lo country

More guys drafted from App St than the Huskers so far. Damn.

When was the last time you saw a white running back drafted? Not full back, running back. Kill me if you will, but it is a factor, just as some recruiting experts thought he was under-stared coming out of high school Toby Gerhart - 2 years ago I believe... I don't buy your excuse. Burkhead lost much of his senior season. If he had that back, this could be totally different. He lost some stats. Lattimore will start on the pup list, hes off the board. Burkhead tested near the top at the combine on everything but the 40. There is more to it than a minor knee injury. Rex was top in all but bench and 40................

When was the last time you saw a white running back drafted? Not full back, running back. Kill me if you will, but it is a factor, just as some recruiting experts thought he was under-stared coming out of high school Toby Gerhart - 2 years ago I believe... I don't buy your excuse. Burkhead lost much of his senior season. If he had that back, this could be totally different. And the same comments were made about him being white IIRC.

Pick 15, round 6 from Tarleton St. A non-ranked DE...................................................

Look at Lattimore. Different back for sure, buy horrible knee injury goes round 4 to SF. Surprised as well. Wow if we get shut out.

Wow, another kicker round 6 #9 pick........... I thought Rex would be gone by now.

Well, 2 kickers just went at #32 and #33 in round 5. Above any Husker.........

Cotton as well. Rated higher than any Huskers in contention for the draft. Sad to see so many other schools that I would think are not even in the same category as NU have guys drafted. To include Div II schools. WTH! Also hope that it shows a remarkable lack of talent and how good our staff actually did to get us the wins last year. OR it shows what a crappy conference we play in that even with no talent we still won those games. The B1G is looking like crap overall so far in this draft.

Not to undermine your argument which I agree with, but motive should be of significant important to counter-terrorism efforts. Motive should be the most important thing, but when was the last time you saw a buddist run on to a bus with a suicide vest? It just happens that the "bad" Muslims are the group usually invovled in terroristic acts, it gives the rest of those that are Muslim a bad name. What is a bit baffling to me though, are those Muslims that are peaceful, appear not to be as proactive about trying to "clear" their names, for lack of a better term. If I was Muslim, and these a'holes were running around, doing horrible things, giving my belief system a bad name, I'd want to do something about it.... I would like to see the Mullahs and Imans in the US and issue a statement against this form of "jihad". If it is not in line with main stream Islam, then speak out, condemn. Silence looks like acceptance..................

IMO, shows how lacking in talent we truly were. The team and staff did a great job in getting us the wins. In regards to talent, we have been swimming in the shallow end of the pool. I hope this year we get in the deep water. As Zoogies mentioned above, Rex is our top prospect and might go 7 or FA?! Saw where Michicken and Hoke already have 5 of the 2014 top 150 as commits............

Some reports say AQ backed/supported. Iraq reportedly supporting Assad. It, like all of the other ME springs ie Libya, Egypt and this are a lose lose for the United States. Not reliable enough intel to even know who we are actually supporting. The ME hates the U.S yet the world expects us to be the world police and then attack our interests when "their bad guy" is defeated. If we do take a proactive military approach, IMO, it needs to be done like Bush I in the first Gulf War, get an MED coalition and make them go against Assad and his regime. On a side note. Seems like there were reports years ago about Iraq's WMD going into Syria. Anyone know how Assad got his current stock? Ironic that the pursuit of these weapons got us into the war in Iraq and WMD might now bring us into a new one. I just hope we have a better plan for this one than the last.

Rex is a solid "get" which ever round it is. If he goes after round 5 or later, IMO, it will be a steal. He can block, catch, wildcat and has a knack to always get yrds after contact. Kid doesn't go down at first contact. Not to mention you are getting a kid with great character. I also wonder if it will help him in that he has played in a zone read offense with a dual threat QB. Seems the whole zone read is becoming the next big thing with some teams in the NFL. Might make home more attractive to some teams.

I am not putting any faith in the spring game until we actually see good on good with the 2nd string going against the 1's. For too many years, guys have been the next "big thing" from the spring game and have ended up doing nothing. That fact that Heard transferred, IMO, would have automatically given him playing time. BUT now we have two stud RB's coming in who are expected to be the "next big thing". IIRC, Green, Heard, Thunder Collins etc were also to be the next stars. Since Bo has been hear, I have stopped listening to the talk and expectations and just see who shows up on Sat. Even then I have wondered what happened to so and so. As mentioned above, our O clicks on every guy knowing his role. We need RB's who can block and pick up the blitz. No matter how well they go North and South it wont matter if they can't pick up the blitz, pass pro pro or catch the pass. If our TE's fail to become great blockers, I would look for the FB/RB rolls to be limited as they will need to stay in more for pass pro.

I liked that they plan to work on the TO issue as well as mechanics. Plans to work out almost a month. Pretty dedicated and focused. Also liked trying to really develop the ability to have the proper mechanics while guys are in his grill. Would love to see the rest of the team step up like this (Maybe they are, I do not know). I also hope that the team, read OL, learn or are taught that when an opposing LB throws your QB to the turf ala WWE, you get the penalty and earhole said offender. TOO MANY times Martinez got hit last year and no one did a thing. I am hoping that Long and Cotton develop this mean streak and play nasty with a chip. Hate the stupid penalties, but letting teams know early on that Martinez is off limits would set a great tone for the rest of the year. See them play as a group, protecting one another, loyalty on and off the field.

Good stuff Knapp. Thanks for posting.

Fair spot to start. We have potential to be better on D per our recruits and supposed "upgrades", but many of these guys have yet to see any significant playing time. We lose 8 starters on D, we are coming off 2 blow out losses. I think the woeful performance on D last year and the inexperience this year gets us the lower ranking. Win and we move up. Like Evans said (IIRC) time to shut up and play.

Year 3 for Martinez in the same system. Not to mention Bell, Quince, JT, AA etc. Other than TE we have something offensively we haven't had in a while. Guys in the system, at the same for position for more than a year. If the big uglies can give him time, our WR's have a chance to be great. This would force the D to stay out of the box allowing Martinez, AA, Cross et al to run. I have not been the biggest Beck supporter, but I like what I am hearing from the team about the O. I also like that Beck has really seemed to improve in his play calling, he, like any new guy has made mistakes. I really hope that this year it will all come together. I also think we see an even more diversified play book now that our skill guys have been in it for several years. Looking forward to it for sure. IMO, after just a few weeks with Calhoun Martinez looked like a different guy. Imagine another "off season". Solidify what he learned last year and improve in some other areas. The OL gives him time, I really see him as an early Hypesman runner. Kid is a baller.

This defines Nebraska football. Plain and simple. The 5 MNC's, 3 Hypesman etc are great, but this defines a program. WOW! I also think of what a blessing Little Jack has been to this team. I will remember this moment during the season, before I post some thread about how we looked or lost etc......

Concussion?! That sucks. Glad to see them being cautious with him.

You got that impression from watching the tOSU and PSU games against Wisconsin? I got the impression Wisconsin was ready to play. One thing's for sure, they were much more prepared for Ohio State than we were. Wisky beat our a$$ with a 3rd string QB. For all intensive purposes a new OL coach, had 3 RB's over 100 yrds. IIRC 2 went for over 200 a piece not to mention one averaged like 12 yrds per carry. Quit living in the land of illusion. They kicked the living shi# out of us. Toss left, toss right and we had no answer. They hit Martinez late on several occasions to include the pile drive by Borland and our OL does nothing. Had extra time to prepare, please. Wanted pay back please. They beat us like we stole something. Has Alvarez not been the AD they would have hung 100 on us. This collapse and others, is what Bo speaks of when talking about mental toughness. This is what Raymond spoke of when he said we need to learn to get punched in the mouth. Bo now has the pieces in place with the "stars". He has an experienced QB. 3rd year OC. 2nd year DC, OL coach who "knows the B1G. I do not think he has forgotten to coach D. Look at 2003 and 2009-2010 as examples. This team needs to toughen up when punched in the mouth. Play mean and angry. They came from behind last year. That shows ability. BUT when we had a bone headed melt down, we seem to fold and quit. Not sure how to fix it. Have I ever stated that they didn't beat us like we stole something???? No. Have I ever stated that they weren't ready to play? No. Do I personally believe that Bielema took three weeks and focused soley on NU??? Yes I do because his blocking schemes and defensive line schemes were something he hadn't shown on film. Refer to accountability's post above for my exact feelings on the punch in the mouth comment. I agree with you that with a favorable schedule and a high powered offense this year we shouldn't have an issue winning 11 games. Punched in the mouth was a bad choice. The fumble by AA against UGA, Miller's TD against OSU, safety against UCLA, roughing the punter against Michicken, the hail mary against Carolina etc..... these type of gut punches we seem to be unable to come back from. Getting down, in the games above, didn't have some "implosion" that seemed to just suck the life from the team. My rant was no aimed at anyone in particular, my apologies. Aimed at the frustration of reliving the beat downs by Wisky and OSU etc..... Tired of excuses. Ready for some results. Year 6 and it is time to win.

You got that impression from watching the tOSU and PSU games against Wisconsin? I got the impression Wisconsin was ready to play. One thing's for sure, they were much more prepared for Ohio State than we were. Wisky beat our a$$ with a 3rd string QB. For all intensive purposes a new OL coach, had 3 RB's over 100 yrds. IIRC 2 went for over 200 a piece not to mention one averaged like 12 yrds per carry. Quit living in the land of illusion. They kicked the living shi# out of us. Toss left, toss right and we had no answer. They hit Martinez late on several occasions to include the pile drive by Borland and our OL does nothing. Had extra time to prepare, please. Wanted pay back please. They beat us like we stole something. Has Alvarez not been the AD they would have hung 100 on us. This collapse and others, is what Bo speaks of when talking about mental toughness. This is what Raymond spoke of when he said we need to learn to get punched in the mouth. Bo now has the pieces in place with the "stars". He has an experienced QB. 3rd year OC. 2nd year DC, OL coach who "knows the B1G. I do not think he has forgotten to coach D. Look at 2003 and 2009-2010 as examples. This team needs to toughen up when punched in the mouth. Play mean and angry. They came from behind last year. That shows ability. BUT when we had a bone headed melt down, we seem to fold and quit. Not sure how to fix it.

I hope that's not about football... There's so much talent at the WR position, he's behind a lot of guys to begin with Was just about to post about him returning the ball on KO and punt. Would love to see him have some success. Hope this isn't about football. If it is, I am sure it will bring out a lot of questions for sure...........

I'm not convinced it's fixed. A lot of that void isn't for a lack of recruiting, its for a lack of retention of those recruits (peat/rome, etc) - and moving others to the OL - Pensick. 2 offseasons ago we were talking about our young talent on the DL exactly like we are talking about this years. Those guys are no long here - we'll have to wait and see if these guys are a year or two from now when we finally need them. Agree with you on that. Retention has proven an issue as has player development. The staff seems,IMO, to do a poor job in getting younger guys ready to play. QB is a prime example. No back up with any playing time. I hope that Bo admitting he was wrong not playing the our younger guys last year will translate to playing more guys this year. Retention will be better if more guys get reps and actually see themselves getting meaningful snaps. ie Heard, Green, come to mind on the O side. At least Bo has admitted some issues and will hopefully figure something out. Avoid blow out losses and I will believe it. We get curb stomped again, I am done and realize that it is the staff. If we keep getting blown out i don't know how Bo can say he's fixing things and he knows how to play D. It would be Callahan all over again except with a higher winning percentage. Coz was fired for less pathetic D play. We get taken to the shed again this year, Bo needs to go. Losing is part of the game, BUT losing like we did and have the past two years is unacceptable.

I'm not convinced it's fixed. A lot of that void isn't for a lack of recruiting, its for a lack of retention of those recruits (peat/rome, etc) - and moving others to the OL - Pensick. 2 offseasons ago we were talking about our young talent on the DL exactly like we are talking about this years. Those guys are no long here - we'll have to wait and see if these guys are a year or two from now when we finally need them. Agree with you on that. Retention has proven an issue as has player development. The staff seems,IMO, to do a poor job in getting younger guys ready to play. QB is a prime example. No back up with any playing time. I hope that Bo admitting he was wrong not playing the our younger guys last year will translate to playing more guys this year. Retention will be better if more guys get reps and actually see themselves getting meaningful snaps. ie Heard, Green, come to mind on the O side. At least Bo has admitted some issues and will hopefully figure something out. Avoid blow out losses and I will believe it. We get curb stomped again, I am done and realize that it is the staff.

IMO, Bo has never called out a player and will not. The fixes, again IMO, have to do with personnel over scheme. When we had the horses (2009 and 2010) we looked like world beaters on D. The first 2 "poor" recruiting classes hurt on D. Bo had to play guys who "knew" the system over guys who did not. Looking at our roster, in 2011 and 2012 were the younger guys really athletically much better? Did they step up and improve our D? Obviously not. Seems a lot, myself included, are hoping that true Fresh and Red Shirt guys can step up this year. Maybe Raymond was more correct than any of us when he said to "look at them and look at us". Bo calls a complicated scheme that takes smarts and athletic ability. We are kidding ourselves to think the past two years we were deep with talent. Look at how many walk-ons have been starting on both sides of the ball. How many DL we had on schollie, yet Cam had to move inside when Stein went down or a converted DL to center etc....... The past 2 years, we have been so devoid of quality depth and it shows. Bo's comments also show a man who realizes his stubbornness has possibly cost us as many games as the lack of fundamentals and fumbles. From the "should have played some guys" to the "starters on special teams" etc.... Show a coach who, again IMO, gets it and what needs to be done. Throw in basically brand new staff with little to no experience and lack of talent and depth and you get what we had the past two years (well actually 4 if you count our pathetic O in 2009 and 2010.