The Weekly Buzz
This week, Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson has been talking up his future at Nebraska with hopes for the upcoming year. It sounds like he thinks this offensive drought is just a blip for the Huskers and hopes to bring back the past couple of years that brought success in the form of the spread. But who's going to be running that offense? If we don't even know who is going to be playing against the WIldcats in the Holiday Bowl, I'm sure there's not going to be a lot of clarity into the off season unless we hear a definitive answer about who's starting from the coaching staff.
Contradict much? » Shawn Watson spoke with media earlier this week, indicating that the offense is currently going back to basis in preparation for the bowl game match up against Arizona. On numerous occasions, Watson has pointed out that the egos of coaches need to get checked in at the door to prepare for how to best win games. What I hear is that he thinks he's the one checking in his brilliant offensive ideas. He has clearly stated this year that he would like to return to his ideal of an offensive explosion, like the style of spread offense seen in the last few years.
Quarterback questions not answered now » For those looking for some activity on the quarterback position, you're probably going to have to wait at least a couple of weeks and more like a month for answers. Zac Lee, Cody Green, and LaTravis Washington are all getting the same amount of reps in practice. Not only that, but Taylor Martinez is still expected to stick with the quarterback position until the coaches get a better chance to work with him during the off season. Since he's just coming off his red-shirt season, it's likely that they'll be seeing if he can bring a level of athleticism to the position.
Practice upbeat, never up to Pelini's standards » Coach Bo Pelini's comments to reporters this week all indicated that the practices were average as the team is trying to put together the game plan to face an excited Arizona Wildcats team in a few weeks. Larry Asante attributed a faster pace and tempo to the return of Ndamukong Suh from his trip picking up all that hardware. Suh said that a week away is not going to be enough to slow him down.
San Diego, Ca.
12/19/2009
“We have all the tools available to us to throw the football. That’s what has to be done. How to do that, there’s a lot of different ways you can do that. ...
“Are we going to be limited to running the zone read going forward? No. I promise you it ain’t going to be limited to that.”
Watson hinted that his players skills may not be quite able to run (what he wants to run).
Pelini strongly points out he’s on the same page with Wats.
If you combine those two, I think you play the bowl with about 60% runs, instead of the 70%, which closed out the season. With about 1/3 of those runs spread wide.
A self confessed humbling season for Watson. But, outlook wise, he’s got a stronger grasp of the fact that if his side does it’s part, he will be a major part of a program that can bludgeon it’s way to actual, realized goal attainment, busting through the “SO CLOSE” barrier.
If he didn’t know it before, he really knows now that at Nebraska, you’re expecting to win- every game.
And he’ll be expected to devise an offense (using what he’s got) to facilitate that.
12/20/2009
I am so glad we are going back to the spread with a strong emphasis on a strong running game that we have lacked for quite some time. Running power sets out of the I tends to be too one dimensional as you are putting all your eggs in one basket with the running game. You can’t pass unless you get the running game going first. I have a 100% confidence in Shawn Watson too get the job done in putting together an extremely good “balanced” offense that fits Bo’s vision of an offense that will give opposing defensive co-ordinators nightmares. I think Watson did as well as could be expected this year considering all the inexperience, injuries and the loss of Castille who I think could have been a difference maker on offense. I think most of our problems this year were due too lack of experience and injuries and players so they had to go too the power I too play it safe till they could at least get a few people healthy on offense too play the kind of football they want too play. With some more offensive players healthy and a little extra time too go back too the basics, I think we will see a much better looking offense in our bowlgame. The defense is pretty much fixed and I think we will see Watson and Pelini fix the offense.
12/20/2009
I am so glad we are going back to the spread with a strong emphasis on a strong running game that we have lacked for quite some time. Running power sets out of the I tends to be too one dimensional as you are putting all your eggs in one basket with the running game. You can’t pass unless you get the running game going first. I have a 100% confidence in Shawn Watson too get the job done in putting together an extremely good “balanced” offense that fits Bo’s vision of an offense that will give opposing defensive co-ordinators nightmares. I think Watson did as well as could be expected this year considering all the inexperience, injuries and the loss of Castille who I think could have been a difference maker on offense. I think most of our problems this year were due too lack of experience and injuries and players so they had to go too the power I too play it safe till they could at least get a few people healthy on offense too play the kind of football they want too play. With some more offensive players healthy and a little extra time too go back too the basics, I think we will see a much better looking offense in our bowlgame. The defense is pretty much fixed and I think we will see Watson and Pelini fix the offense.
12/21/2009
I wish I had your optimism Jim. It would be a nice change of pace for once if the ‘Nebraska Offense’ knew it’s identity coming out of fall camp rather than half way through the season. If you remember, it took our offense until the Tx Tech game to really find its identity in ‘08. You’ve got Spring Ball and Fall camp to figure it out. And we don’t have the excuse of mass exodus like we did this year. I’m still baffled as to how much the O-line underperformed this year with all the hype they had coming into the season. Good to see we should have some depth there in 2010.
12/21/2009
All the nebraska fans complaining about the offense switching identity crack me up. You could ask 119 D1 head coaches what the hardest thing a coach can do would be and you’d have 119 tell you throwing out the gameplan cause it isnt working is the hardest thing.
Not only that, it takes a hell of a man to say “ok my way isnt working” then look for a different answer.
If any of you ran into this sort of problem at your job you couldnt man up and do what watts did.
Bottom line is the line in 09 was below average at best. I’ll be surprised if more than one of this year’s starters play much next year because of the talent that redshirted (and got bigger in the weightroom) this year.
Either Martinez or green will take over at QB. Since both as dual threats that can run, that adds a nice dimension to our offense. Throw in Helu’s Sr year, Rex hitting his 2nd year and ‘tre thumping some, the offense suddenly looks MUCH better than 09. If this new running back is all he’s cracked up to be there will be heated competition at iback next yr - something we didnt really have this year once rex went down.
If BK continues to improve with Niles and Kyre decides to blow off baseball, we could have some difference makes on the edge.
And for all of you calling for watson’s head. Ever had things not go your way and then have some loudmouth start chanting for you to get fired? No? Well tell me where you work and I’ll drop a dime to your boss.
Watson is a great coach. If Janz had redshirted and was the QB this year, watts would be on everyone’s xmas list.
12/22/2009
Dave…No one on this particular article said anything about switching identity or was calling for Watson’s head. All I said is it would be nice to have an identity before the season. I don’t care what our identity is as long as it puts out results. But like I said in my earlier comment, even last year it took us half of a season to get going. I think everyone forgets because of the strong finish we had at the end of the year and the jubilation that followed from going to and winning a bowl (compared to 2007, which everyone still has nightmares about). Our offense struggled even last year (see Missouri). I realize that it takes a few games to get the kinks worked out. That’s why every team schedules cupcake opponents the first few games. But it shouldn’t take half a season, or an entire season (this year) to figure it out. The players on the defensive side are and have obviously bought into the system. So why is that not happening on the offensive side of the ball? Especially since they’ve had less of a transition. Same O-Coordinator/QB coach, same recievers coach, same scheme.
I agree with you about the line, and quite frankly have never been impressed with Cotton. Maybe it was just a lack of depth due to injury. 2010 will tell us. I hope you’re right about Green being the started next year. I also have high hopes for BK, Niles, and Cooper. But the question remains, can our offensive coaching develop these players?
3/13/2012
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