[Husker] Wow

[Steve Reichenbach]

> OK, everybody who thought we'd tie the score in the 3rd quarter,
> raise your hand.

It never felt like NU was out of the game.  Clearly, they had to
answer when they went down 27-10, but even then you knew a score
would make it a two possession game.  And, with NU's offensive
weapons, that is not a big lead.  Still, it was a great comeback.

I think this is the sort of game that could provide a foundation
of confidence for the rest of the season --- especially for
the defensive and offensive lines --- and a building block for
the future.  Of course, all that could change next week on
the road or the three tough games that follow.  Even the last
three games look a little tougher than they did a week ago.

I still thought that Beck gave up on the power I at a critical
time of the game.  Look at these sequences (form huskers.com):

NEBRASKA drive start at 12:20.
1-10 NEB 13 Burkhead rush over left tackle for 10 yards to NEB23
1-10 NEB 23 Martinez pass incomplete to Turner
2-10 NEB 23 Martinez pass incomplete to Bell
3-10 NEB 23 Martinez sacked for loss of 10 yards to NEB13,
fumble by Martinez recovered by WIS NEB13

A 10 yard rush up the middle followed by two incompletions and
a sack with fumble.

and this:

NEBRASKA drive start at 02:40.
1-10 NEB 32 Martinez rush up middle for 5 yards to the NEB37
2-5 NEB 37 Abdullah rush up middle for 17 yards to the WIS46
1-10 WIS 46 Martinez pass complete to Cotton for 26 yards
    to the WIS20
out-of-bounds.
1-10 WIS 20 Martinez pass incomplete.
2-10 WIS 20 Martinez pass complete to Burkhead for loss
of 1 yard to the WIS21
3-11 WIS 21 Martinez pass incomplete to Bell
4-11 WIS 21 Maher field goal attempt from 38 GOOD, clock 00:55.

Two rushes up the middle go for an average of 11 ypc and not
another run.

So, by the 4th quarter, I'm expecting NU to pound the ball, but:

NEBRASKA drive start at 14:03.
1-10 NEB 16 Abdullah rush over right tackle for 9 yards to NEB25
2-1 NEB 25 Martinez pass incomplete to Bell PENALTY NEB holding
10 yards to NEB15, NO PLAY
2-11 NEB 15 Abdullah rush over left end for 6 yards to NEB21,
fumble by Abdullah recovered by NEB Martinez at NEB21, Martinez for
9 yards to the NEB30, 1ST DOWN NEB
1-10 NEB 30 Burkhead rush over right tackle for 4 yards to NEB34
2-6 NEB 34 Burkhead rush up middle for 11 yards to NEB45, 1ST DOWN NEB
1-10 WIS 34 Heard rush over left end for loss of 2 yards to WIS36
2-12 WIS 36 Martinez rush over left guard for 18 yards to WIS18, 1ST
DOWN NEB
1-10 WIS 18 Martinez pass incomplete to Enunwan
2-10 WIS 18 Martinez rush up middle for 4 yards to the WIS14, PENALTY
NEB illegal block 10 yards to the WIS24.
2-16 WIS 24 Martinez pass incomplete to Reed
3-16 WIS 24 Martinez pass incomplete to Enunwa
4-16 WIS 24 Maher, Brett field goal attempt from 41 GOOD, clock 09:41.

Rush up the middle for 9 yards.  Continue running up the middle,
right?  After all the previous three running plays up the middle
have ntetted 5, 17, and 9 yards.  No, instead a pass and penalty.
The an end run for 6.  Then a run up the middle for 11.  Then a end
run for -2.  Then a rush up the middle for 18 yards.  Then, an
incomplete pass, a run nullified by a penalty, and two more incomplete
passes.

I didn't like the last series either.

NEBRASKA drive start at 07:33.
1-10 NEB 21 1st and 10.
1-10 NEB 21 Burkhead rush over left tackle for 5 yards to NEB26
2-5 NEB 26 Burkhead rush over right guard for 6 yards to NEB32,
1ST DOWN NEB
1-10 NEB 32 Burkhead rush over right tackle for no gain to NEB32
2-10 NEB 32 Martinez pass complete to Enunwa for 6 yards to NEB38
3-4 NEB 38 Martinez pass complete to Bell for 18 yards to WIS44,
1ST DOWN NEB
1-10 WIS 44 Burkhead rush over right tackle for 2 yards to WIS42
2-8 WIS 42 Martinez rush up middle for no gain to WIS42
3-8 WIS 42 Martinez pass incomplete to Reed
4-8 WIS 42 Maher punt 32 yards to WIS10, fair catch

So, here's the situation.  You have a slim 3pt lead.  You're running
well on Wisconsin.  You face second and eight on the opponents 42
with about 3 minutes left and Wisconsin having two timeouts.  You
want to eat up the clock.  Why not put in the power set and run right
at them for two plays?  And, if you're a little short, maybe run it
on fourth down to possibly put the game away.

I remember when Osborne frustated me when he stuck to the run, but
he's a pretty smart guy.  I'm sure Beck is a pretty smart guy, but
I was wishing he'd just go with the power game at the end.