URSS

You can hire a good coach but leave the assistants up to the new coach. Devaney came after a losing season, kept most of the assistants, and then had a winning season and a bowl game. Riley has not had a past record showing a winning history. We need someone from a great coaching system, like a Saban, Meyer, Bowden, etc. Great cosches are working now so you tens of millions stealing a Saban or Meyer OR find a second tier coach looking to move up. The assistants carry the load and do the recruiting. I don't think any school with a revolving coaching door is a great place to play. The players want a winning school, sports writer praise and TV exposure to provide a path to the NFL.

I have never liked the 3-4 defense and have nothing this year to make me change my mind. Diaco has the playing better but not good enough. Their fundamentals are lacking resulting in too many missed tackles and far too many yards after contact. Diaco could only make this defense reasonably goo with three linemen like Suh. As long as the CBs play soft, we won't win against good teams. The offensive line is not nearly as good as it needs to be for a winning season. They are susceptible to short passes and runs from the guards out. Lee does well when not being pressured which is not often. We have good runners but not good blocking. Some of the play calls end our drives. This season is essentially over before mid season.

I think we will be lucky to be 6 & 6 this year.

These were the Husker coaching staff in 1962. These guys went on to be long term coaches on the staff. The head coach is important but the assistants are the make or break ingredient. A former player once told me that Devaney usually spent the practice time in the tower and the assistants ran everything on practice field. I expect Devaney ran and coached the coaches but he was also the personality of the team. Coaching staff[edit] Name Title First year in this position Years at Nebraska Alma Mater Bob Devaney Head Coach 1962 1962–1972 Alma John Melton 1962 1962–1988 Wyoming Cletus Fischer 1960 1960–1985 Nebraska Mike Corgan Running Backs 1962 1962–1982 Notre Dame George Kelly 1960 1960–1968 Jim Ross 1962 1962–1976 Carl Selmer Offensive Line 1962 1962–1972

There has been a lot of comments about a new head coach. The head coach needs to have a good pedigree learning under a winner but smart enough to know people and how motivate them= both players and assistant coaches. This team has some good players- better than the forums comments sometimes say. I remember Bill Jennings appearing on the Sunday football show with Bob Zenner- saying we were losing because we just don't have the players. Then a guy named Devaney came to town. He won that year, 1962, with the mostly the same players that Jennings ran down. Devaney kept two of Jenning's assistants and brought in four new coaches. Incidentally, the Huskers had some players that became greast NFL stars from that era. From Wikipedia, maybe some insight about coaching prospects at Lincoln. Wyoming[edit] Devaney's first college head coaching job was at the University of Wyoming, where he went 35–10–5 (.750) in five seasons between 1957 and 1961. The Cowboys won the Sun Bowl in his second season and won or shared the Skyline Conference title in his final four seasons in Laramie. Following the 1961 season, he was hired at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln at an annual salary of $17,000.[1] Nebraska[edit] Devaney was the fourth choice of Nebraska's athletic director, Tippy Dye. Utah's Ray Nagel and Utah State's John Ralston had turned down the job. Michigan State coach Duffy Daugherty also turned down Dye, but recommended Devaney, his former assistant, for the Cornhuskers. When Devaney balked at leaving Wyoming for Nebraska, it was Daugherty who convinced him to accept the position because he could potentially win a national title at Nebraska, a goal that Wyoming was very unlikely to obtain. Devaney joined Nebraska in 1962 and immediately reestablished the program as a force in the Big Eight Conference. Prior to Devaney's arrival, Nebraska football had fallen on hard times with seven consecutive losing seasons. The 1961 team under Bill Jennings went 3–6–1 overall and 2–5 in conference. After a winning tradition up until the early 1940s, Nebraska had only two winning seasons in the two decades preceding Devaney's arrival.[2] Devaney engineered an immediate turnaround with a 9–2 record in 1962 that included a victory in the Gotham Bowl at Yankee Stadium over the Miami Hurricanes.

I think this squad will be fortunate to finish above .500 this year. We have played poorly against two teams that we should have manhandled (ASU and NIU) and shot ourselves in the foot against Oregon. I think we have some good players but we are not getting the most out of them. Today, we saw the offensive line not getting the job done, missing blocks or not prepared for assignments against some defenses. Today, they got beaten off the line for the most part and did not use their size to any real advantage. Receivers dropping balls that should have caught. I QB that throws low and fast that can be knocked down. We have some good running backs but an offense that does not seem to feature the run- more to set up the pass. The ball carriers seem to hold the ball in the wrong hand too much. The kick returners seem to not be well schooled in making decisions. Langsdorf's play calling seems to be too habitual at times. I don't like the 3-4 defense and probably never will. I don't think the coaches are working on details of the game. I worry that we will want the coaches fired and since Osborne's retirement, we seem to have an identity crisis with west coast, pro-style, 3-4 defense, option, etc. It looks like we will become a school with a revolving door for coaches.

First game- thought the offense was good and they will improve. The right side of the line let too many untouched defenders come through. I have never been a fan of the 3-4 defense and the game yesterday just reinforced my opinion. We will not be competitive in the Big 10 if we continue to use it. I thought the players were good enough for a great season but not if we use the 3-4 defense. We did not put pressure on QB and gave up far too many 4-5 yard plays throughout the game. They showed some signs of defending the flat passes late in the game but still gave up too many yards. If our defense had this much trouble with Arkansas State, they will get humiliated against Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio State. Next week we will face Oregon and throw the ball a lot. I can't see us putting a lot of pressure on their passing game. Our defensive backs may be good but they can't stop the passing game if the QB never gets pressured.

No. His defensive scheme last year was an abomination. This year's is significantly better but still nothing great. We've benefited from playing a lot of terrible offenses. The only two good offenses we've played this year we had trouble stopping (Oregon, without their best offensive player for most of the game) or literally couldn't stop at all (Ohio St.). So I'm not a Banker fan. Although the reason I bring that up - and why it's in this thread - is because I think Bray is going to start getting calls and we may have to find a way to get him a promotion to keep him. Probably not this year but it's not going to be long. And I think losing him would be bad - worth shipping Banker out to keep him. I think Banker would be a championship coach if he had eleven 5-star player capable of self improvement. Maybe next year, or the next, or the next ????

We were destroyed by a team that has more talent and team speed and a coaching staff that is better at recruiting and prepping for a game. We struggled in some early games because of the same problems. Its just that Ohio State saw the weaknesses and had the team talent to take advantage. The O line has been weak and ineffective all year and seldom dominated the line of scrimmage. I can't recall them getting to the outside routinely and sealing the edge. They are also slow. Ohio State ran past them all night. How many times did you see a Husker runner headed toward the sidelines and being met by 3-5 Buckeyes? The Husker linemen were usually standing on their feet and watching from a distance. We don't have a QB either. Armstrong is a gifted athlete but not a championship thrower. We had the same issue with Taylor Martinez. Armstrong would have been a great option QB in the old days of Osborne. We don't have the linemen for running or pass blocking in any event. I hope we win out but we are not a top 20 team. Maybe next year- the recruiting news sounds hopeful.

The team played better than expected and they played hard for four full quarters. The defense did well except for about 2 plays. The offense is still hurt by an offensive line that is injury ridden and has a hard time on the Line of Scrimmage. They don't dominate and block as well as is needed for a top ten team. I think TA is a great athlete but his throwing technique goes to crap when he is pressured which happens too often with this line. Its hard to see us as a championship team when you can't rely on the QB's arm in a pinch. He makes some great throws and then throws badly. We have had these problems with Tayler Martinez and now with TA. We need a true QB.

We have not played like a #6 team. The Huskers cannot beat Wisconsin and Ohio State if they play like they did against Purdue. The offensive line will have to do better even with their injuries beat top ten teams.

This protest isn't going to do anything for those who won't admit to there being a problem in this country. Their lives are fine, how can it be different for others? Instead of being upset with the protest, try to learn about why it's taking place and what minorities deal with on a daily basis. We will never agree.

The players who will not stand for the anthem should be benched. I don't agree with their methods. While they are in uniform and in the stadium, they represent the University, the State and fans. There should be no personal politics on the field. The anthem honors the millions of Americans, past and present, including those soldiers who fought to stop slavery in the Civil War, stop dictators in other wars, Martin Luther King, and other good people. The kneeling is an insult to those people and does not accomplish much else other than discord- as is evidenced by the responses to this thread. I don't buy into the helping hand to rebuild the inner cities. This nation has spent trillions over the past 50 years and we still have the same percentage of poor, the same run down inner cities and race relations are probably as bad as they have been since the 1960s. Those problems won't be solved on the football field by kneeling and insulting millions. If these players think they have ideas, then call a press conference on their time in their civilian clothes and make specific proposals to the their representatives like adult citizens are supposed to do.

I think they lack good technique for the most part. They seldom seem to take them on the thighs and wrap up the legs. Far too many tackles by the line and linebackers are at the chest and shoulder level. The result is too many yards after contact. Some of the players seem to think the battering ram technique is a good tackle. I think they don't maintain their lanes well during their pass rush. A QB lick JT Barrett will pick up many third and longs with his legs. Our pass coverage is good but our rush is slow.

Only saw the first quarter before the wedding. Saw the Wisconsin-Ohio State game later. OurD-line must improve their pressure on the QB and maintain their lanes to contain JT Barrett. They like to throw under to their backs and the Wisky LBs and some of the D-backs were slow to come up and frequently missed tackles. The Blackshirts will need tone at their best.

Northwestern always does well against us. But unimpressed with our defense- gave up too many first downs. The offense can't seem to get outside reliably. They will need to do much better when we play Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State.

Never liked alternate uniforms. Wish they would trash the concept. Red pants and white jerseys are the Huskers away uniforms and the reverse for home. Stop messing with tradition.

The team is good but so far not consistent and have not performed well for all four quarters. The run game is good but I think the blockers are too slow to be able to seal the outside for end runs reliably. Penalties at the wrong time still hurt too often. Tommy Armstrong is a great athlete but still makes some unforced drops and badly timed throws. He can get away with it against these teams but it will hurt us badly later in the year. The receivers are good. The defense is good and getting better but they all tackle too high giving up too many yards after contact.

I think they should rescind the targeting rules. Its political correctness running through the colleges and owners. Runners and players usually put their heads down when near contact- its reflexive. Its a contact sport and that is why they wear pads and helmets. Hard hits to cause fumbles and drops is part of the game. I played several decades ago. There were rules then for unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct. The refs could eject players from the game if they thought the hit was intended to cause injury. This is subjective but the current targeting is not perfect in its implementation either. Go back to the previous rules. Eject the bad ones who can't control their emotions.

This was a terrible call. I think targeting should be eliminated. Refs have always had the authority to eject players under the unnecessary roughness foul. Anyone who has played knows when someone is trying to injure a player and not just make a strong hit for a tackle or block. I know some have called Gerry's tackle being textbook. I don't agree. Planting your face chest high into the runner is not good- neck injuries can result and you can't see if there is a fumble or lateral. He should have lowered his shoulder for a hit between the pads and the knees and wrap up legs. Usually, there will be no Yards After Contact. As my old coach used to say " collar bones can heal but neck injuries don't". Maybe overstated but I believe its the correct way to tackle or block. I don't think Gerry did anything wrong. Football is supposed to be a contact sport and that's why they wear pads and helmets. Hitting hard for intimidation and fumbles is part of the game. Targeting is difficult to define since both bodies may be moving and be unable to change their momentum but both may instinctively duck their heads. They don't call targeting or facemasks when runners put their heads down for a hit or use a stiff arm to the tackler's face or head. I say let them play and have the refs make their judgement calls on those times when a player is intentionally trying to hurt another player,

I would like to have Collins and Valentine stay for their senior years. Its selfish because I would like to see the Huskers recover to being one of the best teams in the country. Collins and Valentine are two big building blocks. I think they should stay also to get their degrees. Football can pay a lot but they could also be out with a knee injury. Its a gamble between a long term career education and a short term high paying game. Most NFL players play for the minimum and are out of teh pros in about 3 years.

Husker Q wrote: "Tom Osborne started with a passing offense and realized that it is difficult with the unpredictable midwest weather (like this years Illinois game) so he changed to a running game which can be more consistent regardless of weather. " I have never heard this before and I have been a Husker fan since 1960. I can remember many games on my knees in front of the TV begging TO to throw the ball. I remember the option offense run to the point that our opponents ignored the pass and focused on stopping the running game- daring us to throw. When TO was under pressure about never winning the big one, he experiemented with trick plays and some passing. But I would have never believed TO had a passing offense. I think Ferragamo was the closest we had to being a pro style QB.

Yep. Stalking a bunch of loser programs hoping they lose so we can get in at 5-7. Then realize that we are currently a loser program........ This is freaking hilarious. Here we sit, scoreboard watching, not to see if we can win the B1G West, not to see if we can move up in the rankings with some well-placed losses above us. No, we are sweating out trying to be one of the top 80, yes 80 teams will get a bowl invite. Almost 2/3 of every university playing football will receive an invitation to play in an exhibition game in front of a handful of friends and family. And, we are scoreboard watching the Old Dominion's, Georgia State's, South Alabama's of the world. Talk about having this baby going in the right direction. Your common sense comments alone should send even the most ardent Riley supporters into convulsions. Thinking some teams need to lose for us to get "N" and then seeing it in writing makes it almost unbearable. This staff............. Hip, hip, hooray! Its like we are vultures waiting for the prey to die because we don't have the skill set to take the prey on our own.

TA is a great athlete just not a great QB, particularly as drop back pocket passer. He should be an option QB. At Nebraska under Riley, he needs to be a running back or receiver if he hopes to make the pros. He could be a great running back but its much too late to be a great passer. Riley and Langsdorf won't get any improvement from him before next season. I don't expect them to change anything. They tried Fyfe and got burned badly so I don't expect them to experiment. One thing that bothers me: football is basically a north-south game. Riley spends too many plays running east-west behind the line of scrimmage. That only work when you are faster than the defense or have blockers that can seal the outside. Riley should have been using the I formation for power running with some option football mixed in but no, we seem to have a derivative of the west coast offense again--- with the same results.

I dunno about all that. I know both Callahan and Pelini ran summer camps that a lot of Nebraska high school players attended. And they spoke at events for Nebraska high school coaches. : My oldest son attended the last Solich football camp and the first Callahan camp. My ex sent him in from South Carolina. My ex told me that she was greatly impressed by the Athletic Dept. My son was overwhelmed by the experience and the personal coaching he got from Cory Schlesinger. He wanted to go to Nebraska, wore the Husker jersey that I gave him, he followed the games closely, played XBox football as a Husker, etc. After the Callahan camp, he no longer talked about Nebraska and had a bad taste for Callahan and Husker football. He finally told me that Callahan and his staff only paid attention to the players that they invited and ignored everyone else. There was not feedback or coaching. He no longer watched Husker football and had no desire to be a Husker. Callahan was a disaster. I have no idea how Pelini was at the camp. My son graduated high school as an all state center in South Carolina and took a scholarship at another school.