Life in the Red Group

Posted by: Husker Charmer on October 9, 2009 1:35PM CST Being behind wasn't enough of a wake-up call?

Posted by: bruNo on October 9, 2009 1:35PM CST woot

Posted by: Big Wave Dave on October 9, 2009 1:37PM CST Ya! That is a very good option and seen it done many times. Behind center, the look can be frantic when everyone is coming at you from all direction. A step back and take a gander for a series can be a good tool. However, it was not needed.....

Posted by: Huskerzone on October 9, 2009 1:46PM CST There are upsides and downsides to such a move: Upside: Zac can see what the defense is doing. He could analyze and make changes in his audibles, plays, etc. Different QB, different type of athlete. Could be hard for the defense to adjust. Downside: Would the defense play the same schemes with different QBs? The defense may be fired up for that series as they would think they knocked out the starter. Fans would get even louder when the see a new QB under center. Could shake Lee's confidence.

Posted by: The StepnRaZor on October 9, 2009 1:49PM CST Zac Lee = OUT! Cody Green = IN! It's only a matter of time.

Posted by: taco on October 9, 2009 1:50PM CST i wish Green would have went into the game the second quarter. would have given Zac some time to digest things and calm down. guess we will never know what would have happened. food for thought for remaining games........BO BIG RED...SUH FOR HEISMAN

Posted by: 4BigRed on October 9, 2009 1:52PM CST I wonder at times if Watson thinks he can only use any one of his 350 plays only once in a game. We never seem to go back to what works early. It's almost as if he wants to impress people with the sheer number of plays he has to work with. I remember when TO would basically say, We're going to run this play over and over until you stop us. And generally, they couldn't.

Posted by: dsdevlin on October 9, 2009 1:54PM CST When Cody Green makes a dash - inside or outside - it's decisive, quicker and stronger. He's still a frosh and could have a giant screwup some time/any time, but he has serious physical tools and awareness. Zac needs to step it up on the road especially or those footsteps he hears are going to be CG's into the game and endzone.

Posted by: Crazy Jack on October 9, 2009 1:56PM CST The first three quarters you could see Lee's VT pattern emerge. I wondered what had transpired on the sidelines. A tough game in tough environment. The B12's Ref's did call a basicly good game. They did make bad calls on Suh the inpact player, the horsecollar tackle and hands to the face. A C- grade. Defense kept us in the game and probably won it for us, a A- grade. Special teams D grade. Offense was a C grade just because of the three quarters of F. A basic suggestion Coach Watson the hands players, we used to have to pratice with balls and hands wiped down with cooking oil.

Posted by: 4BigRed on October 9, 2009 1:56PM CST Stepn, I would at least like to see the backfield of the future, Green and Burkhead, on the field together for a meaningful series or two in the first half. Once again, we are in danger of not having anyone with experience if Lee goes down. I just don't see Green as such a huge liability that we can't put him in for a series or two early in the game.

Posted by: Father of future Husker on October 9, 2009 1:57PM CST If Green can come in and run more of an option attack for a series or 2, that might have been something that MU wouldn't have been prepared for. Nevada had a running QB, and it gave MU fits. It we can give future DC more to prepare for, then that also benefits Lee because they will have less time to focus on him only.

Posted by: 4BigRed on October 9, 2009 2:02PM CST I don't have Offensive Coordinator anywhere on my resume, and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but I would have loved to have seen us ride Burkhead all night long like we did with LP at K-State when Frazier and Berringer were hurt and Turman was the starting QB. Burkhead is a load and has that nastiness to just pound on defenses. 40 carries in the rain would have been his dream game!

Posted by: Tice on October 9, 2009 2:02PM CST I can't help but think the rain stopping was a bigger turning point that Green warming up as he lit it up once that was out of the way.

Posted by: Dallas Husker on October 9, 2009 2:04PM CST I wondered what lit a fire under that guy in the fourth. I was thinking Bo told him something like, "Our AD, coaching staff and team are wanting to go this direction, up. Where do you want to go? If you want to lead this team then you need to go with us." I just hope Helu will be OK. That worries me more than anything at this time.

Posted by: cajunhusker on October 9, 2009 2:05PM CST I would have jerked Lee by the middle of the third quarter for a series or two, but all is well that ends well. The best formation for Lee, and Helu for that matter, is having the fullback in the game. I hope we can run that formation with Green and Burkhead some this season, for more than a snap or two.

Posted by: The StepnRaZor on October 9, 2009 2:09PM CST The deal is... and I learned this from the time my uncle coached at Abilene Technical... Mizzou loaded up the box and made us pass it. They were gonna make Lee beat them. And he simply was not doing it. Even that 2nd TD pass was awful. Dead center into double coverage. Paul just happened to go and get it. Lee is a good player. But he's not gonna get much better. Just doesn't have the physical skills. He makes solid reads and throws it away and all that stuff. But when Cody Green learns the O... there's no way you will be able to keep him off the field. Cody Green can toss it away also. And he can house it on any play. So.... that there is what it is.

Posted by: Tice on October 9, 2009 2:15PM CST Isn't that what Wats said too about Mizzou loading up the box and making them throw? I thought you were criticizing the pass plays. What I want to know is why we didn't load up the box too and see who can dominate. If we both load the box and we can still run then march down and keep it on the ground until the rain stops. I don't know J about S though so I'm not criticizing. Pretty sure Green will be QB next year, I like Lee but I don't think he's even as solid as Ganz who was money from his first game.

Posted by: Islander/Husker on October 9, 2009 2:24PM CST It is true that there are about 350 plays in the playbook. However, when the game plan is put together, they only put in a fraction of that, maybe 60 to 90 plays I am guessing. All teams do that. You have to know the whole playbook, but the whole playbook is not used in any game. The plays that are on the QB's wrist are plays that were put in for each game. Any word on Helu?

Posted by: HuskerInGa on October 9, 2009 2:25PM CST Watching the game for the third time and I didn't even tape it...it is on ESPNU again. A little into the 3rd quarter so we'll be making our move in a few minutes if you all are in front of a TV...

Posted by: Islander/Husker on October 9, 2009 2:32PM CST Lee has a much stronger arm than Ganz and Ganz would throw up some floaters that were often caught by the other team. They try to go more downfield with Lee than they did Ganz because of his strong arm. Throws farther than 35 yards were difficult for Ganz. I appreciated Ganz, he was a great leader. But I also appreciate Lee, and we all know Green is the QB of the future, maybe starting next year.

Posted by: rluben on October 9, 2009 2:46PM CST Did anyone get as much joy and pleasure from seeing Weatherspoon (I'm pretty sure that's who it was) cry like a little girl on the bench as me and my buddies did as we laughed hysterically at him when they showed it? Looked more like witherspoon needed some spooning. Someone give that crybaby a hug.

Posted by: MileHiHusker on October 9, 2009 2:55PM CST rluben, that was hilarious. I couldn't believe my eyes but then they showed him crying again. Was that really Weatherspoon. I didn't know who it was but I sure got a kick out of it.

Posted by: RyanSh on October 9, 2009 2:56PM CST Would have been nice to have Watson sit out a series on play calling.

Posted by: redcornman on October 9, 2009 2:56PM CST Watching the replay - they keep showing Pinko - he's gotta be the most miserable looking pr7#k on the sidelines since McCartney retired...

Posted by: Husker Artilleryman on October 9, 2009 3:18PM CST Has anyone else seen the OWH pic of Suh just crushing Kemp? It sums up the whole game!!

Posted by: Big Red Machine71 on October 9, 2009 3:21PM CST Did anyone else notice that the Missouri coaches just gave up at the end of the 4th quarter? I mean, when we got the ball beck after the failed 4th & 20, we started running the ball to run out the clock. They had three timeouts left, but didn't call one. At that point we were only up by 8 points. It seems to me that they just quit. What kind of message does that send to your team? "I'm not calling any timeouts cause it just doesn't matter... we'll lose anyway..." Whatever it was, the team folded.

Posted by: Viking Husker on October 9, 2009 3:22PM CST If Cody and Rex were ready to run the show, they'd be winning the job in practice. Obviously not the case. Lee may have struggled, but so did All World 5-Star Gabbert. Bottom line is, Lee won. Put up 3 when we needed it, and against what was supposed to be the best Mizzou D... well, ever. Did Ganz do that?

Posted by: Low Country Husker on October 9, 2009 3:23PM CST BRG and 4BR It's obvious there are a lot of ways to win a game. I like your way but it is an untested outcome with the current cast of characters. Say what you want about Wats but his way is tested and true!

Posted by: 4BigRed on October 9, 2009 3:28PM CST BRG, you know what they say about great minds thinking alike ;>) LCH, granted, but I still don't think we really have an identity on offense because I still don't think we've found our "bread and butter" plays. At least, I don't think we have because we never seem to see the same things twice. Of course, that could be the genius in Watson. Keeping everything changing so we can't be scouted easily.

Posted by: Low Country Husker on October 9, 2009 3:33PM CST 4BR I think it's more of a matter of Wats trying to see what fits this new group best....try all the plays you have, toss out the ones that don't work and keep the ones that do. By the time they are in the meat of the schedule you would hope they have 1 or 2 hundred plays that they can build a plan around. I seen some sets last night that I hadn't seen in the past 2 years so hopefully that's a good thing!

Posted by: Miller on October 9, 2009 4:16PM CST Well I owe Mr. Lee an apology, I was so mad at the offense through the first quarters that I almost shut the TV off. I left it on and made my son watch the game and I hit the Apple Corn and I hit really hard. I made some late night phone calls to some MU fans at work and left some messages knowing I didn't have to work today. Man what a come back and an awesome game from the D, the offense got it together and pulled it off! I watched the game again today, the 4th QTR was amazing! I loved watching the smiles being wiped off the MU fans and the look on the Pinkel's face and the players faces, priceless!

Posted by: Low Country Husker on October 9, 2009 4:22PM CST Well Miller You know what they say an apple a day does for you.....I'm not sure what the corn does for you LOL Glad to see you made it out without killing your TV

Posted by: taco on October 9, 2009 4:34PM CST viking husker..i dont want cody and rex to run the show but mentioned that i would like to see green get a little more playing time. what would it hurt? he is our QB of the future and if Lee does get hurt..he at least has a little experience in a tight ballgame..not just mop up duty. GBR

Posted by: Deez Nutz on October 9, 2009 4:40PM CST http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT5ve4ZVVwA

Posted by: Ray in Bellevue on October 9, 2009 4:48PM CST Zac Lee is a quarterback who would not be third string during the 1990s. He overthrows or throws behind wide open receivers most of the time, especially when flushed out of the pocket. His fumble should have been recovered since he fell right on it, with no-one else that close. Hopefully, Zac will settle down but nothing much as changed in 5 games and there are only 7 more on the regular schedule. Green should have replaced him early in the second half after several 3 and outs, to give Lee a differant perspective from the bench. The coaches need to use both QBs in tight games, not just runaways.

Posted by: Miller on October 9, 2009 4:48PM CST LCH I was so mad last night that I am so ashamed today! I was wrong to be so angry, I do believe I sold my soul to the devil over this game though! I know I will never tough the Apple Corn again!

Posted by: taco on October 9, 2009 5:39PM CST you know what i like about Zac Lee.....it really does seem like he has fun out there on the football field. GO BIG ZAC

Posted by: NishBigRed on October 9, 2009 5:44PM CST Miller, Those of us who stayed on last night and continued to blog were worried about you. We didn’t know if you watch the game until the end. We thought you was going to work today in Missery and have no clue the Husker pulled it off! Lol On another note, if I was a Husker receiver I would have a few words with Zak and his high throws and inside. The DBs for Misery were unloading on our receivers last night. Zak keeps making the WR reach for passes hi’s going to get someone killed. Plus, if they were going to put Cody Green in, waiting until the 4th quarters looks like a desperate move. If their thoughts were to give Zak a chance to take a step back it should have been in the middle of the 3rd. Then again who am I, I slept at a Motel Six last night and it wasn’t buy choice!!!

Posted by: Mountainman@ on October 9, 2009 7:00PM CST The Huskers came out in "The Pistol" in the first series and we never saw it again. How come? Given the Husker QB's and RB's, I think they could make good use of it. Watch the Nevada-Louisiana Tech game to see how it operates. Missouri really struggled against it, and was saved when Nevada fumbled the ball away at the Tiger 4-yard line. Now granted no one else has a QB like Nevada's. He's 6'6" tall, runs about a 4.3 40, and throws a baseball in the high 90's. As a high schooler, he wanted to go to Boise State, and went to their football camp. They didn't offer him a scholarship, so he wound up at Nevada. So, guess what? In his first very start as a freshman he went up against Boise State ON THE BLUE TURF, and laid sixty-seven (67) points on them. The Boise State DC still has nightmares about that. So if you want to see how The Pistol works and a QB better than McCoy, Bradford and Tebow, take a look at the game tonight.

Posted by: Miller on October 9, 2009 7:03PM CST NUCORN, that is exactly what I thought, I couldn't believe I was watching the same nightmare again. Nish, I was worried about myself also, I made my kid watch the rest of the game and I danced in my kitchen over shots (boy i paid for that) I couldn't function until about 1:30 today and that was from my bed to the couch to watch the game again! I was so relieved at the thought of not having to take on the MU fans.

Posted by: Mountainman@ on October 9, 2009 7:13PM CST Really wasn't that impressed with the Husker OL the first three quarters. Missouri's DL dominated them until the 4th quarter. Pass protection was not good, poor job of picking up blitzes, and very little running room for the RB's. Rag on Lee all you want, playing in a monsoon, no running game worth talking about, and defenders in your face nearly every play, passing is not easy. The kid hung in there and came through in the clutch.

Posted by: Miller on October 9, 2009 7:20PM CST Mountainman, I was ragging on him last night but I owe the kid an apology. I feel horrible for the way I acted and I have to give him credit for hanging in there. I didn't Gabbert looked all that special either, I thought MU's D played better than their O. Now our D was absolutely awesome and they are starting to get some attention and some love from the media!

Posted by: otto on October 9, 2009 8:01PM CST I am very glad for the win. I thought that for the first 3 qtrs they were going to keep butting their head against the same pole and hopeing for different results. Glad to hear that Watson concidered the move of putting in Green. The reason is I would have liked to seen Green in was because of his running. The offense was going nowhere and passing just wasn't getting it done. Green would have been the better option or runner as I see it. The move should have been done in the middle of the 2nd qtr., for a series or two. The defense would have loaded up in the box , opening up the opportunity for a 30 yrd pass over the defense. A couple of those would have been quite interesting !!! I know Green can throw it that far even in rain. Glad for the win and I'll take another view of Watson for thinking about putting Green in also. Go Big Red

Posted by: huskers4_eva on October 9, 2009 8:29PM CST I see a lot of people putting the blame on Lee here for our offensive issues last night. But come on, how bout our receivers. They need to do a better job of finding space and getting open and also in catching the ball. Saw some drops that should have been caught, rain or no rain.

Posted by: ArguingWithIdiots on October 9, 2009 9:12PM CST Gabbert faded as the game went on. How many of you wondered how the first three quarters would have gone if he hadnt been slowed and throwing off a bad leg?

Posted by: nino_43 on October 10, 2009 11:25AM CST I love and respect all of my family in Husker Nation! That being said, all of u calling for zac lees head need to get a f***** grip!!! This was the guys 5th start in Div I College Football! On the road in a monsoon and all of u r pissed off that hes not playing like Troy Aikman in his prime!! Zac Lee is our QB! Give the guy a chance! A little patience people. GO BLACKSHIRTS!! GBR!! OK, let me have it!

Posted by: taco on October 11, 2009 3:54PM CST markZu.....nice post