If Starts Up Front

[Roy CO HSKR]

The following is from the author who goes by Feel Like A Stranger from another site:

It starts up front: Reasons why our offense isn't going.

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Given the great info that Wagner gave us from the Big Red Breakfast today, I wanted to compile some information (ala rojo) that explains clearly why our offense isn't rolling, and basically hasn't for the past three years or so.

It all starts up front, stupid.

Go back to the great NU OL's of the 90's and you will come up with the primary reason we are struggling on offense. We don't have any EXPERIENCED, DEVELOPED, offensive linemen.

OL Recruiting

2001 (would be rSr's this year)

recruits:

Gary Pike, OL; (Rivals #29)-has never played

{Richie Incognito; OT/DT; (Rivals #58)-2 year starter, kicked off team in 2004, would have exhausted eligibility last year}

Defensive converts:

Seppo Evwaraye,(Rivals N.R.)§ -was DL until 2004, #1 RT

Jared Helming-#2 LG

walk-on: Brandon Koch-#1 LG (now scholarship)

TWO CURRENT starters, one #2, one non-contributor left on team

2002 (would be rJR's this year)

Recruits:

Mann, Kurt, Rivals # 26-starting Center

{Leslie, Jermaine, Rivals #57-left team}

{Phillips, Jemayel-Rivals #49-left team}

{Timm, Cory-Rivals #91-left team}

walk-on: Newt Lingenfelter (has never played, now scholarship)

defensive convert: Chris Patrick #3 guard (has never played)

ONE starter, one backup, one non-contributor left on team

2003 (Jr or rSO's)

Greg Austin-Insiders #121, Rivals NR-starting LG

Brett Byford-Rivals #18, Insiders #59-has never played

{Darren DeLone-JUCO, exhausted eligibility last year}

{Ryan Schuler-Rivals #14, Insiders #18-blood clots, released from team}

ONE starter, one backup/non contributor

2004 (So or rFR)

Andy Christensen-Rivals #22, Insiders #45-was #2 LG, out for season

Mike Huff-Rivals NR, Insiders #144-#2RG

Lydon Murtha-Rivals #4, Insiders #11-#2 LT, injured until last week

C. Thomas-JUCO-#1 LT

{Danny Muy-Rivals #9, Insiders #73-left team}

{Seth Olsen-Rivals 35, Insiders 65-decommitted for Iowa}

one starter, 3 guys are/were #2 on depth chart

2005 (FR)

M. Slauson-fall addition, #2 RT

A. Gibson-fall JUCO

B. Pasteur-JUCO

C. Roark

J. Picou-former #2 LT

R. Picou-out for year

J. Hickman-greyshirt

(plus a few walk-ons)

To sum up, we have 20 OL players on the roster. 14 have come into the program in the last two years. Of the other 6, 3 are currently starters and 3 have never contributed. Of those 20, 9 are freshmen or sophomores.

Let me repeat that: Of the 20 OL players on the roster, 9 are freshmen or sophomores

Conclusion: No experience. Most of our OL recruits did not contribute or left the team. Mostly new players at this point.

That's the recruiting/retention story. In the next post, I'll look at the injury factor.

__________________

 

[Blackshirt]

Thanks for sharing Roy.

 

[Eric the Red]

Carriker healthy, racking up sacks, tackles for losses

By ROBIN WASHUT

September 22, 2005

On nearly every other play, Adam Carriker has at least 500 pounds of opposition doing everything it can to prevent him from succeeding.

Whether he’s being double- or even triple-teamed, life hasn’t gotten easier for Nebraska’s junior defensive end since the Cornhuskers changed their defensive scheme during the offseason.

Carriker, who has spent his first two seasons at NU at left defensive end, was moved to the right side – now known as the base end.

As Carriker quickly learned, the role of the base end is anything but glamorous – his job primarily is to draw as many opposing blockers as possible to free up his teammates while still staying in position to make a tackle himself.

Every game takes a toll on the 6-foot-6-inches, 280-pound native of Kennewick, Wash., but no matter who has tried to slow him down this season, Carriker is having the best year of his career.

Through three games, Carriker has been unstoppable, racking up five sacks and seven tackles for losses.

His tackle-for-loss and sack totals rank first and second in the Big 12 Conference and ninth and fifth in the nation, respectively.

Needless to say, taking on an extra blocker or two hasn’t slowed Carriker down much at all.

“I really didn’t know what to expect when I switched positions,” Carriker said. “When they told me what I was going to be doing, I was kind of like, ‘I don’t about this.’ But I’ve just played as hard as I can, and luckily good things have happened.”

Carriker credits two things toward his success at his new, more tasking position: First, he says offseason conditioning has him in the best shape of his life.

Second, the amount of depth the Huskers have at the defensive end position has allowed him to take the breaks he couldn’t get in games last season.

More than anything, though, it has been Carriker’s ability to stay healthy that has allowed him to finally showcase the talent many expected of him when he first set foot in Lincoln as a freshman three years ago.

After redshirting his first year in 2002, Carriker suffered an ankle injury two games into the 2003 season and was forced to miss three games.

While he struggled to rework his way back into the Huskers’ lineup, Carriker showed a brief flash of his potential in NU’s season finale against Colorado – tallying three tackles, a sack and three quarterback hurries.

Unfortunately, last season was much of the same, as Carriker played through another ankle injury for the majority of the year despite starting eight games.

For Carriker, there was always something keeping him from reaching his full potential.

Now, even with multiple blockers in his face on a regular basis, Carriker is showing why many think he’s the most likely NFL candidate on the Huskers’ roster.

“It was kind of frustrating my first two years with all the injuries,” Carriker said. “It was like I tried to go fast, but I couldn’t. It’s nice to be able to play the way I know I can now. Hopefully – knock on wood – I can stay healthy the rest of the way.”

So how does a guy whose primary role is to draw multiple blockers on every snap become one of the nation’s best pass rushers?

According to his coaches, being one of the hardest-working players on the team hasn’t hurt much.

“He’s played outstanding this season,” NU Defensive Coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said. “He’s a blue-collar guy. He comes to work with a lunch pail every day. You expect him to get results, and that’s exactly what he’s done.”

The main reason the base defensive end is supposed to draw double teams is to allow the linebackers to roam the field and play the ball more easily.

So far, the Husker linebackers lead the team in seven of the 10- recorded defensive categories. It also doesn’t come as much of a surprise to see that Carriker leads in two of the other three categories.

For many obvious reasons, Carriker’s play has been greatly appreciated by his teammates.

“He’s doing a hell of a job,” senior open defensive end Wali Muhammad said. “Carriker’s my dude. He finally got healthy, and now he’s really coming along. He’s a beast, man. Say he’s doing what he’s doing now next year – there ain’t no way he won’t get picked up (by the NFL).”

The potential always has been there for Carriker, but it hasn’t been until this season that he’s finally been able to live up to it.

While he’s currently on pace to etch his name in the NU record books, the number of sacks or tackles he gets really isn’t that big of a concern for Carriker.

He came to Nebraska for one reason, and that’s to get a championship.

Until he gets it, Carriker won’t be slowing down one bit – no matter how much opposition tries to stop him.

“I set three goals for myself when I came here: To graduate, earn a Blackshirt and get a ring,” Carriker said. “That’s why I came here, to get a ring. A championship. I want it all.”

 

[Eric the Red]

Carriker Credits Incognito

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska's defensive coach for the football team has singled out the play of defensive end Adam Carriker. Defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said Carriker is a blue-collar guy who has played well in every game.

That kinds of praise is a big improvement over last year. Through three games, Carriker has already exceeded his sack total from last season. He's at five this year compared with three last year, which he attributes to an ankle injury.

"I'd watch myself come off the ball last year," Carriker said. "You would have thought I weighed 450 pounds. I was so slow."

Carriker has his feet under him now. The 6-foot-6-inch, 280-pounder is making quarterbacks pay with his speed and strength.

"In high school, I lifted 3½ hours a day. I wasn't strong. I had to work hard when I got here. It's paying off, because my strength is my strength," Carriker said.

Carriker credits much of his success to an unlikely source. He said going up against Richie Incognito, before the offensive lineman was kicked off the team, was important for Carriker as a freshman.

"When you get here as a freshman, it really sets in. I was really happy going against him. It really pushed me. If you didn't get better, he'd step on your back. You learn to get better fast. I think I can take on any O lineman in the country. I beat him quite a bit of the time. Going against him, he's the best offensive lineman I've ever faced. It gave me that confidence," Carriker said.

Incognito was taken by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the NFL draft in April. He still has not come to an agreement on a contract with the team.

 

[TheKiD]

Thanks for the article on the OL. I knew it was in bad shape but, it's nice to see the indepth info.

As for the first article on Carriker.. man, it makes it sound like he's getting a raw deal or something, like we should feel sorry for him. He's a STARTING BLACKSHIRT FOR THE HUSKERS, and putting up great numbers. Wow, maybe no-one else got that feeling from the article, oh well.

Anyway, nice article here for sure.

 

[Eric the Red]

Suh will be out of action for the next 2-3 games while he gets his knee scoped. A lot of these new freshamn are getting surgery. I wonder if these were injuries sustained in high school and were never attended to because of the cost. NU is no doubt picking up the tab for these.

 

[DaveH]

DAMNIT. That blows.