Just rewatched the game. A couple thoughts on the lines. - Game 4

[GretnaShawn]

-Nebraska only had 2 full drives in the first quarter. The OL played about as well as you can ask. Maybe one block was below average (Utter released his man too quick on a screen - that is nitpicking, I am not even counting it as a missed block/assignment). It was a really well blocked quarter.
-First play of the 2nd quarter was the FB trey to Jano. That was an extremely well blocked play. Impressive. And loved seeing the Gretna native get a chance.
-First half pass protection was about perfect. One sack was given up (Gates). But TA needs to help his tackles out and step up into the pocket. The run blocking was almost as good. Couple missed plays, but overall very good.

-Why Imani got so much work to start to second half, I don't know. He is not the answer to spell Newby. I have always rooted for him, but this game is where I have finally realized he just isn't the guy. He can't get skinny enough through small holes and he doesn't put his head down and bulldoze. And Newby probably didn't need to be spelled to start the half.
-The back-to-back turnovers put the defense in a bad position. There is nothing worse than playing a long defensive drive, getting one play break and having to go back out there. --- Same thing goes for the onside kick.
-Pretty decent blocking all around in the second. Not has good as the first half.

-Reeves still has too many high snaps.
-Lewis had 2 false starts. He needs to clean his game up.
-It would be hard to play against the Nebraska offense. There is so much misdirection. There are a lot of double reverses, fly sweeps, counters, and now adding in the FB run game. It is also amazing how open the WRs are a lot of the time.

-I did not watch much of the defense because I am pretty busy at work.

 

[red rover 70]

Thanks for the breakdown.

 

[StrongArm517]

-It would be hard to play against the Nebraska offense. There is so much misdirection. There are a lot of double reverses, fly sweeps, counters, and now adding in the FB run game. It is also amazing how open the WRs are a lot of the time..

this is very exciting. have been thinking the same thing, receivers really seem open. 600 plus yards just don't come around without a good offensive plan. Exciting stuff.

 

[TheBeav815]

Very impressed with how well Armstrong has played thus far. Visible improvement for sure, but from time to time his old habits come creeping out, such as that forced ball in OT. He's gotten away with a couple of other ill-advised throws to guys who were doubled.

He has GOT TO learn to "climb the pocket" when he gets outside rush from the ends. He's great at escaping laterally, needs to punish teams vertically with his feet.

Overall though, he's playing so well that it's like when the old TV antenna would get perfect reception in juuuuuuuuust that one spot and you're like, "NOBODY MOVE, NOBODY BREATHE! I'VE NEVER SEEN IT THIS GOOD BEFORE!!!"

 

[Archie Graham]

In all of the negativity surrounding the passing defense people have slept on the job Langs is doing. It's very good.

 

[dinglefritz]

Very impressed with how well Armstrong has played thus far. Visible improvement for sure, but from time to time his old habits come creeping out, such as that forced ball in OT. He's gotten away with a couple of other ill-advised throws to guys who were doubled.

He has GOT TO learn to "climb the pocket" when he gets outside rush from the ends. He's great at escaping laterally, needs to punish teams vertically with his feet.

Overall though, he's playing so well that it's like when the old TV antenna would get perfect reception in juuuuuuuuust that one spot and you're like, "NOBODY MOVE, NOBODY BREATHE! I'VE NEVER SEEN IT THIS GOOD BEFORE!!!"

I really personally wouldn't call that last pass by TA in OT a forced pass. He under threw it but the guy was wide open in the end zone. A little more umph and it was 6 points. He just didn't get enough on it while throwing on the run. It happens to the best QBs in he NFL.

 

[Cornicator]

-It would be hard to play against the Nebraska offense. There is so much misdirection. There are a lot of double reverses, fly sweeps, counters, and now adding in the FB run game. It is also amazing how open the WRs are a lot of the time.

I think its pretty staggering actually. On Saturday, they added Tariq Allen into the mix as a WR with a TD catch. That means Westerkamp, Moore, Reilly, Morgan, and Allen have now all caught TD passes. Hovey had one called back. They haven't even shown TE throws down field off of roll outs or play action yet.... And DPE hasn't even played yet. Its one thing to have bodies and depth at skill positions. Buts it another thing to have bodies and depth which every opponent needs to respect and account for at all times.

It would incredibly difficult to defend this offense. I think some people shook their head at Langsdorf when he made comments in Fall camp about his receiving corp depth. He said, and I'm paraphrasing, "we had some excellent individual receiving talent at Oregon State, but we never had this many good receivers." I'm not sure anyone truly understood what he meant.

Westerkamp and Reiily are both in the top 5 of REC yards. Nebraska is the only school with 2 receivers in the top 10.
Both players are in the top 10 in receptions.
Reilly is 2nd in the conference in Yards per catch at 19.8.

Matt Vanderburg is the leading receiver for Iowa. He is 2nd in the league in receptions at 25. He is averaging 9.7 yards per catch. Every receiver in the Nebraska offense is averaging more than 10 yards per catch.


The only criticsm I would have for the scheme is they've been a little too predictable on running plays. Don't go to the well too much I thought Southern Miss had seen the stretch play 7 or 8 times in the 1st half. Im guessing they prepared to see it at half time. It was sniffed out in the second half.

 

[StrongArm517]

Also seeing some really good downfield blocking by the receivers. Hovey absolutely laid his guy out on one of I think it was Allen's catch.

 

[GretnaShawn]

Also seeing some really good downfield blocking by the receivers. Hovey absolutely laid his guy out on one of I think it was Allen's catch.

Hovey had a great block on that play. But he made a terrible block earlier in the game on a stretch play. Instead of a 6-12 yard gain it went for 0. I didn't mention it because of the great block he threw later cancelled it out.

 

[jay-cheese]

Hopefully we can get the TE going soon. Good thread OP and a smart idea to stick to the positives.

It was pointed out on BRW last eve that our secondary didn't break up one pass play vs SM that was on target....

GBR

 

[Shocker_Fan]

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-Nebraska only had 2 full drives in the first quarter. The OL played about as well as you can ask. Maybe one block was below average (Utter released his man too quick on a screen - that is nitpicking, I am not even counting it as a missed block/assignment). It was a really well blocked quarter.
-First play of the 2nd quarter was the FB trey to Jano. That was an extremely well blocked play. Impressive. And loved seeing the Gretna native get a chance.
-First half pass protection was about perfect. One sack was given up (Gates). But TA needs to help his tackles out and step up into the pocket. The run blocking was almost as good. Couple missed plays, but overall very good.

-Why Imani got so much work to start to second half, I don't know. He is not the answer to spell Newby. I have always rooted for him, but this game is where I have finally realized he just isn't the guy. He can't get skinny enough through small holes and he doesn't put his head down and bulldoze. And Newby probably didn't need to be spelled to start the half.
-The back-to-back turnovers put the defense in a bad position. There is nothing worse than playing a long defensive drive, getting one play break and having to go back out there. --- Same thing goes for the onside kick.
-Pretty decent blocking all around in the second. Not has good as the first half.

-Reeves still has too many high snaps.
-Lewis had 2 false starts. He needs to clean his game up.
-It would be hard to play against the Nebraska offense. There is so much misdirection. There are a lot of double reverses, fly sweeps, counters, and now adding in the FB run game. It is also amazing how open the WRs are a lot of the time.

-I did not watch much of the defense because I am pretty busy at work.

Am still puzzled to why Thurston, Sterup, and Foster have not got at least a possession per half.

 

[Tuco Ramirez]

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-Why Imani got so much work to start to second half, I don't know. He is not the answer to spell Newby. I have always rooted for him, but this game is where I have finally realized he just isn't the guy. He can't get skinny enough through small holes and he doesn't put his head down and bulldoze. And Newby probably didn't need to be spelled to start the half.

I think Newby was benched for being too tentative. The stretch play where he was taken down by the backside pursuit was ugly. We were up by a ton, and I think the coaches were looking to send a message. Just my guess.

 

[GretnaShawn]

Hopefully we can get the TE going soon. Good thread OP and a smart idea to stick to the positives.

It was pointed out on BRW last eve that our secondary didn't break up one pass play vs SM that was on target....

GBR

I think Rose broke up a pass near the end zone in Q4. It was a nice play.

 

[wxman42]

Few things I noticed.

1. Pass Rush was nonexistant in the 2nd half even when they were blitzing. 1st Half was quite a bit better.
2. Tackling was pretty good in the 1st half but got progressively worse in the 2nd half.
3. Newby doesn't appear to be a good runner between the tackles. Noticed many times he would cut outside instead of following the blocks inside.
4. Officiating was awful involving both teams.

 

[jay-cheese]

My bad if that happened...just was going off of what Blake Lawrence said.

They benched Newby for a play when he brought the kickoff out of the endzone to the 12 yard line (should've taken a knee).

I agree...no reason Thurston, Foster, Sterup can't get in a series or two each game. Anybody remember if Tenopir/Dan Young rotated on the OL back in the glory days?

GBR

 

[jflores]

I think its pretty staggering actually. On Saturday, they added Tariq Allen into the mix as a WR with a TD catch. That means Westerkamp, Moore, Reilly, Morgan, and Allen have now all caught TD passes. Hovey had one called back. They haven't even shown TE throws down field off of roll outs or play action yet.... And DPE hasn't even played yet. Its one thing to have bodies and depth at skill positions. Buts it another thing to have bodies and depth which every opponent needs to respect and account for at all times.

It would incredibly difficult to defend this offense. I think some people shook their head at Langsdorf when he made comments in Fall camp about his receiving corp depth. He said, and I'm paraphrasing, "we had some excellent individual receiving talent at Oregon State, but we never had this many good receivers." I'm not sure anyone truly understood what he meant.

Westerkamp and Reiily are both in the top 5 of REC yards. Nebraska is the only school with 2 receivers in the top 10.
Both players are in the top 10 in receptions.
Reilly is 2nd in the conference in Yards per catch at 19.8.

Matt Vanderburg is the leading receiver for Iowa. He is 2nd in the league in receptions at 25. He is averaging 9.7 yards per catch. Every receiver in the Nebraska offense is averaging more than 10 yards per catch.


The only criticsm I would have for the scheme is they've been a little too predictable on running plays. Don't go to the well too much I thought Southern Miss had seen the stretch play 7 or 8 times in the 1st half. Im guessing they prepared to see it at half time. It was sniffed out in the second half.

I believe one of Carter's drops his first game back (Miami?) was a PA throw fairly deep to the left middle of the field. But your larger point stands.

@GretnaShawn @Tuco Ramirez One of the articles this week said Newby's ankle was tender or stiff or something during the game, which is why Cross came out at half. I would have preferred to see Wilbon, but I've long since relegated Imani to a short yardage role.

 

[suhnami]

Hopefully we can get the TE going soon. Good thread OP and a smart idea to stick to the positives.

It was pointed out on BRW last eve that our secondary didn't break up one pass play vs SM that was on target....

GBR

Yeah, Husker fans are too fragile to handle anything else.

 

[GretnaShawn]

Yeah, Husker fans are too fragile to handle anything else.

This thread is about the line play. And I admittedly said I didn't watch much of the defense. The OL played well. That's why there were so many positives. And I mentioned the negatives of the OL. I didn't avoid anything. Go troll somewhere else.

 

[suhnami]

This thread is about the line play. And I admittedly said I didn't watch much of the defense. The OL played well. That's why there were so many positives. And I mentioned the negatives of the OL. I didn't avoid anything. Go troll somewhere else.

Your insecurities are showing.

 

[GretnaShawn]

Your insecurities are showing.

No. You are just wrong. This thread is about line play. It is even in the title. You just take any chance to get a shot in. Go troll somewhere else.

 

[suhnami]

No. You are just wrong. This thread is about line play. It is even in the title. You just take any chance to get a shot in. Go troll somewhere else.

Thats what I'd say if i were insecure too. My initial comment wasnt even directed at you. I think these posts show how fragile you are.

 

[GretnaShawn]

Thats what I'd say if i were insecure too. My initial comment wasnt even directed at you. I think these posts show how fragile you are.

It wasn't directed at me, but it was about my original post. I don't see how I was avoiding the negative in the first place. I stated the positives of the line play and then the negatives (false starts, high snaps, missed blocks). You are just wrong, you said Nebraska fans can't handle anything but the positives (I mentioned several negatives and nobody freaked out or even was mildly upset). Go troll somewhere else.

 

[jay-cheese]

Fragile? Oh come on Sue...you know better. My statement was made b/c 90% + of threads/posts right now are negative. I thought it was nice to see something positive from an analysis standpoint and then you go all "old man" (and I'm being very kind here) on anyone within striking distance...F-

GBR

 

[suhnami]

Gees pretty soon we're all going to have to hold hands and hug it out because everyone is so sensitive. #FragileLikeTheHuskerSecondary

 

[Tuco Ramirez]

I finished rewatching it.
- #68 had a brutal second half. He couldn't seal the edge on the play that Newby got run down from below, which disrupted Newby's timing. He got the hold on the 3 & 14 that had been converted, while receiving help on his assignment. (TA converted the 3&19 anyway.) He got run over on the blocked fg - got his leg tangled up with #55. But he did a solid job with switching off assignments when defending stunts.
- The blitzes and stunts aren't hitting home. It seems like our dline are stronger than fast; they seemed to get better pressure by just bull rushing.

 

[dinglefritz]

I finished rewatching it.
- #68 had a brutal second half. He couldn't seal the edge on the play that Newby got run down from below, which disrupted Newby's timing. He got the hold on the 3 & 14 that had been converted, while receiving help on his assignment. (TA converted the 3&19 anyway.) He got run over on the blocked fg - got his leg tangled up with #55. But he did a solid job with switching off assignments when defending stunts.
- The blitzes and stunts aren't hitting home. It seems like our dline are stronger than fast; they seemed to get better pressure by just bull rushing.

Pretty evident to me after watching Cinci and MIami that we are sorely lacking athleticism from our backers, McMullen and whoever else is playing DT other than Collins. Its killing us with our pass defense.