All Hail Herbie

What concerns me about the current team is not wins and losses, but the undisciplined play that continues to plague all three units (penalties / turnovers, etc.). These are correctable issues and the fact that they remain speaks to a foundational problem that will not be resolved by simply rotating personnel, shaking up the coaching staff, or bringing in new recruits. Combine the foundational problems with the initial hubris ("the Big Ten will need to adjust to us") or my favorite ("not even sure what those guys do" - when referring to special teams) and I am pessimistic about a turnaround any time soon.

To Goss: We are all armchair analysts to some degree, but there is simplicity to the game. What I am talking about is a complete loss of fundamentals with this team. Football is technique and repetition. Plain and simple. For example, for forty years we had a program where lineman spent 3 - 4 years on S&C and blocking technique. in exchange for this work, they were given 1 year to start and play. The system was not at all complicated, but the precision and excellence came from repetition of those basics. It seems we are increasingly enamored with 40 times, agility drills and 7 on 7 Passing Academies that we forget about the importance of the fundamentals (lining up properly, blocking without holding, or carrying the football). The coaches that succeed still understand this.

Very fundamental game. Block, tackle, avoid penalties and turnovers. If we could simply execute a "clean" game (absent turnovers / penalties) and of course prevent opposing punters from strolling for 1st Downs, I would be overjoyed. Through 4 coaching staffs, we have been unable to get out of our own way.

You simply affirmed my point regarding the effectiveness of the run game in a spread offense when a team has a long to intermediate passing game. That does not exist now. This means we need to change the math to create favorable numbers for the offense. Rather than 3 or 4 wide sets, scale down to 2 wide with an H-back (who motions and can block). This of course also assumes players can be coached to block without chopping or holding! Uncommon in Husker football these days.

At this stage, win or lose, I would settle for a "clean" performance on a Saturday (gameday and not practice anecdotes). No penalties and no turnovers. Make that the metric (and not the scoreboard) in this developmental year and than build from there. We have no reason to expect anything in the win column until those two issues are resolved. These issues have plagued 4 coaching staffs now.

Does a staff change mean hiring someone who can prevent an opposing punter from walking 15 yards for a 1st Down, teaching a Center how to snap a ball, or even prevent turnovers? Does that assistant get a "quality control" title? Again, I wish the problem was this simple to diagnose and solve.

I recognize that the topic is the run game, but where is the logic in running a spread system if there is no threat of a long or intermediate passing game? Running the ball out of a spread system is predicated on the need for defenders to cover "space". Without the threat of a passing game, the running game is limited as the numbers at the line of scrimmage favor the defense. If we are unable to throw the ball, we need to consider adding more blockers at the point of attack to create favorable numbers. This game is not very complicated. Our friends at ESPN and Sport Science would try to convince you otherwise.

I think we need to be honest with ourselves at this stage. Coach Frost is a fine coach and former player, and is dedicated to supporting our student athletes. However, he is attempting to fix something that has alluded his 3 predecessors, poor programmatic culture. It may just be more than he can handle. Moreover, his HC history leads me to believe that his 1 great season at UCF is the exception and not the norm. He might look to Luke Fickell as a model for his career. Ever loyal to OSU, but unable to deliver on that stage. Fickell is however a good coach at Cincinnati and well-respected in his profession. If an exit does come for Coach Frost at the end of this contract, let's hope it is mutual and done with respect.

Same response to a different topic (Let's Discuss). Lack of mental discipline that contributes to penalties and turnovers. I wish the issue were as acute as rotating in a new player, or changing play calling, but it is far more fundamental and team-wide. Create a program oriented around clean play execution and the wins will come. Let's also spare any further and tedious discussion of the "progress" being made at practice. A punter literally walked 15 yards for a first down on Saturday. This is a results business and the 2+ years body of work I have seen (with 34 years experience) leads me to believe that things will remain as they are for the foreseeable future. That said, I appreciate all that Coach Frost has done as a player, ambassador and coach for this University.

First, let me begin by saying that I have 34 years of experience watching this program. The difference between where this program is now, and where it was in the days where 9-3 (and a New Year's humiliation) was the standard is discipline. Discipline to not line up offsides, or commit repeated false starts, or fail to complete the quarterback / center exchange, or gulp, not fumble. Simply put, discipline to avoid penalties and turnovers. In those days, the 3 losses came as a result of NU coming up against superior athletes and / or coaches. Frustrating, but understandable. Recruiting or scheming will not fix this program, no matter who the coach is. Unfortunately, this program now has a culture of losing and complacency. That culture now permeates our execution of drives and plays. Very sad to watch such a proud program deteriorate like this. Bottom line: I thank Coach Frost for all he has done for our program, as a player, an ambassador, and a coach, but I do not think his body of work to date is indicative of future success. He will complete his contract (whether out of duty or an inability of the administration to go elsewhere), but I do not see progress where we need it, discipline.