Stewart Hits the Ground Running

Mavric

Mavric

Yoda
Staff member
He arrived in Lincoln on Sunday. By early Tuesday afternoon, Brian Stewart was already about to finish up his fourth game of film evaluation of Nebraska's defensive backs from last season.


He planned to review every game, and not just out of curiosity. The new Husker secondary coach is grading each play, marking pluses or minuses next to a player’s name after every one. He’s marking forced fumbles, high tackles, low tackles, missed tackles.

“It's very descriptive,” Stewart said. “So I can kind of get a mental picture every play of what they do. So that when I’m talking to them in spring ball, I’m correcting and getting them better off of what I saw on tape.”

And those who didn’t play? Stewart wants to get to know them just as much.

“I’m going to definitely talk to them about their preparation and ask them about their ‘Why.’ I always ask kids for their ‘why.’ Because if they can answer that, they won’t ask a lot of questions. If I say, ‘Why didn’t you start?’ … Whatever excuse they give me, I can go back on them.

“If they say, ‘I wasn’t strong enough.’ (I say) ‘Were you?’ If they say, ‘I didn’t know the defense.’ (I say) ‘Did you?’ I always ask them why. They can answer it, then they can go to work from there.”

He asks starters that same “why” question. “Why did you start?” There’s a purpose to that, too.

“It helps reinforce the good,” Stewart said. “I don’t ask it just for the bad. I do it for the good. I’ve coached football for 25 years. It’s been working so far, so I’m sticking with that.”
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LJS

 
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Glad to see Stewart get right on it. He's got his work cut out for him. Lost half his starters (Mitchell, Cooper). And he'll be compared to a pretty fair statistical pass defense.

 
Hope he gets them to play the ball in the air? I can see it now.

Why did you let the ball hit the receiver in the hands. Did I?

 
Thanks for article. I liked these quotes:

“In our coaching world, when we say 'quality of life,' that’s what we’re talking about,” Stewart said. “I just looked at how he’s very endearing to his assistant coaches, and his assistant coaches are very endearing to him. I don't know if you leave Mike Riley just to do a lateral move, I don't know if you do that. I think if you leave him (for another) job it'd have to be something that is a no-brainer.”

“If you’re a football fan anywhere in the United States of America, not to know that Nebraska is big-time football … then you must be blind,"

 
As far as our corners and secondary, I do give Bo credit for their physical style, especially on short throws. Secondary was obviously Bo's passion and coaching strength. The drawback of his style was in mid range passing game. The bend-don't-break philosophy emphasized the positioning of the secondary to keep the receivers in front of them, and never to allow them behind you to get beat. However, teams that had decent quarterbacks took advantage of routes that were 8-15 yards downfield because the secondary played back. And with limited pressure from the DL, the QBs could confidently step into those throws. On short routes and screens, our corners and nickel coverage would be right there to make some good hits and wrap up receivers. When teams got inside the redzone, the field was shorter and our secondary benefited from that.

I hope to continue seeing a physical secondary, but with better play on the ball, and an improved pass rush.

 
Anxious to see how he does on the 'crootin trail. Even though Warren wasn't here for very long it feels like Stewart has some big shoes to fill.

 
NUance said:
Glad to see Stewart get right on it. He's got his work cut out for him. Lost half his starters (Mitchell, Cooper). And he'll be compared to a pretty fair statistical pass defense.
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Losing Coop being an issue is strongly debateable. A health Jackson and available Alexander and it's a strong arguement to say Cooper doesnt see the field in 2014.

 
ADS said:
Anxious to see how he does on the 'crootin trail. Even though Warren wasn't here for very long it feels like Stewart has some big shoes to fill.
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Looking at our current staff I would say Bray is every bit the recruiter Warren was. I would also say that coach Cav appears to be doing work

 
Count 'Bility said:
NUance said:
Glad to see Stewart get right on it. He's got his work cut out for him. Lost half his starters (Mitchell, Cooper). And he'll be compared to a pretty fair statistical pass defense.
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Losing Coop being an issue is strongly debateable. A health Jackson and available Alexander and it's a strong arguement to say Cooper doesnt see the field in 2014.
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Agreed. Cooper was solid but nothing more. Gerry and Alexander are both better.

 
Coopers tackling was really bad at times. Tried too many shoulder tackles instead of wrapping up. Loved the guy for his big hits though.

 
I wouldnt even say Cooper was solid. There was just something wrong with him. And he was too slow as well. Though I think ive documented pretty well that my opinion of the lack of speed on D was due way more to tentativeness than actuall athletic ability.

 
Count 'Bility said:
I wouldnt even say Cooper was solid. There was just something wrong with him. And he was too slow as well. Though I think ive documented pretty well that my opinion of the lack of speed on D was due way more to tentativeness than actuall athletic ability.
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Which goes to show the intangibles in recruiting.

IIRC, we won a tough battle with OSU for the ........eh..........4 STAR.....

 
Count 'Bility said:
NUance said:
Glad to see Stewart get right on it. He's got his work cut out for him. Lost half his starters (Mitchell, Cooper). And he'll be compared to a pretty fair statistical pass defense.
Click to expand...
Losing Coop being an issue is strongly debateable. A health Jackson and available Alexander and it's a strong arguement to say Cooper doesnt see the field in 2014.
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The was a Pelini coached team we are taking about. Cooper was one of his boys. He would have played 95% of all snaps even if those other guys were around.

 
Lyons in the Sea of Red. said:
Cooper was the fastest middle linebacker to ever play safety at nebraska
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doubtful. Cant remember which game it was, but the other teams back got on the edge, and Banderas was outrunning Cooper. It wasnt even close either, as they were chasin after the runner. Pretty sure it wasnt Gordon. I will do some dvr searchin to see if I can find it. Wanna say it was Northwestern, but I dont think Bando played much that game. But it happened, and my brother vividly sayin that a safety slower than a backer is everything that's wrong with our defense.

 
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