Injuries and Expectations

[Scratchtown]

Two sets of fans I shake my head over.

A). The fans that the instant an injury happens it's the end of the world.

B). The fans that say injuries don't matter and Bo should be expected to go win a championship no matter who gets injured and how many injuries.

Both are unrealistic.

Injuries are a part of the game. However, it can greatly affect even great teams if certain players on that team get injured.

I'm disappointed but not alarmed at what has happened. Now, if maybe Bando goes down along with Cockrell and maybe RG4 and another top D lineman....my expectations would start to drop for the defense.

I probably fit more into B. Except my expectations give Bo some room for error when they do happen.

I will say this. Injuries do matter, but they get way overblown especially to guys that are hardly proven. Yet. Especially the guys that aren't even upperclassmen in college yet.

 

[True2tRA]

I can see how people are concerned, whether we lost proven players or not. Fact is, under Bo Pelini thus far, it's been proven it takes years to comprehend his defense. If we just lost a couple of the guys that 'get it' out there, it could be more difficult to replace those guys here at Nebraska than in some other places where the scheme is not quite as difficult.

But we don't need to be concerned, we've been simplifying for two or three years now.

 

[TheSker]

Fact is, under Bo Pelini thus far, it's been proven it takes years to comprehend his defense.

Players such as Randy Gregory, Maliek Collins, Lavonte David, Dejon Gomes and others that were not in the program for years might disagree. It's still about the Jimmys and Joes.

 

[True2tRA]

Fact is, under Bo Pelini thus far, it's been proven it takes years to comprehend his defense.

Players such as Randy Gregory, Maliek Collins, Lavonte David, Dejon Gomes and others that were not in the program for years might disagree. It's still about the Jimmys and Joes.

Good point. It still doesn't erase the multiple players, coaches, analysts, former players, and others who have seen Bo's scheme and call it difficult. So although I agree with your point, it is hard to keep talent like those guys you mentioned off the field, we have also heard of talent not getting on the field. So I think the truth is in the gray, which is usually the case. I'm sure it's a bit of both.

 

[TheSker]

Fact is, under Bo Pelini thus far, it's been proven it takes years to comprehend his defense.

Players such as Randy Gregory, Maliek Collins, Lavonte David, Dejon Gomes and others that were not in the program for years might disagree. It's still about the Jimmys and Joes.

Good point. It still doesn't erase the multiple players, coaches, analysts, former players, and others who have seen Bo's scheme and call it difficult. So although I agree with your point, it is hard to keep talent like those guys you mentioned off the field, we have also heard of talent not getting on the field. So I think the truth is in the gray, which is usually the case. I'm sure it's a bit of both.

Here's a point to consider why Pelini's scheme is not difficult or overly complicated......but more dependent on talent. Pelini's first year with the program was 2003. Our defense had some really good stats that season. Since it was a "one and done" season for Pelini, all the players had to learn it that season. What do I think made the difference? NFL caliber talent. Ruud, Bullocks x2, etc. In 2009, with one of the better defenses in the NCAA, it was Pelini's second season as head coach. What did that 2009 defense have? NFL talent. What were the defenses of the past 3 (ish) seasons lacking? NFL talent. Let's hope the Jimmys and Joes are here now.......

 

[JJ Husker]

What pisses me off more than losing these three top contributors is that this just starts to pad the excuse list. It seems for the last few years there is a rather large faction of fans always willing to relieve Bo and staff of any responsibility for what happens on the field. This has to end. All teams have player loses and injuries. They are not an excuse for subpar performance. Sure it sucks but big boys nut up and do what needs to be done. Based on our schedule and where this program should be at this point in time, more than two losses will be met with serious questions from this fan.

Wow. Are we really to this point? People are more upset about what the argument will be if the season doesn't go so well instead of upset that guys who've put in a lot of effort and work won't be able to help the team succeed?

I feel plenty bad for these players and for the team as a whole. It seemed as if everyone was saying the right things and that we were headed in the right direction. Heck, it still seems that way and I'm sure they can still accomplish their goals for the season. Losing these three players won't make it any easier but it sure isn't a death sentence either. I just sense that quite a few are ready to add this on to the list of why things didn't go as well as they could have for 2014.

 

[True2tRA]

Fact is, under Bo Pelini thus far, it's been proven it takes years to comprehend his defense.

Players such as Randy Gregory, Maliek Collins, Lavonte David, Dejon Gomes and others that were not in the program for years might disagree. It's still about the Jimmys and Joes.

Good point. It still doesn't erase the multiple players, coaches, analysts, former players, and others who have seen Bo's scheme and call it difficult. So although I agree with your point, it is hard to keep talent like those guys you mentioned off the field, we have also heard of talent not getting on the field. So I think the truth is in the gray, which is usually the case. I'm sure it's a bit of both.

Here's a point to consider why Pelini's scheme is not difficult or overly complicated......but more dependent on talent. Pelini's first year with the program was 2003. Our defense had some really good stats that season. Since it was a "one and done" season for Pelini, all the players had to learn it that season. What do I think made the difference? NFL caliber talent. Ruud, Bullocks x2, etc. In 2009, with one of the better defenses in the NCAA, it was Pelini's second season as head coach. What did that 2008 defense have? NFL talent. What were the defenses of the past 3 (ish) seasons lacking? NFL talent. Let's hope the Jimmys and Joes are here now.......

I've never believed for a second that Pelini implemented his entire defensive scheme in that 2003 season. Probably just implemented the simpler, more easy to grasp concepts, which is probably why it was so successful. You see, we've come full circle.

 

[True2tRA]

I mean, you do agree, there's a reason we hear so much about simplifying. You can't just ignore all the people who have called his scheme complicating. People who know far more and have seen it, call it complicating. I've never, not once heard anyone who knows anything call Bo's scheme simple. After all, why would you spend an entire off season talking about simplifying something that nobody is finding difficult?

 

[Mavric]

Fact is, under Bo Pelini thus far, it's been proven it takes years to comprehend his defense.

Players such as Randy Gregory, Maliek Collins, Lavonte David, Dejon Gomes and others that were not in the program for years might disagree. It's still about the Jimmys and Joes.

Good point. It still doesn't erase the multiple players, coaches, analysts, former players, and others who have seen Bo's scheme and call it difficult. So although I agree with your point, it is hard to keep talent like those guys you mentioned off the field, we have also heard of talent not getting on the field. So I think the truth is in the gray, which is usually the case. I'm sure it's a bit of both.

There has been much discussion about the difficulty level of learning Bo's defense. It may be difficult, but I'm not sure it's that much more difficult than any other college system. The perception that it takes years to figure it out should have taken some hits over the last couple years when players like Randy Gregory, LeRoy Alexander, Michael Rose, Vincent Valentine, Avery Moss, Greg McMullen, Maliek Collins, Kevin Maurice, Nathan Gerry and Josh Banderas have all played significantly in their first or second year on campus. Probably add Byerson Cockrell, Joe Keels and maybe another couple true freshmen this year.

 

[Mavric]

I mean, you do agree, there's a reason we hear so much about simplifying. You can't just ignore all the people who have called his scheme complicating. People who know far more and have seen it, call it complicating. I've never, not once heard anyone who knows anything call Bo's scheme simple. After all, why would you spend an entire off season talking about simplifying something that nobody is finding difficult?

I think this is true to some extent. But I haven't heard a lot of talk about simplifying the defense this off-season. It's all been about the offense. Perhaps I've missed it.

 

[TheSker]

I mean, you do agree, there's a reason we hear so much about simplifying. You can't just ignore all the people who have called his scheme complicating. People who know far more and have seen it, call it complicating. I've never, not once heard anyone who knows anything call Bo's scheme simple. After all, why would you spend an entire off season talking about simplifying something that nobody is finding difficult?

The word simplifying is being primarily used on the offense side. It is from the deeper look the staff took at issues with execution, such as turnovers. The conversation about scheme has been primarily defensively......since that is Pelini's background. Pelini had to learn the recruiting part of his job......it was a weakness. How many of our front 7 have been NFL caliber since 2009? College football is about talent. Barry Switzer made the line about Jimmys and Joes famous......and there's a reason Urban Meyer took coaching jobs in Florida and Ohio.

 

[True2tRA]

Fact is, under Bo Pelini thus far, it's been proven it takes years to comprehend his defense.

Players such as Randy Gregory, Maliek Collins, Lavonte David, Dejon Gomes and others that were not in the program for years might disagree. It's still about the Jimmys and Joes.

Good point. It still doesn't erase the multiple players, coaches, analysts, former players, and others who have seen Bo's scheme and call it difficult. So although I agree with your point, it is hard to keep talent like those guys you mentioned off the field, we have also heard of talent not getting on the field. So I think the truth is in the gray, which is usually the case. I'm sure it's a bit of both.

There has been much discussion about the difficulty level of learning Bo's defense. It may be difficult, but I'm not sure it's that much more difficult than any other college system. The perception that it takes years to figure it out should have taken some hits over the last couple years when players like Randy Gregory, LeRoy Alexander, Michael Rose, Vincent Valentine, Avery Moss, Greg McMullen, Maliek Collins, Kevin Maurice, Nathan Gerry and Josh Banderas have all played significantly in their first or second year on campus. Probably add Byerson Cockrell, Joe Keels and maybe another couple true freshmen this year.

Maybe it has changed, I don't know. All I know is halfway through last season, midway through the Northwestern game, Bo and his staff were so desperate for answers that they asked the players what calls they should make on defense.

Also, I don't want to beat this all to death because results is all I'm interested in, but a lot of the names you listed were more played out of necessity and lack of depth, not because they came in and simply 'got it' right away. Those guys had their struggles too. We're still not talking about an elite Blackshirt defense. Not yet anyway.

 

[True2tRA]

Ah, I see. I could be mistaken. If they aren't talking about simplifying on defense, then I have to say I find that unfortunate. I could have sworn I heard talk about less thinking and more attacking.

 

[TheSker]

Fact is, under Bo Pelini thus far, it's been proven it takes years to comprehend his defense.

Players such as Randy Gregory, Maliek Collins, Lavonte David, Dejon Gomes and others that were not in the program for years might disagree. It's still about the Jimmys and Joes.

Good point. It still doesn't erase the multiple players, coaches, analysts, former players, and others who have seen Bo's scheme and call it difficult. So although I agree with your point, it is hard to keep talent like those guys you mentioned off the field, we have also heard of talent not getting on the field. So I think the truth is in the gray, which is usually the case. I'm sure it's a bit of both.

There has been much discussion about the difficulty level of learning Bo's defense. It may be difficult, but I'm not sure it's that much more difficult than any other college system. The perception that it takes years to figure it out should have taken some hits over the last couple years when players like Randy Gregory, LeRoy Alexander, Michael Rose, Vincent Valentine, Avery Moss, Greg McMullen, Maliek Collins, Kevin Maurice, Nathan Gerry and Josh Banderas have all played significantly in their first or second year on campus. Probably add Byerson Cockrell, Joe Keels and maybe another couple true freshmen this year.

Bo and his staff were so desperate for answers that they asked the players what calls they should make on defense.

This has been exaggerated on here. They didn't ask what calls......they asked what alignment of the front 7 the players felt more comfortable in their reads with.

 

[Mavric]

Maybe it has changed, I don't know. All I know is halfway through last season, midway through the Northwestern game, Bo and his staff were so desperate for answers that they asked the players what calls they should make on defense.

Partway through the Northwestern game they went back to the base defense instead of the three-man line they had started the game in.