SI's Stewart Mandel on teams with new coaches

[papersun87]

Nebraska 

'07 record: 5-7 (2-6 Big 12).

New coach: Bo Pelini, formerly LSU's defensive coordinator.

What he inherits: Predecessor Bill Callahan recruited well enough during his four years in Lincoln, and there's more talent on hand than last year's disastrous campaign -- in which the Huskers' defense completely imploded -- might indicate. QB Joe Ganz performed extremely well upon taking over the starting job in the final three games, and RB Marlon Lucky is an all-conference talent. The defense is led by a veteran front four but is littered with questions in the back seven.

'08 prospects: The defensive-minded Pelini will leave Nebraska's ninth-rated offense from last season largely untouched while focusing on resuscitating the fallen Blackshirts. If Ganz picks up where he left off at the end of '07, and if Pelini can bring some cohesion to the other side of the ball, it's not unrealistic to expect an immediate improvement of several wins. The Big 12 North may be too tough, however, to contend for the division title.

Not much there, but it's nice to hear some positive press. Have at it.

 

[robsker]

Nebraska 

'07 record: 5-7 (2-6 Big 12).

New coach: Bo Pelini, formerly LSU's defensive coordinator.

What he inherits: Predecessor Bill Callahan recruited well enough during his four years in Lincoln, and there's more talent on hand than last year's disastrous campaign -- in which the Huskers' defense completely imploded -- might indicate. QB Joe Ganz performed extremely well upon taking over the starting job in the final three games, and RB Marlon Lucky is an all-conference talent. The defense is led by a veteran front four but is littered with questions in the back seven.

'08 prospects: The defensive-minded Pelini will leave Nebraska's ninth-rated offense from last season largely untouched while focusing on resuscitating the fallen Blackshirts. If Ganz picks up where he left off at the end of '07, and if Pelini can bring some cohesion to the other side of the ball, it's not unrealistic to expect an immediate improvement of several wins. The Big 12 North may be too tough, however, to contend for the division title.

Not much there, but it's nice to hear some positive press. Have at it.

The front four is veteran to be sure --- but that crew, collectively and individually, have not performed well --- at all. He makes it sound as though the front will be the strength of the D. It strikes me that if the defense has a unit that can be counted upon to be decent it will be the secondary with Thenarse, Culbert, Asante, Murillo, Amukamura, West, et al. Clearly the LB crew is a huge question --- but so too is the defensive line (not as much as is the LB crew, but still questionable).

 

[admo]

understatement. I would say the entire team = cohesion. Callahan did recruit well, but under the pretense of NFL bound illusions. So now they are learning to pull & work together as a team, as Nebraska Cornhuskers, not as individuals solely seeking NFL rewards. My thoughts..

Good stuff papersun

 

[DCHusker]

Nebraska 

'07 record: 5-7 (2-6 Big 12).

New coach: Bo Pelini, formerly LSU's defensive coordinator.

What he inherits: Predecessor Bill Callahan recruited well enough during his four years in Lincoln, and there's more talent on hand than last year's disastrous campaign -- in which the Huskers' defense completely imploded -- might indicate. QB Joe Ganz performed extremely well upon taking over the starting job in the final three games, and RB Marlon Lucky is an all-conference talent. The defense is led by a veteran front four but is littered with questions in the back seven.

'08 prospects: The defensive-minded Pelini will leave Nebraska's ninth-rated offense from last season largely untouched while focusing on resuscitating the fallen Blackshirts. If Ganz picks up where he left off at the end of '07, and if Pelini can bring some cohesion to the other side of the ball, it's not unrealistic to expect an immediate improvement of several wins. The Big 12 North may be too tough, however, to contend for the division title.

Not much there, but it's nice to hear some positive press. Have at it.

The front four is veteran to be sure --- but that crew, collectively and individually, have not performed well --- at all. He makes it sound as though the front will be the strength of the D. It strikes me that if the defense has a unit that can be counted upon to be decent it will be the secondary with Thenarse, Culbert, Asante, Murillo, Amukamura, West, et al. Clearly the LB crew is a huge question --- but so too is the defensive line (not as much as is the LB crew, but still questionable).

No doubt he just looked at the class level of all our defensive starters, saw that the line had the most upper classmen, and decided it was the most reliable unit. Hardly. As far as I'm concerned they were the worst defensive unit on the field last year. That said, I agree that they certainly have more upside than the LBs for '08.

 

[hskrpwr13]

The pundits who actually understand the Husker program and its tradition, this is the type of stuff I'm reading. Those who either don't know or maybe dont care for the Husker program seem to have a more doom and gloom forecast. Attitude is all that separated last year's team from 9/10 wins.

 

[gamecocks]

Nebraska 

'07 record: 5-7 (2-6 Big 12).

New coach: Bo Pelini, formerly LSU's defensive coordinator.

What he inherits: Predecessor Bill Callahan recruited well enough during his four years in Lincoln, and there's more talent on hand than last year's disastrous campaign -- in which the Huskers' defense completely imploded -- might indicate. QB Joe Ganz performed extremely well upon taking over the starting job in the final three games, and RB Marlon Lucky is an all-conference talent. The defense is led by a veteran front four but is littered with questions in the back seven.

'08 prospects: The defensive-minded Pelini will leave Nebraska's ninth-rated offense from last season largely untouched while focusing on resuscitating the fallen Blackshirts. If Ganz picks up where he left off at the end of '07, and if Pelini can bring some cohesion to the other side of the ball, it's not unrealistic to expect an immediate improvement of several wins. The Big 12 North may be too tough, however, to contend for the division title.

Not much there, but it's nice to hear some positive press. Have at it.

The front four is veteran to be sure --- but that crew, collectively and individually, have not performed well --- at all. He makes it sound as though the front will be the strength of the D. It strikes me that if the defense has a unit that can be counted upon to be decent it will be the secondary with Thenarse, Culbert, Asante, Murillo, Amukamura, West, et al. Clearly the LB crew is a huge question --- but so too is the defensive line (not as much as is the LB crew, but still questionable).

No doubt he just looked at the class level of all our defensive starters, saw that the line had the most upper classmen, and decided it was the most reliable unit. Hardly. As far as I'm concerned they were the worst defensive unit on the field last year. That said, I agree that they certainly have more upside than the LBs for '08.

They probally were the worst unit last year, however, they do have a lot of talent across the front. Barry Turner was a freshman All-american and Suh has All-conference potential. Potter probally played the best out of all of them last year. I think with coaches that will have the front four focus and motivated, they should be the strength of the defense. Plus, they do have experience unlike the most of the secondary.

 

[melscott62]

I expect our line to be the strength of our D. that is a very talented group between potter/suh/turner. I think in Bo's system turner is going to cause people so serious trouble. as always health is KEY!!

and I dont get the hate on our secondary either. they arent great, but I dont think they are horrible either. #2 corner is the key their. I think our safties and Murillo should be strong.

 

[dustinl15]

The defense can't be worse than last year......that's how I look at it anyway. These guys are gelling together as a team that can trust each other on the field and push each other to become better, but at the same time pick each other up when someone is struggling. I don't plan on our D being top 20 in the nation but I do believe we will be able to be around the top 50. Why? Because they will truly understand what it means to be a blackshirt; the pride, the tradition, the respect and the hard hitting attitude. :bonez

 

[walksalone]

No doubt he just looked at the class level of all our defensive starters, saw that the line had the most upper classmen, and decided it was the most reliable unit. Hardly. As far as I'm concerned they were the worst defensive unit on the field last year. That said, I agree that they certainly have more upside than the LBs for '08.

The pass rush was pretty weak comparitively to other years and DC's assesment is pretty much on point.

I honestly think we're actually going to have to wait a couple games to find out where the strength in our defense really is...