Bowl Game OL Play

[Link-]

Dude talks like The Great Khali

 

[JankTheTank]

I don't make big sweeping generalizations after bowl games anymore. I think you can learn things about individuals but entire units are difficult.

I thought our OL looked good on run blocking toward the end of 2025. And 2025 pass blocking was wrecked by Dylan and then TJ injury.


One thing I do think though is Donnie didn't seem to have a super motivating personality. I can see Geep's persona being a breath of fresh air right away. I think Donnie was obsessed with everyone living up to his "standard" and had zero charisma etc to pump people up.

The word I keep hearing in articles about the OL is simplicity.

Knaak mentioned in another article how Raiola was adamant on Knuckles Up blocking while Wade taught more universal concepts that required less thinking. While Geep said he wasn’t going to start messing with too much, I wonder if he really cares if they slip up on stuff like Knuckles Up as long as the effort is there and the technique is still legal.

It also makes me wonder how much over-analysis paralysis was inhibiting the OL in being aggressive when they’re wondering if they’re using the proper blocking technique in a specific situation vs Wade simplifying it and wanting them to just be aggressive.

Add in how Dylan was changing play calls at the line at an allegedly decent clip and it’s no wonder the OL likely had to shift mental gears in multiple regards instead of just getting set and executing whatever was initially called in and it made them look silly at times.

One other thing I’ve thought about is Nebraska’s offense in 2015 was primarily pass heavy. It was Mike Riley’s first year. Yet in the bowl game against UCLA they only passed it a season low 19 times and ran it a season high 62 times (second most attempts in a game was 39 times) for a season high of 326 rushing yards (next closest was 258 rushing yards) and a season high 4 rushing touchdowns.

They just looked like a completely different team on offense that game. Things change when you only have to prep for one more game instead of trying to cram stuff in to get ready for a season. I can imagine the players have been told to forget certain parts of the playbook and only worry about key areas for this game. The Raiola’s are also gone. For the first time this season, we’ll see a game plan that was likely crafted without any outside interference. They can just focus on playing to their strengths instead of trying to appease some program legacy politics.

 

[Jim14510]

I was already thinking that because of their opt outs and coaching change. Maybe this means we'll lose by 14!

We're going to beat them by 14.

 

[ChocaEgg]

We're going to beat them by 14.

 

[Jim14510]

You keep your Sandy Vag out of my face.

 

[ChocaEgg]

You keep your Sandy Vag out of my face.

 

[nja13]

When you have to do a post-practice presser at 3:30, then call in a kidnapping ransom demand at 3:45....

 

[Toe]

The word I keep hearing in articles about the OL is simplicity.

'Simplifying' is a pretty standard thing to hear during coaching transitions, like Holgo replacing Satt.

 

[nja13]

The Raiola’s are also gone. For the first time this season, we’ll see a game plan that was likely crafted without any outside interference.

When your offensive line coach contributes to the gameplan, I don't think that qualifies as "outside intererence." Unless you're suggesting Dom Raiola was helping Dana craft the gameplan.

 

[HerbRedman]

The word I keep hearing in articles about the OL is simplicity.

Knaak mentioned in another article how Raiola was adamant on Knuckles Up blocking while Wade taught more universal concepts that required less thinking. While Geep said he wasn’t going to start messing with too much, I wonder if he really cares if they slip up on stuff like Knuckles Up as long as the effort is there and the technique is still legal.

It also makes me wonder how much over-analysis paralysis was inhibiting the OL in being aggressive when they’re wondering if they’re using the proper blocking technique in a specific situation vs Wade simplifying it and wanting them to just be aggressive.

Add in how Dylan was changing play calls at the line at an allegedly decent clip and it’s no wonder the OL likely had to shift mental gears in multiple regards instead of just getting set and executing whatever was initially called in and it made them look silly at times.

One other thing I’ve thought about is Nebraska’s offense in 2015 was primarily pass heavy. It was Mike Riley’s first year. Yet in the bowl game against UCLA they only passed it a season low 19 times and ran it a season high 62 times (second most attempts in a game was 39 times) for a season high of 326 rushing yards (next closest was 258 rushing yards) and a season high 4 rushing touchdowns.

They just looked like a completely different team on offense that game. Things change when you only have to prep for one more game instead of trying to cram stuff in to get ready for a season. I can imagine the players have been told to forget certain parts of the playbook and only worry about key areas for this game. The Raiola’s are also gone. For the first time this season, we’ll see a game plan that was likely crafted without any outside interference. They can just focus on playing to their strengths instead of trying to appease some program legacy politics.

Also on the HOL show, Callahan was mentioning how stubborn Donnie was. Apparently everyone felt like Pritchett should be starting (we paid $1m for him) but Donnie refused bc Pritchett wasn't living up to Donnie's "standard."

Then it sounds like Rhule just finally pulled rank and put Pritchett in the starting lineup.

Donnie seems like he's got a Napoleon complex.