Decoding Langsdorf: The Oregon Autopsy

The Nebraska offensive gameplan was solid, but the execution didn’t really work out very well

Shortly after 7:10 pm Central Daylight Time, we as a collective fanbase engaged in our time-honored pastime, engaging in histrionics in the wake of a Husker loss. From Hemingford to Falls City, the individual cliques of Husker fans we all belong to were asunder and apoplectic over what had just transpired over the past 3 hours and 40 minutes. Jibes were levied intimating that Tanner Lee was nothing more than a workout warrior who can spin the ball in shorts and a t-shirt, but struggles to put it all together in crunch time. Some decried Diaco’s defensive strategy, citing the oddity of witnessing linebacker Mohammad Barry being tasked with carrying a slot receiver up the seam. All the while, many stood at the ready, engaging in perhaps the most vociferous pastime of the Cornhusker State, wondering just what in the blue hell offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf was thinking and just what in tarnation is Mike Cavanaugh teaching the big guys up front? Impassioned inquiries that we all had in the heat of the moment that we’ll get answers for today.

Today we’re going to perform an autopsy on the Oregon game that will seek to answer some of the questions that we all had at one point or another over the course of last Saturday evening. Specifically, we’ll look at how Nebraska’s first play from scrimmage was designed to target the weakness of Oregon’s coverage scheme and how that exploiting that weakness was one of Nebraska’s main offensive objectives.

On Nebraska’s first play from scrimmage, the Huskers align in their Zip to Bunch formation set to the boundary (FIB) and motion Tyjon Lindsey in to form the Bunch as if the Huskers were looking to run the Gap-Duo play. Instead, NU opts for an isolation concept for the X receiver, Stanley Morgan, with the Bunch receivers executing a simple Spacing concept. Oregon opts to defend this FIB concept by leveraging the boundary, leaving their corner in man coverage with late help over the top from the single post safety. With Oregon playing 3 Deep coverage, Stan was able to get a step on his defender along the deep side line; the Achilles Heel of 3 Deep/Cover 3.