2 Fateful Decisions

[MLB 51]

If that's the case, then that shows incompitence on Bo's part.

I did say I agreed with it. It is what it is. And yes, it is incompetant to move a highly rated O-Lineman like that.

 

[ladyhawke]

1. Barney Cotton AGREE 2. Not having anyone on the staff knowing how to recruit Div1 top 25 type athletes This just isn't right at all. I can honestly say that our recruiting needs to get better, but to say that they don't know how to recruit Div 1 top 25 athletes is ridiculous. I am just going to mention Burkhead for one, but I know that I could take the time to mention a lot more. We may not have the talent that LSU and Alabama does this year, but we do have talent on our team.

Thank You!

 

[SuperBigFan69]

At times, yes I know this is crazy, but at times it seems like they don't want to recruit the best players, like they almost accept that they won't get them. I know it is not true, trust me, it just seems that way at times.

 

[ZRod]

Name other schools that have had 4 year starters that were merely good.

Texas; Colt McCoy

Boise State; Kellen Moore

People will probably argue with the second pick but I think in any other conference he would have been pretty average. His statistics and records are more a reflection of the lack of competition they played than how good he was. McCoy just had talent all around him and was put in a position to succeed with the offensive schemes. It'd be pretty hard to do anything less than he did with another good QB.

 

[Stickney]

Name other schools that have had 4 year starters that were merely good.

Texas; Colt McCoy

Boise State; Kellen Moore

People will probably argue with the second pick but I think in any other conference he would have been pretty average. His statistics and records are more a reflection of the lack of competition they played than how good he was. McCoy just had talent all around him and was put in a position to succeed with the offensive schemes. It'd be pretty hard to do anything less than he did with another good QB.

The big difference with those two names -- They each won big games. They did it early and they did it often.

After McCoy left Texas went in the tank. We shall see what happens with Boise.

 

[Stickney]

OP- I'm just not seeing your two lynch pins as being important contributing factors or proof of any failure on Pelini's behalf. 1- Taylor is our quarterback because he is damn good and the best we have. When he is less than highly productive, you need to look at how they are trying to use him. I sure don't think it has anything to do with Bo "hitching his wagon". I may not agree with quite a few things Bo does but I still believe he is going to put the best player he has available in any position. And the Steinkuhler thing is at best a hypothetical guess. Leave him at left tackle and IMO not one thing is materially different with this team (except possibly we have somebody doing a better job on the D line) and I guess that would help but it is hardly the point you were trying to make.

1. Many starting college QB's make <20 total starts. That means both that greatness can be short lived or that mediocrity can be churned. Bo has coached 56 games at NU. It is likely that when T-Mart graduates, he will have QB'd 65% of ALL games coached by Bo. I'd say that is "hitching his wagon." Here's hoping that turns out well. My argument is simply that it could very well have a direct impact on whether Bo remains at NU.

2. Baker -- the reason I think this is/was a fateful decision is pretty simple. The left tackle position in football is a super premium position. When you get handed a pedigreed 5* LT talent and you put him on the d-line, I think it is fair to question the logic of that decision. I think it is fair to say that Baker's production on the d-line, while certainly good, probably acknowledges how great an athlete he is to be that decent playing out of position. It is no guarantee that he could have been a great OT, but I think it is fair to say he might have been plenty solid.

Simply put -- I think Baker at OT might have elevated the O-line greatly. That means a few more 3rd and shorts turn into 1st downs instead of punts. I think we can all acknowledge quite a number of those situations that might have changed game outcomes the past 3 seasons.

 

[Saunders]

In TM's current 2.125 seasons as starter, who would you have started instead?

 

[Count 'Bility]

At times, yes I know this is crazy, but at times it seems like they don't want to recruit the best players, like they almost accept that they won't get them. I know it is not true, trust me, it just seems that way at times.

I believe you're right about this in regards to Bo's 1st couple years. This was discussed somewhere by Sean Callahan I remember. First couple years Bo and staff did a lot of "settling" for lower level players that they knew they could get, because they had to get the depth built and the classes numbers up. These are the juniors and seniors we are seeing now. Since then Bo and staff have done a much better job of getting out and competing with the best programs in the country for higher level talent,

 

[ZRod]

Name other schools that have had 4 year starters that were merely good.

Texas; Colt McCoy

Boise State; Kellen Moore

People will probably argue with the second pick but I think in any other conference he would have been pretty average. His statistics and records are more a reflection of the lack of competition they played than how good he was. McCoy just had talent all around him and was put in a position to succeed with the offensive schemes. It'd be pretty hard to do anything less than he did with another good QB.

The big difference with those two names -- They each won big games. They did it early and they did it often.

After McCoy left Texas went in the tank. We shall see what happens with Boise.

But they also came in right after the program began hitting it's stride and were already winning big games.

 

[Comish]

OP- I'm just not seeing your two lynch pins as being important contributing factors or proof of any failure on Pelini's behalf. 1- Taylor is our quarterback because he is damn good and the best we have. When he is less than highly productive, you need to look at how they are trying to use him. I sure don't think it has anything to do with Bo "hitching his wagon". I may not agree with quite a few things Bo does but I still believe he is going to put the best player he has available in any position. And the Steinkuhler thing is at best a hypothetical guess. Leave him at left tackle and IMO not one thing is materially different with this team (except possibly we have somebody doing a better job on the D line) and I guess that would help but it is hardly the point you were trying to make.

1. Many starting college QB's make <20 total starts. That means both that greatness can be short lived or that mediocrity can be churned. Bo has coached 56 games at NU. It is likely that when T-Mart graduates, he will have QB'd 65% of ALL games coached by Bo. I'd say that is "hitching his wagon." Here's hoping that turns out well. My argument is simply that it could very well have a direct impact on whether Bo remains at NU.

2. Baker -- the reason I think this is/was a fateful decision is pretty simple. The left tackle position in football is a super premium position. When you get handed a pedigreed 5* LT talent and you put him on the d-line, I think it is fair to question the logic of that decision. I think it is fair to say that Baker's production on the d-line, while certainly good, probably acknowledges how great an athlete he is to be that decent playing out of position. It is no guarantee that he could have been a great OT, but I think it is fair to say he might have been plenty solid.

Simply put -- I think Baker at OT might have elevated the O-line greatly. That means a few more 3rd and shorts turn into 1st downs instead of punts. I think we can all acknowledge quite a number of those situations that might have changed game outcomes the past 3 seasons.

Agree on Baker 100% (and was puzzled at the time of the decision)

 

[Stickney]

In TM's current 2.125 seasons as starter, who would you have started instead?

Well, my point is actually, most QBs would already be done as starters after 2.125 seasons due to their eligibility running out. That is why Bo's decision is so impactful.

Further, it affected who was willing to sign at QB for NU.

Moreover, T-Mart began starting due to his legs. Now, it appears they are trying to have him toss the ball around. Like Baker, is he out of position?

I will be more than happy if T-Mart continues improving and the season ends well and next year looks bright.

 

[Saunders]

In TM's current 2.125 seasons as starter, who would you have started instead?

Well, my point is actually, most QBs would already be done as starters after 2.125 seasons due to their eligibility running out. That is why Bo's decision is so impactful.

Further, it affected who was willing to sign at QB for NU.

Moreover, T-Mart began starting due to his legs. Now, it appears they are trying to have him toss the ball around. Like Baker, is he out of position?

I will be more than happy if T-Mart continues improving and the season ends well and next year looks bright.

Answer the question.

 

[Stickney]

In TM's current 2.125 seasons as starter, who would you have started instead?

Well, my point is actually, most QBs would already be done as starters after 2.125 seasons due to their eligibility running out. That is why Bo's decision is so impactful.

Further, it affected who was willing to sign at QB for NU.

Moreover, T-Mart began starting due to his legs. Now, it appears they are trying to have him toss the ball around. Like Baker, is he out of position?

I will be more than happy if T-Mart continues improving and the season ends well and next year looks bright.

Answer the question.

The answer is that Bo and staff have yet to figure out how and what to replace Joe Ganz with.

Here are the QB recruits since 2009:

Cody Green (transferred)

Brion Carnes (on the bench -- who knows what he is)

Bubba Starling (baseball)

Jamal Turner (wide receiver)

Tommy Armstrong (true frosh)

T-Mart was recruited and listed as an Athlete.

Your question is presented as choosing from what is available on the bench. But, if I was paid 2.5 million a year I would have been pushing hard since 2009 to bring in more QB talent. I'd probably not have signed T-Mart to begin with honestly.

I sure as heck would have got him to work on his footwork and throwing mechanics before he starts his 4 full year on campus.

 

[husker1974]

Baker wanted to play defense and he did pretty good at the Army All-American bowl.

WEST DEFENSE

This was a tough one to dish out as several West defensive players had big games. The ball could have easily gone to Nolan Brewster or Baker Steinkuhler as both came to play on Saturday. But the award goes to Los Angeles Dorsey defensive back Rahim Moore. The 6-foot, 185-pound four-star player was great all week in practice and was extremely impressive in the game. He finished the game with six tackles, including four stops and a pass breakup.

 

[kchusker_chris]

In TM's current 2.125 seasons as starter, who would you have started instead?

never got an explanation for Lee's status (we all seem to think maybe he was hurt?) - but if Lee started that year the outcome with Cody Green would have been different. I'm in the "skeptical but optimistic" camp with Taylor so this is no way dogging on him...but had Lee started the entire season, it's likely Taylor would have been #3 behind Cody (or maybe still a WR)...and Cody would have gotten meaningful snaps and might be starting today. We'll never know how it would have played out - but I think most can agree that Cody was never put in a position to succeed. Thrown in to games and terrible times, started against one of the best teams on our schedule, etc. Or, possibly Taylor would be better today having learned the QB position (like it seems he is finally doing) instead of forced into a couple years of having to just depend on his athleticism. Regardless, the decision to start TM as a freshman is certainly the biggest decision Bo has made as an HC. Any other decision and a lot of hypotheticals can be reached.