Maurice Evans (pictured) and the Detroit Pistons are 4-0 thus far! They beat Sacramento last night IN Sacramento for the first time since 1996.
An interesting note: during the team introductions before the game, when Detroit was introduced last night, thery played a video montage showing abandoned buildings, burned-out cars, etc. Coach Flip was none too happy, and rightfully so. I mean, the city of Detroit certainly does have a stigma attached to it, but to perpetuate that during a sporting event is not classy at all. Detroit received an apology.
I guess if you are going to lose by 14 to the best team in the league, you have to make your shots in ways that don't include a ball and a hoop.
Things are a regular laugh-riot in Huskerland. People are going absolutely ape$#!+ over the loss to Kansas. I understand as well as anyone the frustration in losing to...Kansas. It's hard to type, and it's even harder to say outloud. However, it happened.
This week people (fans/media) are really putting some pressure on the defense. I saw these stats on a message board...
In 2004 conference play, NU defense allowed:30 PPG and 421 total yards per game.Team finished 3-5 in conference play.
Through 6 conference games in 2005, allowing:30 PPG and 388 total yards per game.Team currently sits at 2-4 in conference play.
Very interesting. I feel the defense (and it's pretty obvious) has slacked the last couple games, but I'm having a hard time blaming them. Let's look at the mentality for a minute...forget X's and O's and talent-factor, these guys played quite well early in the year. How much can we expect the defense to continue to carry a ball club whose offense is more dismal this year than last? If I am a blackshirt, I have to start asking "What's the point? We aren't going to score, anyway."
Offensively, Zac Taylor has proven to be a better QB. Let's look at QB stats through 9 games last year, and this year:
2004: 119/255, 46.7% completion, 1677 yards, 15 TD's and 18 picks.
2005: 176/327, 53.8% completion, 1892 yards, 13 TD's, and 10 picks.
Overall, a better performance. The problem is the rushing game. It's not that we aren't attempting to rush, the thing I find frustrating is we aren't solving the rushing attack.
Again, through 9 games:
2004: 349 carries, 1671 (net) yards, 4.79 per carry, and 17 TD's.
2005: 308 carries, 825 (net) yards, 2.75 per carry, and only 7 TD's.
Wow. Our line has to be able to provide opportunities for Zac to get the ball off without feeling like he's being stalked by Steve Pederson groupies, and they have to make some holes for Ross to run through. Note the difference between saying our players suck, and making an observation.
People are starting to say that Callahan needs to start worrying about his job. I say forget that. All along I've said that this is not the season we are going to start shining in. Next year, I expect significant improvements, but you don't install a new offensive scheme overnight. Even the kool-aid girls go into full meltdown mode after virtually every game, whining about the poor playing. These are the same people who complain about the PLAYERS consistently, yet "support the program".
Whatever. Pretenders. You don't support a program unless you support the people involved with it. Specifically, that's coaches on down. Not Athletic Directors or even Chancellors. The program consists of people putting in blood, sweat, and tears on a daily basis. Not some suit who, when Nebraska wins, never hesitates to be visible, but after losses is hard to find. This is a perplexing trend. If I was Callahan, I'd worry about that.
Regardless, the Huskers will continue to play poorly this season, and could very well lose to KSU and to :::shudder::: Colorado. I hope they do not, but we don't have evidence that says "blowout victory".
This team needs us to root for them, and critique it in a way that isn't demoralizing and acting as if the world is ending. Let's hope for a re-energized defense, and some blocking up front. We see that, and our chances are much better than they were last Saturday.
6 comments:
I thought you were a fan of Pederson's?
Guess what people, there aren't any dominant programs in college football anymore. There are perennial winners, but no one will ever be as dominant as Nebraska was. The best that Nebraska can hope for moving forward is to put a product on the field that makes fans proud. I am a Hawkeye fan, and as long as I feel like they gave the best effort they could, then I am happy. I don't think Husker fans are seeing the best effort, and that's where the anger comes from. They aren't playing nearly as hard now as they did against Pittsburgh, Iowa State, and other early games. Simply put, they look like a team that is giving up, and that is something no fan should put up with.
That being said, Nebraska will be much improved next year with Taylor back, an improved defense, and better recruits. Be patient, more wins are coming.
Ryan (can't get it to log me in for some reason)
I like much of what Mr. Pederson has done. However, his approach to communication leaves a lot to be desired. He's less interested in uniting Husker Nation. It's not to say he's trying to DIVIDE, it simply means that I don't see much being done by him to stop the division, either. He is a glory hound, and that's a part of him I find pretty sickening.
Good comments, Ryan. I also agree that we will probably never see a dominant run like we have seen in the past due to the nature of today's environment.
I hope the team kicks it up a few notches, because if we don't, kiss another bowl year goodbye, as well as fuel false hysteria.
Never in my life have I seen our O line look this bad. We have young players like Murtha at left tackle and Slauson who will be good in a few years but right now are learning the difference between the Big 12 and High school football. Hopefully these fellas get pissed and start pushing people around. Our running game does not exist right now, the comparison between last year and this year in the running game makes me wanna puke. Only because if we had last years running game with this years passing game we would be in control of the north.
I am an optimist though, these people that think BillyC needs to get the axe, "Shut Up!" this coaching staff will have another top 5 recruiting class this year, we will also have our 2 that’s right 2 starting linebackers back from season ending injury next year, as well as one of the best Tight ends in the frickin nation in Herian. Let's add to that a QB with experience in the big 12, and our D line will return many of its studs, our secondary will have more experience. Our schedule is tough but we will be catching teams like USC and Texas in a reloading year.
I remember in 1996 when this small handed freak named Scott Frost was the starting QB for a team that got spanked by Arizona State and a few other teams and also lost its bowl game that year. Everyone was pissed the world was going to end, they were saying that Osborne was washed up the dynasty was over. The next year, UNDEFEATED NATIONAL TITLE! My point is that even though things seem bad right now, we are some experience away from having the type of team that can be the best in the Big 12 and the country.
Keep the faith husker fans don’t let fair weather pukes kill your spirit. Finally, I was at the Kansas game last Saturday with my Dad and my 10 year old brother; it was my brother’s first Nebraska game ever. In the 3rd quarter when the Jay hawks picked off a pass and ran it for a TD my brother started to cry, he was so upset that Nebraska was wasn’t going to win, he looked up at my Dad and said “let’s go home Dad”, and my Dad told him “no, we are going to stay and support our team till the end of the game weather they win or lose”. That is what being a true Nebraska fan is all about.
Great comments, Selmer!!
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