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Great line from Sam McKewon chat - Program philosophy

  • This is from a chat with Sam McKewon from the OWH this morning on the Husker staff:

    "Put simply: If you're going to run a high-integrity program fused with a high-risk offense and study-intensive defense, you'd better have great, great coaching. Because your ethics and standards will prevent you from recruiting the uber-talented knuckleheads you can find on other rosters."

    This seems to speak to the vision Pelini has for the Husker program, but the tools to execute that vision may not be in place. Bo doesn't suffer fools among his players, which is a bit of a handicap because, let's face it, some of the best players are bad apples. Nebraska runs a system that I think most would agree is fairly cerebral, which is another kind of handicap.

    If you've got those two handicaps going against you, you'd better excel over your peers in other areas. Like coaching. It's up to Bo if he can be results-drive and hardass enough to realize he may need to get rid of some of his community college adjuncts and trade up for some actual, tenure-level faculty.

    Milkman Dan

  • Milkman Dan said...

    This is from a chat with Sam McKewon from the OWH this morning on the Husker staff:

    "Put simply: If you're going to run a high-integrity program fused with a high-risk offense and study-intensive defense, you'd better have great, great coaching. Because your ethics and standards will prevent you from recruiting the uber-talented knuckleheads you can find on other rosters."

    This seems to speak to the vision Pelini has for the Husker program, but the tools to execute that vision may not be in place. Bo doesn't suffer fools among his players, which is a bit of a handicap because, let's face it, some of the best players are bad apples. Nebraska runs a system that I think most would agree is fairly cerebral, which is another kind of handicap.

    If you've got those two handicaps going against you, you'd better excel over your peers in other areas. Like coaching. It's up to Bo if he can be results-drive and hardass enough to realize he may need to get rid of some of his community college adjuncts and trade up for some actual, tenure-level faculty.

    I almost always like what Sam has to say.

    NU Big Lou

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    Petersenj21

  • Milkman Dan said...

    This is from a chat with Sam McKewon from the OWH this morning on the Husker staff:

    "Put simply: If you're going to run a high-integrity program fused with a high-risk offense and study-intensive defense, you'd better have great, great coaching. Because your ethics and standards will prevent you from recruiting the uber-talented knuckleheads you can find on other rosters."

    This seems to speak to the vision Pelini has for the Husker program, but the tools to execute that vision may not be in place. Bo doesn't suffer fools among his players, which is a bit of a handicap because, let's face it, some of the best players are bad apples. Nebraska runs a system that I think most would agree is fairly cerebral, which is another kind of handicap.

    If you've got those two handicaps going against you, you'd better excel over your peers in other areas. Like coaching. It's up to Bo if he can be results-drive and hardass enough to realize he may need to get rid of some of his community college adjuncts and trade up for some actual, tenure-level faculty.

    Very insightful observations from Mr. McKewon, who I think has the best gauge on our football program of anyone I have read, professional or amateur.

    I always thought that Bo should play EMart at LB and Thenarse at S, but he clearly did not think they were capable of learning his system so he wouldn't play them. OTOH, he seems to really like Fisher at LB, and I think there is no doubt that Fish knows what to do, but he just can't get there to do it.

    As far as the "bad apples" I think sometimes people forget that there were a number of those under Osborne, particularly toward the end of his tenure. I am not sure that there weren't a few under Devaney, but I was pretty naiive back then. I do remember that the Jet robbed a gas station and it was kind of swept under the rug.

    Not to say Haloti Ngata was a "bad" apple but I think we had him wrapped up until his mom got a job working for Oregon U. I don't think it was well know at the time, but I remember Rossiter accidentally spilled the beans once on RSS when he was working for the Oregon site. Maybe Oregon will finally pay a price for some of their B.S.

    ElCaminoHusker

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  • ElCaminoHusker said...

    Very insightful observations from Mr. McKewon, who I think has the best gauge on our football program of anyone I have read, professional or amateur.

    I always thought that Bo should play EMart at LB and Thenarse at S, but he clearly did not think they were capable of learning his system so he wouldn't play them. OTOH, he seems to really like Fisher at LB, and I think there is no doubt that Fish knows what to do, but he just can't get there to do it.

    As far as the "bad apples" I think sometimes people forget that there were a number of those under Osborne, particularly toward the end of his tenure. I am not sure that there weren't a few under Devaney, but I was pretty naiive back then. I do remember that the Jet robbed a gas station and it was kind of swept under the rug.

    Not to say Haloti Ngata was a "bad" apple but I think we had him wrapped up until his mom got a job working for Oregon U. I don't think it was well know at the time, but I remember Rossiter accidentally spilled the beans once on RSS when he was working for the Oregon site. Maybe Oregon will finally pay a price for some of their B.S.

    Recall Arkansas stealing Tevin Mitchell away the same way at darn near the last second.

    It's good to be the King.

    Trash Angel

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    ElCaminoHusker

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    Husker SF

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    NU Big Lou

  • ElCaminoHusker said...

    Very insightful observations from Mr. McKewon, who I think has the best gauge on our football program of anyone I have read, professional or amateur.

    I always thought that Bo should play EMart at LB and Thenarse at S, but he clearly did not think they were capable of learning his system so he wouldn't play them. OTOH, he seems to really like Fisher at LB, and I think there is no doubt that Fish knows what to do, but he just can't get there to do it.

    As far as the "bad apples" I think sometimes people forget that there were a number of those under Osborne, particularly toward the end of his tenure. I am not sure that there weren't a few under Devaney, but I was pretty naiive back then. I do remember that the Jet robbed a gas station and it was kind of swept under the rug.

    Not to say Haloti Ngata was a "bad" apple but I think we had him wrapped up until his mom got a job working for Oregon U. I don't think it was well know at the time, but I remember Rossiter accidentally spilled the beans once on RSS when he was working for the Oregon site. Maybe Oregon will finally pay a price for some of their B.S.

    Fish looks different when he's in the middle. He runs well down hill and covers decently in the middle of the field. He just shouldn't be put in one on one positions on the edge. Just my opinion.

    NU Big Lou

  • NU Big Lou said...

    Fish looks different when he's in the middle. He runs well down hill and covers decently in the middle of the field. He just shouldn't be put in one on one positions on the edge. Just my opinion.

    Agree, especially on the edge.

    coolsig3

  • Milkman Dan said...

    "Put simply: If you're going to run a high-integrity program fused with a high-risk offense and study-intensive defense, you'd better have great, great coaching. Because your ethics and standards will prevent you from recruiting the uber-talented knuckleheads you can find on other rosters."

    Fully disagree with the study-intensive defense.

    It is a defense, like any other, that needs players. Great athletes that can make plays.

    2007, LSU's National Championship team that held their hat on their defense was this:

    DE: Tyson Jackson - JR
    DT: Glenn Dorsey - Sr
    DT: Charles Alexander - So
    DE: Rahim Allen - So

    LB: Luke Sanders - So
    LB: Derry Beckwith - JR
    LB: Ali Highsmith - Sr

    CB: Jonathan Zenon - SR
    S: Craig Steltz - SR
    S: Curtis Taylor - JR
    CB: Chevis Jackson - SR

    The reality is that Bo had Marlon Favorite, Tremaine Johnson, and Al Woods backing up his front four. They were roughly 290-310 pounds across the board. And they were all mean and nasty.

    Zenon and Jackson were very good with Steltz calling the back end.

    5 Seniors, 3 Juniors, and 3 Sophomores that 'mastered' his defense that year.

    And what was the make up of our defense this year?

    7 SRs, 3 JRs, and 1 So. (SR: Meredith, Baker, Martin, Compton, Whaley, Fisher, Stafford, Smith) (JR: Randle, Jean-Baptiste, Evans) (So: Mitchell).

    If anybody honestly believes that the LSU defense from 2007 had an experience or 'smartness' edge on the Husker defense in 2012 is simply crazy.

    The difference between these two defensive units is talent. Pure and simple.

    Skerz ●

  • Skerz said...

    Fully disagree with the study-intensive defense.

    It is a defense, like any other, that needs players. Great athletes that can make plays.

    2007, LSU's National Championship team that held their hat on their defense was this:

    DE: Tyson Jackson - JR DT: Glenn Dorsey - Sr DT: Charles Alexander - So DE: Rahim Allen - So

    LB: Luke Sanders - So LB: Derry Beckwith - JR LB: Ali Highsmith - Sr

    CB: Jonathan Zenon - SR S: Craig Steltz - SR S: Curtis Taylor - JR CB: Chevis Jackson - SR

    The reality is that Bo had Marlon Favorite, Tremaine Johnson, and Al Woods backing up his front four. They were roughly 290-310 pounds across the board. And they were all mean and nasty.

    Zenon and Jackson were very good with Steltz calling the back end.

    5 Seniors, 3 Juniors, and 3 Sophomores that 'mastered' his defense that year.

    And what was the make up of our defense this year?

    7 SRs, 3 JRs, and 1 So. (SR: Meredith, Baker, Martin, Compton, Whaley, Fisher, Stafford, Smith) (JR: Randle, Jean-Baptiste, Evans) (So: Mitchell).

    If anybody honestly believes that the LSU defense from 2007 had an experience or 'smartness' edge on the Husker defense in 2012 is simply crazy.

    The difference between these two defensive units is talent. Pure and simple.

    This is EXACTLY it. There is not 1 guy in our front 7 that will play a meaningful snap on Sunday's. That is the #1 reason for our inconsistency. A great defensive line covers up any holes in the back end. Look at Bo's first year as Defensive coordinator. He turned them around immediately, so clearly it doesn't need to take a lot of time. Now take a look at the players on those defenses from his first 2 years. There are several guys that got drafted and played pretty well at the next level.

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    Petersenj21

  • NU Big Lou said...

    Fish looks different when he's in the middle. He runs well down hill and covers decently in the middle of the field. He just shouldn't be put in one on one positions on the edge. Just my opinion.

    I agree with your assessment of Fisher.peace

    All I am saying is that for an OLB to be effective he has to make one-on-one plays on the edge. I would even say that a good MLB makes plays on the edge.

    ElCaminoHusker

  • ElCaminoHusker said...

    I agree with your assessment of Fisher.peace

    All I am saying is that for an OLB to be effective he has to make one-on-one plays on the edge. I would even say that a good MLB makes plays on the edge.

    I don't.

    For an inside LB they need to take on blocks man-on-man and straight up in the hole against Guards and FBs. The point of attack is far from being Fisher's strength.

    Fisher struggles with taking on edge blocking. He simply isn't a physical enough football player to take on inside blocking that is needed from an inside LB.

    In my opinion, he should have been a Safety. I think his smarts would have worked wonders on the back end.

    Skerz ●

  • Petersenj21 said...

    This is EXACTLY it. There is not 1 guy in our front 7 that will play a meaningful snap on Sunday's. That is the #1 reason for our inconsistency. A great defensive line covers up any holes in the back end. Look at Bo's first year as Defensive coordinator. He turned them around immediately, so clearly it doesn't need to take a lot of time. Now take a look at the players on those defenses from his first 2 years. There are several guys that got drafted and played pretty well at the next level.

    I'll take that bet, assuming Stein heals up ok.

    Big Red Phoenix

  • Big Red Phoenix said...

    I'll take that bet, assuming Stein heals up ok.

    Exactly what bet was offered?

    Skerz ●

  • A 6'5" safety. That's be interesting. I was going to say TE. At least I know Klein had been hollering about that a few months ago. Safety would be a tough one for him I think. Anyway to late now.

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    beardown2489

  • beardown2489 said...

    A 6'5" safety. That's be interesting. I was going to say TE. At least I know Klein had been hollering about that a few months ago. Safety would be a tough one for him I think. Anyway to late now.

    There is a 6'5" Safety in the NFL.

    There isn't a 6'5" LB in the NFL that doesn't like contact.

    Skerz ●

  • Still, are you saying fisher had the athletic ability to play the position? We know he is smart but it takes more than that. I'm not sure he's got that skillset either.

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    beardown2489

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