How good of a coach is Barney Cotton....

[fro daddy]

At the request of huzkerbob....

'Enhance89'

We don't know how this o-line will do yet, especially since I'm not even sold on how good a coach Cotton really is

huzkerbob

I would hate to see a good Zac Lee thread ruined by all the anti-Barney venom. So if your going to open up the "Cotton is a worthless coach" can of worms, could you at least start a new topic for it?

Educate me....

:snacks:

 

[papersun87]

The offensive line at the end of last season looked like a completely different unit than the one at the start. That's good enough for me.

 

[junior4949]

I don't think Enhance89 was out of line at all. In 2003, Barney was severely crippled by Jamal Lord's lack of gray matter between the ears. So, we really didn't get much of a feel for him as an OC. Last year, I thought our OL play did improve throughout the season. I thought they performed better under him than the last HC we had that made his living as an OL coach in the pros. In the end, I really don't know how great of coach he is either.

 

[huskers1]

I'm not sure how Cotton will end up doing here but man, give him more than one year. I remember one post saying how Cotton told the players he wasn't concerned as much with technique or forget technique, something along those lines. He went on to say that no good o line coach would say something like that. IMO he was probably just trying to get them to quit thinking so much, just get back that nasty attitude that great o lines have. Callahan was so concerned with technique that I think the players were thinking of where to step instead of just blowing off the ball. I think Cotton was trying to get them to be more explosive and not be so concerned with "your step was a half an inch to far right". They made good strides last year, I'm hoping for better things this year.

 

[Hunter94]

the O line needs to continue to improve, especially with a rookie qb running the team. i neither like nor dislike Cotton, i really think he is a little more than adequate, but that may be enough for now.

 

[dee_s3]

Why is it so hard to realize the line improved? It got alot better folks and Clemson had a great D-line. I live in Louisiana now and I'm so tired of the negativity.I bleed red and if your a true Husker fan you will too. I hear alot of crap from LSwho fans and I'm tired of seeing all the doubters on this site. I saw an improved team last year and I think Stevie Wonder could of seen that. If your not for Big Red, drop dead..

 

[huKSer]

I'm not sure how Cotton will end up doing here but man, give him more than one year. I remember one post saying how Cotton told the players he wasn't concerned as much with technique or forget technique, something along those lines. He went on to say that no good o line coach would say something like that. IMO he was probably just trying to get them to quit thinking so much, just get back that nasty attitude that great o lines have. Callahan was so concerned with technique that I think the players were thinking of where to step instead of just blowing off the ball taking a step back and waiting for the defense to do whatever. I think Cotton was trying to get them to be more explosive and not be so concerned with "your step was a half an inch to far right". They made good strides last year, I'm hoping for better things this year.

Fixed it for ya'

 

[rkhufu7]

I'm not sure how Cotton will end up doing here but man, give him more than one year. I remember one post saying how Cotton told the players he wasn't concerned as much with technique or forget technique, something along those lines. He went on to say that no good o line coach would say something like that. IMO he was probably just trying to get them to quit thinking so much, just get back that nasty attitude that great o lines have. Callahan was so concerned with technique that I think the players were thinking of where to step instead of just blowing off the ball taking a step back and waiting for the defense to do whatever. I think Cotton was trying to get them to be more explosive and not be so concerned with "your step was a half an inch to far right". They made good strides last year, I'm hoping for better things this year.

Fixed it for ya'

Why not 2 OL coaches like Young and Tenopir?

 

[Enhance]

I don't think Enhance89 was out of line at all. In 2003, Barney was severely crippled by Jamal Lord's lack of gray matter between the ears. So, we really didn't get much of a feel for him as an OC. Last year, I thought our OL play did improve throughout the season. I thought they performed better under him than the last HC we had that made his living as an OL coach in the pros. In the end, I really don't know how great of coach he is either.

This.

I'm not trying to start anti-Cotton stuff. I'm just saying that we don't know whether he will be a good o-line coach or one that isn't so good. There isn't enough info out there to prove either way. The o-line definitely improved over the year and really showed up in the second half against Clemson.

Now, the comment made by Cotton regarding technique make a lot of sense to me. Technique is important, but having a good motor and giving your all on every play is just as important if not a little more important. If players start worrying more about how to step then actually knocking the guy down, then bad things can happen.

 

[Scarlet Overkill]

I'm not sure how Cotton will end up doing here but man, give him more than one year. I remember one post saying how Cotton told the players he wasn't concerned as much with technique or forget technique, something along those lines. He went on to say that no good o line coach would say something like that. IMO he was probably just trying to get them to quit thinking so much, just get back that nasty attitude that great o lines have. Callahan was so concerned with technique that I think the players were thinking of where to step instead of just blowing off the ball. I think Cotton was trying to get them to be more explosive and not be so concerned with "your step was a half an inch to far right". They made good strides last year, I'm hoping for better things this year.

I'm one person who did bring up the quote from Slauson. He said it once at media days, before the season started, and also in on of the Big Red Wrap-up programs after the season. I expressed my concern (elsewhere) after media days, and was told I had no real reason to be concerned. How the first part of the season went was a little validation for the point I was trying to make.

The exact wording of my brief comment is below the post and did not include anything about him being a bad o-line coach. I want him to succeed, and I want it badly. If his methods work better than the previous ones, then great, I'll be happy as a pig in sh!t, I really will. I'm nowhere near wanting to run him out of town.

However, yes, I am still concerned. Not necessarily for this year, though I will be till I see results to the contrary. The guys in there last year/this year had been focused on technique through most of their college careers at Nebraska. The "technique" part of it should have been almost muscle memory by then. What I am most concerned about is any new guys coming in, who haven't had the correct techniques ingrained into their heads yet.

My honest question to those reading my babble: How long do you give an assistant (any assistant) if the performances fall short of expectations on a regular basis? Next question: If there are continual shortcoming on any of our units, does Bo have the fortitude to let any of the staff go? Or, is it going to be a "friends coaching network" all over again?

I'm hopeful I will eventually share most of your viewpoints on the matter, because nothing would give me more satisfaction than to come back here one day and say, "I was completely wrong!".

He has flat out admitted that the players knew more than him, and has been quoted by Slauson on a number of occasions that he doesn't care about technique. This is an eventual recipe for not nice things to happen to our inexperienced QB's.

 

[skersfan]

As all know I am not Bo's biggest fan, working on it, but still not there yet.

But questioning his selections this early really is not good. You are in fact saying that our Head Coach is not compentent. He made bad choices early on. That you question his judgement. Not a receipe for a happy fan base.

That being said. I saw improvement of the Oline during the season last year. In honesty what more can you ask for. Do you honestly believe we have the best talent in the conference in those positions. Is there an all conference player that would lead by example. If he is there the press is unaware of him.

Barney lives and breathes Nebraska, he was very successful at New Mexico State (I think that is where he came from). The kids like him and seem to want to work for him. His approach to teaching may be different than the past staffs. Low key position coachs sometimes works well when you have a firey head coach. Over the prior years these kids were told there was one way and one way only. Alas they never really saw it work. Change is good, demanding the same, but saying it differently.

I think Bo needs more time to get things where he wants them. I have heard no complaints from anyone about Coach Cotton. My guess is he is doing the job that Bo expects from him. I do not see Bo keeping someone he knows will cost him his job or wins.

 

[HuskerJen]

I'll throw my two cents in...

Barney Cotton is an excellent coach.

How can I say that?

Because Bo Pelini thinks enough of him to bring him back on his staff. And based on what I've seen, from the decisions I've seen Bo make thus far, he's an excellent football coach. And, if he gives his stamp of approval then that's good enough for me.

 

[MNBIGRED]

I'll throw my two cents in...

Barney Cotton is an excellent coach.

How can I say that?

Because Bo Pelini thinks enough of him to bring him back on his staff. And based on what I've seen, from the decisions I've seen Bo make thus far, he's an excellent football coach. And, if he gives his stamp of approval then that's good enough for me.

true that

 

[huskered17]

As all know I am not Bo's biggest fan, working on it, but still not there yet.

But questioning his selections this early really is not good. You are in fact saying that our Head Coach is not compentent. He made bad choices early on. That you question his judgement. Not a receipe for a happy fan base.

That being said. I saw improvement of the Oline during the season last year. In honesty what more can you ask for. Do you honestly believe we have the best talent in the conference in those positions. Is there an all conference player that would lead by example. If he is there the press is unaware of him.

Barney lives and breathes Nebraska, he was very successful at New Mexico State (I think that is where he came from). The kids like him and seem to want to work for him. His approach to teaching may be different than the past staffs. Low key position coachs sometimes works well when you have a firey head coach. Over the prior years these kids were told there was one way and one way only. Alas they never really saw it work. Change is good, demanding the same, but saying it differently.

I think Bo needs more time to get things where he wants them. I have heard no complaints from anyone about Coach Cotton. My guess is he is doing the job that Bo expects from him. I do not see Bo keeping someone he knows will cost him his job or wins.

Hey skersfan, Bo wasn't my first choice either. After his first year, I think he may be the real deal. He has to do it with defense for at least the first couple of years. Winning will bring in the top rb, wr, he will need to take it back to the top. This year will probably be his toughest coaching test. Cotton and Watson will have a tougher job with the offense than Bo will with the defense, but even though he doesn't have that much to do with how the play calling gos, hes the one everyone will look at if things go south. He must have a lot of trust in Cotton, because his job depends on all his coaches. After this year you just might get on the Bo band wagon with me. :cheers

GBR!!!

 

[Hunter94]

Technique is important, but having a good motor and giving your all on every play is just as important if not a little more important. If players start worrying more about how to step then actually knocking the guy down, then bad things can happen.

you can teach technique, you either have a motor or you don't.