One story in a Wine Country Husker series, looking at position breakdowns for the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the 2012 season. Today, we look at linebacker:
Looking back: Any discussion regarding Nebraska linebackers in 2011, and for that matter the past two seasons, begins and ends with LaVonte David. While Husker fans (well, a significant portion anyhow) have always had aversions to junior college transfers, one cannot deny that without David (a former JUCO transfer) Nebraska very well could have finished 7-6 instead of 9-4.
His forced fumble and subsequent recovery of Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller sparked a 34-27 come-from-behind win over the Buckeyes when the Huskers appeared headed for their second embarrassing loss in as many weeks. David’s numbers speak for themselves as he recorded team highs in total tackles (133), tackles for loss (13) and quarterback sacks (5.5).
Will Compton came alive in the second half of the season and recorded 82 total tackles, seven for lost yardage. Sean Fisher came back after having missed the 2010 season with a leg injury to start four games and record 24 total tackles. However, Alonzo Whaley saw his most significant playing time the last two games of the season and actually moved ahead of Fisher on the depth chart.
Looking ahead: No point sugarcoating matters, David’s incredible skills will be hard to replace. Nebraska has had its share of legendary linebackers such as Tom Novak, Broderick Thomas, Barrett Ruud, Jerry Murtugh, Ed Stewart and Marc Munford. Where David fits in the anals of Husker lore is open for discussion but he certainly belongs in that conversation.
David Santos, who will be a redshirt freshman, might get the first shot at replacing David. While Santos is talented he also young. Plus, going from scout team player to replacing David would be a tall order.
The fact that Compton made it through an entire season mostly injury free, which hadn’t been the case throughout his career before the season, is a good sign. The Huskers will need Compton to take on an even bigger role in 2012. Sophomore Trevor Roach saw action early in the season and can be a capable backup at MIKE linebacker to Compton.
It also bears watching if Whaley stays ahead of Fisher on the depth chart at the BUCK position. Either way, both will be needed when the Huskers go to their goal-line defense.
The player from the 2012 class that will need to contribute immediate is junior college transfer Zaire Anderson. The Huskers have a strong group of recruits but will they be ready to contribute right away?
Monday, January 30, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
2012 Position Outlook: Defensive Line
One story in a Wine Country Husker series, looking at position breakdowns for the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the 2012 season. Today, we look at defensive line:
Looking back: The Nebraska defensive line was dealt a severe blow when defensive tackle Jared Crick, who appeared poised for a breakout season, was shelved after five games because of a torn pectoral muscle. While Crick was not having the breakout season most expected of him, losing him as a presence in the middle of the line was a fate the Huskers were not counting on suffering before the season began.
The Nebraska defense did not stop teams with the same authority as it had in 2009 and to a lesser extent 2010. The Huskers ranked No. 41 nationally in points allowed (22.8) and No. 37 to total yards against (350.7).
Nebraska also allowed opposing quarterbacks too much time to throw, which is significant because head coach Bo Pelini prefers to rely on the front four to generate pressure without blitzing.
While Crick’s season-ending injury hurt the Huskers during the last half of 2011, it helped develop experience for sophomore Chase Rome, who could be Nebraska’s most explosive young lineman. Seniors Bakers Steinkuhler and Cameron Meredith have been steady starters for two years, but their production seems to have reached its ceiling.
Looking ahead: Though the Huskers lose Crick and Terrence Moore, who started seven games at defensive tackle after Crick was put on the shelf, Nebraska should be in good shape at this position because there are plenty of experienced returning players.
Eric Martin and Cameron Meredith are entrenched as starters at defensive end. Senior Baker Steinkuhler should provide a steady presence at defensive tackle with sophomore Chase Rome pushing strongly for a starting job.
Jason Ankrah, Joe Carter and Kevin Williams are touted recruits who have yet to live up to their potential. Thad Randle and Jay Guy are coming off injuries, but seem to have the goods to stop the run. Todd Peat and Williams could also emerge as contributors. Greg McMullen is a talented recruit while Avery Moss may be counted on to rush the passer more.
The biggest change, however, is the addition defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski, who turned out strong units at Iowa for five years. Kaczenski was hired as a result of John Papuchis replacing Carl Pelini as defensive coordinator after getting hired as the Florida Atlantic head coach. Kaczenski assumes a unit that needs a jolt of energy. This unit should be the strength of Nebraska’s defense in 2012 and it needs to be.
Kaczenski has spent the past five years coaching Iowa’s defensive line. Among the players that flourished under his watch were All-Big Ten picks Adrian Clayborn and Mitch King. Clayborn received consensus All-America honors in 2010.
Seven of Kaczenski’s defensive linemen have been drafted or have signed an NFL free-agent contract over the past four seasons.
Looking back: The Nebraska defensive line was dealt a severe blow when defensive tackle Jared Crick, who appeared poised for a breakout season, was shelved after five games because of a torn pectoral muscle. While Crick was not having the breakout season most expected of him, losing him as a presence in the middle of the line was a fate the Huskers were not counting on suffering before the season began.
The Nebraska defense did not stop teams with the same authority as it had in 2009 and to a lesser extent 2010. The Huskers ranked No. 41 nationally in points allowed (22.8) and No. 37 to total yards against (350.7).
Nebraska also allowed opposing quarterbacks too much time to throw, which is significant because head coach Bo Pelini prefers to rely on the front four to generate pressure without blitzing.
While Crick’s season-ending injury hurt the Huskers during the last half of 2011, it helped develop experience for sophomore Chase Rome, who could be Nebraska’s most explosive young lineman. Seniors Bakers Steinkuhler and Cameron Meredith have been steady starters for two years, but their production seems to have reached its ceiling.
Looking ahead: Though the Huskers lose Crick and Terrence Moore, who started seven games at defensive tackle after Crick was put on the shelf, Nebraska should be in good shape at this position because there are plenty of experienced returning players.
Eric Martin and Cameron Meredith are entrenched as starters at defensive end. Senior Baker Steinkuhler should provide a steady presence at defensive tackle with sophomore Chase Rome pushing strongly for a starting job.
Jason Ankrah, Joe Carter and Kevin Williams are touted recruits who have yet to live up to their potential. Thad Randle and Jay Guy are coming off injuries, but seem to have the goods to stop the run. Todd Peat and Williams could also emerge as contributors. Greg McMullen is a talented recruit while Avery Moss may be counted on to rush the passer more.
The biggest change, however, is the addition defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski, who turned out strong units at Iowa for five years. Kaczenski was hired as a result of John Papuchis replacing Carl Pelini as defensive coordinator after getting hired as the Florida Atlantic head coach. Kaczenski assumes a unit that needs a jolt of energy. This unit should be the strength of Nebraska’s defense in 2012 and it needs to be.
Kaczenski has spent the past five years coaching Iowa’s defensive line. Among the players that flourished under his watch were All-Big Ten picks Adrian Clayborn and Mitch King. Clayborn received consensus All-America honors in 2010.
Seven of Kaczenski’s defensive linemen have been drafted or have signed an NFL free-agent contract over the past four seasons.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
2012 Position Outlook: Offensive Line
One story in a Wine Country Husker series, looking at position breakdowns for the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the 2012 season. Today, we look at tight end:
Looking back: Though the Huskers lose center Mike Caputo along tackles Marcel Jones and Yoshi Hardrick to graduation, this unit underwent a youth movement for the first time in recent memory.
Walk-on Spencer Long came out of nowhere to start every game at right guard. Andrew Rodriguez and Seung Hoon Choi took their shots starting at left guard. True freshman Tyler Moore started all four non-conference games at right tackle. Even though Jeremiah Sirles played as a backup this year, he has 14 games as a starter at left tackle in 2010 under his belt.
The 2011 campaign showed that the strength for Nebraska was the offense, as the defense was racked by injuries. The offense was once again focused on the run, but unlike 2010 when quarterback Taylor Martinez was a game-breaker, he was focused more on limiting turnovers (sorry, I hate the term “game manager’). The Huskers sustained their share of injuries on the offensive line which led to the lineup being changed often, and at one point in time, Nebraska would rotate the entire line every so often in the game.
Under first-year offensive coordinator Tim Beck, Nebraska dropped in production from 2010, but to be fair, if Nebraska had 2010's defense, they would have done a lot better this season.
Beck introduced some new formations, like the diamond, and shifted from the shotgun being the base formation to the pistol. He also started to use the fullback, which made all the people who remember Nebraska using a fullback happy.
Looking ahead: There were moments when the group imposed its will and shined. The second half against Ohio State in a 34-27 win over the Buckeyes and the first half of the Capital One Bowl game (a 30-13 loss to South Carolina) were prime examples of what Nebraska could accomplish up front against talented opposition. Entering the bowl game, Nebraska ranked 13th in the country rushing while facing its share of talented defensive lines in the Big Ten.
However, the second half of the loss to South Carolina served as a reminder that this unit still has to improve. In the last 25 minutes, Nebraska had almost as many penalties (8) as offensive yards (12).
With another year under their belts, Sirles and Moore figure to be the early front-runners to start at tackle. Depth, however, needs to be established.
The Huskers have some solid and proven depth at guard with Choi, who made the most of his opportunity after Rodriguez was beset by injuries. Rodriguez is long on potential but can he stay healthy?
Spencer Long, who is a walk-on that started every game a year ago, will be starting somewhere. The question is will it be at guard or center? Replacing Caputo at center is a pressing need considering that he saw the majority of the snaps. Cole Pensick is the early favorite to start though others will get a look as well including Ryne Reeves, Mark Pelini and possibly Long. Brent Qvale, who enters his junior year, will have a chance to contribute as well as Brandon Thompson.
Looking back: Though the Huskers lose center Mike Caputo along tackles Marcel Jones and Yoshi Hardrick to graduation, this unit underwent a youth movement for the first time in recent memory.
Walk-on Spencer Long came out of nowhere to start every game at right guard. Andrew Rodriguez and Seung Hoon Choi took their shots starting at left guard. True freshman Tyler Moore started all four non-conference games at right tackle. Even though Jeremiah Sirles played as a backup this year, he has 14 games as a starter at left tackle in 2010 under his belt.
The 2011 campaign showed that the strength for Nebraska was the offense, as the defense was racked by injuries. The offense was once again focused on the run, but unlike 2010 when quarterback Taylor Martinez was a game-breaker, he was focused more on limiting turnovers (sorry, I hate the term “game manager’). The Huskers sustained their share of injuries on the offensive line which led to the lineup being changed often, and at one point in time, Nebraska would rotate the entire line every so often in the game.
Under first-year offensive coordinator Tim Beck, Nebraska dropped in production from 2010, but to be fair, if Nebraska had 2010's defense, they would have done a lot better this season.
Beck introduced some new formations, like the diamond, and shifted from the shotgun being the base formation to the pistol. He also started to use the fullback, which made all the people who remember Nebraska using a fullback happy.
Looking ahead: There were moments when the group imposed its will and shined. The second half against Ohio State in a 34-27 win over the Buckeyes and the first half of the Capital One Bowl game (a 30-13 loss to South Carolina) were prime examples of what Nebraska could accomplish up front against talented opposition. Entering the bowl game, Nebraska ranked 13th in the country rushing while facing its share of talented defensive lines in the Big Ten.
However, the second half of the loss to South Carolina served as a reminder that this unit still has to improve. In the last 25 minutes, Nebraska had almost as many penalties (8) as offensive yards (12).
With another year under their belts, Sirles and Moore figure to be the early front-runners to start at tackle. Depth, however, needs to be established.
The Huskers have some solid and proven depth at guard with Choi, who made the most of his opportunity after Rodriguez was beset by injuries. Rodriguez is long on potential but can he stay healthy?
Spencer Long, who is a walk-on that started every game a year ago, will be starting somewhere. The question is will it be at guard or center? Replacing Caputo at center is a pressing need considering that he saw the majority of the snaps. Cole Pensick is the early favorite to start though others will get a look as well including Ryne Reeves, Mark Pelini and possibly Long. Brent Qvale, who enters his junior year, will have a chance to contribute as well as Brandon Thompson.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Paterno's legacy a complicated definition
As we mourn the loss of former Penn State football head coach Joe Paterno, one thought crosses my mind.
OK, hold the tasteless humor for later but serious, we’ve all seen stories of 90-year old couples living out their lives together, and then when one of them passes away, the other one goes within
about six months. It’s almost as if the survivor loses their will to live after their love of 60 years, their constant companion, is gone. Paterno’s love for the last 60 years was Penn State football. When it was taken from him, you wonder how much it affected his will to live. The cause of death is cancer, but I think it may have been hastened by the loss of his love.
Paterno died Sunday at a State College, Pa., hospital, suffering in his final days from lung cancer, broken bones and the fallout of a horrific scandal that not only cost him his job, but also his trademark vigor and a portion of his good name.
The question is, how will the 85-year old Paterno be remembered? For most of his life Paterno conveyed three basic messages (honor, ethics and education) but all of that changed on Nov. 5, 2011, when a grand jury indicted Paterno’s former defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky, of multiple counts of sexual abuse of children.
Many, including Penn State’s Board of Trustees, believed Paterno could have and should have done more to stop Sandusky, especially after allegations of misconduct arose in 2002. Within days Paterno was fired from the program and school to which he’d become synonymous.
People can say what they want about the scandal but you can’t take away the fact of how many lives he has touched and how important he was to college football. Paterno will be missed and the Penn State sidelines will never be the same.
Though I believe the powers that be at Penn State were justified in dismissing Paterno, I can’t help but feel bad for him on some level. He clearly made a huge mistake in not doing more when he found out about Sandusky and he was clearly negligent but I think overall he was a good man and coach. Sandusky deserves most of the blame and I hope he rots. Sandusky needs to have his ass kicked and fed to the vultures.
I may have rooted against Penn State more often than for them it was more from the understanding that Paterno was going to have his team ready to play. We have lost a true legend of the sport and a truly remarkable human being.
To say he handled the situation poorly would be an understatement; however, his accomplishments will be in the record books without an asterisk by them. Most will forgive him in time just watch. It might be a long time, but it’ll happen.
OK, hold the tasteless humor for later but serious, we’ve all seen stories of 90-year old couples living out their lives together, and then when one of them passes away, the other one goes within
about six months. It’s almost as if the survivor loses their will to live after their love of 60 years, their constant companion, is gone. Paterno’s love for the last 60 years was Penn State football. When it was taken from him, you wonder how much it affected his will to live. The cause of death is cancer, but I think it may have been hastened by the loss of his love.
Paterno died Sunday at a State College, Pa., hospital, suffering in his final days from lung cancer, broken bones and the fallout of a horrific scandal that not only cost him his job, but also his trademark vigor and a portion of his good name.
The question is, how will the 85-year old Paterno be remembered? For most of his life Paterno conveyed three basic messages (honor, ethics and education) but all of that changed on Nov. 5, 2011, when a grand jury indicted Paterno’s former defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky, of multiple counts of sexual abuse of children.
Many, including Penn State’s Board of Trustees, believed Paterno could have and should have done more to stop Sandusky, especially after allegations of misconduct arose in 2002. Within days Paterno was fired from the program and school to which he’d become synonymous.
People can say what they want about the scandal but you can’t take away the fact of how many lives he has touched and how important he was to college football. Paterno will be missed and the Penn State sidelines will never be the same.
Though I believe the powers that be at Penn State were justified in dismissing Paterno, I can’t help but feel bad for him on some level. He clearly made a huge mistake in not doing more when he found out about Sandusky and he was clearly negligent but I think overall he was a good man and coach. Sandusky deserves most of the blame and I hope he rots. Sandusky needs to have his ass kicked and fed to the vultures.
I may have rooted against Penn State more often than for them it was more from the understanding that Paterno was going to have his team ready to play. We have lost a true legend of the sport and a truly remarkable human being.
To say he handled the situation poorly would be an understatement; however, his accomplishments will be in the record books without an asterisk by them. Most will forgive him in time just watch. It might be a long time, but it’ll happen.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
2012 Position Outlook: Tight End
One story in a Wine Country Husker series, looking at position breakdowns for the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the 2012 season. Today, we look at tight end:
Looking back: The Huskers made a return to running the triple option, which means the tight ends were involved quite a bit as blockers. However, when Nebraska ran any variation of the option the tight end was always a significant threat in the passing game.
While Kyler Reed and Ben Cotton occasionally made plays in the passing game, they also went long stretches without being involved. Reed caught 15 passes for 257 yards and one touchdown that did not come until the regular season finale of a 20-7 win over Iowa. Cotton caught 14 balls for 189 yards with nary a touchdown.
Looking ahead: The running game remains the Huskers’ staple but Reed has the speed to get behind defenders that Nebraska wants, and needs, to utilize in the passing game. The Huskers need to do so if for no other reason that for residual effects of opening up more running lanes.
Cotton can be a threat in the passing game but his strength is blocking on the perimeter for the Huskers running game.
With both Reed and Cotton being seniors, the Huskers are in good hands at tight end.
Looking back: The Huskers made a return to running the triple option, which means the tight ends were involved quite a bit as blockers. However, when Nebraska ran any variation of the option the tight end was always a significant threat in the passing game.
While Kyler Reed and Ben Cotton occasionally made plays in the passing game, they also went long stretches without being involved. Reed caught 15 passes for 257 yards and one touchdown that did not come until the regular season finale of a 20-7 win over Iowa. Cotton caught 14 balls for 189 yards with nary a touchdown.
Looking ahead: The running game remains the Huskers’ staple but Reed has the speed to get behind defenders that Nebraska wants, and needs, to utilize in the passing game. The Huskers need to do so if for no other reason that for residual effects of opening up more running lanes.
Cotton can be a threat in the passing game but his strength is blocking on the perimeter for the Huskers running game.
With both Reed and Cotton being seniors, the Huskers are in good hands at tight end.
Monday, January 16, 2012
2012 Position Outlook: Wide Receivers
One story in a Wine Country Husker series, looking at position breakdowns for the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the 2012 season. Today, we look at wide receiver:
Looking back: Brandon Kinnie was expected to be an integral part of the offense but he proved to be a disappointment as he caught just 22 passes for 257 yard and just one touchdown. Those were not the numbers Nebraska had in mind before the season started.
The Huskers also converted Jamal Turner from quarterback to wide receiver and while he caught 15 passes for 243 yards, he was a nonentity in the second half of the season.
Instead, it was Kenny Bell and Quincy Enunwa that made the biggest impact. The former became quarterback Taylor Martinez’s go-to guy as he caught 32 passes for 461 yards and three touchdowns, all of which were team highs. Bell especially came on strong in the second half of the season. Enunwa also showed flashes of brilliance as he caught 21 passes for 293 yards and a pair of scores. Tim Marlowe caught 12 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown.
However, dropped passes that did not allow drives to be kept afloat haunted Nebraska throughout the season.
Looking ahead: While Martinez has issues to straighten out as a passer, it is equally true that Nebraska receivers have not done him any favors by dropping catchable passes. The biggest culprit was Kinnie, who will be lost to graduation.
Bell, who will be a sophomore, figures to be the Huskers biggest offensive weapon not named Rex Burkhead. Bell certainly has the speed to get behind defenders. Enunwa, who will be a junior, not only gained confidence as a receiver but is perhaps the Huskers best downfield blocker among the wide receivers. That quality is very significant with any offense that runs a variation of the option. Marlowe might not fill up a bunch of highlight shows but his knowledge of the offense is a huge plus.
The wild card among next year’s group is Turner and Khiry Cooper, especially the former. Turner has the game-breaking speed and how he is used this fall bears watching. Cooper, who will be a senior, did not see a ton of snaps and freshman Taariq Allen shined as a scout team player last year but how that parlays into playing time is another matter.
Looking back: Brandon Kinnie was expected to be an integral part of the offense but he proved to be a disappointment as he caught just 22 passes for 257 yard and just one touchdown. Those were not the numbers Nebraska had in mind before the season started.
The Huskers also converted Jamal Turner from quarterback to wide receiver and while he caught 15 passes for 243 yards, he was a nonentity in the second half of the season.
Instead, it was Kenny Bell and Quincy Enunwa that made the biggest impact. The former became quarterback Taylor Martinez’s go-to guy as he caught 32 passes for 461 yards and three touchdowns, all of which were team highs. Bell especially came on strong in the second half of the season. Enunwa also showed flashes of brilliance as he caught 21 passes for 293 yards and a pair of scores. Tim Marlowe caught 12 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown.
However, dropped passes that did not allow drives to be kept afloat haunted Nebraska throughout the season.
Looking ahead: While Martinez has issues to straighten out as a passer, it is equally true that Nebraska receivers have not done him any favors by dropping catchable passes. The biggest culprit was Kinnie, who will be lost to graduation.
Bell, who will be a sophomore, figures to be the Huskers biggest offensive weapon not named Rex Burkhead. Bell certainly has the speed to get behind defenders. Enunwa, who will be a junior, not only gained confidence as a receiver but is perhaps the Huskers best downfield blocker among the wide receivers. That quality is very significant with any offense that runs a variation of the option. Marlowe might not fill up a bunch of highlight shows but his knowledge of the offense is a huge plus.
The wild card among next year’s group is Turner and Khiry Cooper, especially the former. Turner has the game-breaking speed and how he is used this fall bears watching. Cooper, who will be a senior, did not see a ton of snaps and freshman Taariq Allen shined as a scout team player last year but how that parlays into playing time is another matter.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
2012 Position Outlook: Running back
One story in a Wine Country Husker series, looking at position breakdowns for the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the 2012 season. Today, we look at running:
Looking back: Let’s start with the obvious, “What more can be said about Rex Burkhead that has not already been said?” Nebraska has had its legendary running backs like Mike Rozier, Johnny Rodgers, I.M. Hipp, and Lawrence Phillips but Burkhead has established his own place in Husker lore.
The junior from Plano, Texas carried 284 times for 1,357 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2011. He also caught 21 more passes for 177 yards and a pair of scores. At times, Burkhead flat out carried the load for the Huskers and he did it against some pretty stout Big Ten defensive units such as Michigan State, Ohio State, and Penn State. While I never met Burkhead in person, anyone who has publically spoken about him say he’s an even better person. Suffice it to say, Husker fans are blessed to have him for another year.
With the return of the option, we actually saw the fullback get a few carries but not the amount that will make fans forget Joel Mackovica. Legate had eight carries and four catches (two for touchdowns). The fullback carrying the ball, however, seemed to be more of an attempt to pander to the fans that long for the retro Tom Osborne playbook.
The most puzzling aspect of the 2011 season as it pertained to the running back position was the fact that the Huskers burned redshirts on three players (Ameer Abdullah, Aaron Green and Braylon Heard). The threesome combined for just 91 carries and three receptions. Abdullah not redshirting was at least somewhat understandable because he was the primary kickoff and punt returner. However, it was readily apparent by midseason that either Green or Heard, probably the latter, should have redshirted.
Looking ahead: Burkhead is the unquestioned leader not only of this position but the entire offense. The tricky aspect will be getting Burkhead his steady diet of touches while also preserving him for the Big Ten grind.
Though his costly fumble in the Huskers 30-13 Capital Bowl loss played a role in the team unraveling, Abdullah showed enough promise early in the season to be that change of pace runner to compliment Burkhead.
Given that the option has returned as part of the Husker offense, losing Legate might be more of a concern that at first glance. For openers, there’s the role of lead blocking for the running back but also quarterback Taylor Martinez seems better suited on “load option” running plays that involve either a fullback or pulling guard.
Looking back: Let’s start with the obvious, “What more can be said about Rex Burkhead that has not already been said?” Nebraska has had its legendary running backs like Mike Rozier, Johnny Rodgers, I.M. Hipp, and Lawrence Phillips but Burkhead has established his own place in Husker lore.
The junior from Plano, Texas carried 284 times for 1,357 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2011. He also caught 21 more passes for 177 yards and a pair of scores. At times, Burkhead flat out carried the load for the Huskers and he did it against some pretty stout Big Ten defensive units such as Michigan State, Ohio State, and Penn State. While I never met Burkhead in person, anyone who has publically spoken about him say he’s an even better person. Suffice it to say, Husker fans are blessed to have him for another year.
With the return of the option, we actually saw the fullback get a few carries but not the amount that will make fans forget Joel Mackovica. Legate had eight carries and four catches (two for touchdowns). The fullback carrying the ball, however, seemed to be more of an attempt to pander to the fans that long for the retro Tom Osborne playbook.
The most puzzling aspect of the 2011 season as it pertained to the running back position was the fact that the Huskers burned redshirts on three players (Ameer Abdullah, Aaron Green and Braylon Heard). The threesome combined for just 91 carries and three receptions. Abdullah not redshirting was at least somewhat understandable because he was the primary kickoff and punt returner. However, it was readily apparent by midseason that either Green or Heard, probably the latter, should have redshirted.
Looking ahead: Burkhead is the unquestioned leader not only of this position but the entire offense. The tricky aspect will be getting Burkhead his steady diet of touches while also preserving him for the Big Ten grind.
Though his costly fumble in the Huskers 30-13 Capital Bowl loss played a role in the team unraveling, Abdullah showed enough promise early in the season to be that change of pace runner to compliment Burkhead.
Given that the option has returned as part of the Husker offense, losing Legate might be more of a concern that at first glance. For openers, there’s the role of lead blocking for the running back but also quarterback Taylor Martinez seems better suited on “load option” running plays that involve either a fullback or pulling guard.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
2012 Position Outlook: Quarterback
One story in a Wine Country Husker series, looking at position breakdowns for the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the 2012 season. Today, we look at quarterback:
Looking back: No matter who lines up under center or at shotgun, the Nebraska starting quarterback will always be subject to (how can I put this nicely) public opinion. Current sophomore Taylor Martinez has been subject to plenty of that.
You look at the raw numbers of Martinez’s first two seasons and there appears to be very little difference. In 2010, he completed 107 of 195 (54.8 percent) for 1,631 yards, ten touchdowns and seven interceptions. As a runner, he gained 966 yards 172 carries (5.6 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns. In 2011, Martinez completed 162 of 288 passes (56.3 percent) for 2,076 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. As a runner, he gained 875 yards on 188 carries (4.6 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns.
The vibe, however, was much different as in 2010, when Martinez was a big play waiting to happen the first ten games. He rushed 887 yards on 112 carries and 12 touchdowns. In the passing department, he completed 63 of 119 for 1,161 yards, ten touchdowns and three interceptions. After sustaining an ankle injury, however, Martinez became pretty ordinary as he carried 50 times for 79 yards. In the passing department, he completed 44 of 76 for 470 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions.
Nebraska, however, gave up 29 sacks last year but more specifically they gave up 12 sacks in their last 2 games (seven against Oklahoma and five against Washington). The Huskers gave up 21 sacks in 2011.
Martinez made a noticeable improvement this year on moving the chains by making good decisions in the passing game - whether to hit a check-down or scrambling.
He was more of a team leader than as a freshman but will never be confused for a martinet. His running stats are down a bit as some zealots point out the fewer jaw-dropping runs this season but much of Martinez's 2010 running stats came in the first few games against suspect defenses. Great highlights, but not very meaningful numbers. Also, turnovers were down a bit this year. He threw one more interception on 93 more passes.
Looking ahead: Though a segment of Husker fans will clamor for a change whether it’s freshman Brion Carnes, wide receiver Jamal Turner or for that matter incoming freshman Tommy Armstrong, Martinez will be the starter until further notice.
Nebraska appears to have a more-clear cut identity under current offensive coordinator Tim Beck than it did under Shawn Watson. The Huskers run a mixture of zone read, pistol and old school option. The zone read and pistol suit Martinez well but not the old school option, which gets the fans going from a nostalgia standpoint but doesn't suit Martinez's running skill which is a straight ahead burst or nothing.
To execute the option, you need to have a physical guy playing quarterback. Martinez is not that guy. The quarterback needs to step up and into traffic in order to force the edge to commit to him or the running back. Martinez runs back and out instead of into pursuit and outside. He doesn't really force the pursuit to commit as more often than not, Martinez runs towards the running back.
Yours truly defended Martinez more than most people but the fact remains that any improvement the Huskers make offensively has to begin with Martinez. He has started 25 games and it’s time now to take a quantum leap forward as a player and as a leader.
The numbers may bear out that Martinez is a decent passer but for every time he hits a receiver in stride there are two or three other times where he may throw the ball in the same area code of a receiver only he has to make a twisting, mid-air grab. Martinez has to consistently learn how to lead guys on crossing patterns so they can run after the grab as well as throw screens and swing passes better. He also needs to learn how to avoid sacks.
Looking back: No matter who lines up under center or at shotgun, the Nebraska starting quarterback will always be subject to (how can I put this nicely) public opinion. Current sophomore Taylor Martinez has been subject to plenty of that.
You look at the raw numbers of Martinez’s first two seasons and there appears to be very little difference. In 2010, he completed 107 of 195 (54.8 percent) for 1,631 yards, ten touchdowns and seven interceptions. As a runner, he gained 966 yards 172 carries (5.6 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns. In 2011, Martinez completed 162 of 288 passes (56.3 percent) for 2,076 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. As a runner, he gained 875 yards on 188 carries (4.6 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns.
The vibe, however, was much different as in 2010, when Martinez was a big play waiting to happen the first ten games. He rushed 887 yards on 112 carries and 12 touchdowns. In the passing department, he completed 63 of 119 for 1,161 yards, ten touchdowns and three interceptions. After sustaining an ankle injury, however, Martinez became pretty ordinary as he carried 50 times for 79 yards. In the passing department, he completed 44 of 76 for 470 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions.
Nebraska, however, gave up 29 sacks last year but more specifically they gave up 12 sacks in their last 2 games (seven against Oklahoma and five against Washington). The Huskers gave up 21 sacks in 2011.
Martinez made a noticeable improvement this year on moving the chains by making good decisions in the passing game - whether to hit a check-down or scrambling.
He was more of a team leader than as a freshman but will never be confused for a martinet. His running stats are down a bit as some zealots point out the fewer jaw-dropping runs this season but much of Martinez's 2010 running stats came in the first few games against suspect defenses. Great highlights, but not very meaningful numbers. Also, turnovers were down a bit this year. He threw one more interception on 93 more passes.
Looking ahead: Though a segment of Husker fans will clamor for a change whether it’s freshman Brion Carnes, wide receiver Jamal Turner or for that matter incoming freshman Tommy Armstrong, Martinez will be the starter until further notice.
Nebraska appears to have a more-clear cut identity under current offensive coordinator Tim Beck than it did under Shawn Watson. The Huskers run a mixture of zone read, pistol and old school option. The zone read and pistol suit Martinez well but not the old school option, which gets the fans going from a nostalgia standpoint but doesn't suit Martinez's running skill which is a straight ahead burst or nothing.
To execute the option, you need to have a physical guy playing quarterback. Martinez is not that guy. The quarterback needs to step up and into traffic in order to force the edge to commit to him or the running back. Martinez runs back and out instead of into pursuit and outside. He doesn't really force the pursuit to commit as more often than not, Martinez runs towards the running back.
Yours truly defended Martinez more than most people but the fact remains that any improvement the Huskers make offensively has to begin with Martinez. He has started 25 games and it’s time now to take a quantum leap forward as a player and as a leader.
The numbers may bear out that Martinez is a decent passer but for every time he hits a receiver in stride there are two or three other times where he may throw the ball in the same area code of a receiver only he has to make a twisting, mid-air grab. Martinez has to consistently learn how to lead guys on crossing patterns so they can run after the grab as well as throw screens and swing passes better. He also needs to learn how to avoid sacks.
Monday, January 9, 2012
A look ahead to 2012
The 2011 Nebraska football season is in our rearview mirror. The season-ending 30-13 Capital One Bowl loss to South Carolina to close the season leaves a sour taste as the Huskers finish the season in disappointing fashion at 9-4. Nine win seasons at Nebraska are the minimum expectation in a given year so to that end the season was not a failure but when you play it back in real time it was because the four losses (three decisive) hurt more than any of the nine wins felt great.
The ill-fated Bill Callahan era brought a 27-22 mark from 2004-2007 that included two bowl-less seasons. The Bo Pelini era (including his interim coach Alamo Bowl win over Michigan State in 2003) has brought a 39-16 mark. Since Pelini took over in 2008, the Huskers have gone 38-16 with two 9-4 seasons and two 10-4 campaigns. Those four seasons confirmed what I said when Pelini took over. Going from 5-7 in 2007 to 9-4 in 2008 was the easy part. Going from 9-4 to say 11-2 will be the hard part.
While Pelini’s initial impact was great, the Huskers have yet to take the next step. However, those calling for his scalp need to remember two things: a) It took the great Tom Osborne seven years to win a conference title and b) Nebraska fired Frank Solich after a 9-3 campaign in 2003 and that led to the Callahan era. Granted, the Callahan years were an anomaly but if you fire Pelini and get another Callahan-type, you get what you deserve.
However, at some point, Nebraska needs to get returns on its investment from hiring Pelini. That means stop being plague by a sputtering offense and continued mental mistakes. Over the next few weeks, we will have in depth position-by-position breakdowns but for now, here’s a thumbnail sketch for 2012:
Quarterback: Taylor Martinez produced 2,089 yards as a passer and 873 yards as a runner in his sophomore season. While he improved as a leader and is likely to be the starter at the moment, he needs to take a significant step forward now that he is a junior and has 25 starts under his belt. However, it is equally important that Brion Carnes or possible verbal commitment Tommy Armstrong push Martinez.
Running back: Rex Burkhead is nothing short of amazing both as a player and as a person. With 284 carries, Burkhead did the heavy lifting but what was most baffling was that the staff burned redshirts on Ameer Abdullah, Aaron Green and Braylon Heard for a combined 91 carries. Burning a redshirt on Abdullah was understandable because he was returning kicks but it was painfully obvious by midseason that Green and/or Heard should have redshirt. Since the Huskers run a variation of the option involving the fullback, losing Tyler Legate will be a more significant loss than at first glance. C.J. Zimmerer and Mike Marrow now have their chance.
Wide receiver: The Huskers lose Brandon Kinnie but given that he dropped as many passes as he caught, that loss is an addition by subtraction. Kenny Bell, however, turned into Martinez’s go-to guy with 32 grabs for 461 yards and three scores. Quincy Enunwa also showed flashes of brilliance but the wild card in the equation is Jamal Turner, who led the team in receptions the first five games but fell out of favor with the coaches. Tim Marlowe also returns and perhaps has the best grasp of the offense.
Tight end: Kyler Reed and Ben Cotton both return as seniors. The former has the downfield speed that has often been under-utilized. For the offense to improve, Reed needs to become more of a weapon.
Offensive line: Despite losing Jermarcus Hardrick and Mike Caputo, this season was a youth movement for the Huskers. The hope is that with an extra year of the system that more cohesion will be developed. Jeremiah Sirles (junior) and Tyler Moore (sophomore) are the probable starting tackles. Juniors Spencer Long and Andrew Rodriguez are likely to start at guard while Cole Pensick will probably get the nod at center
Defensive line: With Cameron Meredith and Eric Martin, the Huskers have two solid starters at end but if they are to establish depth then players like Jason Ankrah and Josh Williams need to perform. At tackle Baker Steinkuhler is a no-brainer to start at one spot but who becomes his sidekick? Chase Rome, Jay Guy, Todd Peat or Kevin Williams? Probably Peat given his potential.
Linebacker: Losing All-American LaVonte David is glaring departure to say the least. It’s hard to say who replaces him at the WILL linebacker spot. Will Compton is the Huskers most experienced linebacker at the MIKE position having started 23 games. Another key question is who starts at BUCK linebacker? Given his late season impact, probably Alonzo Whaley.
Secondary: His Capital One Bowl ejection aside, Alfonzo Dennard will not be easy to replace. Andrew Green and Ciante Evans had their share of peaks and valleys but showed enough promise in the second half of the season to give the Huskers a potentially good pair of corners. However, the wild card is JUCO transfer Mohammed Seisay. You don’t bring in a JUCO transfer unless you intend to start him. With Damion Stafford, the Huskers have a solid starter at one safety but PJ Smith and Courtney Osborne did not seize the opportunity when they had the chance.
Special teams: While it’s hard to forget the incredible talents of Alex Henery, Brett Maher managed to get Husker fans to do just that as both a punter and kicker. As for the return game, Abdullah flashed brilliance early in the season while Marlowe gives you a safe pair of hands.
What lies ahead: The Husker offense should improve given that much of the cast returns from last season and they will be in Year Two of Beck’s system but what does that translate into as far as overall production? On defense, not only do the Huskers lose a talented trio of players in Jared Crick, David and Dennard but the depth has its share of unknowns. Special teams are probably the biggest strength. The Husker margin for error will be even thinner than it was this year. While the Big Ten might not be as strong at the top as other conferences, there are fewer throwaway wins among the middle-tier teams. Nebraska fans are clamoring for a conference title for the first time since 1999 but that will take a lot of doing. That statement is not “lowering the bar,” it’s called reality.
The ill-fated Bill Callahan era brought a 27-22 mark from 2004-2007 that included two bowl-less seasons. The Bo Pelini era (including his interim coach Alamo Bowl win over Michigan State in 2003) has brought a 39-16 mark. Since Pelini took over in 2008, the Huskers have gone 38-16 with two 9-4 seasons and two 10-4 campaigns. Those four seasons confirmed what I said when Pelini took over. Going from 5-7 in 2007 to 9-4 in 2008 was the easy part. Going from 9-4 to say 11-2 will be the hard part.
While Pelini’s initial impact was great, the Huskers have yet to take the next step. However, those calling for his scalp need to remember two things: a) It took the great Tom Osborne seven years to win a conference title and b) Nebraska fired Frank Solich after a 9-3 campaign in 2003 and that led to the Callahan era. Granted, the Callahan years were an anomaly but if you fire Pelini and get another Callahan-type, you get what you deserve.
However, at some point, Nebraska needs to get returns on its investment from hiring Pelini. That means stop being plague by a sputtering offense and continued mental mistakes. Over the next few weeks, we will have in depth position-by-position breakdowns but for now, here’s a thumbnail sketch for 2012:
Quarterback: Taylor Martinez produced 2,089 yards as a passer and 873 yards as a runner in his sophomore season. While he improved as a leader and is likely to be the starter at the moment, he needs to take a significant step forward now that he is a junior and has 25 starts under his belt. However, it is equally important that Brion Carnes or possible verbal commitment Tommy Armstrong push Martinez.
Running back: Rex Burkhead is nothing short of amazing both as a player and as a person. With 284 carries, Burkhead did the heavy lifting but what was most baffling was that the staff burned redshirts on Ameer Abdullah, Aaron Green and Braylon Heard for a combined 91 carries. Burning a redshirt on Abdullah was understandable because he was returning kicks but it was painfully obvious by midseason that Green and/or Heard should have redshirt. Since the Huskers run a variation of the option involving the fullback, losing Tyler Legate will be a more significant loss than at first glance. C.J. Zimmerer and Mike Marrow now have their chance.
Wide receiver: The Huskers lose Brandon Kinnie but given that he dropped as many passes as he caught, that loss is an addition by subtraction. Kenny Bell, however, turned into Martinez’s go-to guy with 32 grabs for 461 yards and three scores. Quincy Enunwa also showed flashes of brilliance but the wild card in the equation is Jamal Turner, who led the team in receptions the first five games but fell out of favor with the coaches. Tim Marlowe also returns and perhaps has the best grasp of the offense.
Tight end: Kyler Reed and Ben Cotton both return as seniors. The former has the downfield speed that has often been under-utilized. For the offense to improve, Reed needs to become more of a weapon.
Offensive line: Despite losing Jermarcus Hardrick and Mike Caputo, this season was a youth movement for the Huskers. The hope is that with an extra year of the system that more cohesion will be developed. Jeremiah Sirles (junior) and Tyler Moore (sophomore) are the probable starting tackles. Juniors Spencer Long and Andrew Rodriguez are likely to start at guard while Cole Pensick will probably get the nod at center
Defensive line: With Cameron Meredith and Eric Martin, the Huskers have two solid starters at end but if they are to establish depth then players like Jason Ankrah and Josh Williams need to perform. At tackle Baker Steinkuhler is a no-brainer to start at one spot but who becomes his sidekick? Chase Rome, Jay Guy, Todd Peat or Kevin Williams? Probably Peat given his potential.
Linebacker: Losing All-American LaVonte David is glaring departure to say the least. It’s hard to say who replaces him at the WILL linebacker spot. Will Compton is the Huskers most experienced linebacker at the MIKE position having started 23 games. Another key question is who starts at BUCK linebacker? Given his late season impact, probably Alonzo Whaley.
Secondary: His Capital One Bowl ejection aside, Alfonzo Dennard will not be easy to replace. Andrew Green and Ciante Evans had their share of peaks and valleys but showed enough promise in the second half of the season to give the Huskers a potentially good pair of corners. However, the wild card is JUCO transfer Mohammed Seisay. You don’t bring in a JUCO transfer unless you intend to start him. With Damion Stafford, the Huskers have a solid starter at one safety but PJ Smith and Courtney Osborne did not seize the opportunity when they had the chance.
Special teams: While it’s hard to forget the incredible talents of Alex Henery, Brett Maher managed to get Husker fans to do just that as both a punter and kicker. As for the return game, Abdullah flashed brilliance early in the season while Marlowe gives you a safe pair of hands.
What lies ahead: The Husker offense should improve given that much of the cast returns from last season and they will be in Year Two of Beck’s system but what does that translate into as far as overall production? On defense, not only do the Huskers lose a talented trio of players in Jared Crick, David and Dennard but the depth has its share of unknowns. Special teams are probably the biggest strength. The Husker margin for error will be even thinner than it was this year. While the Big Ten might not be as strong at the top as other conferences, there are fewer throwaway wins among the middle-tier teams. Nebraska fans are clamoring for a conference title for the first time since 1999 but that will take a lot of doing. That statement is not “lowering the bar,” it’s called reality.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Bad losses happen for a reason, not just because "things snowball"
Former Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan made national headlines in 2003 while coaching the Oakland Raiders. After a 22-8 home loss in 2003 to the Denver Broncos during a season that saw Oakland go from Super Bowl participant in 2002 to a 4-12 disaster the following year, Callahan erupted with, “We’ve got to be the dumbest team in American in terms of playing the game.”
Callahan, who has been an assistant coach with the New York Jets since 2008 after being dismissed by Nebraska, could very well be referring to the Huskers of right now. There were penalties (10), ejections (cornerback Alfonzo Dennard) and just an overall lack of discipline in the Huskers season-ending 30-13 Capital One Bowl loss to South Carolina.
Anyone who thinks the team wasn’t playing well because Husker head coach Bo Pelini had to restrain himself need to look no further than Monday. Sorry, you people in the, “You go Bo!” camp every time he blows up at referee or has a tense press conference moment with a media member, you are in serious need of a reality check. He has had three 15-yard penalties in his career, enough said. Say no more. Being fiery is all well and good but at some point it reaches diminishing returns.
You have an offense that can’t get out of its own way thanks to five yard penalty after five yard penalty. Not to mention you have receivers dropping catchable balls. See Tim Marlowe. See Brandon Kinnie. See Kyler Reed. It’s bad enough that quarterback Taylor Martinez has issues throwing the ball but when you add receivers dropping balls, that’s no help either.
Including the bowl loss, the Huskers finished the season 9-4 with three double-digit losses. The optimists characterized those three games the exact same way: The games would have been close but a mistake was made and “things just snowballed.”
Which is a load of BS but before I get into that, those people reason this:
Martinez threw a couple picks against Wisconsin. Nebraska led that game 14-7 early in the second quarter. The Badgers retook the lead 20-14 late in the second quarter but the game turned into a 48-17 route. Otherwise NU was right in there, so the reasoning goes. Nebraska had Michigan pinned deep and roughed the kicker, trailing just 31-17 late in the third quarter on. After that, “things just snowballed. We could have just as easily won,” but lost 45-17. Against South Carolina, Nebraska led 13-9 but Gamecocks quarterback Connor Shaw throws a Hail Mary touchdown pass to wide receiver Alshon Jeffery as South Carolina takes a 16-13 lead into halftime, “and then things just got away from us. NU was the better team.”
Seriously?
At some point, you just face the fact that quality teams overcome mistakes. They don’t let them “snowball.” The team should not melt down under pressure or let one mental mistake turn into a half dozen.
Though some Husker fans sipped the Kool Aid thinking the team was conference champion material in 2011. I honestly was not surprised at the team’s 9-4 record: New league, first year offensive coordinator, and lots of staff turnover. What I didn’t expect is for mental errors - turnovers, penalties, missed assignments and even an ejection - to continue to bedevil the Huskers.
The fact that one NU mistake is commonly compounded by several more speaks to leadership. Does Pelini’s temperament impact the team? Would it be helpful if he remained more composed on the sideline? Might not be the only reason but it would sure heck help. Lose a hard-fought and well-executed game. Fine. Lose when your seniors are committing stupid penalties and getting ejected from games. Not so fine.
All that said, I think Pelini has done more good than bad in his four years as Nebraska’s head coach. At the core, I think that he cares a great deal about the youngsters who play for him. He wants them to succeed both on and off the field, and I think they will all be better men after four-years in the program. On the field, Pelini is winning games at a clip equal to all but a handful of coaches at this stage in their careers and doing it at a school with some obvious recruiting disadvantages. If he continues to run a clean program, graduate the kids and win nine-plus games per year, he will stay at NU as long as he wants.
In year four of the Pelini era, however, Nebraska fans are left with a disturbing sense of déjà vu. Once again, Nebraska ends the season with four losses, as they have in each of Pelini’s four seasons. In each of the last three seasons, Nebraska’s season has been derailed by an inexplicable home loss to a mediocre team (Iowa State in 2009, Texas in 2010 and Northwestern in 2011).
As someone who lived in Lincoln, NE during the glory years, I did not necessarily expect National Championships by Year No. 4. However, I expected to be flirting with one by being Top Ten material but continued mental mistakes won’t even guarantee Top 25 finishes.
Callahan, who has been an assistant coach with the New York Jets since 2008 after being dismissed by Nebraska, could very well be referring to the Huskers of right now. There were penalties (10), ejections (cornerback Alfonzo Dennard) and just an overall lack of discipline in the Huskers season-ending 30-13 Capital One Bowl loss to South Carolina.
Anyone who thinks the team wasn’t playing well because Husker head coach Bo Pelini had to restrain himself need to look no further than Monday. Sorry, you people in the, “You go Bo!” camp every time he blows up at referee or has a tense press conference moment with a media member, you are in serious need of a reality check. He has had three 15-yard penalties in his career, enough said. Say no more. Being fiery is all well and good but at some point it reaches diminishing returns.
You have an offense that can’t get out of its own way thanks to five yard penalty after five yard penalty. Not to mention you have receivers dropping catchable balls. See Tim Marlowe. See Brandon Kinnie. See Kyler Reed. It’s bad enough that quarterback Taylor Martinez has issues throwing the ball but when you add receivers dropping balls, that’s no help either.
Including the bowl loss, the Huskers finished the season 9-4 with three double-digit losses. The optimists characterized those three games the exact same way: The games would have been close but a mistake was made and “things just snowballed.”
Which is a load of BS but before I get into that, those people reason this:
Martinez threw a couple picks against Wisconsin. Nebraska led that game 14-7 early in the second quarter. The Badgers retook the lead 20-14 late in the second quarter but the game turned into a 48-17 route. Otherwise NU was right in there, so the reasoning goes. Nebraska had Michigan pinned deep and roughed the kicker, trailing just 31-17 late in the third quarter on. After that, “things just snowballed. We could have just as easily won,” but lost 45-17. Against South Carolina, Nebraska led 13-9 but Gamecocks quarterback Connor Shaw throws a Hail Mary touchdown pass to wide receiver Alshon Jeffery as South Carolina takes a 16-13 lead into halftime, “and then things just got away from us. NU was the better team.”
Seriously?
At some point, you just face the fact that quality teams overcome mistakes. They don’t let them “snowball.” The team should not melt down under pressure or let one mental mistake turn into a half dozen.
Though some Husker fans sipped the Kool Aid thinking the team was conference champion material in 2011. I honestly was not surprised at the team’s 9-4 record: New league, first year offensive coordinator, and lots of staff turnover. What I didn’t expect is for mental errors - turnovers, penalties, missed assignments and even an ejection - to continue to bedevil the Huskers.
The fact that one NU mistake is commonly compounded by several more speaks to leadership. Does Pelini’s temperament impact the team? Would it be helpful if he remained more composed on the sideline? Might not be the only reason but it would sure heck help. Lose a hard-fought and well-executed game. Fine. Lose when your seniors are committing stupid penalties and getting ejected from games. Not so fine.
All that said, I think Pelini has done more good than bad in his four years as Nebraska’s head coach. At the core, I think that he cares a great deal about the youngsters who play for him. He wants them to succeed both on and off the field, and I think they will all be better men after four-years in the program. On the field, Pelini is winning games at a clip equal to all but a handful of coaches at this stage in their careers and doing it at a school with some obvious recruiting disadvantages. If he continues to run a clean program, graduate the kids and win nine-plus games per year, he will stay at NU as long as he wants.
In year four of the Pelini era, however, Nebraska fans are left with a disturbing sense of déjà vu. Once again, Nebraska ends the season with four losses, as they have in each of Pelini’s four seasons. In each of the last three seasons, Nebraska’s season has been derailed by an inexplicable home loss to a mediocre team (Iowa State in 2009, Texas in 2010 and Northwestern in 2011).
As someone who lived in Lincoln, NE during the glory years, I did not necessarily expect National Championships by Year No. 4. However, I expected to be flirting with one by being Top Ten material but continued mental mistakes won’t even guarantee Top 25 finishes.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Huskers lack of poise disturbing in Capital One Bowl loss
Well, where do we begin? For the second time in as many seasons, the Nebraska football team is headed into the offseason with a bowl game loss. This time a 30-13 loss to South Carolina in the Capital One Bowl. The Huskers entered the game ranked No. 20 and finished the season 9-4. They may still finish in the Top 25 but it’s not a two-inch putt.
Many Husker fans would look at the 9-4 record and call the season a disappointment then and there. However, a man named Bill Soliday, whom I had the opportunity to get to know while covering the Oakland Raiders as a freelance writer, once strongly suggested to me that you cannot give too much credence simply to records. Soliday is a retired sports reporter from the Oakland Tribune having covered both the Raiders and San Francisco 49ers. Soliday understood the late Al Davis (who was the Raiders owner from 1966 to 2011) better than most people I know. Soliday added that Davis added that records are as much a matter of what a team does to achieve their record with what the team had.
Going 9-4 in 2008 felt like a success for the Huskers because it was Bo Pelini’s first season as head coach coming off the Bill Callahan years of going 27-22 and bowl-less in two seasons. The 2011 edition of 9-4, however, would qualify as a disappointment because the team had goals of winning the Big Ten Legends Division if not winning the Big Ten Conference. Losing the Capital One Bowl game that was there to be won in the early going only adds to that disappointment. The Huskers led 13-9 at halftime and were still within striking distance in trailing 16-13 after three quarters.
The game was a prime example of a team lacking discipline and it starts with Pelini. The third quarter was especially inexcusable. After a three and out, Nebraska managed a drive that featured 25 yards in penalties. Then after back to back poor calls by the officials, Pelini lit into the Big East officiating crew. For the entire second half the Huskers gained 64 yards, they lost 58 in penalties. That’s six net yards if you’re scoring at home. Well, gross is more like it.
Then there was the disgraceful behavior of Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard and South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, two outstanding players that are potential first-round draft picks. The serious indictment against Nebraska was that the incident took place right in front of its bench and not one time did a player or coaches try to prevent the situation from escalating.
Throw in four drives in South Carolina territory with zero points and you have a Nebraska team that can’t get out of its own way.
When I think of Husker teams with poise, I hearken back to the 1995 Orange Bowl when they beat Miami 24-17. Remember head coach Tom Osborne’s halftime speech when he told the players that the Hurricanes would try to get into their heads but it was important not to retaliate. Nebraska keeping its poise and focus was as big a reason as any why it won that night and the lack of it is why it routinely comes up short in crucial games. Being fiery is all well and good but a team simply cannot lose its poise and expect to execute.
So the question begs, what is the current state of the program? I have no idea after watching this very strange season. The way the Huskers collapsed in several games this year, just makes me believe that something is missing. Not sure what it is.
The optimist in me thinks this year was a combination of being in a new league with a different style combined with a new offensive coordinator and massive losses to the NFL on the defense. The pessimist in me thinks this might be indicative of poor recruiting combined with a coach that can't teach his team to be disciplined.
The current state of the program is that the Huskers consistently are not one of the 25 best teams in the country. Some people are quite satisfied with being at that level. They will tell you how the Huskers are better than we were under Callahan. Yes, they are right about that but the program is not close to being elite and no, I’m not implying that Nebraska should always win the national championship or go 60-3 during each five-year stretch (which happened from 1993-1997). The pessimists think it impossible to ever compete for championships in Lincoln. They are wrong. If it happened before, it can happen again and don’t feed me this nonsense of “different times.”
For Nebraska, 9-10 win seasons have always been the minimum standard. Well, from 1961 forward. If you maintain that level you'll get the occasional year or years where good defense coincides with good offense. I would think if 9-10 win seasons are the minimal standard over the course of decade having those two coincide more often would be logical because success breeds success and that means more success in recruiting.
That said, being a fan of the Huskers today was very frustrating. I should have stayed in bed. Now I am tired and frustrated.
I'm not 100% convinced that Pelini is the guy that will lead us back to a national title game, because I'm no fortune teller. However, I’m not willing to suffer through one or two more Bill Callahans and sit at home in December and January wishing I could watch my Huskers play in a bowl game.
As for the lack of poise, Pelini constantly preaches how important “the process” is but routinely losing poise is a huge reason why this team routinely comes up short in key games. In that respect, the Huskers have become the Dallas Cowboys of college football, great past but not much of a recent one.
Many Husker fans would look at the 9-4 record and call the season a disappointment then and there. However, a man named Bill Soliday, whom I had the opportunity to get to know while covering the Oakland Raiders as a freelance writer, once strongly suggested to me that you cannot give too much credence simply to records. Soliday is a retired sports reporter from the Oakland Tribune having covered both the Raiders and San Francisco 49ers. Soliday understood the late Al Davis (who was the Raiders owner from 1966 to 2011) better than most people I know. Soliday added that Davis added that records are as much a matter of what a team does to achieve their record with what the team had.
Going 9-4 in 2008 felt like a success for the Huskers because it was Bo Pelini’s first season as head coach coming off the Bill Callahan years of going 27-22 and bowl-less in two seasons. The 2011 edition of 9-4, however, would qualify as a disappointment because the team had goals of winning the Big Ten Legends Division if not winning the Big Ten Conference. Losing the Capital One Bowl game that was there to be won in the early going only adds to that disappointment. The Huskers led 13-9 at halftime and were still within striking distance in trailing 16-13 after three quarters.
The game was a prime example of a team lacking discipline and it starts with Pelini. The third quarter was especially inexcusable. After a three and out, Nebraska managed a drive that featured 25 yards in penalties. Then after back to back poor calls by the officials, Pelini lit into the Big East officiating crew. For the entire second half the Huskers gained 64 yards, they lost 58 in penalties. That’s six net yards if you’re scoring at home. Well, gross is more like it.
Then there was the disgraceful behavior of Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard and South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, two outstanding players that are potential first-round draft picks. The serious indictment against Nebraska was that the incident took place right in front of its bench and not one time did a player or coaches try to prevent the situation from escalating.
Throw in four drives in South Carolina territory with zero points and you have a Nebraska team that can’t get out of its own way.
When I think of Husker teams with poise, I hearken back to the 1995 Orange Bowl when they beat Miami 24-17. Remember head coach Tom Osborne’s halftime speech when he told the players that the Hurricanes would try to get into their heads but it was important not to retaliate. Nebraska keeping its poise and focus was as big a reason as any why it won that night and the lack of it is why it routinely comes up short in crucial games. Being fiery is all well and good but a team simply cannot lose its poise and expect to execute.
So the question begs, what is the current state of the program? I have no idea after watching this very strange season. The way the Huskers collapsed in several games this year, just makes me believe that something is missing. Not sure what it is.
The optimist in me thinks this year was a combination of being in a new league with a different style combined with a new offensive coordinator and massive losses to the NFL on the defense. The pessimist in me thinks this might be indicative of poor recruiting combined with a coach that can't teach his team to be disciplined.
The current state of the program is that the Huskers consistently are not one of the 25 best teams in the country. Some people are quite satisfied with being at that level. They will tell you how the Huskers are better than we were under Callahan. Yes, they are right about that but the program is not close to being elite and no, I’m not implying that Nebraska should always win the national championship or go 60-3 during each five-year stretch (which happened from 1993-1997). The pessimists think it impossible to ever compete for championships in Lincoln. They are wrong. If it happened before, it can happen again and don’t feed me this nonsense of “different times.”
For Nebraska, 9-10 win seasons have always been the minimum standard. Well, from 1961 forward. If you maintain that level you'll get the occasional year or years where good defense coincides with good offense. I would think if 9-10 win seasons are the minimal standard over the course of decade having those two coincide more often would be logical because success breeds success and that means more success in recruiting.
That said, being a fan of the Huskers today was very frustrating. I should have stayed in bed. Now I am tired and frustrated.
I'm not 100% convinced that Pelini is the guy that will lead us back to a national title game, because I'm no fortune teller. However, I’m not willing to suffer through one or two more Bill Callahans and sit at home in December and January wishing I could watch my Huskers play in a bowl game.
As for the lack of poise, Pelini constantly preaches how important “the process” is but routinely losing poise is a huge reason why this team routinely comes up short in key games. In that respect, the Huskers have become the Dallas Cowboys of college football, great past but not much of a recent one.
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