Callahan/Pelini Recruits

[melscott62]

Class of 2008 are all Pelini's guys. Everyone that wanted off the train, got off, and those that Pelini didn't want were asked to consider other options. Granted, he didn't recruit them for a full year, but what was left were guys that he wanted here.

 

 

sort of.... they are his guys, but he didnt have a lot of time either. its not like he could have shown a lot of cally's recruits the door either.

[DJR313]

Class of 2008 are all Pelini's guys. Everyone that wanted off the train, got off, and those that Pelini didn't want were asked to consider other options. Granted, he didn't recruit them for a full year, but what was left were guys that he wanted here.

 

 

sort of.... they are his guys, but he didnt have a lot of time either. its not like he could have shown a lot of cally's recruits the door either.

 

But he still did. There were decommits after Pelini was hired. He may not have told the kids they were no longer being recruited, but he maybe laid out a plan for them of what he expected and showed them where the door was if they didn't like it. They made a pretty big push to keep Compton on board as well as Josh Williams and Cameron Meredith.

[robsker]

I think we might see more younger players coming in and playing right away. Remember the kids who were recruited by BC and Company were picked to run Coz's crappy defense. Maybe Bo has been able to work with these guys and make them into the players he needs for his system. Only time will tell though!

 

 

First off recruits are not "picked to run a certain defense." In fact, unless you are USC, or Texas or Florida (and, to a lesser extent Michigan, LSU, Georgia, Ohio State) you do not "pick" any recruits --- you simply settle for what you get --- the recruit picks you. At USC everyone wants in and the coaches actually hand pick who to accept and who not to accept. When you are Nebraska (the 2004-current version) you do not pick. Instead you hope against hope that the players you want will accept you. Overwhelmingly that is not the case. So... you take who you can get. The current NU roster is filled with players that USC, LSU, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Texas, Florida and a group on another say 7-8 schools would not accept. Now, true we have a few players that these programs would entertain but overwhelmingly we were not competing for these guys against the big dogs (Callahan was famous for "appearing" to compete against the big dogs --- in that he courted many who were looking at the big programs and at NU --- but almost all went elsewhere in the end).

 

The bottom line is not that the vast majority of the defense was recruited to play the Cosgrove defense --- rather, the vast majority of the roster consists of guys that are simply the level of players that 2nd and 3rd teir programs (like NU) can get to sign. That is, it is not an issue of not fitting well our specific defense --- it is an issue of simple athleticism --- our guys are nowhere near (as a whole) the caliber of athlete to compete with teir one talent the likes of which resides at the top 20 or so current programs.

 

Will there be a major turn around? I think not. A turn around yes. Once the penalties and the mental errors are eliminated the defense will improve --- likely by a good deal. But a major turn around happens only when the LB'ers are all fast, strong and quick (like those athletes at the top 20 teams) and when the DL and OL are strong, explosive, and skilled (like those at the top 20). It is when we have safeties and skill position players that are fast, quick and strong. Right now, our athletes, relative to the top tier (and even the 2nd tier) are not able to, physically speaking, compete. That will not change much next year,

[melscott62]

I think we might see more younger players coming in and playing right away. Remember the kids who were recruited by BC and Company were picked to run Coz's crappy defense. Maybe Bo has been able to work with these guys and make them into the players he needs for his system. Only time will tell though!

 

 

First off recruits are not "picked to run a certain defense." In fact, unless you are USC, or Texas or Florida (and, to a lesser extent Michigan, LSU, Georgia, Ohio State) you do not "pick" any recruits --- you simply settle for what you get --- the recruit picks you. At USC everyone wants in and the coaches actually hand pick who to accept and who not to accept. When you are Nebraska (the 2004-current version) you do not pick. Instead you hope against hope that the players you want will accept you. Overwhelmingly that is not the case. So... you take who you can get. The current NU roster is filled with players that USC, LSU, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Texas, Florida and a group on another say 7-8 schools would not accept. Now, true we have a few players that these programs would entertain but overwhelmingly we were not competing for these guys against the big dogs (Callahan was famous for "appearing" to compete against the big dogs --- in that he courted many who were looking at the big programs and at NU --- but almost all went elsewhere in the end).

 

The bottom line is not that the vast majority of the defense was recruited to play the Cosgrove defense --- rather, the vast majority of the roster consists of guys that are simply the level of players that 2nd and 3rd teir programs (like NU) can get to sign. That is, it is not an issue of not fitting well our specific defense --- it is an issue of simple athleticism --- our guys are nowhere near (as a whole) the caliber of athlete to compete with teir one talent the likes of which resides at the top 20 or so current programs.

 

Will there be a major turn around? I think not. A turn around yes. Once the penalties and the mental errors are eliminated the defense will improve --- likely by a good deal. But a major turn around happens only when the LB'ers are all fast, strong and quick (like those athletes at the top 20 teams) and when the DL and OL are strong, explosive, and skilled (like those at the top 20). It is when we have safeties and skill position players that are fast, quick and strong. Right now, our athletes, relative to the top tier (and even the 2nd tier) are not able to, physically speaking, compete. That will not change much next year,

 

 

totally disagree. there are thousands of kids out there and the programs you mentioned only took a few hundred per year. that gives programs plenty of choices. cally normally went for "big" at the cost of speed.

[herbie4pres]

Guys we are in for the long haul.

 

It will take a few years for pelini in my opinion.

 

So sit back relax grab a beer and support Pelini over the next few years.

[huskerpilot]

if only I could fast forward a few years to see the success we will have I would be so much happier.

[robsker]

I think we might see more younger players coming in and playing right away. Remember the kids who were recruited by BC and Company were picked to run Coz's crappy defense. Maybe Bo has been able to work with these guys and make them into the players he needs for his system. Only time will tell though!

 

 

First off recruits are not "picked to run a certain defense." In fact, unless you are USC, or Texas or Florida (and, to a lesser extent Michigan, LSU, Georgia, Ohio State) you do not "pick" any recruits --- you simply settle for what you get --- the recruit picks you. At USC everyone wants in and the coaches actually hand pick who to accept and who not to accept. When you are Nebraska (the 2004-current version) you do not pick. Instead you hope against hope that the players you want will accept you. Overwhelmingly that is not the case. So... you take who you can get. The current NU roster is filled with players that USC, LSU, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Texas, Florida and a group on another say 7-8 schools would not accept. Now, true we have a few players that these programs would entertain but overwhelmingly we were not competing for these guys against the big dogs (Callahan was famous for "appearing" to compete against the big dogs --- in that he courted many who were looking at the big programs and at NU --- but almost all went elsewhere in the end).

 

The bottom line is not that the vast majority of the defense was recruited to play the Cosgrove defense --- rather, the vast majority of the roster consists of guys that are simply the level of players that 2nd and 3rd teir programs (like NU) can get to sign. That is, it is not an issue of not fitting well our specific defense --- it is an issue of simple athleticism --- our guys are nowhere near (as a whole) the caliber of athlete to compete with teir one talent the likes of which resides at the top 20 or so current programs.

 

Will there be a major turn around? I think not. A turn around yes. Once the penalties and the mental errors are eliminated the defense will improve --- likely by a good deal. But a major turn around happens only when the LB'ers are all fast, strong and quick (like those athletes at the top 20 teams) and when the DL and OL are strong, explosive, and skilled (like those at the top 20). It is when we have safeties and skill position players that are fast, quick and strong. Right now, our athletes, relative to the top tier (and even the 2nd tier) are not able to, physically speaking, compete. That will not change much next year,

 

 

totally disagree. there are thousands of kids out there and the programs you mentioned only took a few hundred per year. that gives programs plenty of choices. cally normally went for "big" at the cost of speed.

 

Mel --- quite often we tend to agree --- I guess not on this one. I still contend that the fast fluid athletes that we would love to have had signed up and have arrive on campus simply chose to go elsewhere and we were left with those that would sign (those that were not as fast, fluid, or skilled and who were not given better options). That is, Callahan signed the best people that were willing to sign. It is just that the top athletes were given better options (as they perceived it) and went to other programs. NU got what was left. I am sure that Callahan wanted better athletes --- he simply could not compel them to come (or, at least, not enough of them relative to the leaders nationally or in our conference).

 

The only hope for our (NU) being able to compel top athletes to sign in the future is if NU really over achieves now on the field and shows some great heart in the process and Bo is looked upon with favor. So far, NU has not over-achieved. Some heart has been shown. Bo may appeal to some. His swearing and yelling and the like may turn others off. Who knows. But until NU does something notable on the field by beating not one but a couple of teams they should not beat and then great public relations re: our coaches is out there to be seen --- well.... expect that the recruiting classes will remain primarily tier 2 and tier three-type guys (with a few tier 1 guys) --- that is all we will be able to attract. So.... we are in for the long haul until we start upsetting teams that are ranked.

[huzkerbob]

if only I could fast forward a few years to see the success we will have I would be so much happier.

 

I think I saw a Twilight Zone episode like that. Don't remember exactly, but I'm pretty sure it didn't end well!

[Alex 4.0]

I honestly think that we do have some players on this team. I'm in the camp that they just haven't had enough time to correct their bad habits and get completely comfortable with what they are doing. Prince, Blue, Thenarse, Hagg... they are all really athletic guys, that could wind up being studs.

[robsker]

I honestly think that we do have some players on this team. I'm in the camp that they just haven't had enough time to correct their bad habits and get completely comfortable with what they are doing. Prince, Blue, Thenarse, Hagg... they are all really athletic guys, that could wind up being studs.

I agree too. It is just that we have, and I am guessing here, perhaps 10 or so really athletic guys on the squad (guys who could be on say a Florida, Michigan, or Ohio State, and perhaps 2-3 guys who might fit in at a USC --- but that is a small subset of the players we have. We have many starters that would not make the three deep at Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, USC, etc. In fact, likely fewer than 3 of our 22 starters would start on any of the teams I mentioned (and at USC or Texas likely not one of our starters would start).

 

So, sure we have some fine athletes --- just many fewer than the top 20 or so programs in the nation. And fewer than at least 5 or so programs in our own conference. It is not that we don't have athletes. It is just that we do not have many compared to our competition.

[junior4949]

I think we have the athletes. It's just that we loaded up certain positions with all the athletes while ignoring other positions. O'Hanlon probably wouldn't even crack the 3 deep on any top 50 teams. Didn't we have like 7 QB's or some rediculous number like that on scholly a couple years ago?