I think for the most part these players are 'buying' what Riley is selling but they simply can't execute. Bo repeatedly declared "poor execution" and he was right. The players did not execute what they were told to do. It is not nearly as complicated as many want to make it out to be. We are NOT a good football teama and that has been the case for a LONG time. The deterioration was dramatic and team wide as early as 2001 and bottomed out finally in 2015. There were a few minor ups and downs but Nebraska has never been a top ten team since 2000 honestly. The Bo years, we probably averaged around #40. today we are #75. Last year we were 65th and we lost a few key players that we are really missing, particularly with the injuries, etc. Our cupboard is so bare that we literally have NO capable back ups in numerous positions.
There is NOTHING wrong with our program that a dramatic upgrade in talent won't fix and fix fairly quickly. However, absent the ability to give out 50 scholarships to top 100 level players for three consecutive years, we won't be able to be a national title contender within the next 5 years. We don't have any all conference level players in most positions, let alone all Americans. We have some possible honorable mentions, perhaps two or three, at best.