Offensive Prediction

[Jhollenbeck41]

So I think this thread can actually be some constructive conversation and not turn into a bunch of name calling and stupid insults. This is all about the option and the old playbook. So here it goes....

I'm basing this opinion off the overall body of work in 2 years and also off of certain games like Iowa and Wisconsin. I've picked up on a few patterns that Frost does when the offense turns to a more power running emphasis.

Obviously, 2018, we didn't see any of it. There was obviously the standard spread running, but not like "Nebraska running". S&C obviously wasn't up to par either at the time so kinda tough to do all that when you simply can't blow people off the ball. When we faced teams like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa in 2018, it just didn't happen for obvious reasons.

2019. Small sample size but Ohio State, **** went wild and it worked for that small amount of time. I know they went back to it late in the game and it got stuffed, whatever that's fine. Some people have said Ohio State didn't prepare for it and that's fine, might be true, okay. Wisconsin, in my opinion, made a serious emphasis on running the ball, atleast the majority of the game, with Mills, and with the exception of about 3 plays, should have won that game. Iowa, half time, Frost said they were done being cute and were going to try to go win a game. Second half, pretty sure the first like 9 plays were all running plays with the option thrown in there. And it went very well.

My point is this, the pattern I'm picking up on is so far the longer that Frost has been here and has experienced the Big 10, the more often the old play book has shown itself, and has done very well in its appearances. I know Frost is all about the Oregon up-tempo spread offense stuff, but he's also an old school Nebraska Husker Power QB. I think there's a switch deep down in him that when he gets pissed off enough he reverts back to it because he knows it well and knows it works at Nebraska.


Prediction: Personnel is an entirely different discussion, but I think sometime within the next 3 years we're going to see an old school option dominated offense again. Not specific to either shot gun or under center though.


Very open to discussing personnel options though as I'm a little too young to have much knowledge about the option offense personnel.

 

[Nebraska_Reality]

So I think this thread can actually be some constructive conversation and not turn into a bunch of name calling and stupid insults. This is all about the option and the old playbook. So here it goes....

I'm basing this opinion off the overall body of work in 2 years and also off of certain games like Iowa and Wisconsin. I've picked up on a few patterns that Frost does when the offense turns to a more power running emphasis.

Obviously, 2018, we didn't see any of it. There was obviously the standard spread running, but not like "Nebraska running". S&C obviously wasn't up to par either at the time so kinda tough to do all that when you simply can't blow people off the ball. When we faced teams like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa in 2018, it just didn't happen for obvious reasons.

2019. Small sample size but Ohio State, **** went wild and it worked for that small amount of time. I know they went back to it late in the game and it got stuffed, whatever that's fine. Some people have said Ohio State didn't prepare for it and that's fine, might be true, okay. Wisconsin, in my opinion, made a serious emphasis on running the ball, atleast the majority of the game, with Mills, and with the exception of about 3 plays, should have won that game. Iowa, half time, Frost said they were done being cute and were going to try to go win a game. Second half, pretty sure the first like 9 plays were all running plays with the option thrown in there. And it went very well.

My point is this, the pattern I'm picking up on is so far the longer that Frost has been here and has experienced the Big 10, the more often the old play book has shown itself, and has done very well in its appearances. I know Frost is all about the Oregon up-tempo spread offense stuff, but he's also an old school Nebraska Husker Power QB. I think there's a switch deep down in him that when he gets pissed off enough he reverts back to it because he knows it well and knows it works at Nebraska.


Prediction: Personnel is an entirely different discussion, but I think sometime within the next 3 years we're going to see an old school option dominated offense again. Not specific to either shot gun or under center though.


Very open to discussing personnel options though as I'm a little too young to have much knowledge about the option offense personnel.

1) You are correct....much of the success had to do with the other team not seeing it very much prior. If you want to run the option effectively, you need to commit to it...or else it is a turnover waiting to happen.

2) Nebraska was more than 3 plays from winning against Wisconsin. In fact, the only thing stopping Wisconsin from having at least another 10 points on the board was Chryst's decisions to throw in a couple of passes when Taylor was chunking Nebraska for 6-8 yards a pop in the 2nd half.

 

[ridge222]

Ha! To the first part of your post, that won't happen, there will be name calling and insults. Just like the sun will come up tomorrow.

You idiot!!! JK

I don't know if you will see a option dominate offense here. I think you will see wrinkles of it, but I don't think it will be a big part of what Frost does.

 

[Jhollenbeck41]

Also for the record, I think Nebraska comes out in 2020 and immediately makes a strong, noticeable effort in the power running game. Almost like they're trying to prove something. I get the sense from listening to Frost talk that he's sick of his team being physically pushed around and he'll want to do something about it.

 

[inWV]

So I think this thread can actually be some constructive conversation and not turn into a bunch of name calling and stupid insults. This is all about the option and the old playbook. So here it goes....

I'm basing this opinion off the overall body of work in 2 years and also off of certain games like Iowa and Wisconsin. I've picked up on a few patterns that Frost does when the offense turns to a more power running emphasis.

Obviously, 2018, we didn't see any of it. There was obviously the standard spread running, but not like "Nebraska running". S&C obviously wasn't up to par either at the time so kinda tough to do all that when you simply can't blow people off the ball. When we faced teams like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa in 2018, it just didn't happen for obvious reasons.

2019. Small sample size but Ohio State, **** went wild and it worked for that small amount of time. I know they went back to it late in the game and it got stuffed, whatever that's fine. Some people have said Ohio State didn't prepare for it and that's fine, might be true, okay. Wisconsin, in my opinion, made a serious emphasis on running the ball, atleast the majority of the game, with Mills, and with the exception of about 3 plays, should have won that game. Iowa, half time, Frost said they were done being cute and were going to try to go win a game. Second half, pretty sure the first like 9 plays were all running plays with the option thrown in there. And it went very well.

My point is this, the pattern I'm picking up on is so far the longer that Frost has been here and has experienced the Big 10, the more often the old play book has shown itself, and has done very well in its appearances. I know Frost is all about the Oregon up-tempo spread offense stuff, but he's also an old school Nebraska Husker Power QB. I think there's a switch deep down in him that when he gets pissed off enough he reverts back to it because he knows it well and knows it works at Nebraska.


Prediction: Personnel is an entirely different discussion, but I think sometime within the next 3 years we're going to see an old school option dominated offense again. Not specific to either shot gun or under center though.


Very open to discussing personnel options though as I'm a little too young to have much knowledge about the option offense personnel.

In the B1G, Frost would a fool not to figure out how to more effectively "run the damn ball". But right now, Mills is the only "run the damn ball" back he has.

 

[Headcard]

I think we are at a bit of a crossroads with our offense. We ran the ball a lot and ran a lot of option this year. I think that was out of necessity more than anything. We had no WR on the outside to stretch the field and make plays in the passing game, so we leaned heavy on the run game. Also, Luke, Vedral and AM run the option well and are among out best ball carriers. I believe Frost wants a more balanced offense 55/45 or 60/40, and probably does not want the QB's to carry the ball as much as they had to this year. However, if we can't get the playmakers we need on the outside to run the offense he wants, I see him transitioning to more of a spread/power/option run heavy offense.

 

[dand84]

I believe he will do whatever he has to do to win eventually. T.O. evolved him offense at least 3 times that I can remember. More or less a pro set kind of offense with QBs like Vince Ferragamo. Then to what we would traditionally call the option. Finally to more of a spread option look in the mid-90s.

Nothing is stopping Frost from the same evolution if needed. I just don't think his offensive concepts are all that bad. Our execution is bad and we are missing critical play makers that we normally have but when working correctly, it can move the ball and generate big plays.

 

[TheBeav815]

My hope is that there's more dedication to hammering in the run game with power backs like Mills and like the kid Marvin Scott III they have coming out of Florida.

Dude is a BRICK, he's 5'9 and squats a car and benches a slightly smaller car. His whole Hudl film is just him running through tackles and kids not wanting to hit him. We'll see how that translates in the land of 6'5 325 d-linemen who can rag-doll a 200 lb guy like it's nothing, but his balance looks very good on tape.

Mills runs hard but I wouldn't say his vision or balance are terrific by any means.

If teams have to worry that you can slice them between the tackles for first downs, suddenly it gets way harder to defend the wide and deep portions of the field. Guys like Wan'dale will explode when teams have to respect the presence of that hammer back with their eyes and feet first and they can't just go flood to where Wan'dale is.

 

[BeautifulDayintheNeighborhood]

We were 1 second from glory in 2009

 

[inWV]

My hope is that there's more dedication to hammering in the run game with power backs like Mills and like the kid they Marvin Scott III they have coming out of Florida.

Dude is a BRICK, he's 5'9 and squats a car and benches a slightly smaller car. His whole Hudl film is just him running through tackles and kids not wanting to hit him.

If teams have to worry that you can slice them between the tackles for first downs, suddenly it gets way harder to defend the wide and deep portions of the field. Guys like Wan'dale will explode when teams have to respect the presence of that hammer back with their eyes and feet first and they can't just go flood to where Wan'dale is.

This is the correct take, at least wrt the B1G. Too many athletic LBs that will flow to the perimeter and limit gains.

 

[Ewooc]

My hope is that there's more dedication to hammering in the run game with power backs like Mills and like the kid they Marvin Scott III they have coming out of Florida.

Dude is a BRICK, he's 5'9 and squats a car and benches a slightly smaller car. His whole Hudl film is just him running through tackles and kids not wanting to hit him.

If teams have to worry that you can slice them between the tackles for first downs, suddenly it gets way harder to defend the wide and deep portions of the field. Guys like Wan'dale will explode when teams have to respect the presence of that hammer back with their eyes and feet first and they can't just go flood to where Wan'dale is.

Teams weren't afraid of Martinez and his passing. They weren't afraid of us gashing them between the tackles. So basically their main goal was containing the edge. Hence why the F ing screen passes never worked. If we can get a guy who can destroy teams up the middle that will make team commit more to that area and leave the edges more vulnerable. If we can get a QB who can pass that creates even more havoc for D.

 

[TheBeav815]

Teams weren't afraid of Martinez and his passing. They weren't afraid of us gashing them between the tackles. So basically their main goal was containing the edge. Hence why the F ing screen passes never worked. If we can get a guy who can destroy teams up the middle that will make team commit more to that area and leave the edges more vulnerable. If we can get a QB who can pass that creates even more havoc for D.

Yep. We couldn't do anything well enough to open up the other areas of the offense. They tried it every which way but committing to making the offense learn to execute that damned zone game until it demanded respect and by that time we were so beat up it didn't matter much.

I think the WRs took an unfair amount of criticism for the offense trying to hide Adrian's injuries. Looking back on it, he couldn't throw all year and they really tried to act like that was the WRs fault for not being able to run down a football field. 59% on the year don't lie.

Not saying our WRs are great, but they're not THAT bad.

 

[bshirt73]

So I think this thread can actually be some constructive conversation and not turn into a bunch of name calling and stupid insults. This is all about the option and the old playbook. So here it goes....

I'm basing this opinion off the overall body of work in 2 years and also off of certain games like Iowa and Wisconsin. I've picked up on a few patterns that Frost does when the offense turns to a more power running emphasis.

Obviously, 2018, we didn't see any of it. There was obviously the standard spread running, but not like "Nebraska running". S&C obviously wasn't up to par either at the time so kinda tough to do all that when you simply can't blow people off the ball. When we faced teams like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa in 2018, it just didn't happen for obvious reasons.

2019. Small sample size but Ohio State, **** went wild and it worked for that small amount of time. I know they went back to it late in the game and it got stuffed, whatever that's fine. Some people have said Ohio State didn't prepare for it and that's fine, might be true, okay. Wisconsin, in my opinion, made a serious emphasis on running the ball, atleast the majority of the game, with Mills, and with the exception of about 3 plays, should have won that game. Iowa, half time, Frost said they were done being cute and were going to try to go win a game. Second half, pretty sure the first like 9 plays were all running plays with the option thrown in there. And it went very well.

My point is this, the pattern I'm picking up on is so far the longer that Frost has been here and has experienced the Big 10, the more often the old play book has shown itself, and has done very well in its appearances. I know Frost is all about the Oregon up-tempo spread offense stuff, but he's also an old school Nebraska Husker Power QB. I think there's a switch deep down in him that when he gets pissed off enough he reverts back to it because he knows it well and knows it works at Nebraska.


Prediction: Personnel is an entirely different discussion, but I think sometime within the next 3 years we're going to see an old school option dominated offense again. Not specific to either shot gun or under center though.


Very open to discussing personnel options though as I'm a little too young to have much knowledge about the option offense personnel.

A very nice post sir! I desperately hope you're correct & of course HCSF is a very sharp dude. Fluff-ball simply doesn't work in the vicious Big10 "unless" the opponent fears the running game. Yeah, I too think SF knows damn well we've got to return to a real-deal pipeline. I'd bet the ranch on it!

 

[Ewooc]

Yep. We couldn't do anything well enough to open up the other areas of the offense. They tried it every which way but committing to making the offense learn to execute that damned zone game until it demanded respect and by that time we were so beat up it didn't matter much.

I think the WRs took an unfair amount of criticism for the offense trying to hide Adrian's injuries. Looking back on it, he couldn't throw all year and they really tried to act like that was the WRs fault for not being able to run down a football field. 59% on the year don't lie.

Not saying our WRs are great, but they're not THAT bad.

I remember watching game 1 and I said to my buddy is Adrian hurt? That was my first impression. If it was an injury and he was the hurt that is total threw off his ability to pass and run, I don't understand why Frost didn't go with another QB. I would hope a healthy Vedral or McCaffrey would have been able to contribute more so than and injured Adrian. I get the sense the Frost is going to stick with Adrian no matter what or how poorly he plays. I really hope it was an injury holding back Martinez, others wise I think we are in for 2 more years of horrible QB play. As well as will probably end up losing McCaffrey to transfer.

 

[B1G RED RULES]

I get the sense from listening to Frost talk that he's sick of his team being physically pushed around and he'll want to do something about it.

Two years of his s&c and he is sick of being pushed around. Is there something manic about year 3 s&c?

 

[Jhollenbeck41]

Two years of his s&c and he is sick of being pushed around. Is there something manic about year 3 s&c?

Technically it’s more like a year and a half, and it’s still on going. It’s been well documented that they had to scale back workouts when they got here the first offseason because some guys just couldn’t handle it. So can you really count that? That’s almost like scratching and clawing from double bogey to get to par....in my opinion it was pretty obvious this year that they had made ground. Also something to be said for being “weight room strong” and “grown man strong”. A 23 year old R/S senior is sure as **** going to be just overall stronger than say a 20 R/S sophomore. Just comes with the territory of physically maturing into a grown man. I think that concept often gets over looked. Never say die mindset matters too. Just kinda rambling and spit ballin. Not sure how many people on here are on a serious weight lifting routine for an extended period of time but I’m sure they’d agree that they’re much stronger and in better shape now than they were 2 and 3 years ago

 

[BleedRed78]

Technically it’s more like a year and a half, and it’s still on going. It’s been well documented that they had to scale back workouts when they got here the first offseason because some guys just couldn’t handle it. So can you really count that? That’s almost like scratching and clawing from double bogey to get to par....in my opinion it was pretty obvious this year that they had made ground. Also something to be said for being “weight room strong” and “grown man strong”. A 23 year old R/S senior is sure as **** going to be just overall stronger than say a 20 R/S sophomore. Just comes with the territory of physically maturing into a grown man. I think that concept often gets over looked. Never say die mindset matters too. Just kinda rambling and spit ballin. Not sure how many people on here are on a serious weight lifting routine for an extended period of time but I’m sure they’d agree that they’re much stronger and in better shape now than they were 2 and 3 years ago

Absolutely. It was nice watching us play Iowa this year and our d line hold their own and even disrupt often. Much better than how we got pushed around last season. O line was decent too, except maybe Hixon. Epenesa had his way with him and realized he didn't even need to bother with Jaimes lol.

 

[Lincoln100]

I remember watching game 1 and I said to my buddy is Adrian hurt? That was my first impression. If it was an injury and he was the hurt that is total threw off his ability to pass and run, I don't understand why Frost didn't go with another QB. I would hope a healthy Vedral or McCaffrey would have been able to contribute more so than and injured Adrian. I get the sense the Frost is going to stick with Adrian no matter what or how poorly he plays. I really hope it was an injury holding back Martinez, others wise I think we are in for 2 more years of horrible QB play. As well as will probably end up losing McCaffrey to transfer.

Even if he sticks with Martinez, I would think McCaffrey is still going to get plenty of action both with packages as qb and in skill
position roles and won’t be going anywhere. His chances of going to the NFL might be better playing a different position, so he may be okay with being moved around.

 

[BleedRed78]

Even if he sticks with Martinez, I would think McCaffrey is still going to get plenty of action both with packages as qb and in skill
position roles and won’t be going anywhere. His chances of going to the NFL might be better playing a different position, so he may be okay with being moved around.

Imagine getting him some reps at runningback, lined up next to Martinez (IF Martinez is starter). Direct snap anyone? Dual option threat with either one pitching or carrying? Watch out!

Then motion him out to receiver, jet sweep pass play with option to scramble. Too many things that can be done with a weapon like McCaffrey! He could easily be like a Taysom Hill for us is hes not the starter. Matchup nightmare!

 

[Jhollenbeck41]

Absolutely. It was nice watching us play Iowa this year and our d line hold their own and even disrupt often. Much better than how we got pushed around last season. O line was decent too, except maybe Hixon. Epenesa had his way with him and realized he didn't even need to bother with Jaimes lol.

That one right there just comes down to pure talent. Epenesa is just better. That's recruiting and talent.

 

[bshirt73]

Absolutely. It was nice watching us play Iowa this year and our d line hold their own and even disrupt often. Much better than how we got pushed around last season. O line was decent too, except maybe Hixon. Epenesa had his way with him and realized he didn't even need to bother with Jaimes lol.

Yes sir, you're 100% correct. I was downright shaky getting ready for the Wisconsin game. I thought for sure they would simply run over us. Haha.....and I was totally dead wrong! I could hardly believe my eyes. I was thinking maybe it was just a huge fluke but then the Iowa game showed it again. Wow......truly massive improvement.

That above all else gives me good hopes for NU. If HCSF can somehow get even average results with our special teams we're going to be rough sledding for the Big10. Well, except Ohio State "but" when we do get a real-deal pipeline we'll be a load for anybody.

 

[jlb321_rivals110621]

Yes sir, you're 100% correct. I was downright shaky getting ready for the Wisconsin game. I thought for sure they would simply run over us. Haha.....and I was totally dead wrong! I could hardly believe my eyes. I was thinking maybe it was just a huge fluke but then the Iowa game showed it again. Wow......truly massive improvement.

That above all else gives me good hopes for NU. If HCSF can somehow get even average results with our special teams we're going to be rough sledding for the Big10. Well, except Ohio State "but" when we do get a real-deal pipeline we'll be a load for anybody.

with respect -- both Iowa and Wisconsin averaged over 7 yards per carry in those games
they did, however, have less total rushing yards than they did versus 2018

 

[Jhollenbeck41]

with respect -- both Iowa and Wisconsin averaged over 7 yards per carry in those games
they did, however, have less total rushing yards than they did versus 2018

I think the overall concept is this, Jonathon Taylor didn't single handedly put on a rushing clinic against us, and neither Iowa's O-Line or D-Line had their way with us. That right here is tangible and visible progress. Now just need to recruit better talent than what's already there and develop that. I do think the player development in the weight room over the last year certainly showed though when it needed to.

 

[bshirt73]

with respect -- both Iowa and Wisconsin averaged over 7 yards per carry in those games
they did, however, have less total rushing yards than they did versus 2018

Yes, that's true sir. However, NU averaged more yds per rush than Wisconsin (7.4 - 7.1) "and" had almost as many yards rushing as Wisconsin (320-273).

To me, that's way, wayyyyy better than several previous games vs the Cheeseheads.

Yes, Iowa had 18 plays for 191 yards in the first quarter but just 131 yards on 38 plays for the remainder of the game. The stats are not that good vs Iowa but really Iowa didn't run the ball that much (total 225 yds...especially after the 1st qtr) and Epenesa (easily one of the best DEs in the nation) was a problem. Imo, essentially their long FG kicker & our special teams beat us. Not our linemen.

Heh, anyways partner, that's my take.....Winking

 

[jlb321_rivals110621]

I think the overall concept is this, Jonathon Taylor didn't single handedly put on a rushing clinic against us, and neither Iowa's O-Line or D-Line had their way with us. That right here is tangible and visible progress. Now just need to recruit better talent than what's already there and develop that. I do think the player development in the weight room over the last year certainly showed though when it needed to.

all very reasonable conclusions ... for me personally, I struggle ( as I'm sure you know) when I look at the entirety of the outcome - I can see if the Iowa and Wisconsin games were different than the year prior but they were almost carbon copies

in 2018 we lost to Wisc by 17 in 2019 we lost by 16
Iowa 2018 vs 2019 we almost exactly the same

both those games were at home rather on the road

I realize the paths taken to get to the outcome may have been different but the outcomes for those games and for the season as a whole were essentially the same as 2018

so if the 2018 and 2019 outcomes were similar - progress in areas A,B and C would likely have to have been nullified by regression in areas D,E and F

I have a harder time looking at those two games or the season as a whole and seeing programmatic improvement from year 1 despite certainly being able to point out valid areas of individual improvement

hopefully during the offseason and into next year we can continue to improve in the areas mentioned as well as show significant improvement in the areas that may have regressed rather than ending the year with a zero sum gain



sorry for crapping on the thread

 

[Jhollenbeck41]

all very reasonable conclusions ... for me personally, I struggle ( as I'm sure you know) when I look at the entirety of the outcome - I can see if the Iowa and Wisconsin games were different than the year prior but they were almost carbon copies

in 2018 we lost to Wisc by 17 in 2019 we lost by 16
Iowa 2018 vs 2019 we almost exactly the same

both those games were at home rather on the road

I realize the paths that were taken to get to the outcome may have been different but the outcomes for those games and for the season as a whole were the same as 2018

so if the 2018 and 2019 outcomes were similar - progress in areas A,B and C would likely have to have been nullified by regression in areas D,E and F

I have a harder time looking at those two games or the season as a whole and seeing programmatic improvement from year 1 despite certainly being able to point out valid areas of individual improvement

hopefully during the offseason and into next year we can continue to improve in the areas mentioned as well as show significant improvement in the areas that may have regressed rather than ending the year with a zero sum gain



sorry for crapping on the thread

I mean realistically you're not wrong. I guess just judging off the last two years alone, just seems that when one side is not clicking, the other is not. Not sure if you consider that progress or not, or if it's just figuring out how to be a complete team and win games that matter. I guess that in itself is figuring out how to progress to the next step as a team.

 

[-LVhusker-]

My hope is that there's more dedication to hammering in the run game with power backs like Mills and like the kid Marvin Scott III they have coming out of Florida.

Dude is a BRICK, he's 5'9 and squats a car and benches a slightly smaller car. His whole Hudl film is just him running through tackles and kids not wanting to hit him. We'll see how that translates in the land of 6'5 325 d-linemen who can rag-doll a 200 lb guy like it's nothing, but his balance looks very good on tape.

Hopefully we have a guy that can do this next year.