Should Nebraska Empty the Chamber on Colorado?
There's no question that Nebraska wants to win their final game of the regular season, but there is some doubt about the lengths you'd go to get a victory over Colorado given that there's a matchup with Texas looming for the conference championship. In 2006, Nebraska seemingly ran every trick play in the book against the Buffaloes in a 37-14 rout. That was second-guessed a bit as Nebraska then lost the Big 12 championship game to Oklahoma and the Cotton Bowl to Auburn. In particular, a fake punt against CU failed when it was run against the Tigers in Dallas. So how much should Nebraska show against Colorado?
If you think ahead to the Texas game, the Huskers will probably need to generate 100 to 150 rushing yards with some combination of Roy Helu, Rex Burkhead, and Zac Lee. Beyond that, they'll need to ride playmakers like Niles Paul, Mike McNeil, and Brandon McKinnie to get another 200+ yards passing. So do you ride those guys against CU as well, or might you work in other players to throw the Longhorns off a bit? Will you save all your trick plays?
The Buffaloes won't be holding back anything. They could try one trick play after another if they wanted. They could go for it on every fourth down. Really, what do they have to lose?
But Nebraska would love to go vanilla, get the best players some rest, and then come out firing against Texas. You can't expect to take out the Longhorns with the OU game plan. So the coaches need to decide exactly how much they want to show this week before the big game. Pelini sounds determined to take CU seriously.
Let's just hope he doesn't take them too seriously.
11/26/2009
It would be difficult to win against Texas with a game plan like OU, but I think it can be done. Win two phases of the game and NU has a shot. With that defense, any time, any place is very viable. As for CU, NU needs to do whatever it has to do to win the game. Period. There are no guarantees in playing vanilla against CU.
11/26/2009
Nebraska should empty the chamber and then whack ‘em with the spade!
It’d be nice to coldly, ruthlessly, emotionlessly dispatch the team that hates them so. They don’t have that luxury. I just don’t want them pulled into the hole of depraved wantonness, that is the whole Buffalo scene.
Really, the performance of the D decides how Pelini directs his offense and special teams.
Nebraska has such depth now, on Defense. They won’t get anymore “run down” than they already are and they’ll absolutely have to maintain intensity.
On thing about passing off of the option look. When they do it against coaches who know how to defend it, like last Saturday against Snyder and his uber experienced staff, 2 of the bad things that can happen when you pass (are more likely to).
11/26/2009
Nebraska can’t afford any loss of momentum going into Dallas. A setback in Boulder would dash any optimism the team felt. Tough enough to take on Texas in Texas without adding an emotional loss to a subpar Colorado team.
If rumors are correct and Hawkins gets a one year reprieve, that’s good news for Nebraska. Buffs won’t have the sense of desperation they might otherwise have felt.
CU has played good and times and better at home, but do not match up well with NU at any position. While I see more substitutions likely on both sides of the ball, Bo will depend of the offense to put up enough points for the defense to protect. He’s after a “W” period and won’t care how close the margin of victory is. Huskers can take care of business without getting off gameplan if they stick with power and avoid cutesy. Leave that to Ralphie and the gang.
11/26/2009
Concerning the option that NU has been trying to run with very little success…
I was watching the game against KSU last night and I always pinned it on Lee. And it is, but it’s also the lack of assignment blocking for the line. I cringe when NU runs that with Lee every time. He takes that ball and by the time he hits the tackle or TE, he’s 4 or 5 yards deep behind the line of scrimmage. The line needs more of a surge on that specific play… CU will have guys in the box to stop the run tomorrow.
11/26/2009
The game against K-State completely unvieled this year’s version of the Husker offense and what we will see against Colorado and Texas. Heavey sets for the run game, play action passes, safe passes to our tight ends, and big strikes occasionally to Paul. I can’t recall Watson ever running a trick play, I don’t know if he has any in the play book? But against Texas might be the perfect time to pull one out.