Xmas32

The NBA has seen a similar trend when they started capping the rookie salary scale. Guys weren't turning pro to get filthy rich on their rookie contract, it was so they would hit their 2nd contracts at a younger age. All this has done is increase the number of underclassmen declaring for the draft. Now NFL agents are having their clients go pro early because they aren't much value in their rookie contracts, but the agents want to get a percentage of their fat 2nd contracts and bonus money. Yeah, that makes sense. I realize every kid's situation is different but it really makes me wonder what agents are telling some of these kids who declare early. I look at a guy like Jalin Marshall from Ohio State and think, "Seriously, that guy is going to leave after being in school for only 3 years?" I get that he's fast but dang, he didn't exactly set the world on fire in college.

I'm surprised there are people saying VV won't be drafted. DT is not a fungible position in the NFL like RB where you can pluck a stud in FA like Arian Foster or most recently, that Rawls kid for Seattle. If VV can show he's healthy and has a good pro day and/or combine he's getting drafted. There just aren't a ton of dudes with his size and skill set. As Colo Husker pointed out, with the NFL it's all about the 2nd contract now. If anything, I expect to see more and more guys declare early now.

I think looking at the age progression is a bit misleading. Frost had a reasonably long professional career (8 years?). By his 7th year of coaching, he was a coordinator at Oregon. Zac coached 8 years before getting this opportunity at U of Cinny. Just as an FYI, a lot of guys go back and forth in the assistant ranks... less so as coordinator and head coaches. Also, didn't Taylor have an "in" with coaching? He married Mike Sherman's daughter and was on his staff. Perhaps he was on staff first and met his daughter that way though. Yeah...not sure there. Taylor did start as a GA on A&Ms staff. With Sherman's being much more of a NFL guy with probably more connections there, it's not too surprising as to why Taylor was able to make the leap to the NFL.

A quick Wiki search shows that Taylor is 9 years younger than Frost (32 v 41). It's an interesting discussion of kinda who would you rather bet on. I think it's pretty clear that Taylor is much further along coaching career-wise than Frost was at age 32. I don't follow coaching at all so I'm not sure how unusual it is for a guy to go from the NFL to college. To me, it would seem like once you get into the NFL you'd want to stay there. That being said, if you want to become a HC, it's far easier to do that in the college ranks and he's doing the right thing but going the coordinator route. I've always like Zac Taylor, he was one tough SOB and took some helacious hits.

How many upperclassmen were at DE this year? Across the whole DL? Of those, who were non contributors? I think you're estimate that 3-4 "noncontributors" across 2 classes is too many, especially counting JUCO guys, is too low to be realistic. I took this data from the UNL website.... Jr/Sr DEs: Dzuris Gangwish Keels McMullen Jr/Sr DTs: Collins VV Maurice Kevin Williams Logan Rath Givens Price***Yes, he's a Sr but he also switched positions his last year so I'm not sure it's fair to include him You also have Garrett Johns who is a Jr but listed as a DL. I think you can say the only guys who would be considered non-contributors are Keels and Rath. The thing that really stood out to me was the lack of Sophomores on the DL depth chart. AJ Natter Erik Evans Joel Lopez Seriously, that's it. 3 Sophs listed.

Ehhh, video seems like a non story in my opinion but it makes sense given Kelly's reputation. I'm not sure having Cris Carter as a mentor if I'm a Philly WR is the best thing ever if you catch my drift.

WowSo, your answer is "worse", it makes you feel worse. Got it. Yes. Worse. Forgot to state the obvious. Have there been lots of people feeling better about our season due to the MSU and Iowa bowl results?Didn't think so...... unless they are simply deluding themselves and desperately trying to put a positive spin on things. See RADAR. I haven't. Has he been banned? He's done. One too many times calling our players stupid.RADAR!!!! For me, I felt better and here is why...I think MSU takes a step back and I think Iowa takes 2-3 steps back, even though Wisconsin won, they lost their DC and I think they take a step back, I think PSU continues to flounder and in the end I think the top 3 teams are OSU, Michigan and NU... So, even though JJ felt I was trolling, I was not. NU is top 3 in the Big Ten and in my book, odds on favorite to win the west next year. So that is why I asked it JJ, you asked how anyone could feel better? That's how. Until MSU shows that they've taken a step back, I think you have to put them above NU. Yes, I realize that we've been able to hang with MSU but from a national perspective, MSU dwarfs NU and it's not even really close. The one thing I can't figure out is how the heck MSU keeps putting QBs in the NFL. I remember reading something that said MSU has the most starting QBs in the NFL right now (or QBs that have started a NFL game). And they've got another one with Cook. Crazy!!

Yeah, I don't understand the conference loyalty thing either. That being said, It does make sense for teams from non Power 5 conferences to root for their fellow conference members when it benefits them. Now, I have no idea what the bowl shares look like but I'm sure when Boise State and Utah where making BCS games it helped out teams from the MWC. That extra money can come in real handy if you don't have a big cash cow football team that can cram in 50k plus for home games.

Don't get me wrong, I hate all teams that aren't Nebraska. But when it comes to Non-conference and Bowl games, I am wanting our conference sisters to win. Why? Lets look at last year when Ohio State was being considered for the play-offs. Everyone was saying that they played a weak conference and shouldn't be in the play-offs. If it wasn't for the Big 12 Fiasco and had they picked the right team for the their champion, I believe Ohio State would have been out of the play-offs and this year they would be saying we are still weak. I read an article from ESPN that the author thought that the B1G was going to be the next Conference to take control because of last years bowl games outcomes. Now with this year coming to a close, we have Iowa, Mich St and NW that are blow-outs. This is looking bad for next year. Lets just say Nebraska does go win and are considered for the play-offs. If we as a conference look weak, we won't be considered if we are head to head with another team from a different conference. You simply cannot look at Nebraska's field, you must look at the grand schemes of things to plan for Nebraska's future. I follow where you're going here but I can't agree with you 100%. I think the BIG is going to have some built up caché from Ohio State winning the NC last year for at least a couple more years. Where I'm going w/ this is the I think the BIG will be looked at as a top 4 league unless something drastic happens. All things considered equal, I think you have to assume that an undefeated or one loss BIG team has a really good shot at getting in to the playoff. I could see some unlikely scenarios but by and large if you win the BIG you're beating one of the big boys (tOSU, UM, MSU) to get there and most likely, one of those teams is going to be undefeated or have one loss. Sorry, I got a little wordy there.

And it has been for a long time. That's what's so puzzling about the last 15 years. It's like our entire football program has completely missed the boat on recruiting... and the boat has sailed. Alabama and Ohio State have seen the wisdom of great recruiting and great coaching... and they've made the best of it... While we've stood flat footed... made excuses... and just watched. There is still time to build a jet boat and name it 'Suck My Wake'....JET BOAT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvYtbd7YE3

That's gonna leave a mark. Wiskys scheme with better speed....... Agreed. There will obviously be some growing pains in year one but speed covers up a whole lotta deficiencies.

Not quite sure if this is the appropriate thead for this so mods feel free to move if necessary, this seems to be a catch all thread for the BIG bowl games. Anyway, huge loss for Whisky IMO. Dave Aranda is a very salty DC. We'll see what kind of juice Cryst has as a HC to find a replacement. This is obviously good news for Nebraska. http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/14483390/lsu-tigers-hire-wisconsin-badgers-defensive-coordinator-dave-aranda-same-position

I'd be curious to see those stats as well. The only stats I could find were TO margin from 2008 to present. NU has been on the negative side of TO margin every year with the exception of 2009 (probably not a shocker there). I'll see if I can find some older stats. I seem to remember one year when NU had Alexander and Dahrran Diedrick @ RBs that every other carry seemed to turn into a fumble...especially with Alexander. I just figured it was because the dude's biceps were too big.

As for the topic on hand, I would want no part of Stanford or 'Bama but I do think that Nebraska could hang around if not beat UT. I know we've beat up on HC MR quite a bit in regards to his coaching but MR looks like TO combined with Barry Switzer compared to Butch freaking Jones. Seriously, he's probably cost UT 2-3 games this year with his boneheadedness.

Didn't Saban have a month to prepare last year getting ready for Ohio State? What about when Utah steamrolled them in 2008? Oklahoma in 2013? I didn't say a Saban team couldn't be beat. One of those game you mentioned was an Urban Meyer team who you sits with Nick Saban as #1 and #1a with the title "Best College football coach". Sabans 3 (perhaps going to 4) National TItles since 2009 shows some of what I am trying to say. And did you have anything to mention about the rest of the teams I mentioned? Kyle Whittingham was the coach for Utah when they beat Alabama in 2008. Urban was at UF in '08 and beat Alabama in the SEC CCG and they went on to beat OU for the MNC. The OU game was when Bama got beat by Auburn in the 'Kick 6' game earlier in the year. As much as I loathe defending Alabama, they just flat out didn't show up mentally and Trevor Knight shredded their defense. I'd be really curious to know what Saban's bowl record is in non-championship games since he's been at Bama. They really seem to have a 'championship or bust' mentality when it comes to the postseason...unless they're playing MSU. They've clobbered MSU the past two bowl games.

If Bama wins another NC you could persuade me although I'd believe it when I actually see it. Indy is about as good of a situation as you can ask for if you if you were looking at a potential NFL opening with a solid QB and a weak division to compete in. Plus, you don't have the immense expectations that come with being the HC at Alabama. I would fully expect that Saban will demand complete control (something he didn't have in Miami). I can't remember where I heard this, but he was lobbying pretty hard for Brees when he was a FA and ended up with Culpepper instead. Say that happens. Who is next coach at Bama!? I spent about 15 minutes thinking about this earlier today before I realized it was a futile exercise haha. You'd have to think a guy like Jimbo Fisher would be pretty high up on the list.

My only point of contention with your post is your last paragraph where you mention where our personnel is strongest. I could be wrong here but I thought it was pretty common knowledge that most felt the WR corp was far superior to what NU had at RB. I do agree that having a adequate running game is important but if you've got a bunch of studs @ WR then I think you have to get them the ball. It's going to be really interesting to watch this offense over the next couple years.

Honestly, I'm ok with either one of those ratios as long as we're winning. Give it some time and I think some of those 7 losses become wins sooner rather than later.I should hope Purdue isn't ever a loss again. But that said, will people be content with 3 to 4 losses a season? All of the BOlievers were apparently content with it. Had a conversation with one of the relatives tonight who still wishes we had Bo. I asked him why, and the response was well the team never gave up on him. My response was the big ten title game vs Wisky or last year vs Wisky. He merely said that it wasn't bad coaching that it was just superior players. Once again I asked how could a walk on from GI be the back up QB for this team. His response well that's not the coaches fault. I find myself having conversations with people like this more often then I'd like to. Not sure if they will ever get it. Did he ask you about the 4 backup QBs + 1 starter on UNLs National Championship teams? 1970 - Van Brownson: Shenandoah, Ia. 1971 - Steve Runty: Ogallala, Nebraska 1994 - Matt Turman: Wahoo, Nebraska 1995 - Brook Berringer: Goodland KS 1997 - Scott Frost(STARTER): Wood River, Nebraska But I suppose you're not a Devaney or Osborne supporter either. Not always where you're from, it's how you party when you get there. How many of those guys threw 4 INTs in a game? To compare Ryker with those last two guys is pretty laughable. Love the story but I doubt he'd be starting for many D-1 schools Nor is he at Nebraska. Where are you trying to go with this? That the lack of depth we have at some positions is just maddening This is true. When it's next man up do we really want to call on Ryker again? Ryker completed 60% of his passes after you account for interceptions, dropped balls, and near interceptions. This kid could be a fantastic pocket passer if he made better decisions with the ball but until then, I hope he only gets mop up duty.Huh? Anyway, 4 scholarship QBs of 3 stars or better. NU has (had?) good depth at QB. Maybe not for Langs system though. But who could have expected to recruit for a guy who likes to throw 35 to 40 times a game. ANY quarterback should be able to consistently make all the throws. Throwing is an integral part of the position so why were we recruiting substandard passing quarterbacks? Houston had a 185lbs converted WR playing QB this year. Think he "can make all the throws"? That's not quite fair, Ward Jr was a QB in HS and has played QB in all 3 years he was UH. It's not like he made the switch to QB this year or anything. I see your point though.

If Bama wins another NC you could persuade me although I'd believe it when I actually see it. Indy is about as good of a situation as you can ask for if you if you were looking at a potential NFL opening with a solid QB and a weak division to compete in. Plus, you don't have the immense expectations that come with being the HC at Alabama. I would fully expect that Saban will demand complete control (something he didn't have in Miami). I can't remember where I heard this, but he was lobbying pretty hard for Brees when he was a FA and ended up with Culpepper instead.

Anything that gets me more Bo Pelini meltdowns on my TV is relevant to my interests.

I could see Bray getting a DC job in a few years if he continues to show as well as he has been, Williams just seems like a "wideout" coach to me, and a damn good one at that..... Coach Thompson has also been impressive. Seems to have worked wonders for Cethan this year. Read has been among the most disappointing in my opinion. If you're going to use one of your full-time staff positions on a Special Teams Coordinator, then your ST's better be pretty damn good. Forgot about him. Carter is having a great year. Blocking, catching and as a runner. I would like to see the TE position develop so that we have several who can play at a higher level as opposed to a "catching" TE, a blocking TE etc.... So if we go to a heavy or jumbo set we actually have 2 threat... Agree w/ you there on the TEs. Gotta get some more depth. TE got clobbered by injuries it seems like this year. A well rounded TE is just a nightmare to defend as I feel like not too many college teams utilize the TE and even fewer have good ones that can stretch a defense. I think NU has one in Carter, dude is a hoss.

I want to live in a world where this happens. Oh it would be so, so, so, so glorious.

Supposed to be a pretty good recruiter. He was the DC for Clemson when WVU dropped a 70 burger on them a couple years ago. It seems like he's just cycling through the SEC.

I'm all for adding as much speed as possible but don't we essentially already have this guy's skillset with JD Spielman?

Full audio in the link Are you sure he said "wow" and not "Woo Hoo"? Hey look! It's the guy that told us that Josh Rosen was the best running QB Nebraska would see all year! Do you have any bowl picks that I can bet the opposite of?