Top issues Offense and Defense

[SnohomishRed]

Another disappointing loss in last minute fashion - Kudos to the players they played their guts out despite all the adversity swirling around them. The coaches too did make some adjustments that were positive - LB'ers were much better in pass defense and the secondary was more aggressive.

There are however so many problems it is kind of hard to pinpoint which are the biggest ones and what can be done to fix them, but here is my take. Mind I am not trying to be ultra negative - just honest

Offense - We are trying to run a pro style offense with a QB that simply cannot do it consistently - I love TA as a competitor but what is more important winning or starting a QB who does not give you the best chance for success. If it was my choice I would change the offense and keep TA but this staff is unwilling or unable mentally to grasp this, so if they are going to continue in the same vein then see if another QB can complete over 30% of the passes. The second main issue here is coaching and the lack of sound strategy - Riley and Langsdorf get an F so far for using the talent they have on hand and putting these kids in the best position to succeed.

Defense - Is it not ironical that the position that has the most injuries ( LB) showed as probably the best playing position on the defense in the game? Kudos to Bray he has done an outstanding job. As far as the main fixable problem - I think Banker needs to look at what Stewart is teaching these DBS - to not be able to get a stop in three games this year to win the game is not acceptable.

If I was the coach and I looked at the performance of the defensive staff so far - I would be hard pressed not to start making some changes - I would start with the secondary coach and Banker would also be on my hit list

Riley's job pure and simple is to make decision as a head coach with one overriding consideration. "What decisions put this team in the best position to win football games" If he does not do this he is shirking his duties. We have some coaching issues - yes there is a talent issue and hopefully the locker room does not fracture. That however does not excuse the coaching issues - this is a seasoned staff they are supposed to be the rock, they are supposed to do things correctly and teach these players players correctly. They are supposed to make the right game decisions - when these things do not happen - we could have all five stars and we would still lose.

I appreciate the effort and I know both players and coaches are hurting and I want to support the team but supporting what I see would be like enabling a crack addict - I think Riley must put the needs of the program over his personal friendships

 

[Bleed Husker Red]

Offense not any all conference linemen. So recruiting

Defense injuries injuries and more injuries. Compounded by piss poor recruiting at DE and safety

 

[timnsun]

Another disappointing loss in last minute fashion - Kudos to the players they played their guts out despite all the adversity swirling around them. The coaches too did make some adjustments that were positive - LB'ers were much better in pass defense and the secondary was more aggressive.

There are however so many problems it is kind of hard to pinpoint which are the biggest ones and what can be done to fix them, but here is my take. Mind I am not trying to be ultra negative - just honest

Offense - We are trying to run a pro style offense with a QB that simply cannot do it consistently - I love TA as a competitor but what is more important winning or starting a QB who does not give you the best chance for success. If it was my choice I would change the offense and keep TA but this staff is unwilling or unable mentally to grasp this so if they are going to continue in the same vein see if another QB can complete over 30% of the passes. The second main issue here is coaching and the lack of sound strategy - Riley and Langsdorf get and F so far for using the talent they have on hand and putting these kids in the best position to succeed

Defense - Is it not ironical that the position that has the most injuries ( LB) showed as probably the best playing position on the defense in the game? Kudos to Bray he has done an outstanding job. As far as the main fixable problem - I think Banker needs to look at what Stewart is teach these DBS - to not be able to get a stop in three games this year to win the game is not acceptable.

If I was the coach and I looked at the performance of the defensive staff so far - I would be hard pressed not to start making some changes - I would start with the secondary coach and Banker would also be on my hit list

Riley's job pure and simple is to make decision as a head coach with one overriding consideration. "What decisions put this team in the best position to win football games" If he does not do this he is shirking his duties. We have some coaching issues - yes there is a talent issue and hopefully the locker room does not fracture. That however does not excuse the coaching issues - this is a seasoned staff they are supposed to be the rock, they are supposed to do things correctly and teach these players players correctly. They are supposed to make the right game decisions - when these things do not happen - we could have all five stars and we would still lose.

I appreciate the effort and I know both players and coaches are hurting and no I want to support the team but supporting what I see would be like enabling a crack addict - I think Riley must put the needs of the program over his personal friendships

Hard to argue anything here. I still think we can win some games, but I honestly don't know if that is because I believe that or if I can't imagine 2-10 or 3-9...

 

[SnohomishRed]

Hard to argue anything here. I still think we can win some games, but I honestly don't know if that is because I believe that or if I can't imagine 2-10 or 3-9...

If the team keeps playing hard I think "As is" with no major changes we have an outside chance at becoming bowl eligible. If the players quit or the team fractures then no more than 2 more wins - no matter our injuries/talent level whatever any other excuse people want to use - It is a complete disaster at this point

 

[ssmill777]

Another disappointing loss in last minute fashion - Kudos to the players they played their guts out despite all the adversity swirling around them. The coaches too did make some adjustments that were positive - LB'ers were much better in pass defense and the secondary was more aggressive.

There are however so many problems it is kind of hard to pinpoint which are the biggest ones and what can be done to fix them, but here is my take. Mind I am not trying to be ultra negative - just honest

Offense - We are trying to run a pro style offense with a QB that simply cannot do it consistently - I love TA as a competitor but what is more important winning or starting a QB who does not give you the best chance for success. If it was my choice I would change the offense and keep TA but this staff is unwilling or unable mentally to grasp this, so if they are going to continue in the same vein then see if another QB can complete over 30% of the passes. The second main issue here is coaching and the lack of sound strategy - Riley and Langsdorf get an F so far for using the talent they have on hand and putting these kids in the best position to succeed.

Defense - Is it not ironical that the position that has the most injuries ( LB) showed as probably the best playing position on the defense in the game? Kudos to Bray he has done an outstanding job. As far as the main fixable problem - I think Banker needs to look at what Stewart is teaching these DBS - to not be able to get a stop in three games this year to win the game is not acceptable.

If I was the coach and I looked at the performance of the defensive staff so far - I would be hard pressed not to start making some changes - I would start with the secondary coach and Banker would also be on my hit list

Riley's job pure and simple is to make decision as a head coach with one overriding consideration. "What decisions put this team in the best position to win football games" If he does not do this he is shirking his duties. We have some coaching issues - yes there is a talent issue and hopefully the locker room does not fracture. That however does not excuse the coaching issues - this is a seasoned staff they are supposed to be the rock, they are supposed to do things correctly and teach these players players correctly. They are supposed to make the right game decisions - when these things do not happen - we could have all five stars and we would still lose.

I appreciate the effort and I know both players and coaches are hurting and I want to support the team but supporting what I see would be like enabling a crack addict - I think Riley must put the needs of the program over his personal friendships

Couldn't agree more about Stewart. He needs to go - soon! The last time we saw such terrible secondary play was with Elmo. All they're doing is chasing after WR's - never look for the ball. They need to watch Utah's CB's & Safeties. Ball hawks!

 

[Husker.Wed._rivals]

Good post. From the minute WI kicked the FG until now I have asked myself over and over and over why? I concluded we have the talent to win those games. We also have coaches who have forgotten more about football than 99% of the people on this board will ever know. I finally decided that there is something wrong between the ears of both the players and the staff (and the fans too, but that is another story). Everything is just not meshing right now. I put it on the players more than the coaching, our team is not executing (to use a tired phrase). Our team has not executed for many years now. My solution, which won't help this year is for the coaches, not the players to appoint the captains. It shouldn't be a popularity contest. It should also be clear that the appointments are temporary and earned on a week-to-week basis. I truly believe that if the players' peers were chewing butt for taking plays off, committing stupid penalties, dropping balls, brain farts on Hail Marys, chasing receivers, throwing into triple coverage, and going through the motions in general, things could be turned around in a hurry. On my high school team dealing with the coaches after a screw up was mild compared to dealing with our captains, one in particular. That guy would follow me out to the parking lot and threaten to kick my ***. My attitude was a lot better in a hurry after one or two of those ugly confrontations. I think the MAIN problem on this team is lack of peer leadership.

 

[anon_f0p8yi74csor0]

Another disappointing loss in last minute fashion - Kudos to the players they played their guts out despite all the adversity swirling around them. The coaches too did make some adjustments that were positive - LB'ers were much better in pass defense and the secondary was more aggressive.

There are however so many problems it is kind of hard to pinpoint which are the biggest ones and what can be done to fix them, but here is my take. Mind I am not trying to be ultra negative - just honest

Offense - We are trying to run a pro style offense with a QB that simply cannot do it consistently - I love TA as a competitor but what is more important winning or starting a QB who does not give you the best chance for success. If it was my choice I would change the offense and keep TA but this staff is unwilling or unable mentally to grasp this, so if they are going to continue in the same vein then see if another QB can complete over 30% of the passes. The second main issue here is coaching and the lack of sound strategy - Riley and Langsdorf get an F so far for using the talent they have on hand and putting these kids in the best position to succeed.

Defense - Is it not ironical that the position that has the most injuries ( LB) showed as probably the best playing position on the defense in the game? Kudos to Bray he has done an outstanding job. As far as the main fixable problem - I think Banker needs to look at what Stewart is teaching these DBS - to not be able to get a stop in three games this year to win the game is not acceptable.

If I was the coach and I looked at the performance of the defensive staff so far - I would be hard pressed not to start making some changes - I would start with the secondary coach and Banker would also be on my hit list

Riley's job pure and simple is to make decision as a head coach with one overriding consideration. "What decisions put this team in the best position to win football games" If he does not do this he is shirking his duties. We have some coaching issues - yes there is a talent issue and hopefully the locker room does not fracture. That however does not excuse the coaching issues - this is a seasoned staff they are supposed to be the rock, they are supposed to do things correctly and teach these players players correctly. They are supposed to make the right game decisions - when these things do not happen - we could have all five stars and we would still lose.

I appreciate the effort and I know both players and coaches are hurting and I want to support the team but supporting what I see would be like enabling a crack addict - I think Riley must put the needs of the program over his personal friendships

I agree with nearly all of your post, well written. Only thing that I don't agree, is that we are not running a pro offense. We are running a combination of everything and it's not working. I think we would better if the coaches just stopped trying to bend for Tommy and just say we are going to do it our way and it you can't do it then we will find someone that can. I think Langsdorf and Riley are struggling because they are trying to teach what they don't know and trying to do to many things. Coach what you know, if Tommy can't do, then keep looking for someone else. I know we are lacking but why not give someone else a chance. I think they could at least throw off their back foot and behind everyone

 

[MichiganTony]

Couple of points, not to be argumentative, but if your expertise is pro-offense, than trying to coach spread-option is a tough job. You teach what you know. Second, I was concerned going into the year about the O-line. I don't think we have a very good line, particularly at guard position. Last year, Ameer covered for our weaknesses until he ran into a good line like MSU or Wisconsin. We don't have a RB yet that can do that.

Riley needs to bring in recruits who can run his system. He can't try to be Tim Beck for a year until his recruits show up. Many of Riley's recruits would never have considered Nebraska if we continued to run the spread-option like Beck.