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TwitterLINCOLN — Nebraska coach Bo Pelini isn't constructing some elaborate plan to fix an offensive unit marred by collective inconsistency.
His lucid blueprint for a revival on offense mirrors the general approach he takes to every aspect of the game.
“It's about stepping up and making a play,” Pelini said Monday night. “You need somebody to step up and go to the forefront, take the challenge and make a play.”
But of late, the offensive players only seem to be capable of up-and-down performances, turning a once-efficient unit into a clumsily executed disaster.
There was that one improbable fourth quarter when Nebraska unleashed a 27-point barrage at Missouri. Other than that, though, Nebraska has managed just 17 points in 11 other quarters against Big 12 competition. And maybe the most troubling aspect of the struggles is the fact that every offensive player has contributed with his own set of mistakes.
“You've got to have 11 at a time hitting on all cylinders to get the correct execution,” Pelini said. “One guy not making a play or one guy not doing his job affects everybody. And that's what happened the other day.”
In a general sense, it's what has happened all season, too.
The offensive line answered a challenge by dominating the line of scrimmage against Iowa State on Saturday. The penalty-plagued unit wasn't flagged, either. But that came after a disappointing effort against Texas Tech when the Huskers allowed five sacks and totaled just 70 rushing yards. During the four games before Saturday, the linemen had been penalized 16 times.
Wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore has juggled his lineup seemingly each week, trying to find players who'll meet his standard of consistency. On Monday, senior Menelik Holt and sophomore Curenski Gilleylen spent part of practice separate from the top unit.
Quarterback Zac Lee torched the three Sun Belt teams but found himself in a full-fledged position battle last week. His 248-yard performance against Iowa State might have been his best against BCS-level competition.
Even Nebraska's most reliable offensive weapon, Roy Helu, has followed a stretch of dominance with an unanticipated slump. He hadn't lost a fumble in his career until losing two Saturday. The 24 rushing yards against the Cyclones were by far a season low.
But Helu is forming the same mind-set that he assumes everyone else on offense will possess throughout the week.
Just plugging away, he said.
When you start sulking about last weekend's eight turnovers or the two-game losing string, that's when you lose focus, Helu said. Then more errors will follow.
“You can be discouraged. There's nothing wrong with that,” he said. “But the wrong is when we're discouraged and we allow that to take us mentally out of practice.”
That didn't happen Monday, according to Helu.
There wasn't much carryover from Saturday's 9-7 loss, a good thing for the Huskers considering Niles Paul said a second-day's film review revealed that the game tape was really as bad as expected.
Drawing the positives out of an eight-turnover day isn't easy. Consider the Texas Tech loss and the players' high expectations after a strong September start, and there's enough disappointment to create some sense of self-doubt.
But the offense has a week to regroup. It will, Paul said, because you never know when one play, perfectly executed by all 11 guys, might spark a resurgence.
“The Missouri game, all it took was that one spark and the offense opened up,” he said. “We came out and we exploded. We have an explosive offense. All we need is just one big play. We're one big play away from just running through teams.”
Contact the writer:
402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com
Copyright ©2009 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
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15 Comments
Posted by: WyHuskerFan on 10/27/09 @ 8:57 am:
Paul's comment is irritating. "We're one big play away from just running through teams." How about making that play! It's as if all those skill players are waiting for someone else to step up and be that man. To me that's a coaching issue. Pelini is challenging the offense. I don't know if that's a change from the past since he seems to defer to Watson with regard to them, but I hope it is. He needs to be in their faces like he is on the defensive players. I hope they can regroup and finish strong. I'm tired of fans already looking forward to next year. This year is far from over. GBR!
Posted by: Los21Husker on 10/27/09 @ 11:13 am:
I have a great feeling about our coaching staff turning this weekend into a positive. We will come out with fire and passion and put it on Baylor. This will set up a great game against Oklahoma the following week! I am fairly certain that we will have some playmakers step up and get it handled. Niles Paul did have the fumble but was giving extra effort to get in the end zone... fluke play fumbling it and not recovering it himself. Otherwise, he had a great game with 7 catches and 143 yards!!! HUGE! We have found another RB and our line finally has a chip on their shoulder. Be prepared for a ton of improvement!!!
Posted by: Husker Frank on 10/27/09 @ 11:25 am:
Paul's comment is doubly irritating because he was making the big play when he fumbled the ball away!!
Posted by: NUFANINCOLO on 10/27/09 @ 11:36 am:
O.K. How bout this? Barney Cotton talks about his O Line dominating against Ia. St. Dominating???????? I got your dominating. Shields, Rimington, Stai, Steinkuhler, Graham, and the list goes on and on. I can't remember Milt Tenopir bragging about domination after a 150 yard effort against the number 88th ranked defense. Just shows how poor this offense is. I've been witnessing dominance since 1970, and I'm afraid this one just doesn't measure up. Remember Mr. Cotton, we are the most educated fans in America. So I wouldn't lay the accolades out like that
Posted by: illinoishusker on 10/27/09 @ 12:29 pm:
More of the same stuff we keep hearing. Actually i think i would feel much better if someone said on a Monday after an embarrassing loss, actually a down right humiliating loss: Ya I'm still ticked about the game Saturday, we played like crap and we better figure it out now....and I won't be over it until we go out there next Saturday and put up a respectable number on another avergage team.... Say something like that. I'm tired of the , we will keep plugging away...the plugging isn't working..get some fire in ya..heck give Suh the ball in the backfield. Also, nextime we are on our way to losing by a field goal and we have already turned the ball over 5 times,,,,let Henry come in on first down and kick the game winning field goal before you turn it over another three times. Ok, I feel somewhat better now
Posted by: OmahaHusker on 10/27/09 @ 12:33 pm:
With all due respect to Coach Pelini, the idea that "all we need is for someone to step up and make a play" is the most ridiculous thing our coach could say. The problem with our offense is not a lack of playmakers. The problem is EXECUTION. The offense must become SYSTEMATIC in its operation of both the controlled passing game and the running game. We need a well-oiled machine on offense just like we've had the past several years.....an offense that runs a smart controlled passing game and then jabs in a strong running game at the right times. This offense has worked so well the past several years - lots of points, lots of yardage, lots of ball control and clock management - - it's been a delight to watch. But this year the offense has been simply unable to EXECUTE the offensive system under coach Watson. It's not about play calling. It's not about need to go back to 1954 and establish a power running game. And it's NOT ABOUT SIMPLY NEEDING SOMEONE TO STEP UP AND MAKE A PLAY! We need the offense to SYSTEMATICALLY EXECUTE the offense. Period. End of story. We need Coach Pelini to become more than just a Defensive Coordinator and assume the role of HEAD COACH and address the real problems with the offense.
Posted by: Bill on 10/27/09 @ 2:15 pm:
Whatever you want to say about our game play on Saturday - the runza's at the stadium were awesome. Especially when you add cheese. Those things are incredible.
Posted by: NUnot1 FLU on 10/27/09 @ 3:28 pm:
Best comment so far... illinoishusker..... you want a spark on offense? Set up in the I formation with Suh at I-back. Pitch back to him and have the other 10 run to the sidelines to get the heck out of his way! Niles Paul would probably fall down in front of him and trip him though. Okay that's a bit harsh... BUT PLEASE DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
Posted by: Los21Husker on 10/27/09 @ 4:09 pm:
IllinoisHusker... kicking a field goal on 1st down is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Seriously, you'd be the first one crying if Henery missed it or we lost by 3 later in the game about not punching it in! I understand you're frustrated but c'mon.
OmahaHusker... don't agree with your statement about the offense working so well the last few years. We were only average through most of the Zac Taylor years and far below average with Sam Keller at the helm. When Joey Ganz came in there was improvement but mainly because we were airing it out to try and outscore our opponents because we couldn't stop anyone. Defenses were pretty much relaxing against us because they knew we couldn't stop their offenses.
Everyone needs to step back and look at reality. We were a very mediocre team for about 4 or 5 years and are making huge strides now. The Defense is very good and the Offense needs to stop turning it over. We DO NEED to develop a power running game but can also play action off of it and mix in some spread. Please relax and let these excellent coaches get it figured out. In 2010 or 2011 we can freak out if we're not in the top 10!!! Go Big Red!
Posted by: fbfan on 10/27/09 @ 4:15 pm:
I would like to know if the Huskers have gotten any yards whatsoever on that darn bubble screen play this year. I am tired of seeing the QB throw toward the sideline, giving the opponent defense plenty of time to adjust. I haven't seen that work once. I wish they would scrap that play and go north and south.
Posted by: ISU Dude on 10/27/09 @ 4:39 pm:
Uh, if you guys are living in the fantasy land of having Suh be your tailback, that means problems in Husker Nation...seriously, tough game for the Skurs...but lets face it ISU players were tackling hard, stripping the ball and in the right place at the right time to make plays. Yes some of the plays were odd (Paul fumbling without being hit) but that's football boys...ball bounces every which way sometimes, and players lose focus. But again, instead of giving up on the play, DB Smith kept after it and recovered....that's heart and hustle, and sometimes that's enought to win a game.
Posted by: illinoishusker on 10/27/09 @ 8:51 pm:
Los21Husker...line Henry up at the 15 yard line 4 or 5 times and i'll take my chances. Yes the comment is a little tongue in cheek, however..think about it. We lost to a team by less than a field goal when our team was in the red zone a plethora of times...so, as the game is winding down and we have turned it over 5,6,7 times, you're telling me you dont' at some point give Henry a shot? Suh at tailback obviously was a joke, however, he and the guys on the D seem to be the only ones with a spark at this point. Also, are you really telling me that at this point in the season after all the hype etc we need to get these kids to find a spark? really? When i turn the game on, or am at the stadium I've got a spark just watching the tunnel walk..these kids actually get to live it in full color...they need to find a spark? That really confuses me.
Posted by: kshusker on 10/27/09 @ 9:36 pm:
Thank you Omaha Husker. These coaches are making great strides. The D has been dramatically turned around in a short amount of time and the offense will follow. One thing I know that will not help the Huskers and that's getting on the staff every time something doesn't go right. We're supposed to be the most "educated" fans in college football. Well, it doesn't take much to see that even with the last two losses this team is making great strides and will be where they need to be in 2010-2011. Let's not forget....Husker fans tried to run Osborne out of town several times in his career, how big of a mistake would that have been? Pelini is one of the hungrier coaches around and it would be a big mistake to not keep him around!
Posted by: HuskerDon on 10/27/09 @ 10:24 pm:
The Cyclones special team makes a great play on a fake punt. Then the offense immediately goes for a home run and hits a deep-route touchdown pass.
The Huskers special team makes a great play with a field-goal block. Then the inept zone-read offense runs Mendoza sideways for no gain.
Cyclone offensive coordinator wins; Watson loses. Period. End of story
Posted by: AZ Mad Mike on 10/28/09 @ 2:13 am:
A few thoughts: I don't believe the Huskers need to go to Cody Green as the starter, because Zac Lee does do some good things, but Cody's redshirt is gone, and they should get their redshirt's worth this year. To burn his redshirt on a couple of mop-up situations is ridiculous--heck, I still feel bad for Harrison Beck! This kid needs to play!! There is no other way for him to gain experience, and there's no better way to gauge what he's got to offer. Give him a drive per quarter at the least. What about a wildcat-type approach where you man everybody up, and let Cody go one-on-one with a LB, CB, or Safety? If they want to throw, roll him out and give him a run pass option. Drag the TE across the middle, with a WR on a post route so they're both in front of him--if they're covered he can tuck it and run. At least Cody's a real threat on the zone read. As it is now, Zac is no threat on the zone read, and when passing, we're putting the ball in the air 15 to 20 yards to gain 2 or 3 on all these sideline out patterns; and the bubble screen, as it's already been pointed out, is used too much for its lack of production. If they're going to run it anyway, I'm sure Cody Green could complete that pass. This season is far from over, and I'd hate to see the Huskers go the rest of the year without giving Green an opportunity to gain some much needed experience, and possibly provide the "spark" the Huskers are looking for. We keep being fed all this talk about inexperience and youth, and that Cody's not ready, but I have a hard time believing he's not ready enough to play SOME. I mean, how is he not playing at all?? After all, I remember Florida platooning Tebow in as a Freshman because they knew he was a stud, and that's turned out pretty well for them I'd say. I'd hate to see another Ganz situation, where no matter how bad things get in a game, we stay with the anointed starter the WHOLE game without giving the equally deserving back-up an opportunity to turn a game around. Bo keeps saying people need to make plays--well, I know of one playmaker who is not being given that opportunity right now. I'm excited for Saturday. Go Big Red!!!!!!!!!!!