TheSker

Ankrah had a fine game, actually. Not sure what you're talking about TheSker - maybe you're seeing things I'm missing. I thought Ankrah got good pressure on Smith, Smith was just able to run from that pressure. He played a hell of a game.

You will find a Pelini quote that references the pressure we got on Smith.....and Pelini said we have to get the quarterback on the ground. Feel free to keep an eye on the snap count from that DE position and if I'm wrong I have no problem eating crow.

That doesn't mean Ankrah had a worse game than anyone else. Singling him out would be cool if you could show what Ankrah did wrong. He played the kind of defense Bo has played here the last three years. That's not Ankrah's fault, that's scheme.

I'm fine if you want to call it scheme.....but it's the same reason Randy Gregory fits the "scheme" better than Cameron Meredith did.

They have exploited how we react to motion on the line and how we close or try to shift our gap hold assignments and it puts us out of position on the line with no linebacker to make the tackle

This is correct.....and no coincidence that Pelini has said the gap between Santos and Bando is not wide. It's also why Gerry will be on the field a lot.

Ankrah had a fine game, actually. Not sure what you're talking about TheSker - maybe you're seeing things I'm missing. I thought Ankrah got good pressure on Smith, Smith was just able to run from that pressure. He played a hell of a game.

You will find a Pelini quote that references the pressure we got on Smith.....and Pelini said we have to get the quarterback on the ground. Feel free to keep an eye on the snap count from that DE position and if I'm wrong I have no problem eating crow.

Steven M. Sipple ‏@HuskerExtraSip39m

Pelini says gap between sophomore middle LB David Santos and true frosh Josh Banderas isn't wide. Competition continues, Bo says.

 

We could of really used Trevor Roach

Pelini's gap reference is not good news for Santos.

Hail Varsity ‏@HailVarsity58m

Pelini: "I felt pretty good after watching that (Wyoming) film. Some of things on the defensive side weren’t really physical things."

 

Our athleticism defensively is greatly improved over last season. Randy Gregory and Nathan Gerry are difference makers. It won't shock me to see McMullen's number of snaps increase.

He better

 

I agree and think it will happen. I think our two underperforming defenders were Ankrah and Santos.

The defense has been going downhill for 3 years, and there have been no changes.

The defense has been going downhill for 3 years. To say there have been no changes is not correct. Emphasis has been put on recruiting.....examples we will be pleased with include Randy Gregory and Nathan Gerry. They are difference makers.

Hail Varsity ‏@HailVarsity58m

Pelini: "I felt pretty good after watching that (Wyoming) film. Some of things on the defensive side weren’t really physical things."

 

Our athleticism defensively is greatly improved over last season. Randy Gregory and Nathan Gerry are difference makers. It won't shock me to see McMullen's number of snaps increase.

If we can hold UCLA to 400 yards

I prefer scoreboard. I think seasons are still judged by W-L, not yardage gained and allowed.

I think we're 1 good defensive performance away from silencing most of these discussions.

 

This is probably going to be the most accurate post of the day. It's a great point.

I can't believe how far we as a fan base ave fallen, when this is ok and we continually point to the defensive genius that is Bo. I am baffled by the thought he owns 4-10 of the worst performances EVER. Hell, Cosgrove only owns 2.

If you want your debate to be apples to apples, then you'd have to say Callahan only owns 2....or you'd have to say Papuchis owns 4. Just relax, Bo knows what he's doing. He has better athletes to work with now, but still has to get the chess pieces correct. There is no comparison between the Callahan years and Pelini's tenure.

 

 

Defensive scoring rank by season

 

2008 85th

2009 2nd

2010 9th

2011 40th

2012 56th

2013 82nd

 

I see the NU defensive swirling around the bottom of the toilet bowl.

These are good stats and Pelini is well aware of them. It's why emphasis was placed on improved recruiting the past two seasons and why there is a focus of getting playmakers on the field defensively. There are a couple of chess pieces Pelini and Pap were examining in a game situation.

yeah, i am on your side. i was being sarcastic.

 

I hear ya.....I've been on the sarcastic side myself with some of these ridiculous posts.

I want to start by saying I am hopeful that Bo Pelini has a great season and is very successful at Nebraska. What I get annoyed of hearing, however, is that should Bo Pelini not work out that no coach would be interested in the position or that Bo Pelini is untouchable and can escape with another sub par year. Below is a link to when Osborne Fired Callahan. I am linking this as I believe Osborne lays out what the standards of Nebraska football are.

When Bo Pelini arrived he said something along the lines of "I have never coached a bad defense". Lets see how his defense stacks up.

(http://www.cornnatio...defense-edition)

Don't think it is that bad? Watch the wisconsin game highlights again.

Compare them to the texas tech highlights

 

Again, I am hopeful we see a quick turn around and I am not saying we fire a coach coming off a win. However, if Pelini gets the Axe this year, here are some reasons a coach may be interested in Nebraska(There is no place like Nebraska).

1. We are the 4th winningest football team.

2. We have some of the best football facilities in the nation.

3.We are in a historic and strong conference (even if the SEC is the king of football right now).

4. Our football coaches make a good amount of money and we have money to pay a football coach.

5. We have a schedule in the next few years that sets us up for success.

6. We have a strong offense and talent on our team where a coach doesn't have to start from scratch.

7. We have some of the best Fans in the country.

8. We have a strong walk on program.

9. You are no longer following a Hall of Famer (Osborne).

10. The Nebraska brand still resonates nationwide.

 

Finally, everyone acts like it is completely unprecedented for any team to fire a coach for few losses.

How about John Cooper (Ohio State)

how about Lloyd Carr

Frank Solich of course

Mark Richt has been on the hot seat.

My memory doesn't serve me well but my point is most teams with history and prestige also have high standards.

I really hope Bo Pelini turns this ship around. Right now I am not sure he will.

Well, first....Pelini has already turned the ship around. Again, we are one of only 5 schools who has won at least 9 games each of the past 5 seasons. The good news for you is that if we were to fire Pelini, Houston Nutt has said he has wondered "what if?" he had boarded that plane......

Wyoming a team ranked 90th in rushing last year hung 602 yrds on us.

The 602 is total yards. Pelini's teams have consistently been leaders in pass defense. Our defense will gel as a unit over the next game or two as Pelini and Pap get the chess pieces in place.

Time to start showing consistency with this program.

Like being one of only four programs in the country to have won at least 9 games each of the past five seasons? Honestly, that puts us in pretty elite company

Yes. Let's beat our chest and be overly proud of losing 1 out of every 3 games we play. This place used to be the home of champions. Now it's the home of "good enough".

that is a powerful statement. i hope all of husker-nation sees this, especially the bo, the ad, and the president of nu.

 

I'm sure the people with the power realize the last time we got rid of a coach who won 9 games......the next season we improved to 5 wins and no bowl.

I agree whole heartily with Enunwa, but I don't know if I like him throwing beck and Co under the bus. Not as a player, not even as a senior..

He didn't throw anyone under the bus. More than one player has said Beck likes to talk openly with players about what plays/calls they like and don't like so he can throw them out or play to their strengths.

Agreed.....not to mention a direct quote from Pelini about the offense not taking enough shots down the field.

I'm seeing lots things on defensive that can be built on. Some things are actually quite impressive when you realize the age of the young man executing it.

Husker Mike's column is good and indicates some of these same bright spots on the defensive side of the ball. He mentioned 3 defensive players of concern which I would agree with and wouldn't be surprised if their number of snaps decreases during the season. Those three are Ankrah, Green and Santos. Three defensive players who have solid upsides are Gregory, Gerry and Jean-Baptiste. Pelini and Pap will look for the right combination to get this defense on track.

We have to see how this plays out, but right now all indications are that Bo is wildly under-performing. No one wants a revolving door... but does anyone really want a whole lot more of this?

"Wildly under-performing"? I get the whole not liking giving up a gazillion yards thing, but to indicate Bo is "wildly under-performing" at 9+ wins per season and no missed bowls is a bit off.

I will gladly volunteer help for Mayflower Van Lines, free of charge. Customer: John Papuchis

 

He was way over his head.

 

 

I know what happens, I read the book....I bolieve I just got the goodbye look....

As focused as you are on the yardage given up in some games, there is no comparison between Pelini's tenure thus far and the Callahan years. Pelini has not missed a bowl and we are one of a surprisingly few schools to win 9 or more games during Pelini's tenure.

After a season like last year, which was record breaking for all the wrong reasons,

Record breaking for all the wrong reasons was going 5-7 and missing a bowl game. We are 1 of 5 schools to win 9 or more games in the past 5 seasons. That is elite company.

• AND my biggest gripe --- We didn't play Anderson who I think is our best LB. Don't tell me he couldn't have run with that personnel
  

 

 

So does anyone know what the story is with Zaire? Reinjured, or did he somehow get beat-out as the LB in the dime package by Gerry (who has never played LB and is in his first game out of high school)?

I don't know the story with Zaire, but Gerry was a difference maker on the field against Wyoming.

A greater topic was how close we were to a MNC and, if not that, what bowl we would blow out some other team in.

Tom's bowl record is 12-13, including losing 7 straight from '87-'93. Sometimes what we accomplished in his final 5 coaching seasons is what we remember most.....and for good reason.

Gave them those clearout screens/flats that gained only 10-15 yards this year would've probably resulted in field-length td's with Compton and/or Whaley tryin to chase em down.

Add Fish to that group too. Gerry's speed allowed him to disrupt the pass Evans ended up intercepting. It's been a while since we've had that difference maker. It's why we know we need Gerry on the field as a true frosh.....our speed is improved as well as our size in the trenches. Also, Randy Gregory has the speed and agility to do things C Meredith simply wasn't able to do at the DE spot. We've upgraded our defense.

I'm tellin yall, it's not as bad as it seems. Up 31-14 and 37-21 and shoulda made it 44-21 with only half a quarter left, and then just packed it in. This is obvious. A legit concern, but obvious. The Int was a game changer that gave them hope and we couldnt wake back up

I agree with this. As an offensive leader and fourth year starter, Martinez must stop turning the ball over.

We'll never know for sure, but I'll bet money that that was a complete miscommunication on the part of Burtch (I believe it was him over there) who ran an in instead of an out. It was a quick read and Taylor threw it without hardley looking. Yeah, it appeared as if he threw it right to the defender, but there was obviously supposed to be a receiver there.

 

Yes and I read I believe in the OWH that Burtch was the receiver and didn't even look for the ball. The only complaint I had on T-Mart was his read were not where he left off last year. he made some really bad reads at the beginning of this game and they stung real bad.

I read that as well and think they mentioned the miscommunication on tv also. The bottom line is that can't happen in the red zone. That single play began the momentum swing that changed the complexion of the rest of the game.

Time to start showing consistency with this program.

Like being one of only four programs in the country to have won at least 9 games each of the past five seasons? Honestly, that puts us in pretty elite company