The husker O-line troubles run deep

[huskered17]

I was wondering if anybody had heard anything on Nick Ash. Thought he would be pushing for playing time by now. Certainly has the right size to play the 0-line. Is he still injured and what type of injury is it?

GBR!!!

 

[da skers]

The biggest reason our oline is having problems this year has nothing to do with switching offense, guys getting hurt, recruiting mistakes, etc. The real reason we'll struggle this year is because we have 3 years of very bad habits we need to (and we're trying) to break. There hasn't been the accountability on the line that there has been in other positions. You can see this year that is changing.

 

[bshirt]

The biggest reason our oline is having problems this year has nothing to do with switching offense, guys getting hurt, recruiting mistakes, etc. The real reason we'll struggle this year is because we have 3 years of very bad habits we need to (and we're trying) to break. There hasn't been the accountability on the line that there has been in other positions. You can see this year that is changing.

Ouch!!! So much for my grand theory then.

No accountability? Bad habits? Almost no upper classmen on the Oline at all but that's not a major problem?

Would you please expand on your post? Inquiring minds want to know.

Thanks!!

 

[Pedro Guerrero]

So Billy C was fired in 2007 yet he is still getting blamed for things in 2011 (4 years later)? Does that mean the crappiness that was 2007 was not Billy C’s crews fault and it falls on the shoulders of Got Frank? :dunno <_<

 

[Enhance]

Didn't we have pretty severe depth issues in the defensive backfield after 2007, yet now we have one of the best in the country?

I think there is something interesting to be said though for how unlucky we've been with linemen, whether it involves injury, early departure or just never seeing the playing field.

 

[Hammerhead]

It's a major recruiting problem that we had but they're going to extreme lengths to fix it (2010 was good & 2011 was excellent). Sadly, as the artcle states it's not a five minute project. Getting so very little from two consectutive classes (2007 & 2008) is simply devastating.

Of course it's just easier to blame everything on Barney (even with the new coaches). It requires zero thought processing and it solves all the questions for the problems we see on the field. It's the BIG RED way!!

:corndance

No, it's much easier to blame the problems on guys who are four years gone and avoid holding accountable the ones who are on the job now and have been for some time.

Guys, I had an epiphany just now:

Maybe it's both!

 

[Hunter94]

george bush....it's obvious.

 

[Joe_5700]

The biggest reason our oline is having problems this year has nothing to do with switching offense, guys getting hurt, recruiting mistakes, etc. The real reason we'll struggle this year is because we have 3 years of very bad habits we need to (and we're trying) to break. There hasn't been the accountability on the line that there has been in other positions. You can see this year that is changing.

What are these bad habits? I'm serious...I am by no means an offensive line guru. Do you have faith in this current staff to correct these bad habits? I think the main reason for our offensive line woes is that we do not have a single dominant lineman. Not a single one. At times last year Ricky Henry had that potential minus the personal fouls and false starts. Someone has to step up or the line collectively needs to develop a nasty attitude to make up for their shortcomings...

 

[Husker_x]

I don't have much of an opinion about Dirk. None of his pieces have ever struck me as particularly memorable, or his voice for that matter.

But when you have a point, you have a point. This year feels to me like 2008 did for the defense. And it should. Our offense was as bad last year as our D was in 2007. The only difference is you can actually sort of waddle your way through a season with a crappy offense. You can't with a crappy defense. Pelini moved Stein to D because that's what desperately needed attention (sorry Dirk, it was the right move whatever his potential was). We have had some very unfortunate modern history when it comes to recruiting the line. We're only now getting it turned around.

From what a lot of people are saying, the line is having to overcome Cotton. That sentiment more than anything makes me hugely suspicious of Pelini's strategy last winter in hiring. No matter how many friends the guy may or may not have.

 

[Hunter94]

I don't have much of an opinion about Dirk. None of his pieces have ever struck me as particularly memorable, or his voice for that matter.

But when you have a point, you have a point. This year feels to me like 2008 did for the defense. And it should. Our offense was as bad last year as our D was in 2007. The only difference is you can actually sort of waddle your way through a season with a crappy offense. You can't with a crappy defense. Pelini moved Stein to D because that's what desperately needed attention (sorry Dirk, it was the right move whatever his potential was). We have had some very unfortunate modern history when it comes to recruiting the line. We're only now getting it turned around.

From what a lot of people are saying, the line is having to overcome Cotton. That sentiment more than anything makes me hugely suspicious of Pelini's strategy last winter in hiring. No matter how many friends the guy may or may not have.

i agree, another year of waddling.....technique or no, i didn't see any O linemen dominating the player across from them and that was Chatanooga!.......reminds me of SDSU.

 

[girlknowsfootball]

I think Dirk hit it on the head. We had several medical conditions that took guys away from the program, we had a lot of guys opt out of commitment and a lot of guys leave the program upon the coaching change. We only have a few upper class-men left on this team and none of which are 100% healthy with playing experience. When Pelini came in, he changed the culture of the program... he started demanding more and set higher expectations for his players both on and off the field. Some guys just didn't like that and never put their heart and soul into the new group. There are many other reasons as well... point is... through a number of circumstances, we lost our 2007, 2008, and most of our 2009 OL guys. So that leaves us with Marcel Jones representing the 4th and 5th year scholarship group. Then next up is Sirles and Qvale... other than those guys and some walk ons like Caputo & Long, everyone else is part of the 2010, 2011 class. They're all redshirt freshmen and freshmen. These kids have hardly any game experience, many played on the scout team last year. So now they are working their tails off, doubling up their snaps to get caught up to where they need to be. Now that Watson is out, Pelini and Beck are taking the reigns addressing these problems head on by placing an extra coach on the OL, by bringing in an NFL guy (Stai) and by signing 5 freshmen this year with 3 walk ons. Klachko, Reeves, Moore, Sterup & Price all will be players for us... not to mention Cotton, Long, Thompson, Sirles & Qvale who are all on the come. I expect us to bring in Thurston, A Peat, and another 4 star guy this fall to finish out a great group that will anchor the offense over the next 4 years. This 2011 & 2012 class will not be that anchor until 2013, when they have had time to sort their positions/skills/experience out and have reached their rhythm.

We are going to be fine at this position. They just need some time to learn the college game, get some experience, get with Dobson to get shaped up right, and to gel with the guys next to them. All this takes a guy a year or 2 before he is ready to see the field. The only reason Moore is playing this year is because of that spring under his belt, and his sky high ability.

3 out of the 5 guys on the starting line this year are back next year. Sirles (behind hardrick) will be here with a full season of starts under his belt for next year. That leaves us with just 1 inexperienced position in the center spot. I anticipate Reeves or Klachko securing that position and I anticipate us having a guy with some experience in Pensick/Pelini there to help out next year. Bring in the redshirts with Reeves, Klachko, Price, Sterup... and then bring in the huge freshmen talent in Peat, Thurston, and that other 4 star guy... and we will be rocking next year on offense.

 

[Pedro Guerrero]

Who was the OL coach in 2003 when they played horrible against any team with a pulse despite having starters that had a combined 8 letters between them going into the season and were (RS)SO, JR, SR, JR, SR? <_<

 

[irafreak]

I still think it's a little too early to start slamming the oline this year. Let's wait and see the big week 1 to week 2 improvement first.

 

[Husker_x]

I still think it's a little too early to start slamming the oline this year. Let's wait and see the big week 1 to week 2 improvement first.

Agreed. I'm not interested in the panic-o-rama until after the nonconference is over. Once these guys have a bit of seasoning in live games, plus another month of practice, we'll have a better idea of where we're headed.

 

[bshirt]

Who was the OL coach in 2003 when they played horrible against any team with a pulse despite having starters that had a combined 8 letters between them going into the season and were (RS)SO, JR, SR, JR, SR?

Oh, that NU team that had a bowl winning 10 - 3 record? In a truly amazing display of outstanding stupidity we fired them all to bring in the mighty Clownahan regime. Truly an epic moment.

Btw, how many times have we done better than 10 - 3 since?