Huskers Focusing On Technique This Spring

[Mavric]

Ten years ago, Nebraska football coach Mike Riley conducted an entirely different kind of spring practice at Oregon State.


“I think we probably would have tried to install every part of the game, and we probably would have practiced for three and a half hours,” Riley said Saturday after a two-hour workout that finished inside Memorial Stadium.

A Riley spring camp was perhaps once more like a fall camp, with only a spring game as a reward at the end of all the hard work. But Riley has changed his philosophy on spring practice, and it can be seen in the way Nebraska — two-thirds of the way through 2016 camp — approached Saturday.

While NU was in full pads and had several “live” team periods where the hitting was plentiful, there was no purposeful tackling or dogpiles. A couple linemen — one offense and one defense — got into a brief skirmish, but, otherwise, players refrained from after-the-whistle moments.

It’s how Riley wants it. He’s tailored camp to focus more on individual techniques — the smaller picture within the larger structure of a play — and a fast pace.

OWH

 

[84HuskerLaw]

I have tried to be careful in any criticism of the current staff and limit my negative remarks to only those obvious circumstances generally. This area is a concern. I know coaches can become overly scared of injurites as injuries to key or critical players and position groups can really hurt the team's chances. We all worry about injuries to the QB of course but any position can suffer if you lose a great or top notch player to be replaced by an average level guy. But, the whole team can suffer significantly more if they are not game ready because of a lack of signifiant contact in practice. There is the old truism: You play like you practice! I believe many / most coaches believe this to be the case. I you never practice playing tackle football, you will not be as ready to play your best. We don't benefit from practicing 'touch' or flag football and then suddenly on Saturday afternoons a dozen or so times a year, go out and play rough and tumble full contact agressive football. Osborne had more talent and players (I think we can all at least agree that this is a true statement) so maybe he could risk the injuries but still he practiced 'hard'. His best teams scrimmaged alot - several times a week and often used major scrimmages to really separate the men from the boys. I hope Riley has not become injury paranoid (I felt Frank and subsequent coaches let their fear consume them).

 

[cm husker]

Osborne did not have more scholarship players. His teams also didn't scrimmage "several times a week," especially during the season.

I like Riley's aim small miss small approach with the focused technique.

I agree that more "live" scrimmages are necessary as the season draws closer, but with the way the NCAA has messed with practice limits, I don't know what makes most sense in the spring.

 

[desertshox]

Osborne did not have more scholarship players.

you're right he was only using 85 when the 105 scholarship limit was introduced in 1972 then reduced to 95 in 1978 and finally to 85 in 1992.

 

[Stumpy1]

Osborne did not have more scholarship players.

you're right he was only using 85 when the 105 scholarship limit was introduced in 1972 then reduced to 95 in 1978 and finally to 85 in 1992.

LOL...I was just getting ready to say the same thing.

 

[cm husker]

Osborne did not have more scholarship players.

you're right he was only using 85 when the 105 scholarship limit was introduced in 1972 then reduced to 95 in 1978 and finally to 85 in 1992.

Go back and look at how many kids he signed each fall. During almost all of his coaching career and from 1980 on, each of his classes complied with NCAA rules. He signed, on average, about 22 kids a class.
I know that it defies the narrative, but Osborne and Nebraska were not stockpiling talent in the 80s. Well, they were, but within the confines of today's rules.

If you want links, I'll dredge them up. But it's been discussed and confirmed many times.

 

[Bowfin]

I can't second guess Riley (or any other coach) on how much a team needs full contact and how much they need to work on technique. I think that changes too much to have a hard, set rule, and he gets paid to get it right, not me.

 

[drfish]

My perception was that tackling overall was better last year. I felt like there were fewer whiffs in that area. If the line is going full on and the skill players are going full go up to the part where folks get taken to ground, I think that still covers the majority of the equation from a physicality standpoint. Do you miss some break tackles and avoidance of same, maybe, but I think your bread is still buttered on oline and defensive front 7 play in terms of physical domination.

 

[The Dude]

Hoping that rugby-style tackling works wonders for Gerry. Seems like a lot of the time he was afraid of contact, and that alone turned dozens of medium-yardage plays into huge plays for opposing offenses.

Then when did make a perfect form tackle he'd get ejected.

 

[drfish]

I don't see it as afraid of contact (we are talking about Nate Gerry aren't we). But I think he was out of position a lot, which increased his whiff rate. Like the one TD vs. UCLA where he was out of position. I would look for that to improve.

 

[Scratchtown]

I have tried to be careful in any criticism of the current staff and limit my negative remarks to only those obvious circumstances generally. This area is a concern. I know coaches can become overly scared of injurites as injuries to key or critical players and position groups can really hurt the team's chances. We all worry about injuries to the QB of course but any position can suffer if you lose a great or top notch player to be replaced by an average level guy. But, the whole team can suffer significantly more if they are not game ready because of a lack of signifiant contact in practice. There is the old truism: You play like you practice! I believe many / most coaches believe this to be the case. I you never practice playing tackle football, you will not be as ready to play your best. We don't benefit from practicing 'touch' or flag football and then suddenly on Saturday afternoons a dozen or so times a year, go out and play rough and tumble full contact agressive football. Osborne had more talent and players (I think we can all at least agree that this is a true statement) so maybe he could risk the injuries but still he practiced 'hard'. His best teams scrimmaged alot - several times a week and often used major scrimmages to really separate the men from the boys. I hope Riley has not become injury paranoid (I felt Frank and subsequent coaches let their fear consume them).

I'm sorry but this isn't the 90s. While I came into coaching thinking it had to be hard all the time. That is just ridiculous now. Unrealistic. Especially in the spring. Going full contact in the spring is NOT going to make you more ready for fall. Especially for only 15 practices.

Football is not about knock out hits. While that's exciting, it's about getting ball carriers to the ground however you can get them there.

I completely disagree with this old mentality. You can't train tough. Not at this age. They should have it already. If they dont. That's on the parents for letting them be soft.

I have two sets of nieces and the ones my brother have raised are tough. They fall down and get up right away and laugh it off. The ones my sister raised are soft because they were picked up and consoled everytime they hurt an eyelash.

Prime example of a 2ND grade kid unrelated to me is a student I watched in PE once. He fell, hit his knee, and started crying. I watched the PE teacher say "get up! Your team needs you." The kids faucet turned off and scored a goal almost immediately.

You train em to be tough at a young age. Not when they are already 18-22 years old

 

[The Dude]

I don't see it as afraid of contact (we are talking about Nate Gerry aren't we). But I think he was out of position a lot, which increased his whiff rate. Like the one TD vs. UCLA where he was out of position. I would look for that to improve.

Maybe, but it often seemed like he was in position, but then he'd stop when he got to the ball carrier, stick his hand out to the side to play one-hand touch, and let his guy breeze by him.

 

[BigRedBuster]

I have tried to be careful in any criticism of the current staff and limit my negative remarks to only those obvious circumstances generally. This area is a concern. I know coaches can become overly scared of injurites as injuries to key or critical players and position groups can really hurt the team's chances. We all worry about injuries to the QB of course but any position can suffer if you lose a great or top notch player to be replaced by an average level guy. But, the whole team can suffer significantly more if they are not game ready because of a lack of signifiant contact in practice. There is the old truism: You play like you practice! I believe many / most coaches believe this to be the case. I you never practice playing tackle football, you will not be as ready to play your best. We don't benefit from practicing 'touch' or flag football and then suddenly on Saturday afternoons a dozen or so times a year, go out and play rough and tumble full contact agressive football. Osborne had more talent and players (I think we can all at least agree that this is a true statement) so maybe he could risk the injuries but still he practiced 'hard'. His best teams scrimmaged alot - several times a week and often used major scrimmages to really separate the men from the boys. I hope Riley has not become injury paranoid (I felt Frank and subsequent coaches let their fear consume them).

I'm sorry but this isn't the 90s. While I came into coaching thinking it had to be hard all the time. That is just ridiculous now. Unrealistic. Especially in the spring. Going full contact in the spring is NOT going to make you more ready for fall. Especially for only 15 practices.

Football is not about knock out hits. While that's exciting, it's about getting ball carriers to the ground however you can get them there.

I completely disagree with this old mentality. You can't train tough. Not at this age. They should have it already. If they dont. That's on the parents for letting them be soft.

I have two sets of nieces and the ones my brother have raised are tough. They fall down and get up right away and laugh it off. The ones my sister raised are soft because they were picked up and consoled everytime they hurt an eyelash.

Prime example of a 2ND grade kid unrelated to me is a student I watched in PE once. He fell, hit his knee, and started crying. I watched the PE teacher say "get up! Your team needs you." The kids faucet turned off and scored a goal almost immediately.

You train em to be tough at a young age. Not when they are already 18-22 years old

When my kids were really little, I had them all convinced that cuts and bruises from playing were cool.

 

[Scratchtown]

I have tried to be careful in any criticism of the current staff and limit my negative remarks to only those obvious circumstances generally. This area is a concern. I know coaches can become overly scared of injurites as injuries to key or critical players and position groups can really hurt the team's chances. We all worry about injuries to the QB of course but any position can suffer if you lose a great or top notch player to be replaced by an average level guy. But, the whole team can suffer significantly more if they are not game ready because of a lack of signifiant contact in practice. There is the old truism: You play like you practice! I believe many / most coaches believe this to be the case. I you never practice playing tackle football, you will not be as ready to play your best. We don't benefit from practicing 'touch' or flag football and then suddenly on Saturday afternoons a dozen or so times a year, go out and play rough and tumble full contact agressive football. Osborne had more talent and players (I think we can all at least agree that this is a true statement) so maybe he could risk the injuries but still he practiced 'hard'. His best teams scrimmaged alot - several times a week and often used major scrimmages to really separate the men from the boys. I hope Riley has not become injury paranoid (I felt Frank and subsequent coaches let their fear consume them).

I'm sorry but this isn't the 90s. While I came into coaching thinking it had to be hard all the time. That is just ridiculous now. Unrealistic. Especially in the spring. Going full contact in the spring is NOT going to make you more ready for fall. Especially for only 15 practices.

Football is not about knock out hits. While that's exciting, it's about getting ball carriers to the ground however you can get them there.

I completely disagree with this old mentality. You can't train tough. Not at this age. They should have it already. If they dont. That's on the parents for letting them be soft.

I have two sets of nieces and the ones my brother have raised are tough. They fall down and get up right away and laugh it off. The ones my sister raised are soft because they were picked up and consoled everytime they hurt an eyelash.

Prime example of a 2ND grade kid unrelated to me is a student I watched in PE once. He fell, hit his knee, and started crying. I watched the PE teacher say "get up! Your team needs you." The kids faucet turned off and scored a goal almost immediately.

You train em to be tough at a young age. Not when they are already 18-22 years old

When my kids were really little, I had them all convinced that cuts and bruises from playing were cool.

Absolutely!!! "Battle Scars"

 

[grandpasknee]

I have tried to be careful in any criticism of the current staff and limit my negative remarks to only those obvious circumstances generally. This area is a concern. I know coaches can become overly scared of injurites as injuries to key or critical players and position groups can really hurt the team's chances. We all worry about injuries to the QB of course but any position can suffer if you lose a great or top notch player to be replaced by an average level guy. But, the whole team can suffer significantly more if they are not game ready because of a lack of signifiant contact in practice. There is the old truism: You play like you practice! I believe many / most coaches believe this to be the case. I you never practice playing tackle football, you will not be as ready to play your best. We don't benefit from practicing 'touch' or flag football and then suddenly on Saturday afternoons a dozen or so times a year, go out and play rough and tumble full contact agressive football. Osborne had more talent and players (I think we can all at least agree that this is a true statement) so maybe he could risk the injuries but still he practiced 'hard'. His best teams scrimmaged alot - several times a week and often used major scrimmages to really separate the men from the boys. I hope Riley has not become injury paranoid (I felt Frank and subsequent coaches let their fear consume them).

I'm sorry but this isn't the 90s. While I came into coaching thinking it had to be hard all the time. That is just ridiculous now. Unrealistic. Especially in the spring. Going full contact in the spring is NOT going to make you more ready for fall. Especially for only 15 practices.

Football is not about knock out hits. While that's exciting, it's about getting ball carriers to the ground however you can get them there.

I completely disagree with this old mentality. You can't train tough. Not at this age. They should have it already. If they dont. That's on the parents for letting them be soft.

I have two sets of nieces and the ones my brother have raised are tough. They fall down and get up right away and laugh it off. The ones my sister raised are soft because they were picked up and consoled everytime they hurt an eyelash.

Prime example of a 2ND grade kid unrelated to me is a student I watched in PE once. He fell, hit his knee, and started crying. I watched the PE teacher say "get up! Your team needs you." The kids faucet turned off and scored a goal almost immediately.

You train em to be tough at a young age. Not when they are already 18-22 years old

When my kids were really little, I had them all convinced that cuts and bruises from playing were cool.

Absolutely!!! "Battle Scars"

When my kids were little, I gave them rusty scabbards and hid punji sticks around the yard to toughen them up. Also, before they got to be on any sports teams, they had to be "catcher" on our lawn darts games for two summers.