Under the Hood: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Kansas Jayhawks Statistical Comparison: Embrace the Chaos
by Jon Johnston on Nov 11, 2009 1:56 PM CST
in Nebraska Husker Football
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PrintIn some ways, these are useless articles at this point in the season. We know that Nebraska's offense is a mess. Dirk Chatelain's article points that out in ways that resemble being murdered with a blunt instrument.
We know that Nebraska's defense is outstanding..... well... you and I know that. Last night I called into EDSBS Live, talking to BON's Peter Bean and EDSBS's Orson, and heard the comment that Nebraska's defense (paraphrased) is merely pedestrian. After all, we play in the Big 12 North...... and therefore whatever we have to offer when compared to the mighty Florida and Texas squads must pale in comparison. Bastards.
I'll continue with the "Under the Hood" articles in the current format because some day we will look back on this and laugh, and the ability to put a stake in the ground is important when you're a few years down the road.
The theme on last night's EDSBS live was chaos - whether or not fans were rooting for chaos to occur (rather than the natural order of things, which... of course, is Florida vs Texas if you're Bean/Swindle) as if that could harm the monstrosity that is the BCS.
On my call, I subtlety pointed out that Nebraska is the only Big 12 North team capable of beating Texas. (This of course elicited the defense "ain't that great" comment by Bean.) Nebraska is capable of creating massive chaos by accomplishing that feat...... of course, Nebraska is also capable of losing the next three games.... that "kick a field goal on first down" joke from a few weeks ago isn't so funny any more.
What's going to happen against Kansas? Who knows. No one knows. That is chaos - specifically, a state lacking order or predictability. Most see it as a bad thing, which I've always found puzzling. If everything is predictable, isn't that the most boring life imaginable? Is that what people really want - a boring life? Perhaps.....
Husker fans may do well to embrace chaos as a friend for the rest of this season. It could be beautiful - think of it - if we can win the Big 12 North and somehow manage to beat Texas, then a lowly, disrespected half of a conference would take a BCS bowl, bringing howls and cries to the rest of the nation.
Or it could be horrific, beating beaten by Kansas, Kansas State, or Colorado (or any combination), losing the North, going to a lesser bowl game and knowing that the best defense this century was wasted because the offense couldn't be counted on to score ten points.
If I were in charge (and I mean, really really in charge) and I offered you a choice:
- Nebraska beats Kansas, Kansas State, and Colorado, but for compensation for that favor must lose to Texas in the Big 12 title game.
- Nebraska's fate is it's own, with the chance to beat Texas in the Big 12 title game.
Which would you choose? Order? Or Chaos?
Offensive Statistics
| Nebraska | Kansas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rush YPG | 145.56 (63/6) | 127.78 (86/8) | |
| Rush YPC | 4.34 (50/4) | 3.77 (88/9) | |
| Rush TDS | 13 (73/10) | 17 (34/6) | |
| Pass YPG | 201.4 (77/10) | 303.8 (8/2) | |
| Pass YPA | 6.8 (80/10) | 7.4 (49/5) | |
| Pass TDS | 13 (63/8) | 17 (27/5) | |
| Pass Efficiency | 126.49 (71/9) | 137.13 (38/5) | |
| Total Offense | 347.0 (84/11) | 431.6 (24/3) |
Defensive Statistics
| Nebraska | Kansas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rush YPG | 93.33 (9/3) | 117.67 (35/7) | |
| Rush YPC | 2.66 (5/2) | 3.58 (46/8) | |
| Rush TDS | 5 (9/3) | 15 (76/11) | |
| Pass YPG | 179.6 (21/2) | 227.2 (69/4) | |
| Pass YPA | 5.3 (5/2) | 6.3 (33/5) | |
| Pass TDS | 3 (1/1) | 12 (55/8) | |
| Total Defense | 272.9 (11/3) | 344.9 (47/7) | |
| Scoring Defense | 10.3 (2/1) | 24.2 (62/8) |
Nebraska vs Opponent Positional Ranks
| Total Offense Rank | Nebraska Opponent | Total Defense Rank | Total Offense Rank | Kansas | Total Defense Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Florida Atlantic | 113 | - | Northern Colorado | - | |
| 94 | Arkansas State | 48 | 54 | UTEP | 115 | |
| 70 | @Virginia Tech | 23 | 65 | Duke | 28 | |
| 81 | UL-Lafayette | 88 | 26 | Southern Miss | 64 | |
| 56 | @Missouri | 45 | 69 | Iowa State | 94 | |
| 5 | Texas Tech | 56 | 111 | Colorado | 74 | |
| 69 | Iowa State | 94 | 32 | Oklahoma | 9 | |
| 75 | @Baylor | 91 | 5 | Texas Tech | 56 | |
| 32 | Oklahoma | 9 | 79 | Kansas State | 43 | |
| 54.78 | Average | 63 | 55.13 | Average | 60.38 |
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I call forth
<img src="[IMG]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h224/hulaopass191/ProfessorChaos.jpg[/IMG]"/>
You can't possibly be a scientist if you mind people thinking that you're a fool.
~Wanko the Sane
Big Red Kool-aid Drinker @ Corn Nation
hmmmm let's try that again
Professor Chaos! What good is life without free choice?
You can't possibly be a scientist if you mind people thinking that you're a fool.
~Wanko the Sane
Big Red Kool-aid Drinker @ Corn Nation
Butters is great
Whether a supervillan or a pimp, you can’t go wrong.
Bad matchup
This looks like it might be a worse matchup for Nebraska than Oklahoma. I think Nebraska will need to get excellent (inside the KU 30) field position twice to be able to win this game.
That field position could come from kick or punt blocks or returns or turnovers. It doesn’t matter how it happens it just needs to happen.
Why does this seem to be a worse matchup for Nebraska? Their offense is worse than OU’s and their defense isn’t exactly, to put it politely, good… The only thing they have going for them is their secondary, and even it doesn’t look that great.
If NU can get so much as a helmet on a helmet, Helu should have a huge game, which will allow Zac to have a decent game, too. I honestly think if Watson calls a halfway decent game, Nebraska should be able to put points up. Kansas has zero playmakers at the second level of their defense so as long as NU’s offensive front 7 can push Kansas’ front 4 an inch, it will be an automatic 4+ yard gain.
You can quote me on this, Nebraska will have the best offensive game this week that we will see from them this season in BigXII play.
GBR!!!
by Screwface on Nov 11, 2009 6:51 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Your defense isn't that good?
Wow.just.wow.
Well, you do have to consider the source there. PB probably wants to pimp texas’ defense as the best in the Big 12 (they’re not), and in order to do that, he needs to put down everyone else.
I would also point out that ever since I saw him talk about defensive ends playing contain to stop the option in 2006, I’ve ignored his opinions on actual football strategy.
Thanks
should call in more often… but schedule just hasn’t worked out well.
Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
Twitter!
cornnation@gmail.com
by Jon Johnston on Nov 11, 2009 10:45 PM CST up reply actions
I’m not trying to start a war of words with BON, but he discounts like 5 offensive scoring drives on his breakdown to get Texas to a point where Nebraska’s defense still gives up less points per game. That article was hilarious.
GBR!!!
by Screwface on Nov 11, 2009 9:59 PM CST via mobile reply actions
IF
we can make it through the next few games (BIG IF), then we’ll have quite a bit of fun with BON. :)
Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
Twitter!
cornnation@gmail.com
by Jon Johnston on Nov 11, 2009 10:44 PM CST up reply actions
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