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Nebraska -23.5 at Wyoming (ov/un 57.5) Sat 7:30 ET, Vs

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DallasHusker;1996957; said:
If we can't cover this line, then we're in for a long day the following week at Wiscy...
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I wouldn't sweat the line. You have to remember Pelini isn't interested in style points in the least. He has a young team that he's teaching, and however he can get that done, he will.

We could have done many things in the first three games to change how teams approached us, both on offense and defense, but we didn't do them. Part of that was a philosophy (which I don't like) of not showing your offense to upcoming opponents, part of it was that we simply had things to work on and we treated the first game and half of Fresno as glorified practices.

Think back to that Fresno game. We were tremendously basic in the first half. We didn't pull away, and in fact we trailed at halftime, and then we come out of the locker room and open it up and BAM! game over - at least as far as the offense was concerned.

I remain concerned about the defense, and specifically the defensive line. This is a unit with a lot of "stars" that isn't making an equivalent impact on games. Too often they've been a non-factor, and that's not because we're "trying things out" or using games as glorified practice. The D Line needs to pick it up, big-time.

At LB we're looking at Fisher, a guy who lost all of last year to a broken leg and is still clearly not mentally up to game speed, Compton who is a slower run-stopper being asked to do all kinds of things including coverage, and David, who is having a fine year, but who is struggling a little to learn the overall scheme. I think by mid-season this unit will be just fine.

The secondary is the chief problem, and it's based on youth and new coaching. Raymond is very different than Sanders, so the guys need time to adjust. Youth is a big problem, and that'll get a big shot in the arm with the return of Dennard. When you take away a lock-down corner, most any secondary is going to suffer. With Dennard back we won't have to roll a safety over to cover nearly as much, and we can focus more on the run.

Overall, this is a work in progress. We have a very young offense as well. I'm not concerned, but then I never thought we'd go undefeated anyway, so when that first loss comes I won't be surprised. Disappointed, yes - but not surprised.
 
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Jake;1997052; said:
I live in Ohio. I've had Versus from day one, but still no BTN.
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Wow, within Ohio and you don't have BTN??? That's surprising, where in Ohio?

I've had Time Warner in Dallas for several years. Have had Versus for all of that time, although they USED to share it with the Golf Channel about 50/50, went to fulltime for both a while back. Have had BTN the whole time too, although TWC doesn't offer any of the "alternates" on game day, only one channel.

Just switched to DirecTV, for a number of reasons. I've got ALL the BTN games, Versus, and a whole lot more.
 
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knapplc;1997215; said:
I wouldn't sweat the line. You have to remember Pelini isn't interested in style points in the least. He has a young team that he's teaching, and however he can get that done, he will.

We could have done many things in the first three games to change how teams approached us, both on offense and defense, but we didn't do them. Part of that was a philosophy (which I don't like) of not showing your offense to upcoming opponents, part of it was that we simply had things to work on and we treated the first game and half of Fresno as glorified practices.

Think back to that Fresno game. We were tremendously basic in the first half. We didn't pull away, and in fact we trailed at halftime, and then we come out of the locker room and open it up and BAM! game over - at least as far as the offense was concerned.

I remain concerned about the defense, and specifically the defensive line. This is a unit with a lot of "stars" that isn't making an equivalent impact on games. Too often they've been a non-factor, and that's not because we're "trying things out" or using games as glorified practice. The D Line needs to pick it up, big-time.

At LB we're looking at Fisher, a guy who lost all of last year to a broken leg and is still clearly not mentally up to game speed, Compton who is a slower run-stopper being asked to do all kinds of things including coverage, and David, who is having a fine year, but who is struggling a little to learn the overall scheme. I think by mid-season this unit will be just fine.

The secondary is the chief problem, and it's based on youth and new coaching. Raymond is very different than Sanders, so the guys need time to adjust. Youth is a big problem, and that'll get a big shot in the arm with the return of Dennard. When you take away a lock-down corner, most any secondary is going to suffer. With Dennard back we won't have to roll a safety over to cover nearly as much, and we can focus more on the run.

Overall, this is a work in progress. We have a very young offense as well. I'm not concerned, but then I never thought we'd go undefeated anyway, so when that first loss comes I won't be surprised. Disappointed, yes - but not surprised.
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I don't disagree with most all of that. The first couple games, I agree, mostly practicing and trying out lots of things. Washington needed to be different, and for the most part I was happy with what we saw on offense. I agree with you about the concerns about the D-line, that's the biggest (negative) surprise so far. And getting Dennard back is huge, but we'll still have a rookie at the OTHER corner, which will likely continue to be problematic, although as you say you can roll a safety easier when you're only having to roll one ONE way!

But by this fourth and last non-con game, and with an away game at Wiscy looming a week later, I stand by my statement. If we don't put Wyoming away easily this Saturday, the following Saturday will likely be a LONG game for us.
 
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DallasHusker;1997308; said:
I don't disagree with most all of that. The first couple games, I agree, mostly practicing and trying out lots of things. Washington needed to be different, and for the most part I was happy with what we saw on offense. I agree with you about the concerns about the D-line, that's the biggest (negative) surprise so far. And getting Dennard back is huge, but we'll still have a rookie at the OTHER corner, which will likely continue to be problematic, although as you say you can roll a safety easier when you're only having to roll one ONE way!

But by this fourth and last non-con game, and with an away game at Wiscy looming a week later, I stand by my statement. If we don't put Wyoming away easily this Saturday, the following Saturday will likely be a LONG game for us.
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All I can say is you'd better be able to score on Wisky because if Washington put up 38 in Lincoln, Wisky will be good for at least 50 in madison.
 
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I like Wyoming's stadium. This game seems to have the atmosphere of a high school playoff game, and I mean that in the best way possible. The stands are right on top of the sidelines, you can see fans standing at barricades behind the endzone, trees in the background and people milling around in the parking lot outside of the gates.
 
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jlb1705;1998828; said:
I like Wyoming's stadium. This game seems to have the atmosphere of a high school playoff game, and I mean that in the best way possible. The stands are right on top of the sidelines, you can see fans standing at barricades behind the endzone, trees in the background and people milling around in the parking lot outside of the gates.
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Kind of wowed that they are playing at Wyoming....
 
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Wyoming usually plays up tempo, no huddle offense but their coach has chosen to slow this game down and run clock. I don't think that kind of thinking helps your chances to pull off an upset, especially playing at home.

Do what you do, don't try to be something you're not, and live with it.
 
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It's a shame this wasn't a noon game, though I understand why that wouldn't be desirable in the mountain time zone. I'd like to watch more of this one, but there are too many good games about to come on at 8.
 
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