Anybody else doubting Cotton?

[HumphreyBogasm]

Im not so much a Barney Cotton fan but Im willing to give him at least this year to prove himself. He didn't impress me when he was here before, but I'm not going to call for his head ....... yet.

 

[RedNLeader]

It has only been 2 games!

 

[Pedro Guerrero]

Fine I'll say it, Barney is not the answer. There you made me say it.
Barney is an average coach point made end of story I'm done trying to explain that to people.

I agree about Slauson, he appears to be the 2nd coming of Richie where people assume he is a good OL because he starts at NU and that is what has been shoved down our throats, even if their play on the field says otherwise.

I'm just trying to give you a hard time...I agree with you on most of your points. Seems like we are told quite a bit of good things about these players yet IMO they wouldn't have been starters in the early 2000s.

I know, I just figured I would finally come out and say it instead of just saying. :thumbs

 

[BigWillie]

And do not say we need to recruit new athletes into this program for Bo to be successful. That's just starting a cop out incase Bo does flounder. We can bash Cally all freakin' day, but there is one thing we can NEVER bash him for and that is bringing in talent to this program. If he could coach it worth a darn, the guy would still have a job.

After 2 games against lower Divison 1 schools and what happened last year, do you really believe this statement? I know that most of us were hoping that Calllllllahan would restock the shelves ala John Blake but this just isn't true. He brought in less talent than Solich. At least some of Frank's kids play in the NFL and I don't think that many of Calllllllahan's kids will.

Brought in less talent than Solich? Are you serious?

Solich was an EPICLY horrid recruiter. Just flat horrid. Do you think he got fired because he was a bad coach (he was not) or the talent had regressed so badly at the point he was fired? He refused to even bring recruits in during the season as he thought it would take away the coaches focus from the game. Our in-depth recruiting of players did not even start until December. Essentially, for months during the season our coaches twiddled their thumbs with recruits.

You can literally count on your hands the guys Solich went into another state to pull out that had an actual impact on this program. The majority of 'players' he recruited we could have landed with you or I as the coach since they were from Nebraska.

If you want to count Carriker (who had family from Nebraska) I may even let you. But guys like Fonoti, Lord, Demorrio, Fabian, Groce, the Bullocks' and Ross were the essentially the only out of state players who had a significant impact on this program over the Solich years. With Texas, Colorado and Missouri in close proximity, that's all we could do?

 

[skersfan]

Willie,

You buy the idea that BC recruited well. I have never bought it. Not that they were not talented, but I sensed unwanted by anyone else. I felt there was a reason for that, and I have always questioned why. My gut feeling as always been heart, dedication and loyalty. I think they were recruited to play into the NFL. Never recruited to be Nebraska football players.

Numbers are easy to buy into, but most of those yards never meant anything. Playing from behind against scrubs.

When we lined up against a truly talented team they ate our lunch. See Missouri, and SC. See Texas in the fourth quarter.

We could not move the ball against SC, a total of 31 yards rushing I think. Missouri was a joke to say the least, you can say it was all coaching, you can say we have tremendous talent, I just flat do not agree with you. I do not agree that BC was the greatest recruiter and left us a great amount of talent. I think it is below average.

This is what I have feared all preseason. Everyone thinking that Bo would turn this around over night. He is not going to do it.

I am on board for the long run. Whether he will be able to recruit what we need, I have no idea, but I truly feel our talent level is well below what some think it is. But I truly believe he is the right guy.

My comments are not negative. They are to fore warn what may happen, and to have faith for what he can do. Questioning his staff is questioning our head coach, and I am just not going to do that.

Again I think we have been unrealistic, and I truly believe, the past staff had the same problems that we are seeing now. Unfortunately I did not get to see or hear the game. If I had I might have a different outlook, but I did not expect to see these 90 like wins some seem to be expecting.

Talent wins nearly every time. Coaching only helps talent win easier normally. Switzer used to say its not the X's and O's, its the Jimmys and Joes. I think that still holds true.

 

[restored_order]

Here we go about Barney:

NU in 03 235 rushing per game for 4.3 a carry. (72 ypg being QB Lord)

ISU 04 141 ypg 3.2 ypc

ISU 05 110 ypg 2.7 ypc

ISU 06 101 ypg 3.0 ypg

If you ask me rushing yards and line play go hand in hand. Barney's lines have never really beat teams around and please name a single lineman that has shown improvement on the field under his watch. On Bo's pre-season show he said that Slauson was maybe the most talented Guard he had been around so why hasn't it shown on the field the first two games?

This point last year the team had already rushed for over 500 total yards with basically the same line except for Nicks playing basically the same type teams. This year we have 230 yards. I'm not saying it is all Barney I'm just saying it may be Barney.

You can't say "look at the last 2 guys he worked for." As we can see now, the Solich firing dedhoarse was a huge mistake, and McCarney was the best coach in ISU history. You also can't compare what Barney did at ISU and what he has done anywhere else, it's apples to oranges. I've always liked the guy, but we need more results. I'm not sold on him.

Maybe we should look at the offensive coordinator, that is one guy that never should have kept his job. His offensives were ok at best at CU.

The fact is that the last 2 coaches he worked for got fired. Also if he was such a hot coach how come he didn't land a better gig then ISU after losing his job here and then after getting the boot for the 2nd time in a row how come he had to have a buddy throw him a bone to get the job here? Barney's history equals Cosgroves history with less sucess. Average at best.

Here is some information on Watson. Notice the 4 North Titles and 1 Conference title. He doesn't coach the line he calls the plays and coaches the QB's. Line play is all on Barney and Bo not on Watson.

Watson was on the staff of four Colorado teams that won the Big 12 North Division, including a conference championship in 2001.
Under Watson, Colorado’s offense showed its flexibility and the ability to adapt to the Buffs’ offensive talent. Colorado ranked 20th nationally in total offense in 2001, and was only the third team in CU history to average both 200 yards rushing and passing. After relying on a ground-oriented attack in 2001 and 2002, the 2003 Buffs featured a prolific passing attack, ranking 18th nationally at 279.3 yards per game.

Colorado’s 2004 team produced a 1,000-yard rusher and a 2,000-yard passer for just the second time in school history. In 2005, Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt re-wrote the CU record book under Watson’s guidance. Klatt finished his Buff career as the holder of 44 school records, including most career pass completions, attempts and passing yards.

I guess you could say the same thing about Watson that you do about Cotton. Both of the last 2 guys he has worked for have got fired. Does that make him a bad coach? I'm by no means supporting Cotton blindly but I think that he needs a couple of years to see what he can do and to get players that fit his system. You can't undue what has been done in the last 4 years overnight. I do see a huge red flag with the way the offensive line plays, but is he hindered by bad schemes and play calling, much like Wagner was with Calllllllahan? How can line play be on Bo but not Watson? Isn't Watson the OC? Bo isn't calling their plays.

In reference to Watson, 2001 was the only year that he had a top 20 offense at CU. I think that the rest of the years his offenses were in the 40's to the 60's. As for the 4 North titles and 1 Big 12 title, did he not have a defense that helped CU win those? Just checking.

 

[restored_order]

And do not say we need to recruit new athletes into this program for Bo to be successful. That's just starting a cop out incase Bo does flounder. We can bash Cally all freakin' day, but there is one thing we can NEVER bash him for and that is bringing in talent to this program. If he could coach it worth a darn, the guy would still have a job.

After 2 games against lower Divison 1 schools and what happened last year, do you really believe this statement? I know that most of us were hoping that Calllllllahan would restock the shelves ala John Blake but this just isn't true. He brought in less talent than Solich. At least some of Frank's kids play in the NFL and I don't think that many of Calllllllahan's kids will.

Brought in less talent than Solich? Are you serious?

Solich was an EPICLY horrid recruiter. Just flat horrid. Do you think he got fired because he was a bad coach (he was not) or the talent had regressed so badly at the point he was fired? He refused to even bring recruits in during the season as he thought it would take away the coaches focus from the game. Our in-depth recruiting of players did not even start until December. Essentially, for months during the season our coaches twiddled their thumbs with recruits.

You can literally count on your hands the guys Solich went into another state to pull out that had an actual impact on this program. The majority of 'players' he recruited we could have landed with you or I as the coach since they were from Nebraska.

If you want to count Carriker (who had family from Nebraska) I may even let you. But guys like Fonoti, Lord, Demorrio, Fabian, Groce, the Bullocks' and Ross were the essentially the only out of state players who had a significant impact on this program over the Solich years. With Texas, Colorado and Missouri in close proximity, that's all we could do?

I'm not bragging about Solich's players and his recruiting prowess, but do you see any difference makers that Billlllll Calllllllahan brought in? Is the talent level THAT much better than it was in 2003? I agree with skersfan, I just don't see it.

 

[pctopeka]

Actually, Solich brought in quite a bit of talent. Look what happened after the last of his players were gone.

Callahan brought in players that have quite a bit of physical talent. What they seemed to have lacked was the mental toughness that has characterized Nebraska football for years. Football is just as much attitude as it is speed or agility.

Solich made the fatal error of hitching his wagon to Jamaal Lord. He gained a lot of yards, but was not a leader or a motivator. Lousy practice player. Crappy attitude when things didn't go his way. Couldn't wait to leave Memorial Stadium. Sound familiar to last year?

 

[skersfan]

Willie,

Another point would be, a few of the kids that BC recruited were thought to be great players, but quit the program, went else where, not a one of thoese talented athletes made a ripple at the program they ended up at. Hawaii, NCarolina State, and I am sure there are others.

This game is about heart, fire, dedication drive, finishing what you start. That is what I have always questioned about his recruits.

 

[Pedro Guerrero]

Here we go about Barney:

NU in 03 235 rushing per game for 4.3 a carry. (72 ypg being QB Lord)

ISU 04 141 ypg 3.2 ypc

ISU 05 110 ypg 2.7 ypc

ISU 06 101 ypg 3.0 ypg

If you ask me rushing yards and line play go hand in hand. Barney's lines have never really beat teams around and please name a single lineman that has shown improvement on the field under his watch. On Bo's pre-season show he said that Slauson was maybe the most talented Guard he had been around so why hasn't it shown on the field the first two games?

This point last year the team had already rushed for over 500 total yards with basically the same line except for Nicks playing basically the same type teams. This year we have 230 yards. I'm not saying it is all Barney I'm just saying it may be Barney.

You can't say "look at the last 2 guys he worked for." As we can see now, the Solich firing dedhoarse was a huge mistake, and McCarney was the best coach in ISU history. You also can't compare what Barney did at ISU and what he has done anywhere else, it's apples to oranges. I've always liked the guy, but we need more results. I'm not sold on him.

Maybe we should look at the offensive coordinator, that is one guy that never should have kept his job. His offensives were ok at best at CU.

The fact is that the last 2 coaches he worked for got fired. Also if he was such a hot coach how come he didn't land a better gig then ISU after losing his job here and then after getting the boot for the 2nd time in a row how come he had to have a buddy throw him a bone to get the job here? Barney's history equals Cosgroves history with less sucess. Average at best.

Here is some information on Watson. Notice the 4 North Titles and 1 Conference title. He doesn't coach the line he calls the plays and coaches the QB's. Line play is all on Barney and Bo not on Watson.

Watson was on the staff of four Colorado teams that won the Big 12 North Division, including a conference championship in 2001.
Under Watson, Colorado’s offense showed its flexibility and the ability to adapt to the Buffs’ offensive talent. Colorado ranked 20th nationally in total offense in 2001, and was only the third team in CU history to average both 200 yards rushing and passing. After relying on a ground-oriented attack in 2001 and 2002, the 2003 Buffs featured a prolific passing attack, ranking 18th nationally at 279.3 yards per game.

Colorado’s 2004 team produced a 1,000-yard rusher and a 2,000-yard passer for just the second time in school history. In 2005, Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt re-wrote the CU record book under Watson’s guidance. Klatt finished his Buff career as the holder of 44 school records, including most career pass completions, attempts and passing yards.

I guess you could say the same thing about Watson that you do about Cotton. Both of the last 2 guys he has worked for have got fired. Does that make him a bad coach? I'm by no means supporting Cotton blindly but I think that he needs a couple of years to see what he can do and to get players that fit his system. You can't undue what has been done in the last 4 years overnight. I do see a huge red flag with the way the offensive line plays, but is he hindered by bad schemes and play calling, much like Wagner was with Calllllllahan? How can line play be on Bo but not Watson? Isn't Watson the OC? Bo isn't calling their plays.

In reference to Watson, 2001 was the only year that he had a top 20 offense at CU. I think that the rest of the years his offenses were in the 40's to the 60's. As for the 4 North titles and 1 Big 12 title, did he not have a defense that helped CU win those? Just checking.

Wouldn't you think that the poor OL play is on the OL coach and the Head Coach? Bo is the Head Coach not just a defensive coach. He should have a hand in every spot on the field. (People bashed Billy C for only paying attention to the offense <_< ) Sure the OC has say in all the offense but I would believe just like the RB, WR, TE coach says who plays the OL has more say in who plays over the OC. Also Barnett got fired for being a terrible human being and off field problems not due to what was happening on the field. So in that aspect you could say Watson and Cotton aren't the same.

Sure there was a defense when the teams he coached on won Division and a Conference title but my point was this guy has actually won something compared to Cotton who has nothing of substance on his resume.

I'm done with this arguement because nothing that can be said will change my mind about Barney and what I think about him as a coach. If he wasn't a NU guy he wouldn't have this job. It is that simple.

 

[skersOVRsc]

Its a bit early to assign blame dont ya think? Not sure what the issue is and unfortunately I think only time will tell, but there is no reason they should be struggling. None.

 

[EbylHusker]

Its a bit early to assign blame dont ya think? Not sure what the issue is and unfortunately I think only time will tell, but there is no reason they should be struggling. None.

There's no reason they should be playing great.

 

[Hunter94]

yep, we have the whole rest of the season ahead to do that! save something for later! :moreinteresting

 

[BigWillie]

Willie,

You buy the idea that BC recruited well. I have never bought it. Not that they were not talented, but I sensed unwanted by anyone else. I felt there was a reason for that, and I have always questioned why. My gut feeling as always been heart, dedication and loyalty. I think they were recruited to play into the NFL. Never recruited to be Nebraska football players.

Numbers are easy to buy into, but most of those yards never meant anything. Playing from behind against scrubs.

When we lined up against a truly talented team they ate our lunch. See Missouri, and SC. See Texas in the fourth quarter.

We could not move the ball against SC, a total of 31 yards rushing I think. Missouri was a joke to say the least, you can say it was all coaching, you can say we have tremendous talent, I just flat do not agree with you. I do not agree that BC was the greatest recruiter and left us a great amount of talent. I think it is below average.

This is what I have feared all preseason. Everyone thinking that Bo would turn this around over night. He is not going to do it.

I am on board for the long run. Whether he will be able to recruit what we need, I have no idea, but I truly feel our talent level is well below what some think it is. But I truly believe he is the right guy.

My comments are not negative. They are to fore warn what may happen, and to have faith for what he can do. Questioning his staff is questioning our head coach, and I am just not going to do that.

Again I think we have been unrealistic, and I truly believe, the past staff had the same problems that we are seeing now. Unfortunately I did not get to see or hear the game. If I had I might have a different outlook, but I did not expect to see these 90 like wins some seem to be expecting.

Talent wins nearly every time. Coaching only helps talent win easier normally. Switzer used to say its not the X's and O's, its the Jimmys and Joes. I think that still holds true.

Disagree on quite a bit.

Callahan's talent is there, it was just a matter of getting them to play with passion. Look at this year already with Callahan recruits and how they are willing to swarm to the ball. At any point last year (even in the early games) did you see the players willing to go balls out the way they are for Pelini? Did you ever see Suh so motivated, Turner willing to hold his lane, Steinkuhler playing balls out among many other guys?

As I said, the talent is there, it's just a matter of getting it out of the guys.

Now is that to say we have the talent to go up against a USC or Florida? Hell nah. But are we a middle of the pack team in terms of talent? That's a cop out of epic standards.

I mean, you take guys like Suh, Dillard, Turner and Asante just on defense. All of these guys have potential oozing from them and anyone who has watched them can see it. Why have they not developed and what has hindered it from happening?

Turner was a freshman all-american then he suddenly cannot beat an OT off the edge? The guy was absolutely unblockable at times as a freshman, but suddenly he forgets how to rush the passer, the one thing he was always talented at?

Suh was stalking prey as a freshman, then suddenly he cannot get off a block? The guy is an absolute rock solid 300lbs and is like a talking boulder. With his size, strength and speed he could easily be one of the better lineman in this entire conference. So far he has been solid this year, but you know he has more in him.

Dillard who is a 250lbs LB who can run and hit like not many his size can. But yet his size and speed cannot translate to the level it should?

Asante who is actually one of the fastest and vicious hitters on this team cannot get it to translate to a game?

It's just a matter of coaching with these guys. The only real problems we have as far as talent goes is at SLB, FS and playmakers at WR. Besides that, absolutely nothing is wrong with our talent level. Nothing at all.

And do not say we need to recruit new athletes into this program for Bo to be successful. That's just starting a cop out incase Bo does flounder. We can bash Cally all freakin' day, but there is one thing we can NEVER bash him for and that is bringing in talent to this program. If he could coach it worth a darn, the guy would still have a job.

After 2 games against lower Divison 1 schools and what happened last year, do you really believe this statement? I know that most of us were hoping that Calllllllahan would restock the shelves ala John Blake but this just isn't true. He brought in less talent than Solich. At least some of Frank's kids play in the NFL and I don't think that many of Calllllllahan's kids will.

Brought in less talent than Solich? Are you serious?

Solich was an EPICLY horrid recruiter. Just flat horrid. Do you think he got fired because he was a bad coach (he was not) or the talent had regressed so badly at the point he was fired? He refused to even bring recruits in during the season as he thought it would take away the coaches focus from the game. Our in-depth recruiting of players did not even start until December. Essentially, for months during the season our coaches twiddled their thumbs with recruits.

You can literally count on your hands the guys Solich went into another state to pull out that had an actual impact on this program. The majority of 'players' he recruited we could have landed with you or I as the coach since they were from Nebraska.

If you want to count Carriker (who had family from Nebraska) I may even let you. But guys like Fonoti, Lord, Demorrio, Fabian, Groce, the Bullocks' and Ross were the essentially the only out of state players who had a significant impact on this program over the Solich years. With Texas, Colorado and Missouri in close proximity, that's all we could do?

I'm not bragging about Solich's players and his recruiting prowess, but do you see any difference makers that Billlllll Calllllllahan brought in? Is the talent level THAT much better than it was in 2003? I agree with skersfan, I just don't see it.

Um, yes.

As I said before, it's just a matter of coaching.

Look at Mizzou for example. Guys like Alexander, Weatherspoon, Moore, Washington, Sulak, Hood, Lambert, Gettis, Saunders, Chavis and many more just on there two deep who were completely unheralded recruits. Do you really think that schools completely whiffed on ALL of these guys or Mizzou just has the coaches in place to get the most out of any guy?

It isn't as much as who you have as what you can do with them. The thing is, we were bringing in more heralded and higher rated talented than places like Mizzou and Kansas but we couldn't coach them worth a darn.

Coaches from all different schools were chasing guys like Burkes, Hickman, Paul, Lucky, Helu, Castille, Turner, Potter, Suh, Dillard, Glenn, Asante, Jones, Murillo, Compton, etc., but yet we do not have the talent to compete.

I mean seriously ..

http://huskerpedia.com/games/2003/depth_12_10_2003.html

You can look at that and tell me you do not see an entire different brand in skill level and the type of athlete we have? Really? Really?

Before BC was rumored to be getting the axe, he had gotten commits from players like Gabbert, Gray, Woods, Givens, Kuli, Johnson (who was WAY under-rated), Mohler, etc,. Do you really think Solich had the ability to go into Missouri and pull a 5* quarterback? Or go into Cali and pull the best JUCO in the country? Or go into Michigan and pull a top 50 player?

Lets be real, Callahan was a straight used car-salesman. The dude could not develop talent for s***, but the guy could recruit with anyone in this country.

Actually, Solich brought in quite a bit of talent. Look what happened after the last of his players were gone.

Callahan brought in players that have quite a bit of physical talent. What they seemed to have lacked was the mental toughness that has characterized Nebraska football for years. Football is just as much attitude as it is speed or agility.

Solich made the fatal error of hitching his wagon to Jamaal Lord. He gained a lot of yards, but was not a leader or a motivator. Lousy practice player. Crappy attitude when things didn't go his way. Couldn't wait to leave Memorial Stadium. Sound familiar to last year?

Actually, Lord WAS our team when in the last years of Solich. Without him, our offense could have been epicly bad. Imagine in '03 a freshman Joe Dailey or Garth Glissman running this squad. Or in '02 with Stuntz or Chrisman.

The fatal error Solich made for years was relying to heavily on our QB. Remember '01 and how Eric Crouch carried the team that entire year? Crouch has a bad game and Diedrick or Collins sure as heck were not going to pick us up.

I know no one here has forgotten the NC game from that year. Crouch is busting his balls for the team while guys like Diedrick and the o-line are dang near letting Crouch get murdered.

In '02 in '03, Diedrick or Josh Davis sure as heck were not going to pick us up.

And how in the world can you say Lord was not a motivator? Lord may have been a horrid passer, but that dude had more heart than most players who have came thru here in quite a while. That dude busted his nuts every Saturday trying to pick this squad up. Honestly, I do not want to imagine what the final Solich years would have been like without him. That's just freakin' scary.

Willie,

Another point would be, a few of the kids that BC recruited were thought to be great players, but quit the program, went else where, not a one of thoese talented athletes made a ripple at the program they ended up at. Hawaii, NCarolina State, and I am sure there are others.

This game is about heart, fire, dedication drive, finishing what you start. That is what I have always questioned about his recruits.

You can say that about quite a few programs. But remember guys like Lucky, Castille, Potter, Paul (who really wanted to go to Michigan if not for BC), Dillard, Glenn, Helu (the only school who was willing to give him a shot at RB), Suh, Turner, Murillo, Nicks, Purify, Murtha?

And you are right with your last statement. BC could not coach 'em up as I originally stated from the very beginning. Look at the difference in effort from last year to this year alone with the same daggone players. More heart, passion and fire than they showed at ANY point last year as an entire team.

If the offensive line and safeties decided to join the party, we may have something here.

 

[BIGREDIOWAN]

I also scratched my head when Cotton was hired by Pelini, but what do I know about that stuff I'm just a fan. :dunno