lo country

This^ Hell yea. Almost game time!

This is NEBRASKA!

Is that Jason #9. If so he looks like a completely different guy (leaner) than last year. At least we are passing the "eyeball test" IMO.

Looks bad a$$. Way to interject a little swagger prior to Sat. Great move Bo.

Agreed. This season, so far, seems a more sincere and honest Bo and staff than in the past (honest as in less "coach speak") I think he really sees the value in having and recognizing leadership and actually pointing it out this year. I also like the idea of Bo playing our youth. I read were Bama played 11 true Frosh last year and Ohio played 16. Neither one turned out too bad........ Having Bell and Turner back for ST also shows that Bo is confident in depth at skill positions and was serious about getting playmakers on ST. I truly can see JT having a year like Dejuan Groce as a PR.

Hate or love Bo, this is what it is about for me. Character and your word means something. Glad he represents NU.

Just watched the NFL Network broadcasting of the game. The local Dallas announcers loved them some Rex Burkhead, and Daryl Johnston mentioned his son has a signed Burkhead jersey. Other than that, not much to note. I think if he makes it, it will be as the #3 RB and for all phases of ST. Would love to see him cut and my Cowboys scoop him up!

Saw a segment on the NFL network ref the Carolina Panthers. Good break down about how they used their 53 man roster as it related to guys per position. Came down the DB's, RB's and WR's if not the #1 or #2 would really have to excel in all four parts of ST's if they expected to make the roster. I think that is the only way that Rex makes it. Initially as a ST player. Stupid in my opinion, would love Dallas or Carolina to pick him up, but he might be relegated to ST play. Complete and utter waste of a talent IMO.

As it relates to the media, Bo usually has some reason for doing it, that once made known makes perfect sense. I will give him the benefit of that doubt and A$$ume it has to do with either putting in specific packages or info has gotten out from a former player that he would have preferred to have kept in. Bo, if nothing else, seems to hold team issues (practice, health, starters etc) very close until he wants to make it known.

JT returning punts would be like Dejuan Groce. That guy was a beast in the return dept. JT would be a nightmare to grab in space with a little wiggle room.

One thing that will also help is Beck in year 3 of play calling, possibly the best OL of Pelini's tenure, loaded WR's and two experienced backs. I have seen improvement in each year for Taylor. First the decision making and game management, then running tougher, this year I expect better ball control and even better decision making. Couple this with leaders in Enunwa, JT, AA etc I expect the ball to be spread around a lot more. I also expect Beck to be more observant of this and constantly remind Martinez to check down and calm down. Imani or AA in the flats as a safety valve would eat the D up. I also expect Beck to use more play action and misdirection to really punish D's for coming after Martinez with their ears pinned back. The schedule, experience and depth really is shaping up to make this a great year. Add a D that HAS to be an upgrade from last year. This alone should help Martinez be calmer. I like the idea of keeping the "us against the world" mentality. +1 to Knapp on the initial OP. Good stuff. I really feel this will be Bo's and NU's break through year.

He saw 7-7 IIRC. He says they looked good. Not that they were playing good. They pass the eyeball test. Something that IMO, is obvious. DT's that are the size of a house, DE's that are tall and rangy. No doubt per folks observations, the media and coaches comments, we have more speed and athleticism since probably 2010. Ankrah, Stein and Martin were not bad. I can't help, but think a healthy Stein could have helped in the CC. I think his observations re spot on. I gree with the review of the WR, the DB's and OL. Why not the rest? Bo even said he should have burned some shirts last year. Again, IMO, we had better talent and athleticism, Bo chose not to use it. He is learning ie Gerry and Bando getting serious looks as well as other true fresh this year. I am drunk on the kool-aid, but this season seems and feels different. We are going to surprise some folks.

Speed kills. End of story. We wanted speed and now we get it folks are worried. I remember when we came into the league Bo made a comment somewhere along the lines of making teams change our style. I like speed. The slow plodding crap at LB we have had the pas 2 years save David has got to go. Our front four does their job, weight at LB matters even less. Now their OL gets free shots on our LB's................. Bo (or other staffer) also made a comment earlier about bringing the guys along and allowing them to make plays instead of thinking so much. I think after last year, Bo realizes the importance of speed and athleticism. He is really trying to get our best 11 on the field on O, D and ST. It is going to be a good year. Something about the practices (to date), the lack of "traditional" coach speak and perceived depth and players confidence is just different this year.

Terrible news about Williams. Was hoping good things for him after last year. With unproven guys and depth his loss hurts. Good news about Gregory, McMullen and Long. Hope the injury bug is gone

AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!

Hmm, hope nothing serious with 2 projected starting DE's. That will suck. Just hate Bo's previous record with injuries and not saying much. A guy has a torn ACL and its "day to day". Not like either guy has anything on film to exploit. Hope they are good to go. We will need them for sure. Maybe move Gerry to DE? (sarcasm) Also in regards to Gerry did not know that Urlacher was a safety in college and moved to LB. Not a bad move. Rookie of the year, like 8 time pro bowler, defensive player of the year.

<img class="UMSRatingIcon" id="ums_img_tooltip" /> I want JT to get that spot. The more touches that dude gets, the better.....PERIOD. He is one of the most natural athletes we've had in this program. He would be electric back there. Possibly have enough depth at WR to risk a home run on every punt return. Back to switching positions, BO has done this with great success him self ie Super D in 2003, Haag and Cody Glenn to name, but 3. I think he realizes speed (can't be taught) and athleticism (can't be taugh) count for tons. IMO, one of the best CB's to play the game was Deion Sanders. Dude was a lock down freak, BUT his "technical" skills sucked. He was phenomenal (IMO) because of his speed and athleticism.

For all the knocks on him, Matty was solid in the open field and really helped in the run game. Not the most athletic, but knew where he "fit" in Bo's system. A sure tackler in the open field means a 5 yrd game not a 60+ TD ala CC last year.

Thread hi jack, but does this answer the question about the ability or lack thereof for Bo to develop talent? I Guess it is a double edge sword. He has walk ons starting because our recruiting sucks or he is able to develop walk ons into starters. Kids with less "natural ability" who excel vs the "star power" who get passed up. Thoughts?

I was watching too, and would agree about the defense. I'm starting to become optimistic that our defense will be better. Our offense, on the other hand... It's getting a lot of hype, but man - they made TONS of mistakes last year. They were explosive enough to overcome them much of the time, but they didn't really play like a championship offense last year. I know they're working on eliminating mistakes during fall camp, but when the season starts are Taylor and Ameer really going to stop putting the ball on the ground? Is the offensive line really going to be better at reading the blitz? Is Andrew Rodriguez really going to stop committing three crucially timed penalties per game? I hope the offense is as good as everyone thinks it will be, but it's been making the same mistakes over and over again for several seasons now. Someone needed to say it. As much as I love the offense's potential this season, that's all it really is, potential. They need to break an unfortunate pattern that's been preventing our offense from being elite. Sadly, the only thing that has really stopped our O consistently is our O. From the fumbles, INT's, penalties and sacks..... Limit the fumbles (supposedly a priority in camp. IIRC Martinez said it has not been on the turf all fall), stupid penalties and block better we have the potential to be lethal on O. I think fumbles is the easiest thing to fix and then the INT's. Martinez senior year, IMO, there will be more freedom to tuck and run. If he does that, throws away or we use a back as a safety ala Lucky we should really cut down on sacks and INT's. Blocking, IMO, will be the hardest to fix as it relates to pass pro. If we can establish a decent pass block, it will put some stuff on film to make DC's (IMO) rethink stacking the box. We get them out of the box and our running game goes wild, bring them in and with better pro, Martinez uses our receivers to eat D's alive.

I am done worrying about any team. That is the whole problem. The thread about getting our edge back speaks to this. We will get our edge back when we (fans and team) stop thinking another team can beat us. You go in thinking we need to bring our A game to have a chance, we have already lost. Screw that. You think Bama looks ahead and is worried they can't beat a team? hell look at UGA. Opening with Clemson and then Carolina. You think they are worried. NO! Losers worry, winners just win. We need to get back to a winning mind set. Reading this thread, some might think we will go 6-6 this year. Please. We are NU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I forgot the thread, but someone said Damon Benning said after the game vs UGA they guys were tapping the seniors on the back as if to say "see you later". We have the speed, with talent Bo has shown his D can work. Now in year 3 with beck and the first time in his tenure with a staff intact for year 2.

We have to replace our entire LB corps, most of our defensive line, two of our best TEs in a decade and Rex Burkhead. We need to somehow find a way to get effective people in these positions (although Ameer has proven more than capable at RB) and we have to see if they can prove themselves against good competition. Until our guys do that, I'm going to be worried. Yes and that's the best thing in the world. Last year our linebackers AND dline sucked. I doubt we can get worse...seriously. It can get worse. Inexperience can be a tremendous handicap. We can't count our inexperience as an asset. Alabama's starting freshmen on defense would like to have a word with you... Clowney says hello. I know he is a freak, but IMO we can't be worse. Speed and athleticism covers a multitude of mistakes. Our DL and LB's last year were average at best. I would liek t o say that we had some talent that was misused or ill schemed, but bottom line would any of them started at another B1G school or SEC? Martin maybe as a rush specialist, but just as Crick benefited Suh, Stein benefited from Crick. Each one, IMHO, a step down from the one who made them better. As it relates to UCLA for me. No worries. Game won't be close. Our O will steam roll their D and our D, while learning will be more than serviceable. <img class="UMSRatingIcon" id="ums_img_tooltip" />

Play mean and nasty. When I saw no one on O help Martinez last year after being abused by Borland or when he was getting into the face of the UGA DB (IIRC) I realized that last season, the meanest SOB on our team was Martinez. We need to get mean and nasty. The hey day Blackshirts were mean. Hit you and didn't look back. SUH, Assante etc remind me of the throwback guys. Assante, always good for a penalty, IMO had receivers terrified to catch in the open field. he flat laid the wood. As mentioned above Gomes, Haag, Prince etc..... Ability coupled with nasty (not cheap shots) creates this edge. Hearing that Cotton on the OL plays mean is music as well. We need to get this edge on both sides.

I like the idea and think that things like this appeal to the kids we are recruiting. For the record I have been a fan for 30+ years and do not think it will ruin the "sea of red tradition" at all. BUT the :01 shirt I had for the (IIRC) red out around the world against UT was gone faster than Martinez on a zone read. That whole thing didn't play out well at all. I am now leery about any "official" attempt to rile the fan base up. Stand up, be loud. That is the key. Turn Memorial into a hostile place for teams to play. I think Bo has really made inroads last year embracing the fans. I hope this continues to improve.

You somewhat lost me at the Jason Peter comment. Guy did a ton of great things here and some of the absolute very basic things he says are okay. But the man is a bigot. You do also realize that with as many different packages we run, there could be different starters each game. Cainte Evans was our nickelback last year, wasn't always on the field on the first play. Does he not get one because he doesn't "start" in our base package??? The J Peter comment was in regards to his mentality and ferocity he brought to the game and practice. He got "it" when it came to the mentality needed and understood how much opening that locker and seeing a Black shirt meant. My number "23" was in response to Bo having given out like 20 in one year. Starters in nickel and dime packages should get one. I guy who steps in for an injured starter shouldn't. When everyone CAN get one, it takes away the uniqueness of the jersey. Again, under McBride there was a tradition ie before first game starters get them. What is it now? I have no idea. It could be before the first game, a big game after a solid performance in week 6? Again, this isn't a tradition IMO.