[Husker] Risky Business

[Skylar Dodds]

Hello Husker Fans,

  I was thinking this over in my anger towards BC for that fake-punt
  play call we've all been dreading...

  I was going back through all the trick plays we've ran this year and
  I wanted to make sure I wasn't just being the typical fan saying,
  "If it works he's a genius, if it doesn't he's retarded".

  First off, let me say I still disagree with the call.  I don't mind
  fake punts, pooch kicks by the FG kicker, etc, but I didn't like the
  timing.  We were pretty far into our territory, it was early, it
  just didn't seem to be a good time.  That being said, there's one
  point I can't get around for almost every 'risky' play Callahan's
  run:

  Every time he's put his players in a position to be successful.
  Every time.  I just can't think of an exception.  Here's a few
  examples:

  1) The fake in the Cotton Bowl WAS setup well and had the pitch been
  made successfully, there was a lot of room to run.

  2) All of the trick plays vs Colorado were successful and each of
  them resulted in a fairly easy play.

  3) The pass against UT where Nunn fumbled was risky, but certainly
  put his players in position to win if they execute.

  4) The fake against USC worked well.

  5) Congdon's pooch vs Auburn landed on the 1/2 yard line.  Didn't he
  do the same against OU (which I know, resulted in 99 yards of
  torment, but it ALMOST became a safety).

  I'm going through all the times in my head where Callahan made a
  gutsy call and I can't think of a time when his players weren't at
  least put in a position to make a play.  To me, anyway, that is the
  ultimate job of the coach. To get the right players and then put
  them in position to be successful.

  Can anyone think of a 'risky' call where there was no chance of
  success?

  

-- 
Go Skers,
 Skylar                            mailto:Sklarbodds at cox.net