I have played football, coached football, and watched plenty of football (as I'm sure we all have here) and I can tell you Riley's lameduck pass-happy offense willl not work at Nebraska for bringing NU back to national prominence and national titles. If you're fine with being also-rans and possibly every few years contending for a Big 10 West division title, then maybe, MAYBE Riley could get you that.....but on a national championship level (which is all I really care about, not Big 10 or Division titles) ....Riley's plan won't work. Why do I feel this way? I have stated before my many reasons (just look at prior posts).
I'll add this.....Many here say we have to give RIley time to get his players in and play to his system. I say, no, no, no, absolutely not. 1) Who wants to wait? Patience is a virtue, yes, but not when you've been waiting nearly 20 years already for a national championship and nothing to show for it. To me, 18 years is long enough. 2) Winners WIN. Period. Riley was a mediocre coach at best. Outstanding coaches find a way to win regardless of their circumstances. There are many instances of this in college football history. Hell, you need look no further than Bob Devaney. Won immediately. Look at Harbaugh, Mcelwain, Urban Meyer, etc.. Winners Win. Put Riley as head coach of Ohio State last year and he doesn't even win his division. Winners Win.....losers lose, and mediocre coaches stay mediocre (unless they do a complete overhaul of their so called "system").
And just from a pure selfish reason, I want a coach who knows and can teach/coach an overpowering running game (at least an 80/20 or higher run-pass ratio) because i like the BEAUTY of a running game attack I find more joy in a 5 yard fullback trap or an inside ISO play than I do any kind of pass play. Passing, to me, just represents WUSSY football pure and simple. You aren't dominating anyone with a passing attack. You aren't imposing your will with a passing game. You're playing monkey in the middle, throwing it over the defenders' head instead of RAMMING it down their throats with a running game.
All this to say, I don't care about Riley's system or him getting his players in and needing more time to do so. Throwing the ball all day long is WUSSY football, plain and simple. The offensive line is backpedaling to form a nice cushy pocket for the golden boy QB, who, if forced to run the ball would slide or run out of bounds.....There's no real HITTING going on with a passing play. On running plays - when that ball is snapped the OL fires off the ball and tries to drive the defensive line and LBs into the ground, pancake style! It's aggressive, it's brutal, THAT is what football is meant to be....not this fast break basketball style passing the ball that has continued to infiltrate the football game for the last few decades. I say, get back to the physicalness of the game, the aggressiveness, the running over teams ....because it is the blueprint for success at a place like Nebraska with its limited recruiting areas and plus their homegrown talent and development of big strong linemen to run block for the hard hitting FB and fast I-backs and wingbacks............and leave those pass happy Sissy offenses to schools in Florida and California.
I'll add this.....Many here say we have to give RIley time to get his players in and play to his system. I say, no, no, no, absolutely not. 1) Who wants to wait? Patience is a virtue, yes, but not when you've been waiting nearly 20 years already for a national championship and nothing to show for it. To me, 18 years is long enough. 2) Winners WIN. Period. Riley was a mediocre coach at best. Outstanding coaches find a way to win regardless of their circumstances. There are many instances of this in college football history. Hell, you need look no further than Bob Devaney. Won immediately. Look at Harbaugh, Mcelwain, Urban Meyer, etc.. Winners Win. Put Riley as head coach of Ohio State last year and he doesn't even win his division. Winners Win.....losers lose, and mediocre coaches stay mediocre (unless they do a complete overhaul of their so called "system").
And just from a pure selfish reason, I want a coach who knows and can teach/coach an overpowering running game (at least an 80/20 or higher run-pass ratio) because i like the BEAUTY of a running game attack I find more joy in a 5 yard fullback trap or an inside ISO play than I do any kind of pass play. Passing, to me, just represents WUSSY football pure and simple. You aren't dominating anyone with a passing attack. You aren't imposing your will with a passing game. You're playing monkey in the middle, throwing it over the defenders' head instead of RAMMING it down their throats with a running game.
All this to say, I don't care about Riley's system or him getting his players in and needing more time to do so. Throwing the ball all day long is WUSSY football, plain and simple. The offensive line is backpedaling to form a nice cushy pocket for the golden boy QB, who, if forced to run the ball would slide or run out of bounds.....There's no real HITTING going on with a passing play. On running plays - when that ball is snapped the OL fires off the ball and tries to drive the defensive line and LBs into the ground, pancake style! It's aggressive, it's brutal, THAT is what football is meant to be....not this fast break basketball style passing the ball that has continued to infiltrate the football game for the last few decades. I say, get back to the physicalness of the game, the aggressiveness, the running over teams ....because it is the blueprint for success at a place like Nebraska with its limited recruiting areas and plus their homegrown talent and development of big strong linemen to run block for the hard hitting FB and fast I-backs and wingbacks............and leave those pass happy Sissy offenses to schools in Florida and California.
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