[Husker] Reflection on the season: or 10-4 is a helluva season

[Rober R Czeranko]

First, I'd like to thank the Nebraska Football team and coaching staff
for an exciting season. While it did not go was they or we fans had
wanted, Coach Pelini definitely has the ship pointed in the right
direction.

Before you fellow listers blast me, we need a little perspective here. I
went to Holiday Bowl and while I was bummed out Nebraska lost the game. I
realize that this is only Coach Pelini's third season has head coach. We
fans tend to only remember Coach Osborne's final 5 seasons and not his
first 20. I remember the grousing about 'Oh another 9 win season." And I
remember the 1990 Fiesta Bowl (which I have dubbed the Fiasco Bowl) where
Coach Osborne's team was shellacked 41-17 by Florida State. FSU even
converted on a third and 23!

Now 17 points would not have won the Holiday Bowl, but Coach Pelini's
Huskers did not give up 41 either.

It is disappointing to see them lose 3 of the last 4, but that is how it
goes sometimes.

I say, good riddance to the Big-XII. I was hoping that Nebraska would
have played in the Insight Bowl, but the conference screwed the Huskers
one final time.

Now for some reflections on the past season.

There is something amiss with the offense. If I were head coach I would
move Ron Brown back to receivers coach, as the tight ends had the best
hands all season long. There are talented receivers, but they cannot
catch or hang on to a ball! I would also look to shore up the offensive
line. Which was, in my opinion, the biggest disappointment in the Holiday
Bowl. Washington is a physical team, but there was no excuse for them to
be in the Nebraska backfield (and they were there a lot). With a young
quarterback(s), I would Coach Watson back on the sideline as he was in
the 2009 season. Coach Watson may be able to see the field better from
the press box, but he was more effective when he was on the field with
his players. And finally, pick Coach Osborne's brain on how to create an
offensive game plan that takes advantage of the other team's defensive
schemes.

I don't know if it is bravado, but I remember Coach Callahan stating that
Nebraska would take what they wanted from the defenses. It looks like
Coach Watson believed the same thing. I believe it is better to take what
the defense gives you. I did not understand why Nebraska did not attack
Washington's (or aTm's or OU's) defense(s).  Where were the draws? Where
was a the screen pass? It was fairly obvious to me that Washington was
keying on the running back. When the quarterback is not a threat to run,
then the offense is easy to stop. The same thing happened when Eric
Crouch was quarterback and the running backs were injured. In that case,
the defenses keyed on the quarterback.

It just does not look as if Coach Watson is setting anything up. It looks
like he just calls plays. Hence, the back to back penalties for a delay
of the game. These kind of penalties are also indicative of new coaching
staffing. This also happened under Coach Solich his first few years (and
I recall it being an issue in the 1998 Holiday Bowl!, which I also
attended). Coach Watson stated that Nebraska needs to find its identity.
Well, Coach Pelini needs to have a hand in that identity. Even if he
turns the offensive side over to the offensive coordinator, Coach Pelini,
as head coach, should still be involved. Again, I would pick Coach
Osborne's brain clean, as he obviously found a system that worked.

Was for Taylor Martinez, the guy is only a red shirt freshman for
goodness sake. He was probably more injured than anyone let on. Maybe he
should not have played for an additional game or two, just to let him
heal. He is very talented and as he hits the weight room and gets
stronger and a bit bigger (210 or 215), he'll be able to hold on to the
ball better. And he gains more experience, he will be able to adjust the
quicker defenses. I for one, hope that he stays at Nebraska.

Defensively, the Huskers are on pretty good footing. The defense is
playing good enough for Nebraska to be undefeated. With the Coaches
Pelini, there should be no drop off here. I know that every one focuses
on the missed tackles, but the defense is a bend but don't break thing.
They may give yards, but they force a lot of field goal attempts.

Heck even Alex Henery had a bad game at the Holiday Bowl. I cannot
remember him shanking two punts in a single game. I don't know who
Nebraska has in the wings, but he will be hard to replace.

So, what to do about the offense? I said it twice before and I'll say it
again. I'd pick Coach Osborne's brain. I do think that moving Ron Brown
back to receivers would help out a lot as well.

So how was this season? It was disappointing from the point of view that
Nebraska didn't win the Big-XII Championship. But heck, they were only 4
points from being back to back Big-XII Champions! Coach Pelini has never
won fewer than 9 games and as back to back 10 win seasons. I think that
aTm loss was the worst due to the poor officiating (in my opinion).

Was Nebraska heads off to the Big-10/12, we need to remember that "We'll
all stick together in kinds of weather for dear old Nebraska U!".

Go Big Red!

Rob Czeranko
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