[Husker] Re: Watson's replacement (and thoughts on the Big-XII Championship)

[Rober R Czeranko]

If Coach Watson leaves Nebraska, then I for one would like to see my
oldest brother get the nod. He is currently the quarterback coach at
Nebraska Wesleyan. I know he'd be a long shot, but he's got two degrees
from UNL (bachelor and masters in PE, his thesis was on place kicking).
Hey, if you are going to dream, then dream big! Personally, I hope that
if Coach Watson goes, he leaves because he found a job and not that he
was fired. Coach Watson has done a good (not great) job as QB coach and
offensive coordinator, and recent firings aside, it just does not seem
like the Nebraska way to fire the staff. I believe that our program is
above that (I know, I bleed scarlet and cream and see the world through
scarlet colored glasses!).

As for the Big-XII Championship, first of all I want to congratulate the
Coach Pelini, his staff, and the team for an other great and exciting
season. Yes, it would have been nice to have one the Big-XII
Championship, but that damn old Sooner magic did Nebraska in once again.
This was like to old Big-8 in which those damn Sooners got another win
over our beloved team. At least Nebraska didn't lose to Texas!

I am planning on heading back to San Diego (I live in Chandler, AZ (a
suburb of Phoenix)) to show my support for the team. I am very surprised
that the Holiday Bowl wanted Nebraska back and that it is a rematch with
Washington. I too was hoping for the Insight once the Fiesta Bowl was out
of reach. I even had an inside track on tickets as a coworker busy Fiesta
Bowl tickets every season. But I want to show my support and appreciation
for the team in their final game this season.

I cannot fault the coaches for starting Taylor Martinez at quarterback,
but am a little surprised that they didn't switch him out like Nebraska
did with Tommie Fraizer and Brook Berringer in the 1994 Orange Bowl. I
guess their thinking was running the wild cat was essentially switching
him out. Which leads to my next observation.

I posted on Saturday before the game that offense needed to manage the
game avoiding turn overs and needed to stay committed to running game
(and avoid a lot of three and outs). While the turn overs hurt (and I
agree that the interception in the end zone late in the second quarter
was key). They really didn't hurt too much. I believe that if Nebraska
had stayed committed to the running game in the second half, then they
would have had more points. Two fumbles (the hit on Roy Helu, Jr and the
bad snap) looks to have lead the offense away from the run, but at that
point Oklahoma's defense was putting players into double coverage and was
shutting down the passing game.

Because Taylor Martinez was not a threat to run, Nebraska's offense
became one dimensional and too predictable. I don't know if Taylor
Martinez was told not to tuck and run if no one was open or if he decided
it on his own. It did look a lot like last season in which Zach Lee
stopped running with the ball if no one was open. There were a lot of
coverage sacks out there, particularly in the second half. With more time
to heal, the offense should look like it did earlier in the season and
the Holiday Bowl will be another blow out.

One other observation is that due to Taylor Martinez youth, when Nebraska
played teams with better talent on defense (Texas, aTm, and OU) it looked
like he was not yet used the speed of game. This is just experience and
he will definitely improve for next season.

Given Coach Pelini's comments about Taylor Martinez on the Nebraska
Football Show, it does not look as if Taylor Martinez is leaving anytime
soon. And I don't he was the reason the offense struggled last Saturday. 

Well, it is on to the Holiday Bowl. If you go, look for me. I'll be the
one wearing red!

Go Big Red!

Rob Czeranko
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