Nebraska...not feeling Frosty anymore

[entropy]

Brion Carnes to WR.. sounds like Wallenwaber is out for the season due to an ACL injury during the UCLA game

[entropy]

BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON and BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star




Nobody really offered an exact number of Nebraska’s missed tackles against UCLA on Saturday.

“A lot,” Bo Pelini said.

"Two is too many, and I know we had more than two,” said senior safety P.J. Smith. “It doesn’t matter. We had two too many, bottom line.”

The exact number, at this point, probably isn’t of great importance, with the damage already done in the 36-30 loss.

Smith expressed frustration in knowing that many times, players were in position to make tackles, but didn’t wrap up properly and finish the play.

How does that get corrected?

“Practice,” Smith said at Monday’s news conference. “Just taking (players) down in practice. I’m sure we’re going to do that today in practice and this week, just tackling scout guys and bring then down to the ground. That’s all it is.”

Senior linebacker Will Compton said he believes that players sometimes go for the big hit or big play, rather than concentrating on wrapping up on initial contact.

“It’s just about want-to and mentality,” Compton said on improving tackling. “The coaches will touch on it. We’ll just go off their feedback. I think it’s just more want-to than anything else.”

While Pelini's team did tackle in fall camp scrimmages, the coach said they don't do it every day in August because of risk of injury.

Tackling, he said, comes down to fundamentals.

“I always believe that tackling a lot of times comes from getting your body in the right tackling position over and over and over,” Pelini said. "Not having your feet crossed over, not overrunning the football, always fundamentally evaluating those things. Maybe we didn’t do a good enough job with that."

* FRUSTRATING FILM: Smith watched film of the UCLA game Sunday, “and it wasn’t us,” he said.

“Nothing special they did, we just killed ourselves,” Smith said, referring to not only the missed tackles, but problems with communication.

“They were just doing a lot of motions to confuse us. If you’re not on the same page with your corner or your linebacker or something, big plays like that happen. That’s exactly what happened.”

UCLA had 11 plays that covered 23 yards or more.

* WILL TO DO BETTER: Compton admits he needs to do a better job in coverage when teams isolate him against running backs, like UCLA did.

Bruin running back Johnathan Franklin, who rushed for 217 yards, also caught three passes for 59 yards, including the game-clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter.

“I put myself in a bad position,” said Compton, a senior middle linebacker. “There were a couple of times we were in blitzes in Cover-1, and I should’ve kept my inside leverage better and I got too head-up, ready for both the in and the out. I’ve got to do better with that. I can, and I will do better with that.”

* BURKHEAD'S TIMETABLE: Rex Burkhead’s status has not changed, though Pelini did reveal a timetable that might provide some idea of when the senior running back would return.

Pelini said coaches were told Burkhead faced “like a 10-20-day recovery” from a MCL sprain suffered in the opener against Southern Miss.

If Burkhead recovers at that pace, it likely means a return this week or against Idaho State next week.

“It just all comes down to the doctors and Rex and how it plays out," he said.

* HIS TOUGHEST CRITIC: Ameer Abdullah said he felt he played "pretty average" Saturday.

"I felt like here and there I had some pretty good plays, but, obviously, when you watch films it's never as good as you think or as bad as you think," he said.

The sophomore running back had 16 carries for 119 yards and two touchdowns. He performed well in pass protection, too. The one mistake? A fumble on the first play of the third quarter that led to a UCLA field goal.

"I got the exchange pretty quick. The guy got on me pretty quick," Abdullah said. "Just something I've got to be ready for, a guy coming in screaming off the edge to hit me immediately when I get the ball. I've got to get two hands on the ball when I'm in traffic."

* VALENTINE UPDATE: While Pelini said coaches will continue to expand the roles of true freshmen Aaron Curry and Avery Moss on the defensive line, he said Vincent Valentine is probably going to redshirt.

That is “what we were hoping,” Pelini said. “I think he will benefit a lot from redshirting.”

* STILL EARLY: It was a rough week for the Big Ten. The league went just 6-6, including three head-to-head losses to Pac-12 schools.

But it’s much too early for people to jump to grand conclusions about the league, Pelini says.

“There's a lot to be determined as to how the Big Ten is going to fare as the season goes on, or any conference for that matter,” he said.

[Wild Hoss]

The second issue, besides Compton not being fast enough to stick with the running back has to do with angles and collisions. Compton and usually Cooper could not avoid the collision allowing the running back to be wide open. Other times he took such a steep angle toward the line of scrimmage that he was already beat.

IOW, pick plays...the bane of collegiate defense since the turn of the century. But then again, here we are talking about coverage issues; when our coverage breaks down we get gashed because we have no pass rush to balances the scales when it comes to execution. We allow the offense to execute free of pressure, and expect to play perfectly on our end to counter it. They have all the initiative.

[entropy]

Some stats on nebraska's d..

Opponent's completion percentage

2009: 47.7%
2010: 48.7%
2011: 53%
2012: 51% (UCLA 57.8%)

INTs

2009: 20 (Ratio of 1:24.5 attempts)
2010: 19 (Ratio of 1:20.5 attempts
2011: 10 (Ratio of 1:36 attempts)
2012: 0 (IDK...0:57 I guess?)

Rushing yards per game:

2009: 93
2010: 153
2011: 178
2012: 264

[entropy]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120912/BIGRED/120919894/1001#pelini-husker-tackle-chase-rome-off-team-for-now

Pelini: Husker tackle Chase Rome off team for now


“His personal goals – and personal perception of where he should be on this football team – doesn't match the team goals,” Pelini said of Rome.

[entropy]

@kevinkugler: Chase Rome is gone for the time being from Husker football...Tyler Wullenwaber is out for the year with ACL. Rough start in Lincoln

[entropy]

Chatelain: Spread offense exposes bigger issues

January 2008. The Superdome in New Orleans. Media day for the BCS national championship game between LSU and Ohio State.

Reporters huddle around one of the hot young names in college football, the same man who a month earlier accepted the head coaching job at Nebraska.

A TV guy from Ohio asks Bo Pelini about the speed disparity between the SEC and Big Ten.

“Here's where speed is,” the coach says, pointing to his heart. “It's knowing where you are going, being coached, having confidence in what you are doing. That's speed.”

That's Bo Pelini.

July 2009. A hotel ballroom in Dallas. Big 12 media days.

A reporter asks Nebraska's second-year head coach about Big 12 spread offenses. He has fielded this question dozens of times. It annoys him.

“These offenses, they aren't reinventing the wheel,'' Pelini says. “It's not magical. I think people put too much into what's going on. ... It's not about tricking somebody. It's about dominating somebody.''

That's Bo Pelini.

September 2012. Saturday night at the Rose Bowl. UCLA's spread offense discovers a weakness in the Blackshirts.

In the first half, the Bruins line up in a one-back set, then motion him toward the sideline. Nebraska's middle linebacker follows, creating a 1-on-1 mismatch — and a gaping hole over the middle.

UCLA gains 24 yards. It runs the same look for 31 yards. Then 24. Then 7. Then 49. Then 23.

Pelini does not adjust. The Bruins keep sending Johnathan Franklin out of the backfield, piling on yards — 653 at night's end.

Two days later, back in Lincoln, I ask Pelini what happened, not only in Los Angeles, but over the last two years. Why had his defense declined?

“No. 1, college football is changing a little bit,” he says. “You see a lot of types of offenses right now.

“The day and age of being able to just shut everybody out all the time probably isn't happening, especially when you are playing the type of spread-out teams we're seeing week to week. There's a lot of different challenges out there now.”

College football is changing? Spread offenses are too good? That's Bo Pelini?

Since he arrived in Lincoln five years ago, Husker fans have taken comfort in one thing: As long as Bo was around, they would have a defense.

Yes, the offense might stink sometimes. Yes, players might commit too many penalties and turnovers. But defense was constant. The security blanket. The foundation of the program.

You might have better recruits. But we will have better coaching. We will have more heart.

Now, for the first time, a considerable slice of the Husker fan base doesn't seem to trust Pelini to do what he does best.

It's one thing to watch Bo's team lose 14-7. But seeing the Blackshirts fail shakes the foundation. Isn't this why he was hired?

Pelini has experienced ups and downs in five years. But he's never faced issues this critical so early in a season. As he brainstorms, the public grows restless. Former Huskers hit the talk-radio circuit, questioning Bo's principles.

Why didn't he hire more experienced coordinators? Why do his best recruits — Aaron Green, Tyler Moore, Ryan Klachko, Chase Rome — keep walking out the door?

Why is such a veteran defense — nine of 11 starters Saturday were juniors and seniors — struggling with fundamentals? Why can't he develop young talent, or at least get young talent on the field faster?

And most of all, why doesn't he abandon the two-gap scheme that handcuffs his defensive line?

Pelini must answer those critiques not with words, but with performance.

Starting Sept. 29, Nebraska plays five straight losable games. If the Huskers want to be relevant in November, they need to win at least three.

Pelini has two weeks to get ready. To shake this malaise that feels like an identity crisis.

He grew up in Big Ten country. The Rust Belt. But Nebraska's conference move shook him up. Just when he'd mastered Big 12 spread offenses, the Big Red bolted.

Suddenly Pelini had to stop Wisconsin, not Missouri. He changed his template. He loaded up on traditional linebackers. Focused more on brawn, less on agility.

“Then you come back (to nonconference play) and you're playing a bunch of spread teams,” Pelini said. “You're jumping back and forth a lot. You have to use your personnel differently. It presents some challenges.”

Traditionally, Pelini defenses are fast defenses. Now he's working with a speed deficiency, and he looks lost.

His new players aren't good enough to run his old system. He must tweak the lineup or the scheme. Or both.

When Arkansas State attacks Nebraska with its up-tempo spread, we may see a new set of Husker linebackers. We may see a three-man front. We certainly will see change.

Pelini, famously abrasive with the media, spent most of Monday's press conference sincerely trying to explain what happened at UCLA and what it means. Only once did his cordial tone change.

A TV guy asked if the defensive mistakes were a matter of desire — of “want-to.” Eric Martin said so. Will Compton, too.

Pelini glared at the reporter.

“C'mon. Want-to from our players?

“Let me tell you something about our football team. ... There isn't any more want-to out there. Don't start questioning the integrity of our football team.

“Believe me, there ain't a guy out there who took that field or EVER will take that field for Nebraska who doesn't want to make the play.”

That's Bo Pelini, determined and defiant, the same man who lifted Nebraska's defense out of the mud and carried it to the mountaintop. That's Bo Pelini, coming to grips with a hard truth.

“Want-to” only takes you so far.

[entropy]

Chatelain: Spread offense exposes bigger issues

January 2008. The Superdome in New Orleans. Media day for the BCS national championship game between LSU and Ohio State.

Reporters huddle around one of the hot young names in college football, the same man who a month earlier accepted the head coaching job at Nebraska.

A TV guy from Ohio asks Bo Pelini about the speed disparity between the SEC and Big Ten.

?Here's where speed is,? the coach says, pointing to his heart. ?It's knowing where you are going, being coached, having confidence in what you are doing. That's speed.?

That's Bo Pelini.

July 2009. A hotel ballroom in Dallas. Big 12 media days.

A reporter asks Nebraska's second-year head coach about Big 12 spread offenses. He has fielded this question dozens of times. It annoys him.

?These offenses, they aren't reinventing the wheel,'' Pelini says. ?It's not magical. I think people put too much into what's going on. ... It's not about tricking somebody. It's about dominating somebody.''

That's Bo Pelini.

September 2012. Saturday night at the Rose Bowl. UCLA's spread offense discovers a weakness in the Blackshirts.

In the first half, the Bruins line up in a one-back set, then motion him toward the sideline. Nebraska's middle linebacker follows, creating a 1-on-1 mismatch ? and a gaping hole over the middle.

UCLA gains 24 yards. It runs the same look for 31 yards. Then 24. Then 7. Then 49. Then 23.

Pelini does not adjust. The Bruins keep sending Johnathan Franklin out of the backfield, piling on yards ? 653 at night's end.

Two days later, back in Lincoln, I ask Pelini what happened, not only in Los Angeles, but over the last two years. Why had his defense declined?

?No. 1, college football is changing a little bit,? he says. ?You see a lot of types of offenses right now.

?The day and age of being able to just shut everybody out all the time probably isn't happening, especially when you are playing the type of spread-out teams we're seeing week to week. There's a lot of different challenges out there now.?

College football is changing? Spread offenses are too good? That's Bo Pelini?

Since he arrived in Lincoln five years ago, Husker fans have taken comfort in one thing: As long as Bo was around, they would have a defense.

Yes, the offense might stink sometimes. Yes, players might commit too many penalties and turnovers. But defense was constant. The security blanket. The foundation of the program.

You might have better recruits. But we will have better coaching. We will have more heart.

Now, for the first time, a considerable slice of the Husker fan base doesn't seem to trust Pelini to do what he does best.

It's one thing to watch Bo's team lose 14-7. But seeing the Blackshirts fail shakes the foundation. Isn't this why he was hired?

Pelini has experienced ups and downs in five years. But he's never faced issues this critical so early in a season. As he brainstorms, the public grows restless. Former Huskers hit the talk-radio circuit, questioning Bo's principles.

Why didn't he hire more experienced coordinators? Why do his best recruits ? Aaron Green, Tyler Moore, Ryan Klachko, Chase Rome ? keep walking out the door?

Why is such a veteran defense ? nine of 11 starters Saturday were juniors and seniors ? struggling with fundamentals? Why can't he develop young talent, or at least get young talent on the field faster?

And most of all, why doesn't he abandon the two-gap scheme that handcuffs his defensive line?

Pelini must answer those critiques not with words, but with performance.

Starting Sept. 29, Nebraska plays five straight losable games. If the Huskers want to be relevant in November, they need to win at least three.

Pelini has two weeks to get ready. To shake this malaise that feels like an identity crisis.

He grew up in Big Ten country. The Rust Belt. But Nebraska's conference move shook him up. Just when he'd mastered Big 12 spread offenses, the Big Red bolted.

Suddenly Pelini had to stop Wisconsin, not Missouri. He changed his template. He loaded up on traditional linebackers. Focused more on brawn, less on agility.

?Then you come back (to nonconference play) and you're playing a bunch of spread teams,? Pelini said. ?You're jumping back and forth a lot. You have to use your personnel differently. It presents some challenges.?

Traditionally, Pelini defenses are fast defenses. Now he's working with a speed deficiency, and he looks lost.

His new players aren't good enough to run his old system. He must tweak the lineup or the scheme. Or both.

When Arkansas State attacks Nebraska with its up-tempo spread, we may see a new set of Husker linebackers. We may see a three-man front. We certainly will see change.

Pelini, famously abrasive with the media, spent most of Monday's press conference sincerely trying to explain what happened at UCLA and what it means. Only once did his cordial tone change.

A TV guy asked if the defensive mistakes were a matter of desire ? of ?want-to.? Eric Martin said so. Will Compton, too.

Pelini glared at the reporter.

?C'mon. Want-to from our players?

?Let me tell you something about our football team. ... There isn't any more want-to out there. Don't start questioning the integrity of our football team.

?Believe me, there ain't a guy out there who took that field or EVER will take that field for Nebraska who doesn't want to make the play.?

That's Bo Pelini, determined and defiant, the same man who lifted Nebraska's defense out of the mud and carried it to the mountaintop. That's Bo Pelini, coming to grips with a hard truth.

?Want-to? only takes you so far.

[entropy]

Chatelain

It’s been a good week for sportswriting at the World-Herald. It’s also been a good week for sports talk-radio shows. I listen to as many podcasts as possible during the week. Today, I pulled a few sound bites from former Huskers who appeared as guests (I didn’t include Jason Peter because his sound bites could fill a whole column.)

Damon Benning on 1620 The Zone’s “Unsportsmanlike Conduct” in Omaha:

“The onus is as much on the staff in terms of preparation and lack of adjustments as it is on what we keep hearing about the fact that Nebraska doesn’t have any talent. You have got to be able to make the adjustment. UCLA ran the same five plays and the same concept route multiple times, time and time again. That is inexcusable at this level.”

Oudious Lee on “Unsportsmanlike Conduct”:

“It’s not just me, but there are a lot of people out there that are just kind of questioning the sanity of not letting your defensive tackle be in a position to do anything but protect your linebackers. It’s nice to protect your linebackers, but it’d also be nice to let those kids go. … I got a 13-year-old here that’s as tall as I am. If he ever figures the football thing out and they were playing this scheme, I would suggest he go somewhere else.”

Jay Moore on 93.7 FM’s “The Drive” in Lincoln:

“I don’t know if it’s Bo or if it’s just the defensive staff in general, I think they’re just petrified of mobile quarterbacks. … They’ve got players, man. I’ve trained with these guys, I’ve seen them. These guys are able to play high-level football. You need to free ‘em up a little bit. They just need to let ‘em, especially the front seven, just let these guys go make plays and not be so concerned if the quarterback is going to scramble. … Watching games — that’s all I really watch is the D-line — I’m kinda of awe of what they’re doing up front. I know they’re doing what they’re told, but I’d have a hard time staying quiet. I’d want to go eat, man. Let that dog go get a bone.”

Joel Makovicka on “The Drive”:

“I’m in a little bit of panic mode about the direction of the program. I’ve talked to a lot of guys about this. When Ndamukong Suh and Prince Amukamara and some of those guys were leaving, usually on great football teams that reload, or are preparing for a huge run in the future, you can sit and say, ‘Hey, look at that freshman, he played and he looks good. Or this sophomore is going to be a man next year when he’s able to start. And I was never seeing that. … That’s more of my concern. Where’s the light at the end of the tunnel? … That’s where I panic a little bit.”

Matt Hoskinson on 1620’s “Sharp and Peter”:

“We are not even in the ballpark on our talent evaluation. … I believe that Bo Pelini may be one of, if not the best college defensive minds in the country … The problem is he doesn’t have the players to run that defense. And it’s not even close. … They’re asking these guys to do things that physically and mentally they cannot do. … You have to be smart enough to know what you ask of your players.”

That’s pretty heavy stuff from some pretty smart people. As I wrote in a World-Herald column today, this feels like the first time in five years that a considerable slice of the fan base is questioning Bo’s ability to coach the defense.

[Wild Hoss]

Papuchis gets into a shouting match with a fan at the Big Red Breakfast today.

http://www.ketv.com/huskers-extended-coverage/Coach-lashes-out-at-Husker-fan/-/15210616/16604606/-/28p52i/-/index.html

I guess its no surprise this team cannot keep it cool in football games if some douche at a booster function is setting up shop inside our DC's head.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Oh Pappy...if you want to be a cook in the kitchen...yer gonna take some heat man.

This staff is so damn defensive in these settings...too bad they aren't defensive on the field.

[Optimus Prime]

It's probably the corn liquor.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Yeah. Prolly that. Or the ass reaming his defense took in Pasadena. One or the other.

[Wild Hoss]

Oh Pappy...if you want to be a cook in the kitchen...yer gonna take some heat man.

This staff is so damn defensive in these settings...too bad they aren't defensive on the field.

Yeah...I wish they showed as much aggression towards our opponents as they do our fans.

[whodean]

From Twitter:

reporter saying 3 people have told him that Bo Pelini has left the stadium in an ambulance