HuskerTrucker

If Cotton is still the O-line coach, it will not get any better than it was the past few years, in fact, it may slide backwards some what....until he is replaced, I don't see Nebraska having an O-line that can protect anyone or open any holes for anyone below the stature of a Burkhead, who will get yardage on his own through his own talent. I also don't see us recruiting anyone that stands out, as any top recruit will look at the lack of improvement that this line has made since the days of Callahan, and decide it would be better to go elsewhere. Sorry, but that is how I see it. Bottom line: Cotton needs to go...one way or another.

They use this time to recruit...Cotton definitely needs to be looking for another job, being recruited at some Div II school as a head coach maybe, not recruiting. Who is he going to recruit when he can't say that he has improved that o-line at all over the past few years? If I was a top lineman, I darn sure would be looking to go somewhere where they are at least improving.

Ohio State #6? Really? Wisconsin drops to #19? Who is needing to put the crack pipe down now?

I think this may be a case of being short sighted and only seeing Husker Red, to be fair. David probably had the fact that he was a transfer held against him in some regards. He had a great year, did a good job last season. For that he will see his reward in the NFL, that I am sure of.

My answer to the thread question "Will Nebraska have it easy next year?" Probably not...not until Nebraska stops playing down to lessor opponents levels. I have more faith in them when they play a major contender than I do with playing a team that is supposed to be one we are using as a "tune up" for the conference schedule, or a team that is at the bottom of the conference. They seem to "get up" for the tougher games, and get very sloppy with the games that should be over by half-time. Over all, Nebraska's rankings nationally or in the B1G this year was not that impressive when you looked at them: 36th (Nat)/7th (B1G) Total Defense, Sacks 93rd/11th, Tackles for Loss 113th/11th, Rushing Defense 66th/8th, Total Offense 59th/4th, Passing efficiency 74th/11th, or Passing Offense 103th/10th. Those are not good numbers, even if we have more people returning than some other teams...we are still using the people that gave us these numbers. Why should we believe that they will get any better when they are ranked in the bottom half of all teams in the NCAA in quite a few of those numbers? I don't predict an easy season for Nebraska any time soon. I used to think it was just parity catching up to us, but after seeing an o-line that is like a replay of the one the season before for the last few years, with no improvement, and seeing a defense that has not played up to the Blackshirt tradition in many regards, I have come to have low expectations in the world of reality.

I welcome Bo taking over the DC, if he does, because I really believe he needs to be more hands on with the defense. This means he will have to leave the offense to those coaches...which I have mixed feelings about, because I really haven't seen much improvement in the last 3 years on the O-line, and something needs to change there before next season.

Very well deserved...he was one of the few that actually EARNED a Blackshirt this year.

2025 bowl lineup-- Bridgepoint Education Online Degree Scam Holiday Bowl Bell Helicopter Military Industrial Complex Bowl Capital One Predatory Lending Bowl Focus on the Family Homosexuality is a Curable Disease Bowl Taser International Compliance Bowl Hormel Dinty Moore Mechanically Separated Potted Meat Product Bowl Goldman Sachs Too Big to Fail Bowl Made in China Bowl When I was in high school in Missouri, we had the "Toilet Bowl" every year....lol. That was a long time ago....don't ask how long...really....it isn't necessary or relevant...

Uh...sorry, but one game does NOT make you an all time great team. Just sayin'....

Tell you what, I will support every other team's fans boycotting the bowls this year....but Husker fans are not going to lay down that easy...even in a so-so year. Expect to see a lot of Husker fans in Orlando...after all, it is a hell of a lot warmer down there than it is in Nebraska this time of year.

You mean this guy can't afford a limo? Give me a break...Suh...you can't drive worth crap. I am surprised the Lions head office isn't rewriting his contract and stipulating that he can't drive. It is already probably in there under not being able to do dangerous or high risk stuff....and driving is definitely high risk for this guy. I guess he can afford the insurance...unfortunately.

They are good lately, but in the long term range of thinking....what else have they ever really done on a national level?

That is a real problem at Nebraska. To do that, we seem to always need to be well in control of the game, which very rarely happens anymore. Which leaves us the following season with no players that have that much game experience, and back-ups that have none. According to a few on this board, we never have played more than maybe 8 guys total on the line during the season, which I argue is false. I remember when Osborne was HC, there were plenty of times when we were playing 3d and 4th string players in the 2nd half, and still scoring...because we had control of the game by then. Seems like what happens now is we wait until the 2nd half to make the necessary adjustments just to barely win the game...

Hope it is not Carnes, he is a helluva lot better QB than Martinez will ever be.

As of now, the recruiting (or should I say the results of the recruiting) at Nebraska has not been that impressive in some areas such as the O-line, and evidently even at QB if we don't have a recruited QB that is any better than Martinez (who I dare say has the worst mechanics as a QB of any starting QB in the NCAA and only gets by with his athletic ability). Also, the defense is not where they should be by a long shot either. Where are those tackles for loss? There is reason to worry, but not because Michigan or Ohio State is going to do anything that could kill our recruiting. I am beginning to wonder if the coaching staff at Nebraska even knows how to truly evaluate talent when it comes to recruiting. Either that, or there are problems with the coaching staff in the instruction area...which I have long advocated was the case especially on the O-line with Cotton being at the helm.

Bo isn't going anywhere. These are nothing more than rumors started by people that have nothing better to do. First of all, Bo has not proven that he can bring Nebraska back to prominence - so I highly doubt that any other school, especially big name schools, would be interested in this "experiment" at their school. IF he was interviewed by Ohio State, it was probably extended through nothing more than as a courtesy to him as an alumni. I don't think they would be seriously thinking of offering him the job when he hasn't done anything at Nebraska as a head coach yet.

Think Martinez and the O-line along with the defense as a whole are getting too high of marks. And the offense was ranked 58th. Martinez has a lot of heart, and athletic ability, but when it comes to mechanics...he is very lacking. Those may have been developed more if there was actually a line to protect him better (passing offense is 10th in the B1G - a conference that is supposed to be a rushing conference, and 104th in the country). As far as the running backs go, again if there were holes opened up maybe someone other than Burkhead could get through them. Somewhere there should be some pretty low grades with these statistics. This defense is ranked 7th in the B1G, and 36th in the country. It is ranked last in tackles for loss in the B1G, and 114th in the country. That says something right there...and is indicative that there shouldn't be a lot of grades given that are C or better. Hardly what you would expect from real Blackshirts. My feelings are that they gave them out prematurely, out of some sort of obligation. This is what is wrong handing them out to the unit rather than individuals...this was NO Blackshirt unit if you look at the numbers. We have a long ways to go before this team is where it needs to be to win the B1G or a National Championship. http://web1.ncaa.org...ar=2011&week=13 Numbers don't lie.

One way or another, Cotton has to be gone if this team is going to get any better. He has proven that he cannot improve the offensive line. We are no better than when BC was here. Time to go, Barney, sorry....thank you for your service.

Kansas us screwing themselves. Any potential hire is going to take notice that they only gave him 2 years to turn the program around before giving him the boot. If I were them, I would demand a HUGE severance package in the event that they were fired before the end of the 4th season to protect themselves.

There is another issue, under Osborne backups would be getting some game experience. That isn't happening either, because we can't get a decent lead on anyone. This O-line was sad at the beginning of the season when there were no injuries. That is just an excuse. If a guy is that hurt, shouldn't there be someone behind him that has a clue?

Why is it that Burkhead is the only back that can get past the O-line? I say it is solely due to his talent. The O-line darn sure isn't opening any holes for anyone else, are they? Who is going to be there to do that when Burkhead is gone? I don't see anyone. Then what will the excuse be? Face it, this O-line is not good. And I think it is a result of bad or no coaching. Cotton needs to go. This O-line is no better than when Bo came in. It is like we are watching the Callahan era O-line, which was totally dismal.

Everything I have read or heard points to the Outback. But I also know that there will be a lot of last minute politics involved in it.

This don't sound like the same Bo as when he was hired. Accepting a 9-3 season? Not winning your division? Not winning the B1G? This is all acceptable? If that is the case, I have a serious case of buyers remorse, because this isn't what I thought we were buying into. These are now Bo's players, Bo's coaches...what are we waiting for now? Having a Defense that is ranked 42nd in the country? Really? This is the Blackshirts? Really? And if you look at the depth charts for next year...it don't look any better at all. Realistically, there is a lot more work to be done. Everyone knows that. But we do have to see progress. And there are area's where I feel like I am looking at where we were last year, or the year before...like the O-line. They act like they just don't get it, until towards the end of the year, then they seem to clue in. This year they still don't look like they "get it", or they just don't have the ability to do the job of opening holes. Burkhead seems to be the only back that can get past the line. Is that because they are opening holes only for him, or is it a result of HIS abilities? I say the latter. There are plenty of other areas that are coming up short also. But the O-line is a huge one, and I think it is because Cotton don't have a clue himself. If I were going to get rid of any coach, it would be him. He just isn't cutting it. There is NO improvement from when Callahan was here. It is like there is no coaching going on, they just show up on Saturday. I know I sound harsh...but I am calling it like I see it.

The change has been more mental than anything.

I don't think it is time to get rid of Bo yet, but I do think that there are some coaching changes that need to be made. This team is not progressing, the o-line has not gotten better over the last 2 years, the running game is based solely on the raw ability of Taylor and Burkhead. The defense has times when it looks adequate to good, and then it has moments that they look worse than any defense we have had since BC. There is only 3-4 players on this defense that should be wearing a blackshirt, if that. Ranking as the 7th best defense in the B10 is a disgrace, as is being ranked as the 42nd best in the country for total defense, and 109th for TFL's (last in the B10) - sorry, but that isn't being a blackshirt. This team barely gets more yards on offense than it gives up, which is not acceptable (391 to 358 yds per game) and unlike any successful Husker team of the past. Bo is supposed to know defense...where is it? These numbers are cold hard facts, not the rantings and ravings of fans that are irrational. We have gone from being seen as a dominant team to an average team since Osborne retired, no thanks to Bill Callahan, but the recovery under Bo has seemingly come to a stand still, or even taken a small step backwards. Looking at the projected depth charts for next season gives nobody cause for real hope that we will do any better, if Burkhead goes down there has been no backs that show very much promise, and Martinez has not improved his mechanics very much at all and will most likely remain a QB that is either real hot or cold, if he wins the starting spot next year, which is not a given and will leave us if he doesn't with a QB with really no game experience. There is reason to worry. It isn't panic time yet, and for most programs having a potential 3 loss season would be a successful season - but this isn't most programs, we have higher standards and are not willing to let those standards slide. That is a problem, especially for those that think there is supposed to be some kind of parity in the NCAA that should make everyone equal. Something has to give, and I don't think the die hard fans that have high expectations are willing to give. So if there aren't some seen improvement with this team between now and the end of next season, expect the cracks to open and someone to fall in.