Callahan's a LOSER

[NU fan in Denver]

But what about the offense?  Overall it's worse.  But I will give you that turnover thing.  As I was looking at last season's stats, I didn't remember how many interceptions we threw.  10 less turnovers through 8 games is a big improvement.  I just wish the offense could move the ball more.

Also, Cory Ross has a QB rating of 581.2 this year.  Maybe he should start under center this week.

Ross is the boss, most definitely. I wish we could move the ball more as well. Some stats from statfox:

 

Points for:

2004: 23.7

2005: 24.0

 

Points Against:

2004: 27.1

2005: 19.5

 

Turnovers per game:

2004: 3.0

2005: 2.2

 

Passing Completion percentage:

2004: 48%

2005: 54%

 

Field Goal Percentage:

2004: 50%

2005: 81%

 

Above the stats, this is what I have seen this season so far:

 

LeKevin Smith is starting to back up some of his smack and has had a good season so far(minus that fumble ).

 

Bo Ruud looked lost when he was in the game last year, this season he looks more comfortable and has made some plays.

 

Stew Bradley has come into his own, last season he was clearly feeling things out.

 

Carricker and Moore have stepped up their pass rush. They are playing very well. An upgrade over Crunk Juice.

 

Corey McKeon came, seemingly, out of nowhere and solidified a position that was a big question mark coming into the season. I like the way he plays ball.

 

Zack Bowman was expected to be an instant savior, but it has taken him time to adjust. He is now playing pretty well and improving each game.

 

Nate Swift has benefitted from a redshirt season and has become what the offense needs; a go to guy.

 

Zac Taylor is a tremendous upgrade over Dailey. I cannot stress that enough. Joe D. was afraid to take a hit and ran scared eventhough he was recruited as a running QB. Taylor doesn't shy away from contact and is tough as nails. Completion percentage has steadily gone up since the receivers started catching the ball more.

 

Cory Ross, what can you say, the guy is amazing when given the chance to make plays. I am a big fan of #4.

 

Fluellen's hands seem to be softer this season.

 

Todd Peterson came out of nowhere and is playing well.

 

Josh Mueller has played well as a pass blocker when given the opportunity.

 

Congdon is a huge upgrade over DeAngelis. The kid looks better and better every week.

 

Barry Turner is gonna be awesome!

 

Wali Muhammad is a great rush specialist.

 

Ola Dagundaro has provided quality depth.

 

About the only thing I see as worse from last season to this is the offensive line and the tight end play. Not having Herian has hurt the team.

 

The many improvements that I have listed above are the basis for my belief that Callahan is not a loser. Some choose to see the bad, I choose to look at the positives and everything that is improving here. I realize that last year at this point last season the team was 5-3 just the same as this team, but I have confidence that this team won't fold up like a card table like last year. We shall see, but the heart that was lacking last season is there this year.

Except your stats are wrong and biased. You can't compare a full season to 8/11ths of a season.

 

Last years team averaged 25 ppg

 

56

17

24

14

10

59

21

24

27

3

20

 

equals 275 / 11 = 25 ppg not 23.7 so this year isn't an improvement yet.

[Redman]

I said it before and ill say it again John Cooper was one of the best recruiters I have ever seen and he was a damn good motivator. I think he would have fit right in cmon lets dust him off and give him a shot.

 

Great post!!

 

As for the comment quoted, you are totally correct. However, I dont think that Cooper is a great coach by any means. Look at how he got handled by Michigan. Would he have been better than billy c, absolutely, but he is not a great HC.

There are few, it seems, that you feel would not be a better head coach that BC.

 

"Negation is the mind's first freedom, yet a negative habit is fruitful only so long as we exert ourselves to overcome it, adapt it to our needs; once acquired it can imprison us. " Emile M. Cioran

[DJR313]

Except your stats are wrong and biased.  You can't compare a full season to 8/11ths of a season. 

 

Last years team averaged 25 ppg

 

56

17

24

14

10

59

21

24

27

3

20

 

equals 275 / 11 = 25 ppg not 23.7 so this year isn't an improvement yet.

I just checked statfox and they had the score for WI-NU as 42-17, that explains the discrepancy because the score was actually 56-17. The stats are not "biased" because I have not misrepresented them to slant anyone's view. They are merely "incomplete" since the season is not over with. So the offense has averaged 1 point less and the defense has given up 8 points less SO FAR. Do you need further clarification of improvement based upon a partial season, or are you going to further nitpick a simple comparison made for debate's sake? I can go in and do a game-by-game analysis if you like. Care to even comment on the qualitative observations I have made about the team UP TO THIS POINT stating the numerous improvements?

[NU fan in Denver]

That is not nitpicking that is correcting false information. I just like to see accurate stats posted on this board for the integrity of the board.

 

I really can't argue that Fluellen's hards are softer, he has only caught 4 balls.

 

Le Kevin Smith is playing well, the whole D-line is playing well. That can be attributed to depth and more experience.

 

The LB core started off great, but have lost some of their luster sinse around the pitt, Iowa st. game.

 

Bowman is starting to play better. To big of expectations were placed on him when he had never played a down of D1 football. It looks like he has overtaken Green for the starting spot.

 

I agree ZT is an upgrade from JD. He makes better decisions, and is more accurate. I think part of the increased number of sacks this year can be attributed to the lack of mobility at qb. And of course the poor play of the oline.

 

Swift and Peterson are definately a pleasant surprise, though Peterson didn't show anything until the last 2 games. Hope he continues to be productive and has the ball thrown his way.

 

I love watching ross play and he has great potential. He doesn't receive enough toughes and some of the running plays he receives don't suite his ability. He need to get the ball more in open space.

 

Congdon is definately better, never thought DeAngelis should have been playing last year. I would like to see if he can make the 40-50 yarders. That is a major weapon when you can put points on the board when your drive stalls at the 30.

 

Muhammed played well at the beginning of the year, but has been fairly non-existant since. He hasn't had a sack since the Pitt game.

 

Turner is going to be awesome, very impressive for a freshman.

 

This team lacks consistency and dicipline and at times motivation. Even Frost elluded to the motivation factor in his Always a Husker segment. Im not there so I don't know but that is what I see. There has to be some reason for the slow starts of the last 4 weeks.

[formerfan]

I think part of the increased number of sacks this year can be attributed to the lack of mobility at qb. And of course the poor play of the oline.

 

Great point!! While the Oline has taken a beating for their play, JD was a more elusive qb, who could make some things happen with his legs. Too bad he was scrutinized for doing so.

[Blackshirtsguru]

I think part of the increased number of sacks this year can be attributed to the lack of mobility at qb.  And of course the poor play of the oline. 

 

Great point!! While the Oline has taken a beating for their play, JD was a more elusive qb, who could make some things happen with his legs. Too bad he was scrutinized for doing so.

Yeah he would run around just long enough to throw a pick! THe kid had zero downfield vision. And I always laughed every time he would try to throw it deep. He would throw his head way back...and throw it straight up in the air!

[NU fan in Denver]

I'm not saying JD was a good qb. He had some major problems with vision, decision making etc. But he is definately a better athlete than taylor. When JD left the pocket to scramble he would make a horrible decision to throw the ball and it would be intercepted. If I recall right BC didn't want his QB's to scramble so they could be protected. I disagreed with that. JD was a good athlete, and not a good passer. Anytime he had the opportunity to tuck it and run he should have. Taylor looks just aweful slow when he runs, but I love it. That is almost always a positive gain and sometimes for a good chunk of yardage. I have never understood the philosophy of not wanting your qb to take off. If there is open yardage out there to take then take it, slide, or get out of bounds. That is better than forcing the ball into coverage and taking an incomplete. Pinkle tried to keem Brad Smith in the pocket last year. That didn't work. QB's like Smith and Vince Young should be running the ball at least as many times as they throw. There is just too much athleticism to waste.

[skersfan]

I would guess if you looked at the times Taylor has ran and compared them to Joes you would see more positive yardage on Taylor's side.

[NU fan in Denver]

I would guess that is probably true. Taylor has been effective when he does tuck it and run. But he has also lost more yardage. ZT has lost 194 yds through 8 games and JD only lost 136 yds through the whole season. Like I said earlier it can be attributed to lack of qb mobility, poor oline play or a combo of both.

[skersfan]

I think the main problem this year is the Oline. Very weak at the left tackle position. It is going to take awhile to correct this problem it appears. Very seldom do freshman step into that position and become playmakers. Again this is not the problem of this staff. It has been an ongoing problem for quite awhile. Some think Fonoti was great, but he was too slow against a top athletic DT. I hear he has balooed to over 400 pounds at GreenBay.

 

We need athletes on the line. The top programs have athletic players. It appears Murtha may work into that but he is way over his head now. Talent accross the board is the problem, but this staff is working on that. Unfortunately we need to win at least two of the remaining games to get a really good class I think. We have to show improvement this year or the recruiting will start to fail. JMO.

[huskerfaninbuckeyehell]

I said it before and ill say it again John Cooper was one of the best recruiters I have ever seen and he was a damn good motivator. I think he would have fit right in cmon lets dust him off and give him a shot.

 

Great post!!

 

As for the comment quoted, you are totally correct. However, I dont think that Cooper is a great coach by any means. Look at how he got handled by Michigan. Would he have been better than billy c, absolutely, but he is not a great HC.

There are few, it seems, that you feel would not be a better head coach that BC.

 

"Negation is the mind's first freedom, yet a negative habit is fruitful only so long as we exert ourselves to overcome it, adapt it to our needs; once acquired it can imprison us. " Emile M. Cioran

There are few, it seems, that you feel would not be a better head coach that BC.

RON ZOOK AND DAVE WANNSTEDT ARE ABOUT THE ONLY ONES. OH YEAH AND TY WILLINGHAM HE SUCKS TOO.

[Utah_Husker]

back to the orignal topic Callahan is not a loser.

Here's the numbers. Everyone can make their own conclusion and maybe we can put this thread to bed (something tells me everyone has made already made their conclusion, but)

 

Bill Callahan:

 

As Head Coach 27-27

As Offensive coordinator 40-35

As Offensive Line Coach 101-87

 

Total Record of all teams he's been involved with 174-157-5

 

 

So technically he's not a loser. But he doesn't look like much of a winner, either.

[junior4949]

Maybe he'll make the Texans a fine HC some day. They already have a QB who knows what it's like to get pummelled each and every game.

 

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[huskerfaninbuckeyehell]

Did anyone see around the Horn? That Tool marriotti just said the University should be reprimanded for hiring that "cop out". Which solidifies my earlier point that SP is the one who hired him so shouldn't he be the focus of our Jest?

 

I got a feeling BC wont be around a whole lot longer and it will be by his own hand. He knows he can't hack it. He will do the honorable thing and pull the trigger or slash the throat on himself. With any hope SP wont be far behind.

[NU fan in Denver]

Did anyone see around the Horn? That Tool marriotti just said the University should be reprimanded for hiring that "cop out". Which solidifies my earlier point that SP is the one who hired him so shouldn't he be the focus of our Jest?

 

I got a feeling BC wont be around a whole lot longer and it will be by his own hand. He knows he can't hack it. He will do the honorable thing and pull the trigger or slash the throat on himself. With any hope SP wont be far behind.

I agree, If bc keeps having episodes like hillbillies, throat slashings, we take what we want, one game one season, and combines them with 5-6, 6-5 records his days will be numbered. As so should be the AD's.