Husker Coordinators

[Elf]

I don't agree with firing anybody else at this point - but please tell me why some of you think Bray is a shoe in for DC or would be good at it? No experience right?

I don't know if he'd be a good DC. But he's a really good recruiter. And he can't be any worse than the DC we have now.

Cosgrove.

Last year's defense was basically the same as Cosgrove's last defense.

I would disagree with that, we had a couple of bad games on defense but Cosgrove's defense completely melted down for 2/3 of a season.

I'm sure you would disagree. But the facts would make you wrong.

You don't finish #122 in passing defense (in 2015) without melting down a significant amount of time. Especially playing against several not-that-great passing offenses.

In 2007, we allowed our opponents to gain 0.47 more yards per play against us than they did against the rest of their opponents that year.

In 2015, we allowed our opponents to gain 0.42 more yards per play.

So the 2015 defense was a little less than two inches per play better than the 2007 defense. So they were equally pathetic.

You can cherry pick statistics to prove any point.

Put both defenses side by side and Cosgrove's was far worse. His defense quit on him at the Missouri game and in that game and the next 3 they gave up a combined 150 points and 2,161 yards of offense. Cosgrove never got his defense back either.

You only wish Banker was that bad.

I'm not cherry-picking statistics. I'm comparing how both teams did for the year. You're the one cherry-picking three games. It's tough to get your defense back when you're talking about the last three games he coached.

In our last three losses, we've given up 140 points and 1,519 yards. And that's this year. So there isn't much difference between them. Other than Cosgrose's must have been somewhat better for part of the year to be that bad over those three games and still only be comparable to Banker's for the entire year.

I admit, I cherry picked stats to prove a point, the same as you. I counted 4 games, not 3.

That said, I chose those 4 games because Missouri is where the wheels came off and the next 3 games is the wagon entering a terminal skid, on it's side, with tongue and axels bent and twisted. Players quit on Cosgrove. Who has quit on Banker?

There is just no way that Banker, no matter how much you hate him, is as bad as Cosgrove was. Cosgrove's defense was so bad he got death threats on him and his family.

*Edit* Here's another point I just thought of. Is it fair to compare Banker's first year to Cosgrove's 4th? Cosgrove had 4 years to get those guys playing his defense properly. Last year was Banker's first at NU. I expect growing pains during a coaches first year.

 

[Mavric]

Those supporting Langs will say "Look! We tried to run the ball." The other side of the coin is we were the 11th most predictable offense on first down in the country. And when you consider that some of the teams ahead of us were undoubtedly Navy, Army, Georgia Tech and the like who hardy throw it any time, there are not many other offenses who try for some semblance of balance who were more predictable.

And the yards per carry number doesn't account for the fact that we run Inside Zone so much which doesn't give much chance for big plays.

4.56: Yards per carry on first down, Nebraska’s worst average of the Big Ten era. NU ran the ball 302 times — 11th nationally — on first down. That’s more than every other Big Ten team but Wisconsin. But NU’s first-down average ranked 76th nationally and ninth in the league. The Huskers also averaged 3.86 yards per carry in the first quarter. That’s NU’s lowest average since 2009.

OWH

 

[Saunders]

I can't believe I'm defending Cosgrove... but his unit also faced good offenses. IIRC, the 2007 team faced 5 top 10 offenses, and played a top 5 schedule. The last 2 years we've played the 2 weakest schedules I can find going back to at least 2003.

 

[ColoradoHusk]

Those supporting Langs will say "Look! We tried to run the ball." The other side of the coin is we were the 11th most predictable offense on first down in the country. And when you consider that some of the teams ahead of us were undoubtedly Navy, Army, Georgia Tech and the like who hardy throw it any time, there are not many other offenses who try for some semblance of balance who were more predictable.

And the yards per carry number doesn't account for the fact that we run Inside Zone so much which doesn't give much chance for big plays.

4.56: Yards per carry on first down, Nebraska’s worst average of the Big Ten era. NU ran the ball 302 times — 11th nationally — on first down. That’s more than every other Big Ten team but Wisconsin. But NU’s first-down average ranked 76th nationally and ninth in the league. The Huskers also averaged 3.86 yards per carry in the first quarter. That’s NU’s lowest average since 2009.

OWH

Langsdorf likes to get creative in the passing game and does a good job of it. It's the complete opposite in the running game, and it's lame.

 

[teachercd]

I can't believe I'm defending Cosgrove... but his unit also faced good offenses. IIRC, the 2007 team faced 5 top 10 offenses, and played a top 5 schedule. The last 2 years we've played the 2 weakest schedules I can find going back to at least 2003.

Sure but Banker had to play Purdue twice...

 

[ColoradoHusk]

I can't believe I'm defending Cosgrove... but his unit also faced good offenses. IIRC, the 2007 team faced 5 top 10 offenses, and played a top 5 schedule. The last 2 years we've played the 2 weakest schedules I can find going back to at least 2003.

Sure but Banker had to play Purdue twice...

And one of those was against an interim head coach!!! Purdue had nothing to lose that game!!!

 

[I AM FOOT FOOT]

Those supporting Langs will say "Look! We tried to run the ball." The other side of the coin is we were the 11th most predictable offense on first down in the country. And when you consider that some of the teams ahead of us were undoubtedly Navy, Army, Georgia Tech and the like who hardy throw it any time, there are not many other offenses who try for some semblance of balance who were more predictable.

And the yards per carry number doesn't account for the fact that we run Inside Zone so much which doesn't give much chance for big plays.

4.56: Yards per carry on first down, Nebraska’s worst average of the Big Ten era. NU ran the ball 302 times — 11th nationally — on first down. That’s more than every other Big Ten team but Wisconsin. But NU’s first-down average ranked 76th nationally and ninth in the league. The Huskers also averaged 3.86 yards per carry in the first quarter. That’s NU’s lowest average since 2009.

OWH

Langsdorf likes to get creative in the passing game and does a good job of it. It's the complete opposite in the running game, and it's lame.

yep its almost like he just throws a simple run play in for no expected effect other than being balanced.no creativity at all.

 

[Mavric]

Those supporting Langs will say "Look! We tried to run the ball." The other side of the coin is we were the 11th most predictable offense on first down in the country. And when you consider that some of the teams ahead of us were undoubtedly Navy, Army, Georgia Tech and the like who hardy throw it any time, there are not many other offenses who try for some semblance of balance who were more predictable.

And the yards per carry number doesn't account for the fact that we run Inside Zone so much which doesn't give much chance for big plays.

4.56: Yards per carry on first down, Nebraska’s worst average of the Big Ten era. NU ran the ball 302 times — 11th nationally — on first down. That’s more than every other Big Ten team but Wisconsin. But NU’s first-down average ranked 76th nationally and ninth in the league. The Huskers also averaged 3.86 yards per carry in the first quarter. That’s NU’s lowest average since 2009.

OWH

Langsdorf likes to get creative in the passing game and does a good job of it. It's the complete opposite in the running game, and it's lame.

I've said this before but it almost seems like his year (two?) in the NFL has an NFL-type scheme in his head. In the NFL, you mainly run inside zone because everyone on the defense is way too fast to run running wide very much. And I do like the design of his passing game but it only works well if you have a QB who's completing mid-60% passes. Getting to 60% would be an accomplishment. Barely above 50% doesn't cut it.

 

[SECHusker]

I don't understand why more folks aren't as mad at Langs as much as, if not more so than banker. Banker had to work with a completely rebuilt d-line, lost DTs to the league, a new coach, and new responsibilities. Langs just had to get off his a$$ and do what he should have done last year, and tailor a game plan to the talent on hand; and Langs was inept at that.

 

[84HuskerLaw]

I know that as far as my expectations for the 2016 season, I am far more disappointed in the performane of the offense than the defense. I expected better secondary play and decent LB play and I think that was born out by the way the games went in general. I worried greatly about the front four because of the many vacancies that had to be filled with inexperienced backups who really came in without much expectation. I give Parella kudos for the performance we did get from those front four considering their 'talent' level to begin with. Imagine what could be accomplished with top ten level players.

The offense may have been slightly better with much more creative and imaginative play calling but really with the poorest offensive line play in the conference, arguably, it is not surprising that our offense was mediocre or less. Our defensive stats would be much better if our offense could have actually sustained drives and scored and given our defense some cushion to work with and confidence that they could play more aggressively as they offense could be counted on to score. We had far to many games when we had to hope the D could stop them to preserve the win or keep us within reach in the fourth quarter.

If you can't block basic run and basic play action and drop back and or shot gun pass plays, you are going to lose! It is fundamental that you must atleast battle to a draw in the line of scrmmage play. If we fix the lines on both offense and defense, we will be a top twenty team and even this year would have been in the conference title game.

 

[Mavric]

Things that need to happen:

1 - Fire Banker

2 - Fire Reed

3 - Promote Bray to DC

4 - Hire Thompson as full-time assistant

5 - Hire another young, high-energy assistant who can recruit like crazy

6 - ???

7 - Profit

1 - Check

2 - Check

3 - Pending

4 - Coming in April

5 - Check

6 - ???

7 - Yes, I think so

 

[Mavric]

60% so far.

80% very likely

Probably won't get to 100% but I don't mind patting myself on the back for this.

And props to Riley for actually doing something about it.

 

[I AM FOOT FOOT]

Mav why Bray at DC?

 

[Scott Tenorman]

You think it's very likely they promote Bray, or are you talking about Thompson? Not saying I'm against it, we need to keep him on the staff and if firing Banker and promting him is what it takes then so be it. Just wondering if they're going for a bigger name.

 

[BRV920]

Hearing that Les Miles is in the running for a position. No idea what right now.