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Defensive strategy for the game

Norva

Nebraska Football Hall of Fame
Gold Member
Jan 4, 2006
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Colorado is a glass cannon. They have 2 elite wideouts and an elite QB. They run a extremely imbalanced offense. Their top RB has 20 total yards.

Travis Hunter has the most TDs but Horn is also a beast. Oline is garbage.

Our linebackers are going to do a lot of coverage so curious if anyone thinks that means a change up of personnel or base defense.

If we can't get pressure with 4 early I would take the risk and bring a blitzer in early to get Shadeur out of rhythm or force a turnover. I just don't think any secondary can neutralize Horn and Hunter for very long.

I am hoping we can run the ball a ton and take a bunch of time off the clock as well. I don't want to get in a shootout.

I can see us wearing them down in the second half but we need to avoid giving up huge plays early.

Shadeur can hurt you with his feet too so will be interesting to see how that staff tries to manage that.
 
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Colorado is a glass cannon. They have 2 elite wideouts and an elite QB. They run a extremely imbalanced offense. Their top RB has 20 total yards.

Travis Hunter has the most TDs but Horn is also a beast. Oline is garbage.

Our linebackers are going to do a lot of coverage so curious if anyone thinks that means a change up of personnel or base defense.

If we can't get pressure with 4 early I would take the risk and bring a blitzer in early to get Shadeur out of rhythm or force a turnover. I just don't think any secondary can neutralize Horn and Hunter for very long.

I am hoping we can run the ball a ton and take a bunch of time off the clock as well. I don't want to get in a shootout.

I can see us wearing them down in the second half but we need to avoid giving up huge plays early.

Shadeur can hurt you with his feet too so will be interesting to see how that staff tries to manage that.
Just play our defense. Nothing to special. Do not give give Hunter extra attention, they will capitalize on the weakness it creates.

Blitz, don't blitz, mix it up a bit, but when you blitz you have to get home quick. When you don't blitz you can't lose contain, if Sanders buys extra time by moving around, that's when it's dangerous for a breakdown in the secondary and a big play for Colorado.

Horn is nothing special, he's a good WR, but not any better than Wester or Sheppard. Keep them in front, make the tackle, swarm to the ball. Can't let a 4 yard pass turn into 20.

Play good defense like we are capable of and we will be in good shape. I'm pretty confident that White and the assistants will have a good gameplan.
 
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Colorado is a glass cannon. They have 2 elite wideouts and an elite QB. They run a extremely imbalanced offense. Their top RB has 20 total yards.

Travis Hunter has the most TDs but Horn is also a beast. Oline is garbage.

Our linebackers are going to do a lot of coverage so curious if anyone thinks that means a change up of personnel or base defense.

If we can't get pressure with 4 early I would take the risk and bring a blitzer in early to get Shadeur out of rhythm or force a turnover. I just don't think any secondary can neutralize Horn and Hunter for very long.

I am hoping we can run the ball a ton and take a bunch of time off the clock as well. I don't want to get in a shootout.

I can see us wearing them down in the second half but we need to avoid giving up huge plays early.

Shadeur can hurt you with his feet too so will be interesting to see how that staff tries to manage that.
Same as last year where CU's longest drive was 30 yards until 0:49 left in the first half. Lets just hope we dont have 2 fumbles, an int and a missed FG before we break.
 
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Hopefully they can get pressure with 4 guys. I know, obvious. But Sanders is good. I mean NFL first rounder good. He has that quality so many guys in college lack. The ability to wait for things to develop. He is a tremendous talent, and the crowd will not bother him. But it could bother that line. Stay in your lanes and contain him. Nash and Robinson need to get a good push up the middle. Then the ends don't need to rush the sack, let him keep dropping back. just don't go for the sack and let him get around you. That is when he is most dangerous.

I see either a close game, or the Huskers winning by 21 or 28/. I don't see a CU blowout, or a 10 to 14 point game.

Any team with two top 10 NFL draft pick's on their team is dangerous. And contrary to popular belief, prime, that O and D coordinator know football. They are not a joke. Huskers better be ready.
 
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I think our gameplan worked last year just fine on defense. It was our offense that let us down last year.
 
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Complacency has no room in the locker room, and I believe Rhule's staff will manage it. He's as hungry as anyone to destroy CO, and he has this team believing in hard work and in themselves...
 
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Hopefully my defensive strategy would to keep the Colorado team from scoring more points than our team that would be my strategy for the game.
 
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Just play our defense. Nothing to special. Do not give give Hunter extra attention, they will capitalize on the weakness it creates.

Blitz, don't blitz, mix it up a bit, but when you blitz you have to get home quick. When you don't blitz you can't lose contain, if Sanders buys extra time by moving around, that's when it's dangerous for a breakdown in the secondary and a big play for Colorado.

Horn is nothing special, he's a good WR, but not any better than Wester or Sheppard. Keep them in front, make the tackle, swarm to the ball. Can't let a 4 yard pass turn into 20.

Play good defense like we are capable of and we will be in good shape. I'm pretty confident that White and the assistants will have a good gameplan.
Yeah I agree. This idea that we’re going to change everything and just rush 3 and drop 8 is asinine. Maybe they’ll do that some, but they are going to blitz plenty as well.

They are going to mix it up, be unpredictable, and try to get explosives on defense. They aren’t going to make the secondary chase and have to come up and tackle Hunter and Horn all game after they catch a wide open quick slant or some other 5 yard pass.
 
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Horn Jr isn’t anything special? 😂 He’s a first round draft pick also
 
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Hopefully my defensive strategy would to keep the Colorado team from scoring more points than our team that would be my strategy for the game.
I would either sack the QB or intercept it every play IMHO. We would totally win.
 
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No he’s not
Don't know much about Horn, but they most likely have two top 10 drafted players and one could be drafted top ten at either position. So in theory they have 3 top 10 picks then. I think we roll, but they are a dangerous team. We have one 1st round talent possibly (Hill) and another in 3 years because he's not there yet.
 
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Shadeur can move in the pocket..... but you saying he can beat you with his feet means run for yards, correct? I guess I've never seen that part of his game and maybe you can point me in the right direction where he has? @Norva
 
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Hopefully they can get pressure with 4 guys. I know, obvious. But Sanders is good. I mean NFL first rounder good. He has that quality so many guys in college lack. The ability to wait for things to develop. He is a tremendous talent, and the crowd will not bother him. But it could bother that line. Stay in your lanes and contain him. Nash and Robinson need to get a good push up the middle. Then the ends don't need to rush the sack, let him keep dropping back. just don't go for the sack and let him get around you. That is when he is most dangerous.

I see either a close game, or the Huskers winning by 21 or 28/. I don't see a CU blowout, or a 10 to 14 point game.

Any team with two top 10 NFL draft pick's on their team is dangerous. And contrary to popular belief, prime, that O and D coordinator know football. They are not a joke. Huskers better be ready.

Michigan potentially has two top five picks this year. Need more than that.
 
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Shadeur can move in the pocket..... but you saying he can beat you with his feet means run for yards, correct? I guess I've never seen that part of his game and maybe you can point me in the right direction where he has? @Norva
He prefers to stay in the pocket but he can run. In fact he ran for a TD against us last year
 
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Just need the defense to get pressure and contain Sanders then our DBs cant be chasing all day long. Only concern is Hunter and Horn putting it on the secondary.
 
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Not at QB. They have a scrub. Top 5 QB can change a game. Top 5 gaurd or whatever they have can’t.

QB is damn near a wash at this point. Hard to believe, I know. Hunter is problem but not enough. Most other spots we are light years ahead. Gonna get ugly.
 
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Colorado is a glass cannon. They have 2 elite wideouts and an elite QB. They run a extremely imbalanced offense. Their top RB has 20 total yards.

Travis Hunter has the most TDs but Horn is also a beast. Oline is garbage.

Our linebackers are going to do a lot of coverage so curious if anyone thinks that means a change up of personnel or base defense.

If we can't get pressure with 4 early I would take the risk and bring a blitzer in early to get Shadeur out of rhythm or force a turnover. I just don't think any secondary can neutralize Horn and Hunter for very long.

I am hoping we can run the ball a ton and take a bunch of time off the clock as well. I don't want to get in a shootout.

I can see us wearing them down in the second half but we need to avoid giving up huge plays early.

Shadeur can hurt you with his feet too so will be interesting to see how that staff tries to manage that.
this^, to me is the biggest threat. got to have the crowd loud and into this game with maximum level of energy. big scores early by the enemy threatens that energy level. they will make plays, just need to make them work for every inch. and keep their offense on the sidelines.
 
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Horn Jr isn’t anything special? 😂 He’s a first round draft pick also
Nope. 3 for 26, He's not an any rounder.

He's fast and a good KR guy, but that isn't getting him drafted. Good college WR is his peak.
 
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In-Game analysis--yes--OL isn't very good--so we were able to pressure hard with 3-4 guys. That left 7-8 in coverage and allowed over the top safety coverage. That allowed tighter coverage on their stud WR so we could tackle quickly after completion or create no lanes to throw. It also allowed Hill to jump the route for the pick-6. Great prep by White and great execution by all. The DL were a bunch of monsters that were turned loose--great pressure & stuffed 2 different 4th & 1's.
 
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