The opportunities for me to watch the Huskers are few and far between living in Boston. That might be a good thing.Sure Nebraska won going away tonight 31-3, but don't let the final margin fool you into thinking that Nebraska is any better off than they were a week ago after struggling against the Bluebearies of Maine. The offense is pathetic, doing nothing in the first half and breaking one big play in the second. They didn't sustain any drives, their receivers dropped a ton of balls and their timing, the most crucial component of the West Coast offense was off all night. They can't run the ball and they only challenged Wake deep once as far as I can remember. So what's left? Nothing but four yard hitches and six yard outs, which are worthless if your receivers aren't catching the pigskin.
The defense looked deceptively good, allowing a good amount of rushing yards early before settling in. The Blackshirts did score three times, and they have doubled up the offense on touchdowns thus far this season, but that isn't a good sign. Defense wins championships, but not when your offense can't give you any help.
Callahan needs to show some improvement quickly. Thirteen games into his tenure at Nebraska, we still have nothing to hang our hat on. There is no signature, no persona to this team. Every game, I don't know what we will do well and a great coach has to have that, whether it be grinding or airing it out. You have to have a facet of your game that you know you can go to when times get tough. Nebraska hasn't shown that yet.
The move to a pro style offense was a change Nebraska had to make. If you want to compete on a national level recruiting wise, you have to have a system that prepares players for the NFL. That's the nature of college football right now, and the quality of Bill's recruiting classes have proven this to be true. But I'm not convinced the guy can call a game. Does he have a game plan? It doesn't seem like it. Third and inches? Empty the backfield. It feels like Callahan is at McDonald's trying to decide between the #8 and the #3 every time Nebraska needs a big play. A lot of uneasiness surrounds this team right now.
Next week, with Pitt going 0-2 worries me. Its a must win for the Panthers and Nebraska has done nothing on offense. Nebraska could be embarassed on ABC next week against the team Frank Solich, with none of the talent the Huskers have, just beat.
In better news, Texas is folding against Ohio St quicker than the card table after Christmas dinner. In an era where Nebraska can't run the ball anymore, it's nice to know we can count on Texas not being able to show up for a big game.
2 comments:
It has been a long four years of offensive woes. 2002: Totally inept offense and defense with a sole overlooked bright spot, Jammal Lord (had more total offense that Eric Crouch the year before). 2003: Won more games but the offense was as predictable as wind on the plains. 2004: Quarterback, that shouldn't have been playing D-1 football. 2005: Terrible offensive line, WRs with bad hands, but who can blame Callahan for passing on third and short when your O-line can't get a push on the smallest D-line they will face this season. There is much more to the story but this is it in a blivet.
I need to add that it is difficult to gauge the actual play of Zac Taylor and the RB's because of the poor play of the O-line and WR corp.
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