[Husker] Schemes to win...what to look for

[Steve Reichenbach]

> From: "Tommy Thompson" <huskertt at charter.net>
> 
> What do the Huskers need to do to be able to win (besides the
> obvious...score more points!)?
> 
On defense, I think that NU must contain USC --- not give up big
plays either passing or running.  Everyone has talked about the
USC receivers, but I am as worried about NU's defense on sweeps,
as it seems to me that NU's weaker opponents had their best
successes on running plays to the perimeter and USC has much better
speed.

On offense, I think NU must avoid turnovers.  I think NU can score
and can win if they don't give up too many points.  However, if
USC converts turnovers to points, NU may not be able to match the
scoring.

> What schemes will USC use on offense and defense?
> 
I think that USC won't do much for NU that they haven't been doing
for the last several years.

> Will either team try to get in the other QB's head by big blitz
> packages early in the game?
> 
NU has not shown its blitz much this year, so I'd guess USC is looking
at last year's blitzes.  I'd think that NU would come with blitzes
going after USC's relatively inexperienced QB, but NU has not blitzed
as much in situations that I expected in the past couple of years.  I
think the coaches are not so subtly asking more from Octavien this
week.  I'd like to seem him having the impact he did in the few plays
before he was injured last year and I think the coaches would too.

> How did USC look against the run in the Arkansas game?  Will the Huskers
> have to air it out, or will they be balanced again?
> 
USC ran many plays at Arkansas (in part due to 5 Arkansas turnovers).
They had 42 runs (4.6ypc) and were 25-38 passing 7ypa and 11ypc).
Pretty balanced between run and pass and they had 8 players rush and
8 players catch passes.

> Finally, if I were Carroll, I'd try to get Taylor out of his rhythm
> off the bat.  I think that if he gets comfortable, he is a force to
> be reckoned with.
> 
Certainly, secondary to not giving up big plays or turnovers, NU must
get good play up front --- stop the run and put pressure on Booty.
That is the same formula USC will have for NU.  I think both QBs will
do well if given time and both will struggle if they are being hit
every play or sacked frequently.

> Scarlet Glasses prediction...Huskers dominate like against Washington
> in '97 and win 21-3.
> 
If our defensive front seven and the O-line step up, I think a big NU
win is possible, although forseeing holding USC to 3 points does require
exceptionally scarlet glasses.

> Realist prediction...Huskers look good at times...USC dominates and
> wins 33-17.  Huskers beat the point spread!
> 
The over-under is about 57.5 with line about 18.5, which makes for
a predicted score of 38-19.5.  I think NU can score in the 20s
(perhaps more).  On the other hand, I will be disappointed and
surprised if USC scores 38.

My hopeful prediction is that Huskers are a TD better than expected
on offense and that NU's defense does a much better job of stopping
USC than expected.  I think the front seven of NU's defense is as
good and as deep as we've seen for many years.  Based on that, NU
wins 27-24 (or even 27-17).

On that note, I think both teams have good offenses, but are the
defenses so weak that 58 points will be scored?  If so, at least
one of these teams isn't championship material.

> Tommy
> Go Big Red