[Husker] Callahan play calling (red zone)

[Dr. Derek Ryter]

The Husker problems in the red zone were two fold:

1. Dropped passes and poor excecution.  Hardy had the TD in his hands, and
Taylor was one weak block from scoring on the bootleg (perhaps Beck takes it
in).  But more of these plyas will be available.  If they excecute the
plays, passing or bootlegging from the five will be just as effective as a
power running attack.

2. The underneath crossing patterns were no longer available.

The plays that got the Huskers down the field were not there in a short
field, and the defense packs the line.  Plays like the bootleg that Tayor
almost scored on are also effective.

I think that Callahan called plays that very well could have been, and in
some cases should have been TDs.

That 70-yard middle screen to Ross was one of the best calls that I have
seen since perhaps Osborn in Colorado sending Ahman Green off for a score on
the first play from scrimmage.  I'm sure there was some luck involved, but
Callahan caught the ISU D off guard, and putting the ball in Ross' hands
with downfield blocking in that situation left McArney and D-backs grasping
for air.  Ross was making defenders miss while keeping his speed high enough
to outrun LBs.  He is great to watch.

And, with regard to play calling on the last possession: after botching the
play in which Taylor fumbled, there's no way any coach is going to try to
move downfield with anything less than 1:00 in regulation.

As this offense matures, Callahan is going to make opposing defenses look
incredibly befuddled.  I'm not saying 10-2 and BCS, by any means, and there
will be many frustrating games to come, but this offense will have its days.

Derek Ryter