Nebraska Defense tries to 'stop the bleeding'

[Count 'Bility]

I think we are getting a bit ahead of ourselves. UCLA could be a very good team. I know there are problems in the D-Line, but they could be repaired by Rome, Williams, and others. I guess I am tired of hearing about how bad things are, thks Pason Peter, and feel we could be OK when the B1G comes calling. The sky is not falling.

UCLA is not a good team. NU gave up more yards to UCLA than Rice!

I'm sorry. I dont know how you can say this 2 games into the year. Who cares what Rice did and then what we did. Pretty obvious this game was UCLA's coming out party. Nuhisel line up top 5 recruiting classes for 3 year for this Mora fella. He's got talent-A LOT OF IT- to work with. I would wait until the season shakes out before labeling UCLA as "not a good team".

 

[MichiganDad3]

I think we are getting a bit ahead of ourselves. UCLA could be a very good team. I know there are problems in the D-Line, but they could be repaired by Rome, Williams, and others. I guess I am tired of hearing about how bad things are, thks Pason Peter, and feel we could be OK when the B1G comes calling. The sky is not falling.

UCLA is not a good team. NU gave up more yards to UCLA than Rice!

I'm sorry. I dont know how you can say this 2 games into the year. Who cares what Rice did and then what we did. Pretty obvious this game was UCLA's coming out party. Nuhisel line up top 5 recruiting classes for 3 year for this Mora fella. He's got talent-A LOT OF IT- to work with. I would wait until the season shakes out before labeling UCLA as "not a good team".

Rice has been ranked below 100 in defense for 7 years in a row. If UCLA has so much talent from Skippy's great recruiting classes then why were there 3 freshman on the O line and a freshman QB?

 

[EbylHusker]

If UCLA can keep playing that way all season, they'll be a very good team. But that's a big "if" in my book. I think they played great for the entire game and were easily the best team on the field that night. Can they do that consistently through the season, though? I don't know, but I'm interested to see.

The end result, though? They beat us. Get over it.

Edit - And back to the topic so I'm not totally OT, I agree that there shouldn't need to be any "fixing" to be done with his defense. Enough words. Results, please.

 

[skersfan]

He played the best players, not the most experience. funny thing, that is just what we are screaming for. He may have a senior behind that freshman that is very close, but he plays the best. We will see if any of the coach speak comes true. My guess there will be very little change in what we see this weekend. He is terrified to lose right now. He will with tried and proven not to work. We can hope it is all the young ones, I know I am .

 

[JTrain]

This is bad. 653 should never happen. Never ever ever. Not against Oregon or Oklahoma State, much less UCLA and a freshman QB. It shouldn't be something that needs fixed mid-season. Any issues severe enough to result in 653 yards should never survive spring ball. I just can't think of a defensive minded coach that would give up 653 yards, even with mediocre talent. It's hard to swallow because I want, at the very least, to have faith in Bo's defensive genius, even when everything else goes wrong. That was pretty well shot after Saturday night.

 

[Count 'Bility]

I think we are getting a bit ahead of ourselves. UCLA could be a very good team. I know there are problems in the D-Line, but they could be repaired by Rome, Williams, and others. I guess I am tired of hearing about how bad things are, thks Pason Peter, and feel we could be OK when the B1G comes calling. The sky is not falling.

UCLA is not a good team. NU gave up more yards to UCLA than Rice!

I'm sorry. I dont know how you can say this 2 games into the year. Who cares what Rice did and then what we did. Pretty obvious this game was UCLA's coming out party. Nuhisel line up top 5 recruiting classes for 3 year for this Mora fella. He's got talent-A LOT OF IT- to work with. I would wait until the season shakes out before labeling UCLA as "not a good team".

Rice has been ranked below 100 in defense for 7 years in a row. If UCLA has so much talent from Skippy's great recruiting classes then why were there 3 freshman on the O line and a freshman QB?

Redshirt? They talked for a 10 portion of the game how Hundley woulda been the man last season except he was injured super early and took the redshirt. Not to mention them 3 starting Oline are all redshirt freshman as well. Nuehisel's kids. Obviously talented enough to come in and play right away as redshirt freshman.

 

[JJ Husker]

My two cents is that the defensive shortcomings of the last two seasons have to fall in Pelinis lap. I'm not calling for his ouster or replacement because I like Bo and I do think he can turn it around. And primarily because change of that nature would put the program back even more years. However, I am getting very concerned with our talent level (recruiting), scheme, and gametime adjustments. We do not have the personel to run this defense (at least not playing on the field yet). That is painfully obvious. Bo has to try some new guys or change the scheme to something the current pull-a-plow linemen can handle. Problem is that slow is still slow in any scheme. I'm no expert by any means but I have played linebacker and I have watched a whole lot of football in my 49 years. The combination of personel and scheme they have been using will not get the job done, ever. The line is a huge problem. Can't plug holes to stop the run and can't generate any pass rush, push, or pressure. That is the D lines job in any scheme. I fear we don't have the horses to do much more than what we have been witnessing. Sure there will be modest improvement naturally but the level of improvement will not occur merely through more reps. If Bo doesn't get radical with this mess, we will notmove one step closer to where this program needs to be headed for another year again.

 

[walksalone]

I sure hope he fixes it, because watching that game last weak was like dry humping a cheese grater...

I'm not sure "fixing" is the correct term, so much as were in drastic need of an overhaul. Because if we get our asses kicked by Arky St, then this week is going to be nothing compared to what next week would be like...

 

[California Husker]

I think we are getting a bit ahead of ourselves. UCLA could be a very good team. I know there are problems in the D-Line, but they could be repaired by Rome, Williams, and others.

I guess I am tired of hearing about how bad things are, thks Pason Peter, and feel we could be OK when the B1G comes calling.

The sky is not falling.

Really? I was at that UCLA game and I am pretty sure I saw the damn thing fall and land right there in the middle of the field....all over our D.

 

[VectorVictor]

This is Bo Pelini. His defenses should not "need fixing". They should be a well oiled machine throttling opponents, eating running backs for lunch and pooping qb's from day one. I would have thought after last years debacle with the defense he would have "fixed" it before this season ever started.

If we were talking about another program with the same struggles, people would think that perhaps the coach is spending too much time on scheme, and not enough on technique.

People can say we need more team speed, and that's all well and good. But if they aren't coached to use the proper technique every single play, all you're doing is putting in a kid who is going to make it into the ESPN highlight reel faster...for the other team.

 

[C N Red]

Truthfully with the offenses around the country, and now alot of the teams in the B1G, we really need to get back to a defense more like we had in the Big XII. More and more teams are showing spread looks, yes even in the B1G. First off, to have a good defense in any level of football, you have to have speed!!! It's all about speed and athleticism these days. Undersize LBs with speed and athelticism are something Nebraska starting using in the 90s, and that worked out pretty well for us.

Many people think of the B1G as prodding and slow, which in the past they have been. However, I see that changing soon, and this league will look much different in 3-4 years. It will be much more spread looking. Why you ask?? Look how the B1G has done against SEC teams, and teams with speed and athletes. Not Good!! The B1G teams are finally understanding if they want to win MNCs, they need to adopt the principles of recruiting speed and athleticism.

I would much rather see an undersized speedy LBer who can chase a play to the sideline and make the tackle. Yes, he may get beat up a little bit on the inside, but that's where scheme comes in. The DC needs to run certain schemes on the Dline to keep the LBers free to make plays, while also giving the Dline chances to make plays.

Then, after speed is size. Sometime you just need to work hard and get a recruit in like Bama's Dlinemen and LBers. They are speedy, athletic, and Big!! But if I had to choose, I would choose speed first over size. Then if you are lucky enough you get some guys in with speed that are also B1G. I've seen it mentioned on here before by others, but I could definitely see SJB being a LBer. A little undersized but would be fast and elusive to get around blocks and to get to the ball. You can cause alot of headaches with speed.

Speed = Disruption, and isn't that what you want to do as a defense?

 

[knapplc]

Speed = Disruption, and isn't that what you want to do as a defense?

This was the hard lesson Charlie McBride learned after pounding his head on the wall for eons. He finally gave up trying to build a wall and instead recruited a bunch of fast headhunters.

Bo, for all his defensive genius, seems to not have made this leap in logic yet. We have guys on this defense who would lose a footrace to the 1995 defense TODAY.

 

[Count 'Bility]

Truthfully with the offenses around the country, and now alot of the teams in the B1G, we really need to get back to a defense more like we had in the Big XII. More and more teams are showing spread looks, yes even in the B1G. First off, to have a good defense in any level of football, you have to have speed!!! It's all about speed and athleticism these days. Undersize LBs with speed and athelticism are something Nebraska starting using in the 90s, and that worked out pretty well for us.

Many people think of the B1G as prodding and slow, which in the past they have been. However, I see that changing soon, and this league will look much different in 3-4 years. It will be much more spread looking. Why you ask?? Look how the B1G has done against SEC teams, and teams with speed and athletes. Not Good!! The B1G teams are finally understanding if they want to win MNCs Rose Bowls, they need to adopt the principles of recruiting speed and athleticism.

I would much rather see an undersized speedy LBer who can chase a play to the sideline and make the tackle. Yes, he may get beat up a little bit on the inside, but that's where scheme comes in. The DC needs to run certain schemes on the Dline to keep the LBers free to make plays, while also giving the Dline chances to make plays.

Then, after speed is size. Sometime you just need to work hard and get a recruit in like Bama's Dlinemen and LBers. They are speedy, athletic, and Big!! But if I had to choose, I would choose speed first over size. Then if you are lucky enough you get some guys in with speed that are also B1G. I've seen it mentioned on here before by others, but I could definitely see SJB being a LBer. A little undersized but would be fast and elusive to get around blocks and to get to the ball. You can cause alot of headaches with speed.

Speed = Disruption, and isn't that what you want to do as a defense?

There. i fixed that little booboo for ya.

 

[skersfan]

Bama won this weekend, but they had major problems with the other teams DL and DE, they were small and fast, made penetration and hit McCarren(spelling) quite a few times. Actually lost a 2nd string running back to the penetration problem. Lot of concern on the Bama boards about it.

DL according to Saban is the most important part of a good defense, you have to have them to win in the SEC. Of course Bama has fast and large DL.

Recruiting is the lifes blood of college football, I think Bo has finally figured that out, or at least it seems that way with the O personnel he has brought in. Not sure on the D. Need to see them on the field.

 

[junior4949]

"I have been through this before and I have a good idea on how to fix it," Pelini said.

Ummm....he's been through it for about 3 seasons now and it's still not fixed. Gotta wonder.

Exactly!

I'm all about being aboard the Bo Train. I'm not trying to unduly rip the guy, but listen - if your calling card is tremendous defense, there is never an excuse for a game like this at UCLA. And we've had several like this over Bo's tenure.

Enough with the words. Bo says all the right words. I'm sick of hearing the words. Just get this crap fixed.

There is no question the responsibility for the defense falls on Bo, but the guy didn't just forget how to coach defense. His scheme works, he has proved that for years now. I think where Bo has failed is on the recruiting front. He has missed on some of his defensive guys his first few classes, that fact is showing it's head now. I will give Bo some credit though, because it seems that he is on his way to fixing the issues with better recruiting. This last years class seems to have better athletes.

In my opinion Bo is a fantastic coach, and a great defensive mind. Where Bo, and Saban are seperated is in the fact that Saban CAN afford to miss on some recruits, whereas Bo CAN"T.... And he clearly has....

a bad coach with good players will do better than a good coach with bad players...i think its recruiting. period, hopefully that is getting fixed with these new recruits we are seeing come in

I don't agree with this at all. When Blake coached at OU, they were horrible even though they had enough talent for Stoops to win a NC his second year. I don't want to say KState has bad players, but Snyder takes a lot of players nobody else wanted and molds them into a pretty good team. Great coaching masks a lot of problems with average athletes. Great players seldom masks poor coaching. In basketball, maybe but not football.

I was watching Big Red Wrapup last night. They interviewed a four star recruit LB and showed footage as well. Then, they showed footage of another LB that they didn't think we'd offer because we don't have enough scholarships. They thought he'd end up either at Ohio or Iowa. I'm not a recruiting guru by any stretch, and it is very hard to make an assessment from a few clips. However, the one offered seemed to get blown up every play and jogged around while the play was going on. The second one which we won't offer was going balls out each play and was taking on double and triple teams. Just from these clips, I've gotta ask if we're even recruiting the right "type" of players? From the clips, it appeared the one we won't offer a scholly to was a significantly better LB than the one we've already offered a scholly.