Playcalling improvements

[huskerj12]

Xs and Os people I cede the floor to you, but to my untrained eye it seems like playcalling has improved quite a bit over the last few games, and certainly dating back to last season. Way fewer horizontal plays, at least ATTEMPTING to get a downhill running game in rhythm, obviously more shots downfield. Is this a product of getting our weapons on the field? Is it a purposeful shift in emphasis? Is it recipe for success this year (and beyond if we show enough growth for Frost to stay)? Is Lubick calling plays again?

@Faux Sean Callahan @slattimer @alt f4 and others, what have you guys noticed?

 

[kchusker1423]

After Saturday's game, Gary Sharp said he believes Lubick is the one actually calling plays. Said he had the binocs on Frost the entire Buffalo game and didn't see him talking a lot at all. I can buy into this theory as well.

 

[HerbRedman]

After Saturday's game, Gary Sharp said he believes Lubick is the one actually calling plays. Said he had the binocs on Frost the entire Buffalo game and didn't see him talking a lot at all. I can buy into this theory as well.

Also, in the press conference after the OU game they asked Frost about an alignment on a specific play (Adrian should have just called a TO but he didnt want to burn one). And Frost said, "I don't know, I didn't call that play in." I don't think Frost is calling the plays anymore

 

[Kaladin]

Also, in the press conference after the OU game they asked Frost about an alignment on a specific play (Adrian should have just called a TO but he didnt want to burn one). And Frost said, "I don't know, I didn't call that play in." I don't think Frost is calling the plays anymore

That might have been the play after Betts long reception, when we ran a QB draw up the middle and it got swamped. That wasn't the play that was called, there was some kind of confusion with getting the play in and Martinez just ran it up the middle.

 

[Toe]

To me, most of it comes down to the receivers. We're finally getting to where we need to be with them, and it's opening everything else up with the offense.

You gotta remember just how many WRs (many of them 4*) we've had bail on us since Riley was fired. Those are the guys that should have been our upperclassmen stars the last couple years, and this year. But obviously, it didn't work out that way.

Last year's WR situation was grim. People wanted to blame Martinez (and Verduzco) for everything, but mostly it was the receivers around him that sucked. For god's sake, we started Kade Warner most of the year! We had almost no deep threat whatsoever. Wandale is a great receiver, but he's more of a shifty slotback type rather than a deep threat burner. With no other real threats on the field, it was easy for defenses to key on him. And of course, a good chunk of the time he wasn't even playing WR.

When defenses don't have to respect the deep threat much, their job gets a whole lot easier because they can crowd the short passes and runs. A lot of those horizontal passes that people love to bitch about were mostly about trying to get something going in the passing game in the absence of a deep threat. But between defenses looking for short stuff and Martinez tending to throw them a bit behind the receiver (so they had to spin and couldn't start running upfield quickly), they usually didn't go for much.

This year, we've got a pretty good starting WR group in Toure, Manning, and Martin - all of whom are transfers. But Martin and Manning have already been injured this season, and we're still trying to (re-)build depth behind them. A lot of jackasses on message boards like to bitch about how any true freshman in a modern system should be able to come in and be a Heisman candidate from day one and the coaches are idiots for not putting the best players on the field and letting them make plays. But the reality is still the same as it's always been - most guys need some time to develop and be ready to see the field much. Look at Manning. We had huge hopes for him last season as an immediate impact player, but he ended up barely playing. But look at this article - he'd probably tell you himself that he wasn't really in a position to be playing much last year.

 

[tman87]

I think Lubick called the plays the last few weeks. And I think Lubick should be calling the plays. Don't think Frost has called many good games as HC at NU. Frost has enough on his plate as a HC to manage the game. Let the OC call the plays. It will be interesting if we get confirmation that Lubick has been calling the plays the last few weeks, and from here on out. We already know Frost said he didn't call in one play for sure, from what he said from his presser, and I think it is pretty obvious the mix and style of play calling has improved. JMO.

 

[KidsSeeGhosts]

Just for ref. 2021 stats for transfers.

Tyjon Lindsey. 5 receptions for 60 yards
JD Spielman. 3 for 35
Kade Warner. 0 for 0
Jaevon McQuitty. 4 for 45
Kurt Rafdan. 2 for 13


Only Wandale and Darien Chase (1-AA tho) have done anything with their new squads.

 

[kchusker1423]

We already know Frost said he didn't call in one play for sure, from what he said from his presser, and I think it is pretty obvious the mix and style of play calling has improved. JMO.

Yep completely agree with this. Even with a suspect line, I have been happy with the game plan the last two weeks. Shortening the game, taking our shots when we can, but using the running game (however effective it may be) to set up some shots in the passing game has been a welcome site. I am hoping we see more of the schemes we've been successful with in the run game and it is an eye-opener for this staff. Sure it isn't sexy, but right now we just need to be kind of not ugly.

 

[Drue629]

Saturday afternoon I said that Frost finally called a great game, makes sense if it was Lubick. It's been a long time since our offense looked like it had an identity. I still like throwing the swing pass once in a while to spread the field. Prior to this year, we had no deep threat so it got old having to rely on that.

 

[Toe]

Just for ref. 2021 stats for transfers.

Tyjon Lindsey. 5 receptions for 60 yards
JD Spielman. 3 for 35
Kade Warner. 0 for 0
Jaevon McQuitty. 4 for 45
Kurt Rafdan. 2 for 13


Only Wandale and Darien Chase (1-AA tho) have done anything with their new squads.

That's only like half of them.

Marcus Fleming (4*) - 1 for -6
Jamie Nance (just short of 4*) - no stats yet this year
Jaron Woodyard (just short of 4*) - doesn't appear to have played this year (only played in 1 game last year)
Demariyon Houston (4* @ Rivals) - entered portal in spring, doesn't appear to have landed anywhere
Keyshawn Johnson Jr (4*) - not playing

And that's not even counting the lower to mid-tier recruits who have left.

 

[Drue629]

That's only like half of them.

Marcus Fleming (4*) - 1 for -6
Jamie Nance (just short of 4*) - no stats yet this year
Jaron Woodyard (just short of 4*) - doesn't appear to have played this year (only played in 1 game last year)
Demariyon Houston (4* @ Rivals) - entered portal in spring, doesn't appear to have landed anywhere
Keyshawn Johnson Jr (4*) - not playing

And that's not even counting the lower to mid-tier recruits who have left.

When they have zero success elsewhere you have to start to wonder if part of that was a bad evaluation of talent in the first place.

 

[Cornicator]

Nebraska is slowly changing their offensive scheme. The injuries to Vokolek, Martin, Manning, and Allen have slowed the progression a bit early on. And the pass pro development of the offensive line has been a cluster fvck.

 

[kenyanfeline]

Waterboy has actually been the one calling the plays fellas.

Let me know if you have suggestions and I’ll give them to him.

 

[huskerj12]

Waterboy has actually been the one calling the plays fellas.

Let me know if you have suggestions and I’ll give them to him.

Hail Mary

 

[Toe]

When they have zero success elsewhere you have to start to wonder if part of that was a bad evaluation of talent in the first place.

True, but that's why I only mentioned the guys who were highly rated by the recruiting sites. If the coaches (two different coaching staffs!) mis-evaluated so many of them, so did Rivals and 247, and so did the other big name schools on their offer lists. I have no good explanation.

 

[Jim14510]

Waterboy has actually been the one calling the plays fellas.

Let me know if you have suggestions and I’ll give them to him.

Touchdown play every time

 

[lee_carvallo_12]

Nebraska is slowly changing their offensive scheme. The injuries to Vokolek, Martin, Manning, and Allen have slowed the progression a bit early on. And the pass pro development of the offensive line has been a cluster fvck.

Really like it when Vokolek is on the field. He might be our best blocker (all OL-men included) on running downs and he's a better receiver than many give him credit for.

 

[HerbRedman]

That might have been the play after Betts long reception, when we ran a QB draw up the middle and it got swamped. That wasn't the play that was called, there was some kind of confusion with getting the play in and Martinez just ran it up the middle.

I think that's right. That led to a dreadful red zone series where we came away empty handed. Adrian would have been better off calling the TO (but hindsight is alway 20/20).

 

[Red Finger]

Waterboy has actually been the one calling the plays fellas.

Let me know if you have suggestions and I’ll give them to him.

 

[Huskerzz9457]

That's only like half of them.

Marcus Fleming (4*) - 1 for -6
Jamie Nance (just short of 4*) - no stats yet this year
Jaron Woodyard (just short of 4*) - doesn't appear to have played this year (only played in 1 game last year)
Demariyon Houston (4* @ Rivals) - entered portal in spring, doesn't appear to have landed anywhere
Keyshawn Johnson Jr (4*) - not playing

And that's not even counting the lower to mid-tier recruits who have left.

Houston landed at Hutch CC FWIW