I would expect some deep throws on Saturday

[eastbaycat99]

In the two games so far, the Cats have thrown only a few intermediate passes, and I can only remember one (against Maryland) of more than 30 yards, and it was incomplete.

Ramsey didn’t need to throw deep against the Terps because the coverage was so soft it let room underneath, while against Iowa the weather conditions pretty much ruled it out.

From what I have seen, Erik Chinander likes his secondary to be aggressive, and I would expect them to both crowd the line of scrimmage and weight their assignments toward run support, since running the ball is both what the Cats have done and what they have done best.

The weather is supposed to be ideal on Saturday, so I would really expect Ramsey to throw deep off play action early, and possibly more than he will in any other game this year.

The Huskers are coming in with a chip on their shoulders and with two weeks of pent up energy in their legs. Chinander’s teams, in the few years they have been in the B1G, have tended to favor flying to the ball over positional integrity (remember that on the interception that set up their winning score against the Cats last year, their safety, CB and OLB all were wildly out of position leaving Riley Lees wide open deep and required the flattening of RCB on an uncalled PI to prevent a substantial gain underneath. With all the problems the Cat’s receivers had last year, the Huskers DBacks read run and left two NU receivers wide open on the most critical play of the game).

I really expect that Bajakian will want to slow down the Huskers providing run support, and I expect the Husker DB’s will allow one of the wideouts to test them early and get open. And unlike Aiden Smith, I think Ramsey will recognize the situation when someone is getting open and try to get the ball to him.

 

[SpiroCAT]

And has been said in other threads, Nebby's two starters at CB are out the first half due to targeting carryovers.....

 

[corbi2961]

In the two games so far, the Cats have thrown only a few intermediate passes, and I can only remember one (against Maryland) of more than 30 yards, and it was incomplete.

Ramsey didn’t need to throw deep against the Terps because the coverage was so soft it let room underneath, while against Iowa the weather conditions pretty much ruled it out.

From what I have seen, Erik Chinander likes his secondary to be aggressive, and I would expect them to both crowd the line of scrimmage and weight their assignments toward run support, since running the ball is both what the Cats have done and what they have done best.

The weather is supposed to be ideal on Saturday, so I would really expect Ramsey to throw deep off play action early, and possibly more than he will in any other game this year.

The Huskers are coming in with a chip on their shoulders and with two weeks of pent up energy in their legs. Chinander’s teams, in the few years they have been in the B1G, have tended to favor flying to the ball over positional integrity (remember that on the interception that set up their winning score against the Cats last year, their safety, CB and OLB all were wildly out of position leaving Riley Lees wide open deep and required the flattening of RCB on an uncalled PI to prevent a substantial gain underneath. With all the problems the Cat’s receivers had last year, the Huskers DBacks read run and left two NU receivers wide open on the most critical play of the game).

I really expect that Bajakian will want to slow down the Huskers providing run support, and I expect the Husker DB’s will allow one of the wideouts to test them early and get open. And unlike Aiden Smith, I think Ramsey will recognize the situation when someone is getting open and try to get the ball to him.

I agree and it will be early to take advantage of the Huskers having two of their defensive backfield starters out in the first half due to targeting fouls. Watch for McGowan to have a big game on Saturday.

 

[Deeringfish]

I agree and it will be early to take advantage of the Huskers having two of their defensive backfield starters out in the first half due to targeting fouls. Watch for McGowan to have a big game on Saturday.

Are we over thinking this a little? It's not like they will be playing with only 9 guys on the field. The replacement starters are still great athletes and will have had 2 weeks to prepare for the Cats. I think the best we can hope for is that they will be gassed at the position toward the end of the first half because of the lack of depth.

 

[Donatello Cat]

Are we over thinking this a little? It's not like they will be playing with only 9 guys on the field. The replacement starters are still great athletes and will have had 2 weeks to prepare for the Cats. I think the best we can hope for is that they will be gassed at the position toward the end of the first half because of the lack of depth.

first of all, we don't know that they won't be playing with 9 guys on the field. maryland chose to do so in their goal line defense, after all.

but beyond that . . . I do think it's reasonable to assume that the starters are their best players at that position, and therefore that there is some level of drop-off with them out. so why not attack an area where their best players are missing?

 

[DaCat]

first of all, we don't know that they won't be playing with 9 guys on the field. maryland chose to do so in their goal line defense, after all.

but beyond that . . . I do think it's reasonable to assume that the starters are their best players at that position, and therefore that there is some level of drop-off with them out. so why not attack an area where their best players are missing?

We have to test them, it would be foolish not to. Dial in the touchdown play.

 

[eastbaycat99]

Are we over thinking this a little? It's not like they will be playing with only 9 guys on the field. The replacement starters are still great athletes and will have had 2 weeks to prepare for the Cats. I think the best we can hope for is that they will be gassed at the position toward the end of the first half because of the lack of depth.

I really think with the Nebraska team at this point, the design of the defense is far more important than having two relatively inexperienced but sufficiently quick, strong DB’s playing for regular starters. The design is to make big plays at the cost of making some mistakes (the opposite of the Hankwitz design) and the game plan will be to favor stopping the run. If the Cats fail to exploit that, it could be a long, humiliating afternoon for our boys, since UNL has enough explosiveness on offense to score about 3 TDS on its own (unlike Iowa), and a few early turnovers leading to points would create a hole the Cats can’t crawl out of. On the other hand, if the Cats show they can hit open deep receivers, the resulting confusion on UNL’s part could open a blowout for the Cats. Nebraska’s D has made a lot of mistakes the last few years, independent of the quality of the players. They will continue to make mistakes, even with better players. If the UNL defense has to defend the deep ball, there will be sufficient open receivers underneath for Ramsey to carve them up like a premature Thanksgiving turkey.

 

[Cornicator]

And has been said in other threads, Nebby's two starters at CB are out the first half due to targeting carryovers.....

Technically 1 CB and 1 Safety - CB Cam Taylor-Britt and S Deontai Williams.

 

[saltsdogg1]

And has been said in other threads, Nebby's two starters at CB are out the first half due to targeting carryovers.....

wrong, its a safety and a CB out for the first half of the game and it’s absolutely bull crap. The worst case, it’s should only be Cam Taylor-Britt. Deonte Williams hit was as clean as it gets. Shoulder the chest. Only reason he was flagged was because it was a hard hit similar to the hits Ronnie Lott and those old time safeties used to deliver. No worries, the Huskers have plenty of talent in the secondary to make up for a single half.

 

[Seattle_Cat]

How was Ramsey on deep throws last season? Did he throw many? How much success did he have?

 

[eastbaycat99]

How was Ramsey on deep throws last season? Did he throw many? How much success did he have?

While he clearly does not have a rifle for an arm, against UNL last year he hit two, one over a cheating Husker defense (about 25 yards past LOS) that went for 40 with run after catch, and one for 35 where receiver was brought down immediately. Overall, his stat line in that game was 27-40 351 yds, 2 tds, 1 int and 9 rushes for 42 yds and 1 TD. I would love to see those identical numbers repeated tomorrow.

As I said, Nebraska defenses under their current coordinator have been prone to breakdowns. Smart QB play has exploited the breakdowns. While most of the analyses I have seen have focused on whether the Cats can contain the two headed QB combo or whether the UNL defense can stifle the NU running game, I think the real key will be whether the Nebraska defense has matured to a point where they can a savvy avoid quarterback from picking them apart.

 

[CSCatFan1]

wrong, its a safety and a CB out for the first half of the game and it’s absolutely bull crap. The worst case, it’s should only be Cam Taylor-Britt. Deonte Williams hit was as clean as it gets. Shoulder the chest. Only reason he was flagged was because it was a hard hit similar to the hits Ronnie Lott and those old time safeties used to deliver. No worries, the Huskers have plenty of talent in the secondary to make up for a single half.

Good to know. I was worried there would be a fall off.

 

[Kawacko71]

In the two games so far, the Cats have thrown only a few intermediate passes, and I can only remember one (against Maryland) of more than 30 yards, and it was incomplete.

Ramsey didn’t need to throw deep against the Terps because the coverage was so soft it let room underneath, while against Iowa the weather conditions pretty much ruled it out.

From what I have seen, Erik Chinander likes his secondary to be aggressive, and I would expect them to both crowd the line of scrimmage and weight their assignments toward run support, since running the ball is both what the Cats have done and what they have done best.

The weather is supposed to be ideal on Saturday, so I would really expect Ramsey to throw deep off play action early, and possibly more than he will in any other game this year.

The Huskers are coming in with a chip on their shoulders and with two weeks of pent up energy in their legs. Chinander’s teams, in the few years they have been in the B1G, have tended to favor flying to the ball over positional integrity (remember that on the interception that set up their winning score against the Cats last year, their safety, CB and OLB all were wildly out of position leaving Riley Lees wide open deep and required the flattening of RCB on an uncalled PI to prevent a substantial gain underneath. With all the problems the Cat’s receivers had last year, the Huskers DBacks read run and left two NU receivers wide open on the most critical play of the game).

I really expect that Bajakian will want to slow down the Huskers providing run support, and I expect the Husker DB’s will allow one of the wideouts to test them early and get open. And unlike Aiden Smith, I think Ramsey will recognize the situation when someone is getting open and try to get the ball to him.

Who are the potential deep theats?

 

[Titanium999]

I really think with the Nebraska team at this point, the design of the defense is far more important than having two relatively inexperienced but sufficiently quick, strong DB’s playing for regular starters. The design is to make big plays at the cost of making some mistakes (the opposite of the Hankwitz design) and the game plan will be to favor stopping the run. If the Cats fail to exploit that, it could be a long, humiliating afternoon for our boys, since UNL has enough explosiveness on offense to score about 3 TDS on its own (unlike Iowa), and a few early turnovers leading to points would create a hole the Cats can’t crawl out of. On the other hand, if the Cats show they can hit open deep receivers, the resulting confusion on UNL’s part could open a blowout for the Cats. Nebraska’s D has made a lot of mistakes the last few years, independent of the quality of the players. They will continue to make mistakes, even with better players. If the UNL defense has to defend the deep ball, there will be sufficient open receivers underneath for Ramsey to carve them up like a premature Thanksgiving turkey.

Depends on Bowser! If Bowser is healthy, they will have to stack the box to stop em! Allowing for over the top throws! If they are in two deep zone, forgetaboutit! Dink and dunk!

 

[corbi2961]

Who are the potential deep theats?

Start with McGowan.

 

[Deeringfish]

wrong, its a safety and a CB out for the first half of the game and it’s absolutely bull crap. The worst case, it’s should only be Cam Taylor-Britt. Deonte Williams hit was as clean as it gets. Shoulder the chest. Only reason he was flagged was because it was a hard hit similar to the hits Ronnie Lott and those old time safeties used to deliver. No worries, the Huskers have plenty of talent in the secondary to make up for a single half.

I think we have all had guys tossed for targeting that we thought were bad calls. It's a killer penalty when it carries over to the next game.
When I watch a neutral game where I don't care who wins, I find myself thinking it's important for the refs to protect the players and make tacklers keep their heads up and practice non targeting technique and discipline.
Sometimes I think that the offensive players should be called. It's a dangerous sport. They do what they can to keep it from being deadly.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Good to know. I was worried there would be a fall off.

Dude is slightly passive aggressive.

 

[JabroniBlvd]

Nebraska's defense usually plays way soft coverage and never crowds the LOS...Chinander has not been a good DC for Nebraska so far. I also think that with NW having no real playmakers we will see more blitzes etc.

 

[eastbaycat99]

Nebraska's defense usually plays way soft coverage and never crowds the LOS...Chinander has not been a good DC for Nebraska so far. I also think that with NW having no real playmakers we will see more blitzes etc.

I guess the World Herald and Lincoln Journal beat writers who reported that the staff told them that against OSU the secondary played “back to front” due to the Buck’s explosive receivers and that they were looking forward to being able to move the secondary up this week were being fed misinformation. I hope you are right, because Ramsey is really good at finding receivers under coverage. I do agree completely with you that Chinander has not done well yet; he seems more suited for a mid major rather than the B1G.

 

[corbi2961]

Nebraska's defense usually plays way soft coverage and never crowds the LOS...Chinander has not been a good DC for Nebraska so far. I also think that with NW having no real playmakers we will see more blitzes etc.

LOL. GTFO

 

[corbi2961]

Nebraska's defense usually plays way soft coverage and never crowds the LOS...Chinander has not been a good DC for Nebraska so far. I also think that with NW having no real playmakers we will see more blitzes etc.

Drake Anderson is a real playmaker!