People equate bad outcomes to coaching mistakes. They have no insight into whether the play called was able to exploit the defense. They provide no reasonable alternative. Only results based opinions. If it didn’t work, it was a bad call. So simplistic. Especially with a new staff and new roster where they are still figuring each other out.
On the 3 and out series in the fourth quarter I propose they should have run the ball with play action mixed in if necessary.
The previous NU possession went 80 yards and took 7:37 off the clock. It used 9 runs and 3 passes, of which one was incomplete. The series resulted in a NU FG. After that drive NU laid wood on the kickoff returner sparking our bench. MU went 3 and out in 27 seconds and punted. Nebraska fans were stoked and loud, MU's defense came out looking tired, The MU fans and bench looked worried, and the TV announcers were lauding Rhule for bringing smashmouth 4th Q football back to Nebraska just like Trev Alberts wanted. Needless to say I was beyond astonished at the three passes starting at 12:16 left to play. That just sucked the air out of our MO. It doesn't matter that Hill was wide open and Sims missed the pass or that the next one was there if the ball wasn't tipped. Going away from running, which they had been at 5 or 6 yards a pop the previous series was horrible coaching in my opinion. Why, why, why???? At worst if you burn off two minutes going 3 and out the game would have gone into OT even with the Grant fumble later.
Here is the breakdown of the preceding series:
80 yard drive 7 minutes 37 seconds
3rd Q 5:19 remaining from NU 11 yard line after interception
Ervin 27 yard run
Ervin 4 yard run
Lloyd 9 yard run
Washington 15 yard reception off play action
Grant loss of 1
Sims 7 yard run
Sims 4 yard run
Sims 7 yard run
End of 3rd quarter
Ervin 6 yard run
Boerkircher 4 yard reception to Minny 4
Boerkircher false start (negating Grant run w/3 blockers)
Incomplete pass to Castinada
Sims 1 yard run, drive stalls at Minny 9
Alvano FG, time 12:43
P.S. What happened to Alexander DeLarge?