whole bag of nonsense over the play call. Don't tell us it's a run when we have guys sliding past people to run pass routes...when we have linemen pass blocking...when we have players saying, "I thought it was a pass." If we take the coaches at their word, this is the only scenario that makes sense.

 

[huskerhomie]

I don't have a problem with the play they said they called (a QB run). But that wasn't the play they ran, which was a run/pass option. According to McKewon, the TE ran a route, so his presnap motion wasn't the only problem. Obviously Jano did as well. So at least the TE, Jano, and Armstrong thought it was run/pass option.

I'm actually in the minority who didn't absolutely hate the play they ran. If they convert, the ball game is over. I don't like the call. It's not playing the odds correctly. But it's forgivable to go for the kill vs. giving them 10-15 seconds for last second heroics. I can see the temptation. But it was still the wrong call.

Well in the presser, MR said that they tagged the play to be a run only. So it should have been a run only with no pass option. Riley fell on the sword and said despite that, it was his (MR's) fault for calling that play and TA making that pass was part of the training and that TA just reacted like an athlete making a play. But Riley said he doesnt blame TA and that it wasnt his fault that it was Rileys fault.

 

[leodisflowers]

Well in the presser, MR said that they tagged the play to be a run only. So it should have been a run only with no pass option. Riley fell on the sword and said despite that, it was his (MR's) fault for calling that play and TA making that pass was part of the training and that TA just reacted like an athlete making a play. But Riley said he doesnt blame TA and that it wasnt his fault that it was Rileys fault.

At least he actually points the thumb and not the finger.

 

[Tuco Ramirez]

Well, that may be the source of the confusion. If it is a play xyz, but this time, don't run it like you normally do, that is likely to cause confusion. I don't know why they wouldn't have just called a designated QB run play that is blocked like a QB run play.

 

[frankluv]

Illinois loved the results

 

[TruHusker]

All sorts of apples and oranges going on here. The play call was fine and overall a good one. A roll-out is use more time and get outside the interior D and take advantage of the QB's legs makes sense. No risk of a hand off and bad exchange or penetration. It LOOKED like a pass play with receivers clearing out and going into patterns. That is what the play is supposed to look like - a pass but it was a run until Tommy changed his mind. Again, poor execution is the culprit here. When some players said or whoever actually said it - that they ran a pass pattern it was prob because that is what they are supposed to do on the play. Pick nearly any play during the day and you will see blown assignments and missed blocks. In this case it came at a really bad time. I was not impressed with Danny's play calling but this one was good enough given the situation. Write revisionist history on this if you want.

 

[janne]

Well, that may be the source of the confusion. If it is a play xyz, but this time, don't run it like you normally do, that is likely to cause confusion. I don't know why they wouldn't have just called a designated QB run play that is blocked like a QB run play.

I think the problem is that they don't have a true QB sweep in the playbook, so they think about it and decide on the run/pass option bootleg with a tag to run only. TA probably throws on this the majority of the time in practice. The read would be whether the defense takes the RB or QB. If he runs at you, you toss it to the back. If this was a true running play, Oz would have had to take on the first defender. TA did what he had been drilled to do, the defender runs at him instead of covering the RB and he throws the safe little pass.

Pass your own judgement, but to me, this is on the coaches. Without the pass option, this is likely to end up with the defender getting a clean shot on the QB more often than not, especially when the D is 99% sure you are going to run. If there had been 2 minutes left this would have been a solid play call (with the pass option). Absent the pass option it is a terrible play at any time in the game.

 

[ebred]

All sorts of apples and oranges going on here. The play call was fine and overall a good one. A roll-out is use more time and get outside the interior D and take advantage of the QB's legs makes sense. No risk of a hand off and bad exchange or penetration. It LOOKED like a pass play with receivers clearing out and going into patterns. That is what the play is supposed to look like - a pass but it was a run until Tommy changed his mind. Again, poor execution is the culprit here. When some players said or whoever actually said it - that they ran a pass pattern it was prob because that is what they are supposed to do on the play. Pick nearly any play during the day and you will see blown assignments and missed blocks. In this case it came at a really bad time. I was not impressed with Danny's play calling but this one was good enough given the situation. Write revisionist history on this if you want.

It was an awful call. Take a snap, take a few steps back, then take a knee when the defense gets close. Call timeout when the play clock gets to 1 and punt the ball. Illinois gets the ball with 10 seconds left.

 

[Jeremara]

It was an awful call. Take a snap, take a few steps back, then take a knee when the defense gets close. Call timeout when the play clock gets to 1 and punt the ball. Illinois gets the ball with 10 seconds left.

The point is what if the QB doesn't take a knee and throws it? TA was supposed to essentially do what you said in a roll out. He threw it.

 

[ebred]

The point is what if the QB doesn't take a knee and throws it? TA was supposed to essentially do what you said in a roll out. He threw it.

If the call is take a knee he wouldn't throw it.

 

[jay-cheese]

The call was too risky and not necessary for the situation. The extra kick in the nuts is that we couldn't even execute a 3-5 yard open pass...

GBR

 

[mountainmann]

It was an awful call. Take a snap, take a few steps back, then take a knee when the defense gets close. Call timeout when the play clock gets to 1 and punt the ball. Illinois gets the ball with 10 seconds left.

This wasn't a good call. Take a knee at the 25 yard line on turd down.

Instead of punting. take snap from 25 yards deep and run towards the endzone. another 5 seconds is gone and you take a safety. there is 5 seconds left when you punt from your 20. they have 1 chance to do a hail mary.... Wait, NU already doesn't know how to defend that. Let's start over.

 

[jay-cheese]

Effective game management is about minimizing the other teams probabilities...notice I said other team, not our team....

These coaches should take a lap (Sunny in Philly reference....)

GBR

 

[jlb321]

late in the game the coaches need to game plan around the question of what is the stupidest thing Tommy could do in this situation and call a play that minimizes that possibility
QB kneel would have been the play ... or bring Fyfe in for the last series

 

[jeans15]

late in the game the coaches need to game plan around the question of what is the stupidest thing Tommy could do in this situation and call a play that minimizes that possibility
QB kneel would have been the play ... or bring Fyfe in for the last series

You and the coaches have a lot in common.

 

[kaz36]

I have no problem with the call at all. A QB bootleg puts the ball in our best offensive players hands, there is no risk of a fumbled handoff and runs some time off the clock. It was 100% run and I was told that Tommy admitted so, but confusion led to some thinking it was a pass play. Should have called timeout and made sure everyone was on the same page.

 

[sparky62]

Personally I like the bootleg. NO PASS. TA even said it on the news tonight how he screwed up. He stated it was a run but saw an pen receiver.
In this case, run the ball and burn about 40 seconds.

 

[Hoosker Du]

Would agree but should have called time out to make sure everyone was on the same page, also tell TA that as soon as someone got close go down.

You would hope that anyone with half a brain would know that you just go down to keep clock running. But that isn't my beef with this staff. The fact that we felt we had to throw the ball 31 times in that type of weather is an indictment of this staff's ability to prepare a team to win.

I know our talent is down, but there is no way in hell that we shouldn't be able to put 5 remotely capable OLinemen on the field, and of 6 scholarship RBs, be able to find 1 that can find even the smallest of cracks to run through.

To me, it appears that not only are Riley and Langsdorf failing at calling plays, but the position coaches aren't getting their players prepared to win. Even the strength coach looks like he hasn't done his job.