Why I dislike Mike Riley

[HuskerMav11]

It's no secret. I'm not alone. I don't like Mike Riley.

 

I have nothing against the guy personally. He seems like a great guy with a good head on his shoulders. But as a coach for the team that I support, I don't like the guy. 

 

5 Reason why I am not a fan of Mike Riley

 

1. I don't like his style of coaching. Mike Riley isn't the guy that is going to get you jacked up for the game. His interviews are rather dry. He talks a lot and simultaneously says almost nothing.

2. I don't like his style of play. Mike Riley, or Langs in this case, often leave you in sheer bewilderment. It's not the "Wow, that was clever, really caught the defense off guard on that call" sort of bewilderment, but more often the "Why would you take that sort of risk in that situation" sort of bewilderment. Not only that, but as crazy as it seems, I think certain topics in football are only now starting to sink in with the 60 year old coach. Concepts on basic clock management, tempo, risk/reward, etc. I know it seems crazy, but I just can't get on board with a lot of the decisions that are made from an offensive strategy perspective.

3. More like 2b, but yes, his offensive strategy. They key to college football, in my opinion, is adapting your strategy to your players. Determine the identity of your team and then set up a system that both utilizes your teams strengths and isn't predictable. I constantly feel like Riley and Co fail on this front.  Our play-calling from last year to this year feel identical, yet we lost a mobile-qb who struggle with accuracy and gained a statue that struggles with pressure. On top of that, I feel like even my 8 year old niece can predict what play the Huskers are running next as they line up.

4. 2C on this one. Mobility at the QB spot. This is a personal preference of mine, but it's the style of offense I prefer to watch. A dual-threat QB and a physical team. Something I don't see Riley and Co bringing to NU.

5. His seemingly content attitude towards losing. I know Bo was a hot-head, but for once I'd like to see Mike Riley get a little fired up. You're freaking Nebraska. You're dropping games to nobodies. You're getting blown out. Get pissed off. Tell us all that it's unacceptable. Make the program feel some shame. Create some sort of catalyst that lights a fire under your team and gives them a "never again" mentality.

 

While we're talking about Bo, let's squash that argument. I don't dislike Riley because I liked Bo. Quite the opposite. I thought Bo was toxic. And when Riley first came in, I knew nothing about the guy, but I was willing to give him a chance.

 

So really... I dislike Mike Riley because I've found nothing to like about him in 3 years and I've ran out of patience.

[southernoregonhusker]

You could have saved me time by saying you don't like his offense and demeanor.  

[GBRFAN]

kind of how I ran out of patience on about the 5th line of that explanation

[Isle of View]

His game management, and especially clock management is the worst I've ever seen.  I honestly think Callahan was a better coach.

 

Riley never should have been hired in the first place.

[NU5XChamps]

UUUUGH!!!  

[Red Five]

7 hours ago, HuskerMav11 said:

5 Reason why I am not a fan of Mike Riley

 

1. I don't like his style of coaching. Mike Riley isn't the guy that is going to get you jacked up for the game. His interviews are rather dry. He talks a lot and simultaneously says almost nothing.

 

 

[Hilltop]

I really like Mike - Just wish the on the field performance was there.   

[Moiraine]

In what way does this add to the 30 other topics on the subject?

[B.B. Hemingway]

1 minute ago, Moiraine said:

In what way does this add to the 30 other topics on the subject?

 

MODS, can one of you merge the other 29 cheese fry threads with this one, please? Thanks!

[MasterPulverizer]

8 hours ago, HuskerMav11 said:

It's no secret. I'm not alone. I don't like Mike Riley.

 

I have nothing against the guy personally. He seems like a great guy with a good head on his shoulders. But as a coach for the team that I support, I don't like the guy. 

 

5 Reason why I am not a fan of Mike Riley

 

1. I don't like his style of coaching. Mike Riley isn't the guy that is going to get you jacked up for the game. His interviews are rather dry. He talks a lot and simultaneously says almost nothing.

2. I don't like his style of play. Mike Riley, or Langs in this case, often leave you in sheer bewilderment. It's not the "Wow, that was clever, really caught the defense off guard on that call" sort of bewilderment, but more often the "Why would you take that sort of risk in that situation" sort of bewilderment. Not only that, but as crazy as it seems, I think certain topics in football are only now starting to sink in with the 60 year old coach. Concepts on basic clock management, tempo, risk/reward, etc. I know it seems crazy, but I just can't get on board with a lot of the decisions that are made from an offensive strategy perspective.

3. More like 2b, but yes, his offensive strategy. They key to college football, in my opinion, is adapting your strategy to your players. Determine the identity of your team and then set up a system that both utilizes your teams strengths and isn't predictable. I constantly feel like Riley and Co fail on this front.  Our play-calling from last year to this year feel identical, yet we lost a mobile-qb who struggle with accuracy and gained a statue that struggles with pressure. On top of that, I feel like even my 8 year old niece can predict what play the Huskers are running next as they line up.

4. 2C on this one. Mobility at the QB spot. This is a personal preference of mine, but it's the style of offense I prefer to watch. A dual-threat QB and a physical team. Something I don't see Riley and Co bringing to NU.

5. His seemingly content attitude towards losing. I know Bo was a hot-head, but for once I'd like to see Mike Riley get a little fired up. You're freaking Nebraska. You're dropping games to nobodies. You're getting blown out. Get pissed off. Tell us all that it's unacceptable. Make the program feel some shame. Create some sort of catalyst that lights a fire under your team and gives them a "never again" mentality.

 

While we're talking about Bo, let's squash that argument. I don't dislike Riley because I liked Bo. Quite the opposite. I thought Bo was toxic. And when Riley first came in, I knew nothing about the guy, but I was willing to give him a chance.

 

So really... I dislike Mike Riley because I've found nothing to like about him in 3 years and I've ran out of patience.

Anyone else find this ironic?

[ColoradoHusk]

1 hour ago, Red Five said:

 

The comparison to Riley's and Osborne's demeanor during a game is laughbable.  When I watched Osborne, I saw a coach who was deeply invested in every play, while also remaining calm on the sidelines.  It helped that he was calling the offensive plays, but he wasn't afraid to go up to a player who messed up during a game and talk to him.  I have heard countless stories from former players that it was the worst to have Tom look at them like he was disappointed in them.  In Riley, I see a guy who doesn't seem invested in the game 100% of the time.  He looks aloof and disinterested at times.  The TV coverage will show numerous times with Riley just standing there, with his headset microphone up to his ear, so I have no idea how much communication he is having with his coaches.  To me, it's like Riley is observing the game, rather than coaching the game.

 

EDIT:  Riley seems to want to leave the in-game coaching to his coordinators and assistants.  While I understand he wants to be a CEO type coach, but I don't get how the guy who oversees everything can be so distant during the games.

[BigRedBuster]

28 minutes ago, ColoradoHusk said:

When I watched Osborne, I saw a coach who was deeply invested in every play, while also remaining calm on the sidelines.  It helped that he was calling the offensive plays,

 

You answered your own criticism.

[ColoradoHusk]

6 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said:

 

You answered your own criticism.

Yes, I understand, but Riley still gives off a distant vibe during games and in no way should be compared to Osborne.  To me, they are completely different during how they work during games.

[teachercd]

I will give credit to Riley for changing his staff around, that had to be hard.  

 

If he went 6-7 and then 9-4 the last two years at OSU...he probably doesn't have to make changes and things are just fine.  

[HuskerMav11]

13 minutes ago, ColoradoHusk said:

Yes, I understand, but Riley still gives off a distant vibe during games and in no way should be compared to Osborne.  To me, they are completely different during how they work during games.

 

Tom Osborne can also recollect very specific details to hundreds of the big games that he coached. And like I stated, Mike Riley doesn't have to be a hot-head to instill a sense of pride in his team. If you watch any of the numerous videos on youtube of TO talking with his former players, you sense the respect they have for him, but you also realize that a lot of that respect comes from the fear they have of disappointing the guy. They'll joke about incidents that make Tom Osborne appear as a scary dude, and although I'm sure there is a bit of exaggeration, you get the "but no, seriously...that's how it was" vibe.