[Husker] The Offense

[David Strong]

After two games against quality opponents, I think that we have a pretty good team.  They were both strange games (one where we found a way to lose a game that we had won and the other in a drenching downpour).  I thought that the win against Missouri was the most important win for Nebraska since the 2001 game against Oklahoma, including the bowl games against Michigan and Michigan State.  This season would blow if we lost that game and that one win makes everything look up.  
 
I can't be the only one concerned about our offense, particularly the play we are getting from the quarterback position.  If the VT game showed us anything, it's that we have a good running game but not good enough to win the game by itself.  Missouri, because of the rain, makes it hard for me to judge much.  But no one can argue that in the two games against representative competition, our qb has played poorly.  Really poorly.  VT - 11 for 30, 136 yards - 2 INT against a good defense.  Missouri - 14 for 33, 158 yards in a flood.  56 of those on one play.  3 TDs is good, but 2 were off the turnovers.  I doubt anyone, especially Zac and OCSW, are satisfied with what we have seen in those two games.
 
Weather forecast for Lincoln on Saturday is  partly cloudy, 53.  I am nervous about this game.  The Missouri win generated so much optimism and enthusiasm not felt in so long, that I don't want it to diminish so soon.  I'm just hoping for a win.  Cover 10 and a half?  Probably not but I don't care in the slightest.  I'm still waiting for the game that gives me a good read on this team.  I thought it would be VT, it wasn't.  I thought it would be Missouri, it wasn't because of the rain.  Saturday is big.
 
Dave

--- On Thu, 10/15/09, Nick Chevance <nickchevance at gmail.com> wrote:


From: Nick Chevance <nickchevance at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Fw: Re: [Husker] Wildcat
To: "David Strong" <gbrlist at yahoo.com>, "Husker List" <husker at tssi.com>
Date: Thursday, October 15, 2009, 10:03 AM


On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 7:09 AM, David Strong <gbrlist at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Could you please try to split that hair a little finer?

Ha!  Love it!

I thought I'd try to steer the conversation towards this week's game,
which I had started to earlier by asking who anyone thought would be
Helu's backup at RB this week against TTech.  Regardless of whomever
it may be that lines up at QB or takes the direct snap.

Frankly, I haven't heard a peep.  Nothing's been said out of the
practice reports, nothing's been leaked on the radio.  The injury to
Burkhead had just been announced before Big Red Wrapup went on the
air, but they really didn't address it.  I think, or at least I get
the impression, that everyone pretty much thinks that it really
doesn't matter who it is, that production isn't really going to fall
off.  I must admit, I really like Burkhead's straight-ahead style, but
I haven't seen much of anything on the guys behind him.  And again, I
know we've all said this before, but this is a team that we should
have some success running against.

At Mizzou, they were pretty much 8 and 9 men in the box for much of
the game.  Helu and Burkhead were getting tackled by the safeties.
That must tell you something about who else might be open.  Where were
the TE's?  I think on a dry field under good conditions, we should see
running proficiency way up, and we should see the TE's much more.

The current line is Nebraska and 10.5 points.  Do we win?  Can we cover?

Nick
-- 
“Rene Descartes walks into a bar.
The bartender asks, "Would you like a beer?"
Descartes answers, "I think not." And promptly disappears.”
          Harlan Ellison