Wandale vs Betts

Suhrreal

All-Conference
Jun 1, 2009
7,380
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Certainly can't complain. Loved the deep shot AM took when he was one on one. Also, I think in AM's post game interview he mentioned they setup the option play during half time and Frost specifically picked Betts to be the guy.


Random side note.... how did Northwestern come into this game unprepared for the option? Very strange for a typically well coached team.

I said it in the CTB thread but NW's CBs were horrible in run support. I don't think they were unprepared, they just looked like they would rather be blocked than make a tackle in the run game. Perimeter game becomes very effective when DBs are scared like this as we found out a few years back.
 

HuskerAlum92

Junior
Jan 8, 2007
4,733
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But you are writing it as if it were fact.

The year before Spielman had more receptions.

From 2020 to 2021 his rushes per game dropped almost 3 carries per game he went from almost 9 per to almost 6 per.
9 carries a game and 6 carries a game are both way too much over the course of the season for such a small guy in the B1G. In comparison, he has less carries than games played for Kentucky. And when he was “only” getting pounded to the tune of 6 carries a game, he was also our leading receiver with 3x the catches as the #2 guy.

So, it is true that Wandale was relied upon too heavily for every season Frost had him at his disposal. It’s your contention that he would just be another guy here this year. Believe what you want.
 

HikingHusker

Redshirt
Sep 28, 2021
373
0
0
I said it in the CTB thread but NW's CBs were horrible in run support. I don't think they were unprepared, they just looked like they would rather be blocked than make a tackle in the run game. Perimeter game becomes very effective when DBs are scared like this as we found out a few years back.
They did get trucked a few times and were not very aggressive, but I was more referring to the fact there was one guy out there for the QB and pitch man.

It has been a fantastic addition to the offense and AM is very smooth running it. Our WR threat over the top should keep the safeties from flying down in support too. Michigan's defense looked like the real deal against Wisc... I'm anxious to watch us run it against them.
 
Aug 18, 2016
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9 carries a game and 6 carries a game are both way too much over the course of the season for such a small guy in the B1G. In comparison, he has less carries than games played for Kentucky. And when he was “only” getting pounded to the tune of 6 carries a game, he was also our leading receiver with 3x the catches as the #2 guy.

So, it is true that Wandale was relied upon too heavily for every season Frost had him at his disposal. It’s your contention that he would just be another guy here this year. Believe what you want.
Yes, when Nebraska had Spielman, Washington and Mills were at Nebraska, he was the 3rd leading rusher because Washington was dismissed from the team after 7 games. Robinson had 3 games where he had extensive carries
Illinois 19 carries
Purdue 22 carries
Indiana 14 carries

In the Purdue and Indiana games, Washington wasn't on the team, and against Illinois, Mills had 12 carries, Washington 10, and Nebraska won the game.

In the 7 other games Robinson played in 2019 he averaged about 4 carries per game, for reference, Otis Anderson the FR Wide Receiver for UCF in 2017 averaged 5.75 per game. Without Washington, his carries increased. In those 7 games he and Spielman averaged about 4 receptions per game. So for the first 7 games, he was just another guy.

In 2020, with Spielman gone his production went up in part because Manning couldn't get on the field, Betts was only a partial factor and the WR core was basically a bunch of walk ons. Again the 5.75 rushes were equal to what Anderson had at UCF. McCaffrey, Martinez and Mills had the bulk of the carries.

In 2020 there was few if any options at WR and the QB struggled to throw the ball further than 10 yards downfield.

Based on his numbers in 2019 as a freshman and his numbers in 2021 at Kentucky, he is fine just being another option. Over the course of his career, when Frost has had multiple options at WR and RB he has used those options.

Believe what you want.
 

ryanbruner

Heisman
Sep 10, 2017
13,744
22,111
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Wandale is not a good player to have your entire offense revolve around, as it did during his time here. You just don’t break out into open space much when the defense is keyed in on you.

He is a tremendous player when he has talent surrounding him, as he would this year with us. It’s too bad he’s gone but oh well, we have playmakers. The line has been the problem.
Kentucky’s entire offense revolves around him and they’re 5-0
 

99_BoothBalloons

All-Conference
Jan 26, 2018
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Kentucky’s entire offense revolves around him and they’re 5-0
He is making more plays than he did at Nebraska, but they also aren’t winning because of their offense. They’ve played an easy schedule till their nice defense-led upset of Florida.
 

jhchusker

Freshman
Dec 4, 2008
287
91
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It's not either/or. They have different skills and are vasty different athletes.

I think Wandale was more mature and ready to play early. He isn't nearly as fast, but is quicker and makes people miss in space. Betts has more straight ahead speed.

I am disappointed that Wandale left, but he's playing very well for Kentucky against SEC competition. It may turn out to be the right thing for both Nebraska and Robinson.
Who saw Wandale make people miss in space? On most touches, whether pass, pitch or run he would be taken down by one defender and looked like the ball in a pinball game. If Stoops has figured out a way for blockers to protect him then more power to him.
 

gw2kpro

All-Conference
Dec 2, 2007
3,986
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Kentucky’s entire offense revolves around him

This season, he had 5 touches in game 1

8 touches in game 2

8 touches in game 3

8 touches in game 4

4 touches in game 5

33 total touches through 5 games. Fewer touches than Stepp (37) has through the same number of games.

He's a compliment to their offense, and has been efficient, made a big play in every game.

Which is how he should have been used here. And likely would have been except that we had 149 transfers out plus injuries.

How we used him last season (97 touches through 8 games -- twice as many as he is getting at Kentucky) positioned him as the focal point of the offense.

Add him to this year's offense, in the role that he should be playing (5 catches a game with one of them going to the house) and it would be fun to watch.
 
Last edited:
Aug 18, 2016
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This season, he had 5 touches in game 1

8 touches in game 2

8 touches in game 3

8 touches in game 4

4 touches in game 5

33 total touches through 5 games. Fewer touches than Stepp (37) has through the same number of games.

He's a compliment to their offense, and has been efficient, made a big play in every game.

Which is how he should have been used here. And likely would have been except that we had 149 transfers out plus injuries.

How we used him last season (97 touches through 8 games -- twice as many as he is getting at Kentucky) positioned him as the focal point of the offense.

Add him to this year's offense, in the role that he should be playing (5 catches a game with one of them going to the house) and it would be fun to watch.
Exactly - through 6 games
Toure 29 touches
Manning 14 touches
Betts 14 touches
 

Hail Varsity

All-Conference
Jul 17, 2001
10,114
4,773
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Who saw Wandale make people miss in space? On most touches, whether pass, pitch or run he would be taken down by one defender and looked like the ball in a pinball game. If Stoops has figured out a way for blockers to protect him then more power to him.
We will agree to disagree if that's your opinion. Take a look at the highlights during his time at Nebraska and tell me he didn't make people miss in space. As for Stoops protecting him, he's used almost exclusively as a receiver , not a running back, so he's just running routes and making plays.
 

BleedRed78

Redshirt
Oct 22, 2019
3,466
0
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Is it just me, or does anybody get the vibe that Wandales dad is more in control and benefiting from this kids career than he is? Lol almost appears like someone trying to use his kids talents to funnel money to himself...

I hope I'm wrong, as I like to assume the best in people...even though they tend to prove me wrong time and time again.
 

leodisflowers

Senior
Feb 25, 2011
14,801
808
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Is it just me, or does anybody get the vibe that Wandales dad is more in control and benefiting from this kids career than he is? Lol almost appears like someone trying to use his kids talents to funnel money to himself...

I hope I'm wrong, as I like to assume the best in people...even though they tend to prove me wrong time and time again.
I’ve heard that’s part of the reason he went back. Obviously lots of factors but I agree
 

Bigredhunter

All-Conference
Mar 4, 2009
2,625
1,038
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Yes, when Nebraska had Spielman, Washington and Mills were at Nebraska, he was the 3rd leading rusher because Washington was dismissed from the team after 7 games. Robinson had 3 games where he had extensive carries
Illinois 19 carries
Purdue 22 carries
Indiana 14 carries

In the Purdue and Indiana games, Washington wasn't on the team, and against Illinois, Mills had 12 carries, Washington 10, and Nebraska won the game.

In the 7 other games Robinson played in 2019 he averaged about 4 carries per game, for reference, Otis Anderson the FR Wide Receiver for UCF in 2017 averaged 5.75 per game. Without Washington, his carries increased. In those 7 games he and Spielman averaged about 4 receptions per game. So for the first 7 games, he was just another guy.

In 2020, with Spielman gone his production went up in part because Manning couldn't get on the field, Betts was only a partial factor and the WR core was basically a bunch of walk ons. Again the 5.75 rushes were equal to what Anderson had at UCF. McCaffrey, Martinez and Mills had the bulk of the carries.

In 2020 there was few if any options at WR and the QB struggled to throw the ball further than 10 yards downfield.

Based on his numbers in 2019 as a freshman and his numbers in 2021 at Kentucky, he is fine just being another option. Over the course of his career, when Frost has had multiple options at WR and RB he has used those options.

Believe what you want.
How do you think WanDale would have fit in this year with all the surrounding talent we have at WR?

Held mentioned a number of times that no RB had stepped up and took the position. Do you think WanDale would still have taken 10 plus snaps a game at RB this season?
 
Aug 18, 2016
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How do you think WanDale would have fit in this year with all the surrounding talent we have at WR?

Held mentioned a number of times that no RB had stepped up and took the position. Do you think WanDale would still have taken 10 plus snaps a game at RB this season?
He would have simply added to the talent at WR.

no snaps at RB outside of plays that bring Toure into the backfield.
 

inWV

All-Conference
Sep 22, 2007
14,189
4,837
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He would have simply added to the talent at WR.

no snaps at RB outside of plays that bring Toure into the backfield.
Wandale and Dad didn’t like how he was used. But I doubt they would like just being added talent either. Betts, Toure, Manning and Martin are working well at WR. Falck is reliable. Betts and Toure have also been productive in the option game.
 
Aug 18, 2016
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Wandale and Dad didn’t like how he was used. But I doubt they would like just being added talent either. Betts, Toure, Manning and Martin are working well at WR. Falck is reliable. Betts and Toure have also been productive in the option game.
He asked my opinion on how I thought Robinson would be used. Not what is daddy‘s opinion would be or if he would like it.