[Husker] West Coast Offense? (fwd)

[Steve Reichenbach]

> yea but 10-3 is horrible if you lose 3 blowouts.
> 
I assume that is sarcasm.  I too hope it is not too many years before
NU is a horrible 10-3 again.  And, if 10-3 with three "blowouts" to
bowl-bound is horrible, what is 3-0 with three squeekers over pitful
teams.

> If NUs schedule was not so freaking weak,  another
> sub 500 season would really be likely.  Even with the B12 N
> being poor. it will be close
>
The schedule shapes up pretty well.

1) The road games include the three weakest remaining teams on the
schedule --- Baylor, Missouri, and Kansas.  I think 3-0 would be
encouraging, 2-1 would be disappointing, and anything less would be
cause for grave concern.

Baylor is better, but look where they are coming from.  Baylor
struggled to beat Army and SMU.  NU has much better athletes.

Missouri has given up an average of more than 24 points against the
likes of Arkansas State, New Mexico, and Troy and Troy just put up
nearly 600yds of offense.  That should give even NU's offense hope.

Kansas may or may not be better.  If they are, then not by much.
Lousiana Tech had more first downs (20-13), more yards (295-277),
but more penalties and turnovers.

2) The middle tier of teams are coming to Lincoln.  NU should
have the advantage to win both these games.  I think 2-0 would
be encouraging, 1-1 would be not be progress for the program,
and 0-2 would be very disappointing.

Iowa State struggled to beat Illinois State and their win Iowa was
aided by Iowa's 5 turnovers.  Still, they should beat Army on the
road next week.  Meanwhile NU has a week off to prepare for a pretty
important game for the Huskers.  This one is key for the season and
NU has a big edge playing at home with a week off.

Despite K State's struggle (and lucky win) against Marshall, they
have good athletes and coaches.  K State must play OU and Texas
Tech on the road and Texas A&M at home.  By November, this could be
an elimination game for the Big 12 North.

3) Two of the top tier of teams are coming to Lincoln.  I think 3-0
would be incredible, 2-1 would be great, and 1-2 would not be
progress for the program, and 0-3 would be disappointing.

Even if he defense forces turnovers against Texas Tech, even it the
defense produces scores against Texas Tech, the offense must play
better because it is difficult to think Texas Tech is not going to
outscore NU's defense by more than a few points.  The chances are
that both teams will be undefeated (with the biggest question mark
whether NU beats ISU at home the week before).  Fortunately, this
game is in Lincoln and the Husker players might believe they will
do it, which is much of the battle.

Anyone thinking OU is as pitiful as their 1-2 record indicates is
likely wrong.  They had more first downs and yards than undefeated
UCLA, but lost three fumbles.  Still, OU looks much more beatable
than they have been for years.  And, the game is in Lincoln.

NU must go on the road to CU.  I guess we'll learn more about CU
this week when they play at Miami.

Overall, I believe the offense is much better than the stats would
indicate.  Taylor has taken care of the ball, especially the last
two games.  He looks as if understands the offense pretty well for
having played in only three games for NU and he is able to make
the throws even if he doesn't have outstanding arm strength.  NU
had better success running the ball this week, after the offensive
line was called out by fans, coaches, and other players.  The
biggest problem against Pitt was penalties.  Those are tough on
this struggling offense.  Where were the officials from?  (I wonder
if a statistical study of interconference games would show a bias
by officials.)

With 4 remaining home games and 4 remaining road games, I still think
NU must win 5 more games to give much encouragement about the program.
The defense and special teams look good enough and I think the offense
is showing progress.  I think that there are reasons to be optimistic
that NU can finish the regular season 8-3.

I don't think 8-3 will be good enough to win the North.  Iowa State
and CU seem to have better schedules for that.  ISU's Big 12 South
opponents are Baylor, Oklahoma St, and at Texas A&M.  CU hosts A&M and
plays at Texas and at Oklahoma St.  That sets up for one or both of
those teams to go 2-1 against the southern teams.  It will be tough for
NU to go 2-1 against the southern teams.  Also, ISU hosts K State and
CU, but must travel to NU.  CU has to travel to ISU and K State, but
hosts NU.  ISU could lose in Lincoln, but win the north by beating K St
and CU at home.  CU could lose to ISU or K State, but win the north by
splitting those games and beating NU in Boulder.  K State hosts CU,
must play at OU, at Texas Tech, at NU, and at Iowa State.  They need to
beat CU at home and win two tough road games to finish with two
conference losses.  If Missouri or Kansas pull off some wins, the North
could be even more interesting, but I think a team with three conference
losses will not win the north this year.  So, I think to win the Big 12
North, NU must beat win three out of four at home against Iowa State, K
State, Texas Tech, and OU, or win on the road at Boulder.