Husker_x

Every season we come to the same place with this coach. I do not believe he has come CLOSE to maximizing the potential of the staff––meaning hires. When given the chance, he takes the easy way out each and every time. He coaches a mentally weak team. Is there any other explanation besides learned behavior from the example set on the sideline?

LOL. Wasn't he one of the "Don't underestimate Tim Beck" cheerleaders who balked at any skepticism when he was hired? Oh well. Bygones be bygones. For anyone yet to join us in reality, there is no more rope for this staff. If Bo wants another uninspired season in front of a hostile fanbase, at the very least it's housecleaning time on that worthless staff to grant him the privilege. He could have hired a team of fratboys with "How to Coach LittleLeague" pamphlets––which is what this looks like in the offseason as well––and the results could not have been this disastrous. If Bo gets another year based off the W/L record, it's hard to argue the AD made the wrong call. But let's just be real clear about what this means: this team, basically identical, except for Ameer Abdullah.

We deserve no respect. None. We are one of the softest teams in the nation. Our coaching staff is a joke––an absolute joke from the head man to grad assistants. In an age where there is no margin for error in college football, we cannot afford to make TV audiences across the nation laugh at our product. In a fair world there would be no contract buyouts. As it is, I cannot imagine what Pelini has left to sell recruits for year 8, or what he would do with them if he were given a chance to coach them.

This was the one thing that COULD NOT HAPPEN this season if this coaching staff wanted to retain an ounce of credibility. To quote Ameer: "It's not good enough."

If you want to stop blowouts, bring a defense. Instead we have Pelini and company.

Oh, but didn't you read the offseason puff pieces in the LJS and OWH about how they did an exhaustive review of the program and completely retooled everything?

This feels like the end of a long, sad saga.

Fortunately (or unfortunately, I should say) this is a question with a correct and an incorrect answer. It's not even debatable. Link

I like our defense. Put it that way.

He won . . . so it must be going well? We will see in 2 years when Kansas is broke - they (Koch brothers, the real power behind the throne) will have to raise taxes on themselves (not going to happen) or fire half of the teachers. I'm re-upping my Nebraska teaching certificate. No way . . . tax cuts = prosperity. Everyone knows this. Just wait a little longer. Double down on trickle down! The only thing trickling down is piss down the collective leg of Kansas as it looks to go the way of a third-world country.

I'm not sure Ted Cruz is even an idiot. I'm fairly convinced he's a sociopath.

If I had to guess what might possibly keep a guy with this much potential around here for one more season, it would be simple: his boys. Assuming he has any and they're close. One thing I find interesting about this whole conjecture-fest is that it seems like very little is known about the personality of Gregory. Does anyone know him or what he's like? Ever interacted with him? Why did he come here in the first place, and how does he fit in in the locker room? I never sensed he was a vocal team leader, but he doesn't have to be, and no one appears bent on making him fill that role against his wishes. On the field he just looks like a dude going about his business, not much caring about what's going on around him.

I think some people are too quick to take the human element out of it, possibly because Gregory seems like a loner FU type on the field. However, as much financial sense as it would make to go pro, there is a small––more like microscopic––chance that Gregory just enjoys his life right now, realizes that one year is not that long a wait and that the risks of staying are not that high (or consequential) at his position, and makes a choice based on who he is, not cashing a paycheck. Life is short whether you go to the NFL or not. Not everyone gets another shot to be the central piece of a MONSTER defensive line, deep and talented as they come, at a tradition-rich school. Probably he goes, but I'm not ready to give away his jersey # just yet.

That's all well and good, but high school players often find new positions in D-1 college football and the star system takes into account very little; for instance, it doesn't pair star level with intended offensive system. This definitely isn't me going to bat for Beck or our system. As a personal preference, I prefer Wisconsin-style power running better than our jack-of-all-trades whatever it is. But yeah, we are due for some upgrades in the next year or two.

One thought that snags me while watching Nebraska play is that although we run the ball an awful lot, it seems like Tim Beck does not really get the value of the run game. It's like in his mind, it takes too long. It's too predictable. The defense can just load the box and stop it because they know what's coming. Oh no, we'll have to punt a few times. You have to look at it more holistically. We're a defensive team. The run game, executed smartly, is a gift that keeps on giving. It's dependable (unlike our passing game). It offers variety. It bleeds clock––the master of the game––wears down the opposing defense, neutralizes the opposing offense; meanwhile, it lets your defense rest and adjust and if nothing else sets up field position. Between the defense and special teams (which has been winning the field position battle and scoring points all season) you don't have to dial up complicated downfield passing plays, especially when Purdue showed weakness against the option. (Here I recall Osborne saying that in his offense, an option was like a pass play.) I'm not calling for heads or anything, and I'm more than happy to listen to any explanation of why what Beck is doing is obviously the best thing to do, but I'll leave it at this: I don't understand Tim Beck. I never have. I suspect I never will. I don't understand his system or why he tries to randomly alternate between every conceivable play type when his team can't reliably execute the snap. We all know what Armstrong is and what he's best suited to do. Beck either doesn't see it or won't accept it; he certainly is not game planning to the strengths of his personnel, and as talented as Nebraska is (partial credit to Beck for that), we are not talented enough to play like we did yesterday and roll through the rest of our schedule.

Very. I hope we don't stop bringing the pressure. We really have a pick your poison special teams right now––something we haven't had in a long time. Either you kick it to Pierson-El (a heart attack waiting to happen), surrender yardage by trying to kick it out of bounds, or possibly watch your punter get destroyed before he's kicked anything anywhere. We're already really good in the STs department. I hope in the offseason we continue to build and polish a freakish punt blocking unit to go with the best punt returner in the college game.

The O-line is a hard group to judge without the credentials and technical know-how to understand what you're seeing every down. It does seem pretty clear we could use a talent upgrade at center. Until then, settle on one and stop messing with the rotation. The last thing we need to do with an offense that can't reliably execute a snap in Week 10 is keep meddling with the chemistry. This season we are stuck with what we have. This bi-week is our last chance to make any meaningful long-term adjustments to the personnel before we play the last and most important leg of the year. Looking ahead, our recruiting has been fine. We have a lot of promising talent on the roster and more on the way. Scheme is my biggest concern, which goes to coaching. When you have 4th and Goal from the half-inch line and you're in shotgun, it sort of obviates that whole "people who criticize Beck think they're smarter than Beck" argument, because you don't have to be smart to know THOU SHALT NOT DO THAT.

The line is almost too stupid to be believed. What, is implying that fans should not celebrate wins? Should we stare blank-faced at the field when they turn a first-half circus into a crushing win in the second? I like when my team wins. It makes me feel all good inside. Even better when the team in question has either beaten or nearly beaten the Skers three years running. Shatel, wake up, man.

I'm sorry, but Ameer is doing nothing. Do we have no one else?

We'll see how the game goes, but the first-half autopsy alone is enough to drive you to the bottle.

Unbelievable.

Good to know we have a freshman stud of our own.