The "State" of NU

[The Osbfather]

Hey guys, Im new to the board but I have been reading the board regularly for a long time. Just having some late night thoughts about what Ive been pondering about all week. At first I was pretty confused about how the game turned out. The way we came out reminded me of the Big 12 championship vs. Texas. We were playing relentless and without fear until the all too familiar snowball affect we have all grown accustomed to. After seeing the highlights and hearing all the talk I have mixed feelings on what to do with the coaching staff. Part of me wants Bo to go, part of me is scared of another rebuilding process. Hell, part of me wants us to offer Nick Saben a $10 million a year contract to get him here. But I don't know how any average coach could make Nebraska elite quickly. Not with our current dilemma.

IMO what is truly wrong with Nebraska goes deeper than coaching (although it is always fair game for criticism). When you look at the teams in the SEC they are noticeably bigger and seemingly faster. Nebraska cannot compete with recruiting, and cannot produce enough walk-ons that are in any way relevant. This is a culture problem within the state of Nebraska. We cannot consistently recruit the athletes that would make a difference from the south and west anymore, and we certainly cannot produce our own athletes.

The results of our "culture problem" are shown on the field almost weekly. Its why we are forced to watch a second rate quarterback struggle weakly. Nebraska needs a pass-first quarterback that can also run, not vise versa. In this new age of the spread offense this is a must. Fyfe and Stanton have already used their redshirts for the year, let them play. Each one of them could certainly do just as good. We have not had an NFL caliber receiver since Mo Purify, I can't remember the last time we have effectively used a TE, and next year after that #8 guy leaves we will essentially have no threat in the running game. Guys like Cross and Newby fall into the same category as Armstrong and Taylor Martinez-- guys that lack elite talent. Our lack of talent is constantly exposed to teams that are athletically superior.

Say what you will about the coaching staff, but the problem is an obvious one. Nebraska lacks the quality of players that is needed to be a legitimate top 5 football team. Until we can recruit, or get someone who can, we will continue to slide down the rocky slope of irrelevance in college football -- an after thought to the rest of the country. The glory years of the walk-on program are all but over in this state. The states football program is continually left without an identity year after year, the fans are somewhat divided, and more questions than answers in this culture problem.

 

[kchusker_chris]

Say what you will about the coaching staff, but the problem is an obvious one. Nebraska lacks the quality of players that is needed to be a legitimate top 5 football team.

Our talent is far better than a blowout to a Wisconsin, Ohio State, or mid-tier PAC team, surrendering 38 unanswered, or 56 unanswered, or giving up 500+ rushing yards. Quit focusing on being top 5 - that's a long, long ways away and isn't obtainable by this staff no matter the NFL roster we manage to put together. Focus on being respectable - that's not to much to ask from any coach...especially with our talent which isn't nearly as bad as you make it out to be.

 

[lo country]

It is a mental issue. We are mentally fragile. But that;s a coaching issue. Get the kids ready, mentally prepared. Have them "war game" if you will and use positive imagery to "see" the plays before they happen. Its not rocket science. Sports psychologists use it all the time. Mentally go through the scenarios. That way when things "happen", you've already "been there".

Relating talent, I agree with the "eyeball" test, but not with the results. The SEC does look faster, bigger and leaner. They play meaner and angry. As Corey Raymond alluded to after the USC (Carolina) game, we need to learn to get tougher (like the SEC) Look at Ole Miss and Miss St "star" ratings. IIIRC, this year, NU actually has more. Its coaching. Getting the kids ready to perform, week in and week out.

MSU has been towards the top of the rankings as has OSU. Cold, far from recruiting hot beds (OSU pretty good for recruits), but you get my point......A lot of other programs are consistently doing better with less. Less money, less facilities, less history, BUT much better coaching.......

We have the talent. Elite AA, Collins, Gregory etc.....Now at QB, we are rough. I haven't seen Stanton, but have seen TA....Give Stanton a shot. Read about Beck's philosophy on offense and then loo at our players. Square peg meet round hole.

If we had an OC who called to what we HAVE, not what he WANTS and a DC/HC who wasn't married to his defensive scheme we'd see a huge difference. Something as simple as dropping Gerry and Cop in the box Sat could have paid huge dividends. Especially against a marksman like Stave in the pocket, but instead we kept the same scheme that torched us in 2012......

IMO, its coaching. Lack of development, lack of teaching, lack of scheme and lack of attitude....

 

[knapplc]

Hi, welcome to the board!

I fundamentally disagree with the analysis that Taylor Martinez lacked elite talent. The kid had top-level speed and could hit that high gear in two steps and be gone. His injuries are the only thing that slowed him down - and a crap O Line most of his career. Taylor wasn't an NFL quarterback, but we don't need an NFL quarterback in college.

I'd argue that Westerkamp is an NFL-caliber receiver, but that won't be truly decided until the next two years roll by. Very much agree that we haven't effectively used TEs. Kyler Reed's lack of usage through his career was a crime. He presented matchup problems with every team he faced, but we rarely threw his way.

I wouldn't be so quick to discard Newby, either. He's got some growing to do, but his innate skill set is already there. With guys like Wilbon and Taylor in the wings, I think we're set at RB. Cross is an odd situation - someone said here yesterday that he's regressed every year instead of improved, and I think they're right.

Overall, I think the talent to compete at a high level is on the roster right now. I think we're thinnest at O Line, and we're not even playing the best players we have, that's the real problem.

 

[minnHusker6]

Our oline is the biggest problem. Our center shouldn't be our center. He's small non athletic and can't snap the football. Cotton is a good kid but not a top tier olineman in a oline league. Lewis is decent, but I don't trust a Buffalo. Thurstan and Knevel were both highly recruited, why have they gotten no looks? Givens has the ability to be solid along with Reeves, in my thoughts. There is 4 decently big linemen. Throw in Tanner Farmer, and we may have a wall.

just my thought.

 

[Joe_5700]

It is a mental issue. We are mentally fragile. But that;s a coaching issue. Get the kids ready, mentally prepared. Have them "war game" if you will and use positive imagery to "see" the plays before they happen. Its not rocket science. Sports psychologists use it all the time. Mentally go through the scenarios. That way when things "happen", you've already "been there".

Relating talent, I agree with the "eyeball" test, but not with the results. The SEC does look faster, bigger and leaner. They play meaner and angry. As Corey Raymond alluded to after the USC (Carolina) game, we need to learn to get tougher (like the SEC) Look at Ole Miss and Miss St "star" ratings. IIIRC, this year, NU actually has more. Its coaching. Getting the kids ready to perform, week in and week out.

MSU has been towards the top of the rankings as has OSU. Cold, far from recruiting hot beds (OSU pretty good for recruits), but you get my point......A lot of other programs are consistently doing better with less. Less money, less facilities, less history, BUT much better coaching.......

We have the talent. Elite AA, Collins, Gregory etc.....Now at QB, we are rough. I haven't seen Stanton, but have seen TA....Give Stanton a shot. Read about Beck's philosophy on offense and then loo at our players. Square peg meet round hole.

If we had an OC who called to what we HAVE, not what he WANTS and a DC/HC who wasn't married to his defensive scheme we'd see a huge difference. Something as simple as dropping Gerry and Cop in the box Sat could have paid huge dividends. Especially against a marksman like Stave in the pocket, but instead we kept the same scheme that torched us in 2012......

IMO, its coaching. Lack of development, lack of teaching, lack of scheme and lack of attitude....

^This. The blowouts are a result of the fragile mental psyche of our HC trickling down to our players. How many times have we seen Pelini's teams play down to the competition? SDSU and McNeese come to mind. When things go well, and the execution is there a Pelini team can go toe to toe with the best. That is what makes these losses even harder to take. His teams cannot seem to look past the bad call, a momentum change or the ball bouncing the wrong way. Sometimes in life it isn't about the mistakes but how you recover from it.

 

[Undone]

Our talent is far better than a blowout to a Wisconsin, Ohio State, or mid-tier PAC team, surrendering 38 unanswered, or 56 unanswered, or giving up 500+ rushing yards.

A concise way to sum it up, agreed.

If the only variable that greatly improved would be O-line discipline and determination, our results would probably even be fairly dramatically different. I think coaching can and would fix this.

 

[NUinID]

The talent level is fine, it is a mental issue. Unfortunately in Big Games it is BP demeanor that I think plays into it. The team would be a lot better if he could maintain some control. It doesn't happen in every big game either. It didn't happen against MSU this year and the team actually played better.

I think the big problem when playing Wisconsin is something of a scheme thing. The way to stop Wisconsin is not the way BP wants to play it. If things work like they should his defense can shut down Wisconsin. But if it doesn't he starts pressing and then the players start pressing and they get tentative.

He truly is too worried about getting burnt by the big pass play. That is why his safeties stay in the 2 high look and are asked to come screaming up and make plays on a guy like Gordon form 12 yards deep. When you are playing a talent like Gordon that is next to impossible. The guy is that good.

There were a couple of times on his big runs were he just made people miss at the point of attack.

 

[dvdcrr]

I totally disagree with the assertion that we need a pass first quarterback. You don't address a problem recruiting by going after the same type of quarterback that everyone else is going for. We have to reestablish our identity as a slashing power option team with good play action pass to backs and tight ends. We can recruit awesome athletes to fit the roles we need. We need speed. Defensively we are all wrong. This University has thrown away 30 years of power football knowledge and excellence. Sad. Off topic, they are interviewing potential Presidents. My two questions would be if someone came to you with serious allegations of sex abuse in the locker room what would you do? If he or she doesnt immediately say call the cops then seeya. Next question would be how important is a football NC to you? If the answer is anything other than extremely important, with emotion, then seeya.

 

[NUpolo8]

I totally disagree with the assertion that we need a pass first quarterback. You don't address a problem recruiting by going after the same type of quarterback that everyone else is going for. We have to reestablish our identity as a slashing power option team with good play action pass to backs and tight ends. We can recruit awesome athletes to fit the roles we need. We need speed. Defensively we are all wrong. This University has thrown away 30 years of power football knowledge and excellence. Sad. Off topic, they are interviewing potential Presidents. My two questions would be if someone came to you with serious allegations of sex abuse in the locker room what would you do? If he or she doesnt immediately say call the cops then seeya. Next question would be how important is a football NC to you? If the answer is anything other than extremely important, with emotion, then seeya.

Whoa.

 

[suh_fan93]

I disagree about the comment that the teams in the SEC are noticeably bigger and faster. The faster part I'll partially give you. I still think you punch an SEC team in the mouth and suddenly there not so god like anymore.

 

[Count 'Bility]

I totally disagree with the assertion that we need a pass first quarterback. You don't address a problem recruiting by going after the same type of quarterback that everyone else is going for. We have to reestablish our identity as a slashing power option team with good play action pass to backs and tight ends. We can recruit awesome athletes to fit the roles we need. We need speed. Defensively we are all wrong. This University has thrown away 30 years of power football knowledge and excellence. Sad. Off topic, they are interviewing potential Presidents. My two questions would be if someone came to you with serious allegations of sex abuse in the locker room what would you do? If he or she doesnt immediately say call the cops then seeya. Next question would be how important is a football NC to you? If the answer is anything other than extremely important, with emotion, then seeya.

 

[Junior]

I totally disagree with the assertion that we need a pass first quarterback. You don't address a problem recruiting by going after the same type of quarterback that everyone else is going for. We have to reestablish our identity as a slashing power option team with good play action pass to backs and tight ends. We can recruit awesome athletes to fit the roles we need. We need speed. Defensively we are all wrong. This University has thrown away 30 years of power football knowledge and excellence. Sad. Off topic, they are interviewing potential Presidents. My two questions would be if someone came to you with serious allegations of sex abuse in the locker room what would you do? If he or she doesnt immediately say call the cops then seeya. Next question would be how important is a football NC to you? If the answer is anything other than extremely important, with emotion, then seeya.

 

[Count 'Bility]

I disagree about the comment that the teams in the SEC are noticeably bigger and faster. The faster part I'll partially give you. I still think you punch an SEC team in the mouth and suddenly there not so god like anymore.

One question. Does Nebraska appear to be slower because of sheer athletic ability, or is it because of what so many have been suspecting and what Jake Cotton has pretty much confirmed? (too much thinking. not enough playing)

But, yeah, the thing about SEC looking bigger faster strong is such a crapload of BS. I watch a lot of football, and I guess i just dont see such a glaring difference.

 

[dvdcrr]

Also if you havent been a football head coach on any level, not to include grade school, you can make all the coaching comments you want but you truly dont understand how difficult and frustrating it is.