T1B

So if you didn't notice today, Nebraska lost at home to Iowa State 9-7 in a matter that was so inept that it went beyond shooting yourself in the foot. It was a "shooting yourself in the foot, checking the chamber, shooting the other foot, grabbing a hammer, smashing your toes and then cutting off every toe until your foot looks like meatloaf' kind of performance today.

Nebraska's offense had 8 turnovers today. Eight. That's one less than 9 and one more than 7. At least four of those came INSIDE ISU's 10-yard line when it looked like NU was finally going to take the lead. The receiver Niles Paul fumbled a ball out of bounds at the 5-yard line when he had caught a long pass and no one was around him. The NU defense held ISU to about 200 yards of offense, but didn't get a turnover. They get the offense the ball on ISU's 35-yard line which resulted in 3 plays for -4 yards.

I think it was M Dub who told us to get used to little dink passes over and over. Man, was he not kidding.

Watson came from Colorado to work for Callahan. When Osborne got hired as AD and Callahan knew his time was short, it was obvious to everyone that Watson started sucking up to Osborne. As a result of that effort Osborne encouraged Pelini to keep Watson because the offense at least was doing well. He also kept the receivers coach Gilmore.

I've heard in many circles that the offense that Pelini wants to run is a option-centered run/pass game similar to what Florida runs. There are times when Watson flirts with that, but most of the time, we're treated to those stupid zone blocks and dink pass plays. Granted, not all of the offensive woes are his fault. The receivers are the most pathetic group I've ever seen. Dropped passes, wrong routes run and just a lack of fire are some traits of the receiver core. I can't think of any that's a threat without the possibility of screwing up.

For sure, NU's offense is missing an experienced running back. Our starter, Helu, has the same injury that Bradford does, but he's not going to be able to sit. The second-stringer has a broken foot and our pre-season second string RB was kicked off the team in August leaving several okay backs and one pretty good true frosh.

I don't know what else to say here. It's as if the offense is so afraid to screw up that they don't want to even try. They lack that killer instinct. I think that's a reflection of the OC. Anyone else have any ideas?

as an objective guy with CU season tickets during the Watson years, and a longtime OU fan....I never liked Watson.

he seemed like kind of a prick the one time i met him in person, too. the Information Tech services at CU are located in Folsom Field and while they were building the stadium upper deck in 03-04 you had to access those services by entering the stadium and walking the concourse to get certain stairways you needed to pick up keys you needed to teach classes for the university. I run into SW and he asks me what i'm "doing" in the stadium. i tell him....he acts like he owns the place...and i walk him to a phone and call CU ITS and they tell him I'm there to get keys for my classroom and that's that. he was still kind of a prick about it.

You know you had a nightmarish day when you had more turnovers than points.

Van wrote:You know you had a nightmarish day when you had more turnovers than points.

I didn't even get to see the last three quarters. I had to drive two hours for a family emergency (everyone's okay), but listening to that game on the road was probably more infuriating than watching it. Every time it sounded like they were going to score, another turnover happened.

What rubs me is we don't do any one thing good on offense. I think Watson believes success lies in being flexable enough to do everything to some extent, as opposed to having a true identity and doing one or two things well. That doesn't work in college footall due to attrition for most programs.
(He can stick his bubble screen in his ear.)
How many times do you catch yourself asking "why are your throwing the damn ball to the boundry when you just gained 6 yards between the tackles?"
Today though, we moved the ball, and it sure wasn't Watson's fault NU has 4 turnovers inside the 6, 2 at the one.

The most damaging part was the 3 and out after the blocked FG attempt and then, ISU driving from their 6 to midfield and chewing up 7 minutes to start the fourth. Dagger.
The defense was less than steller at that critical point of the game. That bothered me as much as the turnovers. Hope that doesn't get lost in translation.

Back-up QB schooling the defense on zone read QB keepers in their crib. Brutal. And you knew that was all they wanted to do.
One thing well. They did it just well enough for 3 first downs in the fourth quarter, that was enough.
Go figure.

The best way to beat Nebraska, is to give them the ball.

That actually tied the team's record of eight. I read the record for the most in one game was 13 by Georgia against G Tech in 1951.

At Large, that's 13 turnovers in a game they still won?

No, they lost 48 - 6