Finally! Blackshirt Talk

Here is my take on the Blackshirt thing.  We all know the history.  In practice, the coaches needed a way to distinguish the 1st team from 2nd team units  etc.  So the 1st team got the "Black shirts" and others got different colors.  Simple, makes sense.

So here comes the debate: do you just give the black shirts to the starters as was done in the beginning, or do you regard the black shirt as some type of honor bestowed on only those deemed worthy?  Coaches and fans have come down on both sides of this issue.  

But here is the deal:  1st, the coaches have to be good enough to turn out a 1st team capable of top 10 national play.  If they can do this, and give the Black shirts to that #1 unit, we are back to where this whole thing started.  If you can earn a starting spot for Charlie McBride & Co. then yes, you are a Blackshirt, and by Golly, you deserved it.  Practices were so hard, that the games were easy.   The jersey was earned in practice, not the games,  though it could be lost.

So how to handle the "Blackshirt" thing?  It is moot if the coaches aren't focused on the right things and demanding enough.

But if the coaches ARE focused on the right things, following through with development of those things, and demanding enough of excellence, then earning (and continuing to earn) a starting spot justifies the shirt. 

 
Tough, hard nosed defense that doesn't bend or break and holds the opponent under 20 points for the better teams and under 10 for the weak ones.   The crowd looks forward to the defense and the stadium rocks with every hit and tackle for little or no gain, balls batted down, jarred loose, intercepted and fumbles caused.  The defense gets the ball back for the offense to get some more done.  The defense, now and then, when their put in situations where the need a big play, get one, etc.   Basically Nebraska was known and recognized as having a great e, each and every year.   Every opponent had to earn every yard and points given up were the exception not the rule.  The blackshirts were the starters and recognized as being the best of the best but the second and thirds were expected to hold the line as well and no cheap scores given up late in the game either.   

 3 and out is the norm not the exception.  Get the ball back in good field position so the offense can roll up the score and put the game away in the second quarter.   The 4th quarter is playing time for the back ups and the third and fourth stringer had good chance to 'letter' during the year as the games were well in hand early and often.  None of this hoping the opponent only gets a field goal or a few first downs.   Make em punt and return the dam thing.  

That to me is Blackshirt defense.   When we start playing that way, we'll need to talk about the Blackshirts with the kind of reverence and respect they earn everyday in practice and prove on the field on Saturdays.  We had a Blackshirt worthy defense with Suh and Company but really haven't had much otherwise for quite a few years.   It's hard to expect a revival of that sort of defense by this fall, considering the relatively poor play of the past number of years but we call hope for dramatic upgrades surely. 

 
84HuskerLaw said:
Tough, hard nosed defense that doesn't bend or break and holds the opponent under 20 points for the better teams and under 10 for the weak ones.   The crowd looks forward to the defense and the stadium rocks with every hit and tackle for little or no gain, balls batted down, jarred loose, intercepted and fumbles caused.  The defense gets the ball back for the offense to get some more done.  The defense, now and then, when their put in situations where the need a big play, get one, etc.   Basically Nebraska was known and recognized as having a great e, each and every year.   Every opponent had to earn every yard and points given up were the exception not the rule.  The blackshirts were the starters and recognized as being the best of the best but the second and thirds were expected to hold the line as well and no cheap scores given up late in the game either.   

 3 and out is the norm not the exception.  Get the ball back in good field position so the offense can roll up the score and put the game away in the second quarter.   The 4th quarter is playing time for the back ups and the third and fourth stringer had good chance to 'letter' during the year as the games were well in hand early and often.  None of this hoping the opponent only gets a field goal or a few first downs.   Make em punt and return the dam thing.  

That to me is Blackshirt defense.   When we start playing that way, we'll need to talk about the Blackshirts with the kind of reverence and respect they earn everyday in practice and prove on the field on Saturdays.  We had a Blackshirt worthy defense with Suh and Company but really haven't had much otherwise for quite a few years.   It's hard to expect a revival of that sort of defense by this fall, considering the relatively poor play of the past number of years but we call hope for dramatic upgrades surely. 
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That's a really good defense you describe...it's also only been done a handful of times the last 10 years, mostly by Bama teams, and all pretty ridiculously talented. It's a hall of fame standard, not a reasonable expectation for today's game.

The good news is you don't need that level to win in an alternate possession game. It's all about relative efficiencies. But there are some good numbers to shoot for that in about any given year are attainable for a very good defense.

Avg Rush Attempt 3.5 ypp

Avg Pass Attempt 6.5 ypp

Those don't seem high, but if you achieve both you will be very hard to move the ball on, and if you have a good offense you will easily win the efficiency battle and therefore comfortably win the game.

 
brophog said:
That's a really good defense you describe...it's also only been done a handful of times the last 10 years, mostly by Bama teams, and all pretty ridiculously talented. It's a hall of fame standard, not a reasonable expectation for today's game.

The good news is you don't need that level to win in an alternate possession game. It's all about relative efficiencies. But there are some good numbers to shoot for that in about any given year are attainable for a very good defense.

Avg Rush Attempt 3.5 ypp

Avg Pass Attempt 6.5 ypp

Those don't seem high, but if you achieve both you will be very hard to move the ball on, and if you have a good offense you will easily win the efficiency battle and therefore comfortably win the game.
Click to expand...
Just for reference, last year's numbers were

Rushing: 5.7 ypc

Passing: 7.3 ypa

 
RedSavage said:
If there’s one person who can get this thing right, I think it’s Frost.  Granted he wasn’t on defense but he played during the years when the Blackshirts really meant something and I think he understands what it means to earn that jersey.  
Click to expand...


He does have Ruud on his staff. He might be able to help.

 
Why dont they just take the average ranking of the defense over the last 50 something years and when the defense reaches that point in the rankings hand them out.   :lol:

 
My wish list

Blackshirts handed out before game 1

Tear away jerseys

Pants with double stripes

One yard halo rule for punt returners

No targeting rule

Fullbacks with blood coming from the bridge of their noses

Oklahoma on Thanksgiving

The only change that is good. Is more games on TV, bigger TVs, and HD TV

 
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