Held on RBs
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I watched that conference and frankly thought it was less than informative. He didn't answer questions, he talked about where the kid came from, their family and HS program and all that but didn't get down to nuts and bolts.
I am not sure we learned much from the spring game - Yant was the star there and now he isn't even mentioned.
Personally, I am less concerned about speed than I am reading blocks and setting up blocks. The speed doesn't help if you can't do those things unless you just want to try and outrun everyone like Mo Wash did. With the injuries it is hard to judge but just from a small sample in the spring game, I really liked the vision and setting up blocks by Ervin. I am not convinced Stepp can stay healthy. Seems like he plays a day and then needs a day to recover.
I am not sure we learned much from the spring game - Yant was the star there and now he isn't even mentioned.
Personally, I am less concerned about speed than I am reading blocks and setting up blocks. The speed doesn't help if you can't do those things unless you just want to try and outrun everyone like Mo Wash did. With the injuries it is hard to judge but just from a small sample in the spring game, I really liked the vision and setting up blocks by Ervin. I am not convinced Stepp can stay healthy. Seems like he plays a day and then needs a day to recover.
They usually travel with 5 backs. So first travel roster should tell a lot. Not sure why they put Yant on scholarship.
I actually give a lot of props to Rahmir. He may not be the best running back, but he continues to work hard and hasn't entered the portal because he has been overtaken. I'd still like him to try to return kicks or find a way to get his speed on the field, but kudos to him for not moving on.
I had kind of discounted Morrison as the invisible man. I've only heard one guy promote him as a viable option in the RB rotation.
I could see one leaving maybe but the number of guys who didn't find new scholarships in the portal this last go around may discourage some from entering the portal unless they have somebody actively recruiting them. IF we had 5 scholarship backs last year they would have all played. Our problem last year was that at times we only had one healthy back at 100% for several games. A kid has to realize that he'll probably get his shot if he sticks around.
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Sevion has the tools to be a very nice back for NU. He apparently put in the work and got his body right this summer. There will actually be competition for carries this season.
Obviously he's done the work. Hopefully we get to see some of the breakaway speed from him that he was billed as having when we recruited him.
We say these names: Sevion, Rahmir, Scott… I have very little sense for what makes each of these guys unique? What’s their skill set? Watching last year I never got any sense of identity from any of them. Even when “what’s his name” was out. JUCO homecoming king.
even with ozigbo it took him all year to turn the corner. Why can’t we have an RB with an identity right away?
even with ozigbo it took him all year to turn the corner. Why can’t we have an RB with an identity right away?
I am so sick of the term "identity". This team has an identity. It's the same identity that Oregon and Ohio State have had without the Ws yet. We're a spread option team that wants to get it's playmakers in space one on one with slower defender.
A back is what he is. Mills was largely a straight ahead one cut big back. Mo Washington was a bounce it outside speed back. Some of the reason Devine didn't show up early is Devine. He admitted that he needed to change his attitude. IMO, Scott is a guy who could break some tackles and get tough yards. Sounds like Stepp is more along that line. Plant the foot and get up field carrying guys with him. We'll find out what Morrison and Ervin are good at soon enough but if the spring game is any indication, Ervin has it all. He has some wiggle to make guys miss, the speed to get the corner and he's strong enough to break some tackles.
If 100% I would expect Stepp to start at IL due to his D1 experience and wanting to make a statement at the beginning of the game we intend to run the ball. I expect Morrison to get in next based on both Frost and Held talking him up in the PCs, him having a year in the playbook, and his speed as a counter to Stepp's power. I'd expect Ervin to get the next shot based on his versatility, ability to pass block, the good things that have been reported he is doing in camp, and what my eyes saw in the Spring Game. I'm not sure where Scott fits into all this. He seemed to be the heir apparent after the spring game when it was implied Stepp might not be 100% by fall, but he seems to have fallen off the radar a bit. And I hope Yant hangs in there and keeps his head in the right place, I suspect we are going to need him down the road and on the goal line.
This is pretty well said, except that it's not reality. We want to be a spread option team that finds mismatches in space, but that's not how we play nor is it how HCSF calls games, at least thus far.
Part of that is all the injuries and little to no depth we've had the last few years as he turned the roster over, but some of it is his weak play calling, lack of commitment to the running game, and inability to adjust (being stubborn) when it was the clear the system was better defended by Big 10 defenses and we lacked the necessary playmakers.
We lack an identity because our coach is still searching for his. Until he finds it in game planning and play calling, we are going to continue to look like hot garbage on offense. He has the ability and resources, it's only a question of whether his ego will allow the change.
Facts: We have unproven WRs at best Our OL has been awful but expected to improve just from gaining experience. Our QB has little to no ability to make quick, correct decisions in the passing game. However, we have three running backs the coaches have publicly identified as separating themselves.
Seems pretty simple to me. Play all three RBs and run more than pass. Don't beat yourself, give your QB some easier coverages to read, and eventually playmakers will emerge because they won't be double-teamed all the time and end up at Kentucky.
I am sick of hearing the playing calling excuse. It is just that, an excuse for those less knowledgeable about football. Sorry if I offend.
Of course, the goal is to create mismatches with the spread and put D players in conflict. Nothing new, Tom did the same with his O.
I guess it gives everyone something to hang their hat on, identity, play calling, wrong personnel, etc when it comes down to execution. Does anyone really think Nebraska does so much "special" stuff that others haven't ever seen it? Good grief.
Of course, the goal is to create mismatches with the spread and put D players in conflict. Nothing new, Tom did the same with his O.
I guess it gives everyone something to hang their hat on, identity, play calling, wrong personnel, etc when it comes down to execution. Does anyone really think Nebraska does so much "special" stuff that others haven't ever seen it? Good grief.
From the way it sounds Ervin is the guy right now. I think Stepp because of experience might have a leg up, but everyone is talking about how good Ervin is. It’s early, he is a freshman but he is turning heads
We haven't exactly been Alabama at the RB position of late. If the RB coach says four RBs have separated themselves, that means that NONE of the RBs has stepped forward and stood out above the mediocrity. It's never been easier for an RB to claim the #1 RB job at NU.
How far has this program fallen when we're now hyping a top 4 at RB on a team that relied on QB scrambles to produce about a 1/3 of their rushing yards last year?
It sounds better when you throw out the names Oregon and Ohio State but we're trying to do the same thing that 85% of college football is doing. Chip Kelly had a great quote recently. I couldn't find it but he basically said when he was at Oregon the Ducks spread the field with 4 WRs, ran uptempo and brought out different uniforms. And now everybody spreads the field with 4 WRs, runs uptempo and has special uniforms.
I also wish we had an established top 2 at RB going into year four, but I would say the amount of full contact play they got up to this point has been minimal.
It could be hard to separate guys, esp. with unique skillsets, without seeing much live action.
Regardless who lines up week 0, the coaches are responsible for getting results.
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I have to disagree with this. It is true if every play were executed perfectly, every play would result in a TD or long gain. But no play will ever be executed perfectly. A coach's play calling needs to put players in the position to succeed. Case in point, first play against Illinois last year. A freshman QB ( and I use that term loosely) is starting his second game against the worst rushing defense in the league. So the first play called is a weird swing pass that turns out to be a backward lateral fumble. Three plays and a little more than a minute into the game, NU is down 7-zip. Sure special teams are bad and the turnovers are bad and lapses on the defense are bad and penalties at horrible times are bad. But so is the play calling at times, which helps lead to losses. I don't call that an excuse, simply reality. In the above case how about a couple runs and if 3rd down a rollout run/pass option to help get Luke ease the beginning of game jitters?
the first play was a stretch RPO, not a 'weird swing pass'. Luke was trying to do too much.
also, there is a defense involved in football, so, no, every play, even when perfectly executed, would not result in a TD or long gain.
The call for identity at NU in the last 20 years is basically just code for I want the option back. Or run the damn ball or some variation of that general concept.
Folks want a unique identity not just any ole one. Which isn't wrong just not always applicable. Folks have gotten so desperate as to want to make Wisconsin's ours again, or even Iowa with the lunch pail thing. Which isn't unique but different than what we have.
When you get down to it they don't really want an identity so much as to conform to our division.
Folks are freaking out too much about this position IMO. It’s a transition year for RB, that’s all. As long as we don’t have major fumbling issues there, we WILL have a couple guys that step up and shoulder most of the load and will gain many fans.
A lot of you are just being impatient with coaches not giving away the answer right now. It was a question mark when Mills came in and I wouldn’t say he was a contributor to us losing many games. Patience, people. Just because coach speak says we have 4 guys in the mix does NOT mean they all suck.
A lot of you are just being impatient with coaches not giving away the answer right now. It was a question mark when Mills came in and I wouldn’t say he was a contributor to us losing many games. Patience, people. Just because coach speak says we have 4 guys in the mix does NOT mean they all suck.
no, they want to win
if we went strictly air raid, and it worked, nobody would care
right now our identity is has-been & we represent a cakewalk victory to 65% of the teams we play. we do not like it.
I suppose it depends on the definition of "perfectly executed". If it is a running play and every offensive player takes his man to the ground then there are two men left to make the tackle. If the play is designed so the free defenders are right in front of the RB, then I guess the play will go for no gain. But hopefully the last two men standing are away from the action by design. If it is a pass play and the receiver executes perfectly thereby getting separation, the line blocks perfectly meaning no pressure and the QB throws a perfect ball, it should be a good gain.
well said and kind of my point about being sick of hearing the word "identity". Just win the damned game and I don't care if you do it by throwing it 90% of the time or running it 90% of the time.
we are in fact doing virtually the same thing as the majority of college teams and even some pro teams. I was mildly suprised watching the Niners and I think it was Baltimore last season. They were running what appeared to me to be virtually the same plays that Frost runs. We just need to execute better and put better players on the field on offense than we've done the past 4 years. Just win games. Hell Tom said after he retired that IF he had continued to coach his offense would have likely morphed more and more in to what Urban was doing at Florida.