why do we go to sleep in the 2nd and 3rd quarters
- Thread starter redwine65
- Start date
There's something causing the team to play down to competition, but not sure if it's health, lack of killer instinct, or maybe just overconfidence?
I think there probably was a bit of overconfidence this week. Let's hope they realize that the whole world expects them to get obliterated at Wisky next week and they come out sharp and ready to show the world the real Big Red.
This is a great question. It seemed we had a lot of blocking assignment confusion. And you are right, in the fourth, all of a sudden, some of that cleared up. It's entirely possible that their defense changed schemes or calls, but we have sort of seen this for a few weeks in a row now. I too want to know what is it specifically that is happening. I do not think it is us wearing them down. I think something is changing assignment wise.
I wonder if adjustments are being made by both teams? So many games have followed the same pattern - NU gets out fast, then slogs around for 2 quarters before crushing the opponent in the 4th quarter. By the 4th quarter, NU has either finally figured out where they can attack and/or NU's talent advantage is the difference.
NU's defense has done a great job this year of making sure opponents are not able to get too far out in front. Oregon was the only team to have more than a one score lead on NU - and that was only for 2 minutes in the 2nd quarter. That allows NU to stick with their game plan and not have to go into 'emergency mode' - like we saw so often in recent years. Emergency mode resulted in some frantic comebacks, but also some catastrophic collapses.
Ironically, NU's offense and defense seem to follow a bend but don't break model. It's hard for opponents to sustain drives on NU. They need big plays in order to score or set up scores (2 big pass plays from Purdue yesterday produced their 14 points). NU's offense plays the same way in the middle of games...they may move the ball a bit, but without a big play, their drives sputter and they punt.
Then the 4th quarter rolls around....
At some point this season, I'd like to think NU's experience with winning games in the 4th quarter is going to pay a huge dividend.
NU's defense has done a great job this year of making sure opponents are not able to get too far out in front. Oregon was the only team to have more than a one score lead on NU - and that was only for 2 minutes in the 2nd quarter. That allows NU to stick with their game plan and not have to go into 'emergency mode' - like we saw so often in recent years. Emergency mode resulted in some frantic comebacks, but also some catastrophic collapses.
Ironically, NU's offense and defense seem to follow a bend but don't break model. It's hard for opponents to sustain drives on NU. They need big plays in order to score or set up scores (2 big pass plays from Purdue yesterday produced their 14 points). NU's offense plays the same way in the middle of games...they may move the ball a bit, but without a big play, their drives sputter and they punt.
Then the 4th quarter rolls around....
At some point this season, I'd like to think NU's experience with winning games in the 4th quarter is going to pay a huge dividend.
