MichiganDad3

Why does the defensive line up a yard off the line of scrimmage!

At least Pelini said that the Injury on Rex was not going to be long term he is one that would usually keep us all in the dark on this....

What makes you think Bo is telling the truth?

Lets start the 2nd half with a takeaway.

I think our d needs to be faster to stop mobile QBs. Faster DEs, faster LBs, safeties

Move Seisay and SJB to linebacker

No push from the D-line and linebackers look slow. I was hoping to see the D-line line up closer to the line of scrimmage rather than giving the offense a yard.

Kick off return for a TD. This is what I was talking about. NU has the best place kicker in CFB, and one of the best punters. NU returners are above average. NU is below average at blocking kicks and awful at kick return coverage.

Louisiana Husker, where exactly are you located? I'm in Baton Rouge.

 

 

Leesville

I spent 26 years in Shreveport and still have family there. I watched last years bowl game in Shreveport.

Both of our lines worry me just as much as last season.

 

I think our LB core did get worse, it is impossible to replace David. LB worries me the most.

 

Other than that, I think we got much better across the board.

I would like to see SJB or Mo S. move to linebacker. There is plenty of depth at corner, and NU needs speed at linebacker. SJB and Mo both have the size for linebacker. Lavonte David and Demario Williams make me smile.

I will be watching behind the SMU line of scrimmage for NU defensive linemen.

Is there any chance of using SJB or Mo in linebacker type roles? It seems our outside linebackers are a little slow and we have depth in the secondary. Given that SJB and Mo are bigger than Lavonte David it would make sense to get this speed on the field. Is this what the peso defense was?

I am very unsure about the team this year. I am hoping that we not only cover the spread, but that every player on the roster gets on the field.

For years everyone in my family used the phrase "Osborne is no Devaney". We were convinced Nebraska would never be great again. We also discussed how it is nice that Nebraska is ranked in the top 20 and it could be worse, as we had family in other states with losing or completely irrelevant college football teams. Then in 1983 we thought the stars aligned and a few great players would bring a national championship, although we thought the 1983 season was a fluke due to great players. We completely expected the return to rankings in the 8 to 20 range. Fifteen years later we realized Osborne was the greatest coach of all time.

I would rather keep a coach that wins at least 9 games every year than have a revolving door of coaches hoping to win a national championship. I also like the Nebraska culture that is maintained with a long term coach. The loss of the Nebraska feeling is one of the things I hated most about BC. Now if Bo only wins 8 games .....

TO's teams were known for discipline. Almost always near the best in penalties, and always great in special teams. How much is poor or lack of great special teams play hurting BP's teams? I remember the 1996 Michigan State game where the Huskers seemed to dominate with a 55-14 win. But the Huskers only rushed for 184 yards and scored on a punt return and had two interceptions for touchdowns. BP has had a great kicker every year, but the rest of the special teams play seems bad to me; poor coverage, lack of blocked kicks and little threat of a kick return. I thought the Michigan game last year was fairly even, but the Huskers got killed on special teams. Is this a concern to anyone else? Is poor special teams play related to other lack of detail problems like penalties?

Turnovers and penalties for sure. That is something we can do regardless of improvement in talent or coaching. These two areas alone, IMO, could get us at least one and maybe two more wins from last year even if everything else is identical.

 

I would also love to see a more ball hawking D. I know last year was a perfect storm of new DB's, new coach and inept line play, but I think that another year of experience and Joseph's mentality we should see improvement.

 

As much as I would love to see Martinez play lights out in the passing game, I am not expecting much. Just too many years of coach speak. If teams are going to stack the box, and I am sure they will, Beck really needs to either have a power game to knock them out of the box or use a lot more misdirection, drwas, delays, bubble screens and passes to the RB out of the backfield. Also let Martinez go like 2010. Go for broke with the zone read. This will open up the passing game which Martinez excels in......the 7-8 yrd routes.

 

If we can't find a way to get the D out of the box, we will need another 2009 D.

 

Again, limit TO's and penalties and we see a great improvement. I definitely don't see us going backwards on either side.

Turnovers and penalties for sure. That is something we can do regardless of improvement in talent or coaching. These two areas alone, IMO, could get us at least one and maybe two more wins from last year even if everything else is identical.

 

I would also love to see a more ball hawking D. I know last year was a perfect storm of new DB's, new coach and inept line play, but I think that another year of experience and Joseph's mentality we should see improvement.

 

As much as I would love to see Martinez play lights out in the passing game, I am not expecting much. Just too many years of coach speak. If teams are going to stack the box, and I am sure they will, Beck really needs to either have a power game to knock them out of the box or use a lot more misdirection, drwas, delays, bubble screens and passes to the RB out of the backfield. Also let Martinez go like 2010. Go for broke with the zone read. This will open up the passing game which Martinez excels in......the 7-8 yrd routes.

 

If we can't find a way to get the D out of the box, we will need another 2009 D.

 

Again, limit TO's and penalties and we see a great improvement. I definitely don't see us going backwards on either side.

We need to force turnovers as well. This has been lacking the past few years.

I am very happy with the officiating compared to the end of the Big 12 era. It just seems like the Big 10 referees are instructed to let close calls go to the home team. Of course I am basing this on no evidence; just a few calls that I remember.

I saw this in another post.

Last year Michigan's SOS ranked 40th. That stands to improve by adding Alabama, but not so much that it overtakes ours.

 

The biggest single advantage we're going to have is that we're playing them at home. Big Ten teams often play poorly on the road, for whatever reason.

Do you think the Big Ten officials favor the home team? Perhaps by giving the benefit of the doubt to the home team? I though Nebraska got a few breaks on calls in home games last year, and got a few bad calls or non calls on the road. I also saw that in other games like Michigan's loss to Michigan State.

Was the lack of aggressiveness from the DL due to Carl? I heard reports of Bo handing the defense over to Carl last year, and it seemed Bo's defensive lines were much more aggressive before last year.

I do think he has the raw talent to be good, but let's not have too high or expectations because he made one play. I remember a few years back when ciante evans was playing, he made a huge 3rd down stop against mizzou when gabbert was on the 1, he got hyped up a ton, and then was very inconsistent last year. I have high expectations for him, but i will be leanient during the beginning of the season.

 

Yeah, very similarly to Ciante, SJB's big claim to fame right now is that interception on a play where he got beat. Great for making the play on the ball that he did, he deserves the credit just as Ciante did. But not so great for the 1-on-1 vs the receiver on that same play.

 

Not sure how SJB did otherwise. Should be a good battle at corner. At worst, we'll have guys playing with both athletic upside and game experience, which I don't think was quite the case last year, particularly early on.

I do think he has the raw talent to be good, but let's not have too high or expectations because he made one play. I remember a few years back when ciante evans was playing, he made a huge 3rd down stop against mizzou when gabbert was on the 1, he got hyped up a ton, and then was very inconsistent last year. I have high expectations for him, but i will be leanient during the beginning of the season.

 

Yeah, very similarly to Ciante, SJB's big claim to fame right now is that interception on a play where he got beat. Great for making the play on the ball that he did, he deserves the credit just as Ciante did. But not so great for the 1-on-1 vs the receiver on that same play.

 

Not sure how SJB did otherwise. Should be a good battle at corner. At worst, we'll have guys playing with both athletic upside and game experience, which I don't think was quite the case last year, particularly early on.

That is what has me excited. It appears that he has the athletic ability and size to recovery and make a play when he makes a mental mistake. Once he learns the position he could be great.

Is Heard really back at RB? I was hoping to see Heard, Mo & SJB all starting.

Does anyone else have high expectations for Stanley Jean-Baptiste? I love his size and speed, and I think he would make a great compliment to Mo Seisay. SJB looked great against Ohio State. Does he have a chance of starting this year? If not, why was he moved?

If the offense can match the number of penalties and turnovers under TO there will be vast improvement in time od possession and points scored.

I swear I saw many plays last year where none of the defensive tackles even attempted to rush the passer. I don't recall seeing this before last year. Did Pelini coach this because of lack of talent (or injury) at DT?

In Pelini's first 2 years I remember defensive lineman trying to get into the backfield. Last year there were many occasions where I saw defensive lineman just standing around making no effort to put pressure on the QB. Was this Carl, or was it an attempt to contain mobile QBs. I remember the defensive lineman going after the Michigan State QB, but giving the Michigan QB all day to throw.

Is it just my memory or has the Pelini defense slowly changed from an attacking defense to a bend but don't break defense. When Bo came in under Solich I recall a huge increase in interceptions. When Pelini replaced Callahan, I remember a huge increase in sacks. In 2010 sacks were down, rushing yardage surrendered was up. In 2011, the defense lined up a yeard off the ball, defensive linemen refused to enter the offensive backfield, and there were few sacks, fumbles or interceptions.

I read that his is to control gaps, but it isn't working. Scrambling quarterbacks killed the defense, and yards allowed rushing bad poor.

Is Bo doing this to avoid the big play? There were a few costly ones in the past, but I hate a passive defense.

Is it just my poor memory, or do I have this correct?

You guys make great points. However, consistancy is the apple of my eye. Turner showed he can perform great every game he PLAYS. Why not give him the reigns of this offense. You know Beck is thinking about it. I'm not talking about If anyone was dogging it in the past. I'm talking about where this is heading...

That's not necessarily true. He had two big derps drops against Minnesota, I think. Regardless, I see your point. He is very athletic and has a ton of potential, and he needs to get on the field. Whether or not he eventually goes back to QB, I don't know. It's important that he gets on the field and makes plays more-so than he did this year, though.

There would be no receivers on the field if two drops in a game disqualifies you.

zoogies, every time you or someone else asks why we couldn't have a RB take responsibility for Taylor's rushing production, you're completely ignoring the whole point of having a QB who can run. That point is to force the defense to defend all 11 players on the field for the offense

 

I think you misunderstand me. There are many reasons to have a QB who can run. I am saying Taylor's running threat, specifically, is in one way only: straight-line burning speed. He doesn't run the option well. He doesn't shake defender and can't barrel over them. When the pocket breaks down and he gets pressured, he doesn't dance out of it. He usually goes down with it. I wouldn't even say he has great running vision. These are all the kinds of things you are looking to get out of the QB when he is a 'dual-threat' type.

 

I am saying if we are going to have a running QB, he has to be that kind of dynamic threat on the ground. Otherwise, we're better off having a passer. Or without even changing the scheme at all, a guy who isn't as fast, but has some vision and shake ability and throws the ball better. Sooner or later, one of our recruits is going to have that.

 

If Taylor ran either the read option or the option well, then we'd use both a lot more. We largely abandoned the option, didn't we?

 

If the steps he has taken to protect himself as a runner have nixed an entire dimension in his running game, then I'd have to say I was wrong and that it wasn't worth it. Although I've seen it said that he would probably protect himself better by lowering his shoulder rather than taking those steamrolling hits upright, and I agree with that.

 

I'm not that cynical about Beck, thugh, really. I will just disagree about all the passing and consistency improvements. I don't think Taylor raised the ceiling he was showing in his passing game pre-injury in 2010. He has cut down on mistakes, and that's about it.

I agree with zoogies. Nebraska has a running QB who rarely scrambles for a 1st down when there is a called pass play. Opposing teams kills Nebraska with running QBs on passing plays, but Nebraska can't seem to return the favor.