Couldn't really find a good thread to add this so bear with me for starting new thread.
First of all, in my 5 decades of attending NU football games, this was one of if not the most deflated pregame (outside the stadium and around Lincoln in general) atmospheres I've been a part of.
As they say, most popular player is the back up qb, stadium was pretty ecstatic when haarberg was announced as starting qb during pregame when the public address announcer gave lineups for both teams.
Haarberg has a ton of heart and seemed to manage the game well and made reads in running game pretty well. Missed a few wide open receivers and threw a few into double and triple coverage. On the radio show on the way home a caller referred to him as the next brook berringer. Other than size comparison, that's not even close...yet. Haarberg's throwing motion mechanics are somewhat cringeworthy.
Running backs-- Grant appears to have the best legs in space. NONE of them hit the hole hard and dance and cut too many times. Hit the whole hard and probably gain 2 more yards easily.
TE's-- Need to use them more in seam or skinny post routes.
WR's--- slow. Gonna have a hard time beating anyone deep imo. Hopefully people play zone and we can find open areas. Receivers held blocks well at times downfield...good job. We tend to run routes 2-3 yards short of the line to make. Is this because of good zone defense and taking what they give us or because line can't pass block long enough for the receivers to get to where they need to be on a consistent basis?
Line---Frustrating. Why we don't just line up and go helmet on helmet is beyond me. We have the most successful drives and eat clock when we do this. A lot of whiffs and maybe this is why backs are dancing too much. Don't trust the linemen and aren't sure where the hole will be. On big red reaction and lockerroom show they were bragging up the line play. I'm not in that camp.
P/K---Buschini was a good 15 yards better in pregame warm-ups. He dropped one nice one inside the 5 but other than that I was very disappointed. FG kicking in pregame was a little sketchy. They didn't have pads and jerseys on so I couldn't see who was who.
Play calling/execution-- first play we had to waste timeout that cost us....by the way where was "every play is reviewed " we wasted a timeout in 2nd qtr. Rhule should have kept that timeout. Thought there was some plays that should have been reviewed especially the int and northern Illinois completed pass late 4th qtr that lead to TD.
Wasn't a fan of the reverse call in the first half deep in our territory. We were using a lot of play action so huskies were having to stay home. Wasn't the place or time for that call imo.
Overall on offense this grade may seem harsh but I am at c+ to b-.
Defense-- solid game for the most part. Soooo much better than a year ago in tackling and effort. Good communication out there. Line and linebacker play the best I've seen in years. I know it was late in the game, but if you get a chance to rewatch, Buckley was impressive. He was a beast. DL coach doing well and we've got depth there.
Grade b+ to A- just because I'm not sure how good huskies were.
Much needed win. This Saturday was a head scratcher in many ways in college football and that's not surprising at this point in the season.
Amazing what can happen when you limit turnovers and don't continually shoot yourself in the foot. A little concerned with the unsportsmanlike conduct calls every week. Refs watch tape and they remember that and anticipate it. I realize this team is frustrated but can't do stupid stuff.
Stadium--full. Tweaked a few things from last year. Light show and drones seemed to be a huge hit with the crowd. Watched many of the recruits walk by outside of east stadium. For some reason didn't see baker. Said a few words to Pyle. He seemed excited to be here and is all N.
Sorry for the length of this. Maybe you saw what I saw and maybe totally opposite than me. The good news is I have found positives each week. Bad news is we've got a LONG way to go until we can even sniff being playoff caliber.
GBR
First of all, in my 5 decades of attending NU football games, this was one of if not the most deflated pregame (outside the stadium and around Lincoln in general) atmospheres I've been a part of.
As they say, most popular player is the back up qb, stadium was pretty ecstatic when haarberg was announced as starting qb during pregame when the public address announcer gave lineups for both teams.
Haarberg has a ton of heart and seemed to manage the game well and made reads in running game pretty well. Missed a few wide open receivers and threw a few into double and triple coverage. On the radio show on the way home a caller referred to him as the next brook berringer. Other than size comparison, that's not even close...yet. Haarberg's throwing motion mechanics are somewhat cringeworthy.
Running backs-- Grant appears to have the best legs in space. NONE of them hit the hole hard and dance and cut too many times. Hit the whole hard and probably gain 2 more yards easily.
TE's-- Need to use them more in seam or skinny post routes.
WR's--- slow. Gonna have a hard time beating anyone deep imo. Hopefully people play zone and we can find open areas. Receivers held blocks well at times downfield...good job. We tend to run routes 2-3 yards short of the line to make. Is this because of good zone defense and taking what they give us or because line can't pass block long enough for the receivers to get to where they need to be on a consistent basis?
Line---Frustrating. Why we don't just line up and go helmet on helmet is beyond me. We have the most successful drives and eat clock when we do this. A lot of whiffs and maybe this is why backs are dancing too much. Don't trust the linemen and aren't sure where the hole will be. On big red reaction and lockerroom show they were bragging up the line play. I'm not in that camp.
P/K---Buschini was a good 15 yards better in pregame warm-ups. He dropped one nice one inside the 5 but other than that I was very disappointed. FG kicking in pregame was a little sketchy. They didn't have pads and jerseys on so I couldn't see who was who.
Play calling/execution-- first play we had to waste timeout that cost us....by the way where was "every play is reviewed " we wasted a timeout in 2nd qtr. Rhule should have kept that timeout. Thought there was some plays that should have been reviewed especially the int and northern Illinois completed pass late 4th qtr that lead to TD.
Wasn't a fan of the reverse call in the first half deep in our territory. We were using a lot of play action so huskies were having to stay home. Wasn't the place or time for that call imo.
Overall on offense this grade may seem harsh but I am at c+ to b-.
Defense-- solid game for the most part. Soooo much better than a year ago in tackling and effort. Good communication out there. Line and linebacker play the best I've seen in years. I know it was late in the game, but if you get a chance to rewatch, Buckley was impressive. He was a beast. DL coach doing well and we've got depth there.
Grade b+ to A- just because I'm not sure how good huskies were.
Much needed win. This Saturday was a head scratcher in many ways in college football and that's not surprising at this point in the season.
Amazing what can happen when you limit turnovers and don't continually shoot yourself in the foot. A little concerned with the unsportsmanlike conduct calls every week. Refs watch tape and they remember that and anticipate it. I realize this team is frustrated but can't do stupid stuff.
Stadium--full. Tweaked a few things from last year. Light show and drones seemed to be a huge hit with the crowd. Watched many of the recruits walk by outside of east stadium. For some reason didn't see baker. Said a few words to Pyle. He seemed excited to be here and is all N.
Sorry for the length of this. Maybe you saw what I saw and maybe totally opposite than me. The good news is I have found positives each week. Bad news is we've got a LONG way to go until we can even sniff being playoff caliber.
GBR
