Holiday Bowl Rewind

As NU's Big 12 brethren Oklahoma and Missouri do their best to tarnish the conference's image today, PYB takes a moment to look bad on the pluses and minuses of the Cornhuskers' Holiday Bowl performance Wednesday in San Diego.

The Good
-Defensive dominance--Arizona didn't stand a chance. The Mildcats came out Pac 10 soft from the outset last nite, as they were smothered on first and second down, then threw a pick on 3rd and long. Matt O'Hanlon returned the ball to the five yard line, where not even NU's inept offensive could screw it up, and the rest was history.

-Success out of the Wildcat formation--Too bad we couldn't see Rex Burkhead and Roy Helu together, as Helu allegedly suffered a 'bruised knee.' PYB hopes that NU's coaches are not using this as a BS excuse to phase out Helu, as he still has a much higher upside than Burkhead. Most Nebraska fans will disagree, since they love Burkhead mostly because he is white.

-Blackshirts' future--Sure, the loss of Ndamukong Suh will be huge, but the most impressive aspect of NU's defense is its function as a collective unit. One player will not make or break the success they have. When you see three CBs on the field that are better than any NU has had in 10 years, you realize it's the depth they have there and everywhere else that allows them all the success. That, along with pro-level zone coverages that confuse almost every QB, mean great things for years to come. Next year: Crick, Allen, Meredith, Gomes, Amukamara, Dennard, PJ Smith, Blue, et al, will return. Find a linebacker that can make plays like Phillip Dillard, and they're in business.

-Alex Henery, PK--Four more field goals for Alex Henery, as he continues his career as the best kicker NU has had since Kris Brown. Complete control of his kicks, as even 50+-yarders sail high through the uprights.

-Kick coverage--The kickoff team let up on one kick return, but that was just once in seven chances. And Blue looked ultra-fast on the punt coverages all nite. If he can transfer this to his defensive play in 2010, look for a bright future as he shakes off a major knee injury.

-New plays--It looked as if Shawn Watson used the 25-day layoff to pick Tom Osborne's brain for more plays that gained positive yardage. Option off a wingback-in-motion set, reverse for the first time in 11 games, tight end passes, etc. Who knew that there were other plays that worked?

The Bad
-Diary of a Freshman--Bad isn't the word for the way Watson & Pelini handled Cody Green's freshman season. Awful may be a start. After spending two weeks telling us all that he'd see meaningful snaps, he played for once meaningful series. That series, like the games against CU and Texas, were defined by terrible dropback pass calls that Green should never run. He obviously is not comfortable running those plays (which not even Lee runs), but Watson keeps forcing it. Granted, Green looked lost last night, but could the coaches highlight his attributes just once? Rollouts, run/pass option plays, the zone read that Zac Lee ran 50 fucking times. Wake up, Shawn. Please spare me the kudos that people are throwing his way, as it was more of the same.

-Overhype for 2010--ESPN was already juicing over NU's likelihood of being preseason top 10. Now fans are talking conference and national title, already. Lest we forget this offense sucked all season and still couldn't finish in the red zone against a soft Pac 10 defense in San Diego. There are few playmakers on the offense. Helu and Burkhead, maybe. Niles Paul, despite his lame flexing routine after running past a DB who slipped on the wet turf, is not one. Check out his disappearing act against good teams. PYB remembers the last time these grand ideas surfaced, and it was followed by embarrassing losses to Texas Tech and Iowa State

-Where's Roy?--Did the coaches bench Roy Helu, or was he really hurt? PYB wants to see him run behind a real offensive line, just once. He has gained so many yards without any consistent blocking, we'd like to see what he'd do with some holes to run through.

-Zac Leebow--Why does Watson insist on running Zac Lee 20 times a game when he won't run Cody Green?

-Celebrate good times--The celebrations by Pierre Allen and Niles Paul were lame. This is not a team that is talented enough to pull that crap. This is a team that must show up every day and outwork the other team. No team is good enough to put a bullseye on its back and get away with it, not these days. There will never be teams good enough to do that again, in this watered-down age of college football. No more Miami from the 80s & 90s. Allen seemed like he temporarily lost his head, while Paul seems to keep thinking he's better than he is...as proven by his spike and flex act. Then his ungracious comments when receiving the MVP trophy: "Next year we gonna make some plays..." How about trying to make some this year first?

-Injured??--Lee's post-game revelation that he needs arm surgery and has been playing injured for 10 games. Is this true or a coverup for why he sucks and can't throw a ball within five yards of wide open receivers?

That's all for now, keep posted for some more season wrap up comments and bowl coverage...





n