lo country

The tradition was that they were earned prior to the first game. If we want to go back to the traditions that made NU great, we need to go back to that. The guys earn these by going hard in spring, summer and fall practice. the jersey's are awarded by the coaches who see them first hand in this environment. Let the guys beat each other senseless to earn the coveted prize of the jersey. Coach Brown alluded to this mentality when speaking of the work AA has put in since arriving. AA knew the goal and what it would take to be the man. He worked his butt off. On special teams, in the weight room and when given the opportunity on the field. He got "it". Guys who get "it" on the D would do what ever it takes to get the jersey. This is the mentality that earning it on the practice field would bring. For the record I like J Peter. He has id right when he said that practices were much harder than games. I would like to think this was because of the street brawling mentality these guys had when they slipped on the Black Shirts. The symbol is the skull and crossbones for a reasons........... Bo's current method has no rhyme or reason. A great stand against some also ran program means nothing. Letting 23 guys get them means nothing. He has established permanent captains. Great. He is making the guys accountable to the staff and each other. Great. Now cry havoc and let slip the Blackshirts prior to game one. Guys don't pull their weight on D, they answer to them. Get the swagger and the nasty back. Make people afraid to play us again. Make teams scared after the beat downs of this season that they have to face us again next year. The problem, as I see it is that no one fears NU any more.

We appear capable of coming back when losing. Look at the heroics against OSU in 2011 and basically all of last seasons conference games. We seem incapable of coming back after getting kicked in the nuts. ie the roughing punter against Michicken in 2011, the hail Mary against USC, the TFL (safety) against UCLA, the fumble late against UGA, Braxton Miller's TD run last year etc..... If we could learn to be tougher mentally, IMO, the skies the limit. Cut down the TO's and ruck up after the nut kick and this season has the potential to be our best under Bo. Back to my kool-aid...........

Is this the Oop Dee Oop formation Mox? Looks like a bubble screen. <shudder> I just threw up in my mouth a little thinking of OU 2008. I think they had 33 hung on us before my microwave pop corn was done.

It's an entirely different set of fundamentals, mentality, responsibilities, etc. You're downplaying it a little bit too much. Didn't Stafford or PJ Smith recently say that playing safety in Bo's system a heavy load mentally? yes they did. But it's all relative in how much you wanna put into learning and mastering it. Larry Asante. Dejon Gomes. Eric Hagg. Matt O'Hanlon. These guys seemed to have it down pretty damn good. Hell you could even say Cassidy had down pretty well too. This is why I've continued to stand behind the scheme and blame it on the lack of talent/athleticism. We've seen what we can do with talent on that side. We're seeING what we can do with talent on the offensive side. That's the thing about football. Regardless how great the style is, you still gotta have the horses if youre gonna be elite. Yes, there are exceptions to this, but very VERY few. Agree with the above. When Bo has athletes ie Prince/Haag/Gomes etc.....it works. When Bo has guys who know the system ie O'Hanlon it works. (not saying the afore mentioned guys didn't know it) Safety appears to be a concern. Lack of real experience back there. Moving Green (experience) to that position makes since as he is possibly the odd man out in a 2 deep CB rotation. mention guys like Gerry possibly contributing immediately and you see less room for some guys. As some have stated, I will be anxious to see game time Bo, but for now (for the first time) it really seems like he wants to get the athletes on the field. We get a D like he had in 2010 and we run the conference.

We see a team that actually plays a solid 4 quarters with no self inflicted losses We will be amazed at what speed and athleticism do on defense Martinez will not lead the nation in fumbles

Very nice gesture by Bush senior. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/07/24/george-hw-bush-shaves-head-in-solidarity-with-2-year-old-cancer-patient/

Oh yeah! Cant wait.

Put me on the "addition by subtraction" bandwagon as well. Also good to see that Taariq and Wullenwaber are healthy and ready to practice. Going to be fun seeing how they contribute to an already talented position. ..tick .....tock ..tick Never has the words "addition by subtraction" been truer or more relevant. David, although an athletic freak and incredible player, shows what happens when you have speed and a nose for the ball (2010 when he didn't "know system). I can only imagine an entire team more athletic and faster than what we have field the past 2. It has got to be an improvement. Sure can't be worse IMO. I still look at what BO did with athleticism and speed in Super D and Haag (Peso) and can't help, but think that this year we see some of that innovation. We're on the exact same page, man. It goes back to the old adage, "you can't teach speed." The secondary is obviously the strength of this defense with the amount of starters returning. (Ciante Evans, Andrew Green, Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Josh Mitchell) It's not a very kind thing to say, but I'm excited that we no longer have Compton and Fisher at LB. I'm sorry, but I'm eager to see the athleticism that this new group has to offer. This goes for the defensive line too. Saw another article talking about our CB's with Green and SJB being Co #1's. SJB led the team with pass break ups and Green is the returning leader in tackles. Said that this tips our hand depending on who started last year as it relates to planning to stop the run or pass. Said the B1G CC could have been worse if not for a career high 8 solo tackles by Green.

Put me on the "addition by subtraction" bandwagon as well. Also good to see that Taariq and Wullenwaber are healthy and ready to practice. Going to be fun seeing how they contribute to an already talented position. ..tick .....tock ..tick Never has the words "addition by subtraction" been truer or more relevant. David, although an athletic freak and incredible player, shows what happens when you have speed and a nose for the ball (2010 when he didn't "know system). I can only imagine an entire team more athletic and faster than what we have field the past 2. It has got to be an improvement. Sure can't be worse IMO. I still look at what BO did with athleticism and speed in Super D and Haag (Peso) and can't help, but think that this year we see some of that innovation.

Here is a good read with Paps and Fischer about our D for next year, injured guys who are ready and who might return punts. Nate Gerry also gets mentioned as a guy who will be contributing this year. Paps talks about the speed and most athletic D since he has been hear. I also like him acknowledging "Speed kills". http://www.omaha.com/article/20130719/HUSKERS/130729919 I guy making a mistake at 100 mph and is athletic can recover and correct on the fly a lot more than a slower less athletic player IMO. Last year, guys might have known the system, but just couldn't recover or get from point A to B quick enough to make the play. Is is game time yet?

The kid has earned my respect. Initially I was skeptical, but he has steadily improved, embraced the leadership role and is showing a true desire to win. I loved him getting physical in last years game vs UGA. (Really wish our O line played as mean as he does) His fumbles hurt, BUT the in 2 of the past 3 years he has possibly played behind some of our worst O lines in history which has not helped (this year should be Bo's best). He has also played for 2 different OC's and at least 2 "different systems". He is a baller, Won't quit and has done a few things besides owning possibly every NU QB record (I know he started for 3 years), BUT he has lead our greatest comeback in history, can possibly join or beat Kaepernick and done this while playong for different OC's, bad line and for arguably one of if not the worst D's (better D play could have gotten him the wins) in NU history. Imagine Martinez and this O with 2009 0r 2010 D. Fumbles, lack of conference and lack of bowl victories hurt. Not to mention when comparing Martinez to our greatest QB's we are blessed to be (IMO) comparing him to some of the best to have ever played the game as well as on some of the best teams college football has ever seen. I really hope this is the year he gets the wins and accolades he has earned. D gets a pulse and plays fast we have a shot.............Our O will be hard, if not bordering on impossible on being able to stop from scoring from anywhere on the field. (a maturing Bo per off season comments will help greatly as well)

He named probably the three best QB's he has seen. IMO, a back handed compliment as it were. All 3 are in the preseason Hypesman talk. Clowney is a freak and could not play a down this year and still declare for the draft and get picked in the 1st round. You play with his intensity and abilities and you can talk some smack. USC plays both Clemson and UGA so it is a little psychology to try and get in their heads. Unsure about Martinez comments....... Had it not been for the hail mary to end the half, NU still beats USC 2 years ago though. Had to get that in.

Said by a guy standing in front of an "Obama, show us your birth certificate" sign. Classic. Spoke to soon. Never let a tragedy go to waste. Obama speaks Statement in full: The full statement is as follows: The death of Trayvon Martin was a tragedy. Not just for his family, or for any one community, but for America. I know this case has elicited strong passions. And in the wake of the verdict, I know those passions may be running even higher. But we are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken. I now ask every American to respect the call for calm reflection from two parents who lost their young son. And as we do, we should ask ourselves if we’re doing all we can to widen the circle of compassion and understanding in our own communities. We should ask ourselves if we’re doing all we can to stem the tide of gun violence that claims too many lives across this country on a daily basis. We should ask ourselves, as individuals and as a society, how we can prevent future tragedies like this. As citizens, that’s a job for all of us. That’s the way to honor Trayvon Martin.

I wonder if knowing he is "now the guy" will mentally take him to the next level ie leadership, preparing in the off season etc..... Really impressed me last year. Runs angry.

Just because they have been one of the best doesn't mean we haven't been asking quite a lot out of them. In my opinion, this secondary could be even more superior and the key being, they could come away with a lot more turnovers if we were more aggressive in the front seven. The fact the secondary has been this successful in the situation we put them in is IMO a credit to them and their skill level. Not discounting our secondary. The past few years (under Bo) have been one of our bright spots, BUT in 2011 and 2012 teams pretty much beat us like a drum in the running game. Why pass when you can gash our D for 200+ on the ground. (UCLA 305 in the air, Franklin 217 on ground) (OSU 371 on the ground, Wisky 400+) (UGA 400+ in the air) Take it for what it is worth, but until we find a way to stop the run or face a poor throwing QB, our DB's should be good to go. UGA and UCLA gashed us pretty good through the air with a decent QB. We have the potential to be much better based on athleticism alone, but until we find a way to be a good D without stars at all 3 levels, I will wait and see.

Our own QB is a prime example of "getting after him". Martinez can take it to the house on any down, yet every team we play, stacks the box, and brings the heat on every down. We sit back and give them all the time in the world. Regardless of how good our DB's are, no one can cover a receiver for 4-5 secinds.

If we actually tackle in space, get pressure from the front 4 and actually pressure the QB with these 4 our D will look night and day different from last year. Folks have mentioned David as an example of speed and athleticism over coming lack of "knowledge". Even after his 15 tackle debut (IIRC) Bo commented something to the effect of "he could have done better". 2011 we saw a better David. A guy who had speed, athleticism and knowledge. Even his rookie year at TB, the 2nd year LB (name escapes me) told him that if you make mistakes, make them fast. I also look at Neon Deion Sanders as an example of athleticism and speed (IMO set the bar with speed) who's technique was horrible, BUT he had speed and athleticism that allowed him to basically do whatever he wanted and still cover the receiver. Speed kills. It shows in the SEC, we showed it in the 90's and have seen flashes with Suh, David, Super D in 2003 etc..... Bo has shown that with a true playmaker, his D is pretty solid. We just need to hope that someone on this squad steps up and is "that guy". Even better if we have it at all 3 levels. Imagine if Suh had been around in 2010.........

On the bright side, this might force his hand back into that Peso defense and get Evans on the field more. I'm still not convinced with the right talent that defense wouldn't work in the B1G. I'd take Evans/Santos/Anderson in the Peso over Anderson/Santos/Roach in a more traditional B1G defense. Our experience and talent is deep in the backfield. Hopefully we see those guys on the field more in some variation of the Peso that takes the B1G by surprise. +1 This^. Bring back the Peso. Speed kills plain and simple. 2003 we had Super D off the edge. He was a sacking, TFL, fumble causing machine. In the hey day of the 90's we got rid of the slow lumbering D and brought in speed. Beat UM, UF and UT for the MNC. Not bad. Get our 11 best on the field. I do not buy into the B1G is a bruising conference, We need to force the O in the league to change to our D. Screw this 3 slow a$$ LB's who cant go sideline to sideline. Slow, plodding DE's who cant get up field and make the QB run for their lives. I really think this is the year that we see an evolution on D like we saw in 2003 under Bo and in 2009-2010. This D (from the LB and DB's ) will look like nothing we have seen under Bo.

Tommy Frasier

The most recent from the 90's I can think of it Mike MInter Jr. He had to meet some conditions for NU, and apparently didn't.

Too many to name just 5. Looking at that list and others I would add (Super D, Barron Miles) it is amazing to see what great guys we had coming through here. Guys with great motor (Peter, Wistrom, Glover) and guys with great character (Minter, Rucker, Brown) etc.... We find these type guys we win championships. Not only did they have talent and the "it" factor, but they had swagger and IMO, easily identified as leaders on the field. Their play elevated those around them. We have been blessed to have that many guys who played at that high a level. I think this is what makes our past 2 seasons, IMO, look even worse.

Here is a good article that shows the no-win that we are now in. Historical info as well. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-to-send-4000-troops-to-aid-president-assad-forces-in-syria-8660358.html

Until we can put together a complete 4 quarters of sound football and play fundamental ball, no game for this team is a gimme. Iowa St, a down UT, NW, hell look at Wisky last year with their 3rd string QB. No, we are not a team that can afford to over look one single team on the schedule. This is the year that Bo needs to break the barrier and rack up the W's. On paper the schedule looks "easier" than it has the past several years.

No doubt. Let other countries fight for their own rights and stay out of civil wars. Scary that intel appears that any of these groups are possibly linked to AQ (even if they were completely secular no military aid). Just stay out. Also read the "line has been crossed" and we are now looking at what type of military aide to provide the rebels........

No doubt. Let other countries fight for their own rights and stay out of civil wars. Scary that intel appears that any of these groups are possibly linked to AQ. Just stay out.