NoLongerN

To me it doesn't really matter. Each week we only seem to have one aspect of our team that plays well. We are about a #10 ranked team, 5-6 down the line of one lost teams. In the end ... we have to win out to stay in the top 10 and the Texas A&M game and probably Oklahoma St. games are both gonna be tough ... and I'm not looking past the Buffs. Even if we win all those we play a really sad matchup verses Pittsburg ... am I suppose to be upset about this ranking or the results of winning out the rest of the season? SheepdogMark

Enjoyed all the input to my input. Great insight and discussion. SheepdogMark

Welcome to the board! Looking forward to the rivalry. We got away with one in 97. I was at that Mizzou game ... amazing, lucky ... and we should have lost the game and no championship that year. All the best, SheepdogMark

I'm in Dallas as well. Welcome to the board. SheepdogMark

I see your point. But... we do have returning for next year at the LB position Lavonte David (a junior next year), Will Compton (Jr), Sean Fisher(Jr or maybe a sophomore --- not sure), Alonzo Whaley (Jr) and we have David Santos coming in --- and Harvey Jackson is coming off a redshirt and is thought to be either a S or LB --- and another possibility is that redshirt (and supposed superstar) Corey Cooper will play a hybrid LBer. So... we have some talent. Now at DE we return Meredith --- who is excellent already and will only get better -- he'll be a junior. Then.... well... Jason Ankrah and Josh Williams --- both to be sophomores --- each have seen time this season and have not been noticeable in their play (of course they have been in spot duty and are young so that they have not stood out is not, necessarily a bad or unexpected thing). We have Donovan Vestal, Tobi Okiyemi and Walker Ashburn coming off redshirt (none of whom were major recruits --- each may be good to great, who knows... but none were major recruits nationally). So... we return 4 seasoned LBers --- namely David, Compton, Fisher and Whaley --- all know the system and have ample experience (plus there are guys like Holt and May --- walk-ons who have also seen fairly extensive time). At defensive end... we really return only one seasoned player... Meredith. Now Ankrah and Williams have some (albeit very, very little) experience --- but nowhere near enough to be called "seasoned.". So... we are perhaps more thin at DE than we are at LBer. Plus... Martin may make a beast of a DE. Final point... if Carl Pelini says we'll be pleased with this move then.... I full well expect that this will be a great move. Thanks for the input Robsker! Well, if anything it points to needing to land a top LB recruit this year and several more the next year. Personally, I think the "peso" and this quick defensive scheme has some weakness to a hard nose team that has a good OL and a solid run game ... something I think some of the Big 10 teams do well. I see some long sustained drives happening on us until we have LB's that can close the holes opened up on the defensive line front. I just don't see these quick DB's stopping the run as effectively as a LB. I certainly don't question this scheme or my coaches ... it's just an observation that I'm sure Bo and company see. I expect some solid recruiting in the LB area in the coming years. SheepdogMark

I thought we were weak at LB, so this one really surprised me. So what is the depth at LB?

I guess he is a 4 star and in our forum ... but more info posted here in this thread on him than here ... Huskerboard Link SheepdogMark

Still think this was a huge miss. Today the news is that Heard didn't make grades again. I look at missing on Standard as similiar to missing out on Griffin the Baylor QB. We had so much focus on Gabbert and a 5-star QB recruit we didn't focus on Griffin much. As it turned out, we didn't even get Gabbert and Griffin has been a stud on an average Baylor team that has now added some other parts. Talk about being stacked at QB if we had him ... wow. On our end, we have been so focused on Aaron Green it seems to me we missed on a great player who wanted to be N. I'll look with interest who we look to add to add depth at RB in this class, if any. Who knows, maybe with Malcom Brown dropping in ranking he will decide to leave TX and come be with his buddy Aaron. :-) SheepdogMark

With Heard's grades issue I'm curious if we try to reel in a power back or more an all-purpose back like this kid. SheepdogMark

I would think we would open up recruiting with someone else. Still love to get Standard personally, a ISU commt. SheepdogMark

The kids name is A.J. Klein, A.J., LB 6-1 234 So (1V) Kimberly, WI (Kimberly HS) He was a *** star recruit from Wisconsin I believe. Here's a good article on the game as well from ... CornNation I think an aspect of this vicious tearing of the helmet is that in all reality, Burkhead is playing the QB position in the play. SheepdogMark

If we were to run he table ... IF ... it sure would be a lamo bowl to play Pitt. I'd look back at the TX game with even more regret. You'd go from a chance at a National Championship to playing Pitt ... how sad. Hopefully, we run the table and something else changes. SheepdogMark

is mike leach still looking for a job? I think Leach would be a beast there. I was just hoping for Hawkins to last and maybe we could put last thumpin' on him and Colorado ... would love that. SheepdogMark

I agree.

Standard was and is my guy for that spot ... who is now an Iowa State commit. SheepdogMark

I think you know to much. :-) SheepdogMark

To me, it's fair to mention the names Niles Paul. That was big, key and a crucial time ... he heightened the momentum to the Cyclones big time. Although I do agree with the thinking in this thread as well. Lots of mistakes on our part and I'll credit ISU for sure. SheepdogMark

HerkyKiller, welcome to the board. I've enjoyed all three of your posts. Your team has much to be proud of. I'm glad to see your Arnold and Robinson have solid games in their Senior year. Those Cyclones really could have had this one ... and took advantage of Niles Paul's mistake to make it a game. My hat is off to your Cyclones and your coach and players. They left it all on the field and I applaud going for the win and two. I respect that. Sadly, your post doesn't put the best slant on your team with your post. I don't know Bo Pelini personally so I couldn't speak to the "douchebag" comment ... thought that was out of line. With that ... I wish you "good riddance" in the future ... but not to the Cyclones. I did before the game and it grew throughtout the game and in the end ... wish I could say the same for you as a fan ... but I do understand your frustration. Hope you will come back next year for a fourth post ... oh wait ... we don't play you. Good luck in the Lil' 10 next year until it implodes. SheepdogMark

Can we just let Niles Paul graduate? My God, this kid just keeps killing us. Helping us win one game to lose two or three is just not a good ratio. Wow, he just legitimized Iowa State and now the whole season hinges on 10 minutes into the wind. This sucks. SheepdogMark

Wow ... Paul did it again. SheepdogMark

Nice field goal by Iowa State. I love the coach ... he doesn't have a lot of 4 star players and is helping his team play with passion. How can you not like that? SheepdogMark

Call went against it, but you can't overturn that based on what was called on the field. SheepdogMark

Things just seem to be setting up for Iowa State to pull off the upset. Wow. I'm surprized the way we are playing. There are no excuses including the wind. SheepdogMark

I don't understand what folks issue is with Beebe. He isn't saying you can't tackle using your head ... He would just prefer players to start tackling leading with their ass ... just like him. :-) SheepdogMark

Some other thoughts that I thought fit into this topic ... I follow our recruiting daily. One of the themes I've been reading lately is how we need to "ramp up" recruiting as we head into the Big 10. I'm puzzled by that comment. It seems that when we were in the Big 12, we always seemed to talk about how the Big 12 was better and stronger then the Big 10. Now, as we move into the Big 10 folks seem to say that we need to ramp up recruiting ... like we are heading into a tougher conference. I'm not saying that is true for me or that's my opinion ... it just seems puzzling. For me, each conference has strengths and weaknesses year in and out. Personally, the Big 12 is off this year a bit. I think the Big 10 gets a boast next year ... we are there ... the Lil' 10 also takes a hit ... we aren't there. Any thoughts others have on my post ... always enjoy getting other viewpoints. SheepdogMark