My thoughts following UCLA - re Taylor, Bo, Tim Beck

The Red & White Knight

The Red & White Knight

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I was going to write this after the game, but I wanted to wait a few days. Now so much as emerged about Bo v Tommie, and then someone dropping the AUDIO of Bo fbombing.

This won't be a long rant post, but just me kind of flowing through my thought progress. First thought: I thought Taylor should step down and not play anymore. HIs post game comments, and the different attitude Tommy Armstrong - I just want to see Armstrong get the plays. I have always respected Taylor and I still do, but, being a pragmatist for the program I want to see Armstrong get the reps and have his influence on the team. I don't see Taylor as the leader we need right now.

That's how I felt at first, and it was mostly due to a feeling that the younger players on the team are actuallly in better shape - mentally or physically - because of Bo maturing, or the system being more in place. The talent on defense, to me, is actually really good. I have a lot of faith in that the defense COULD and probably WILL be great -- provided the coaching lets them become great. Same for offense. The WRs, the running backs, they are stacked.

That was my initial reaction. But now, it has changed somewhat... in that it's more anti-coach. I really do side with Tommie Frazier, although I don't think it was handled well. More so, there is a certain something missing in the coaching staff that is passed on to the players - this lack of perseverence. Once something go bad, the glass cannon shatters.

I can only look at Bo here. Even look at how he says "oh we don't need him" - Tommie Frazier? The guy who was honored at halftime? come on. I think that exempllifies the kind of "oops the line is crossed, time to shove everything we don't like away" mentality that has to go. I'm a little experienced with that personality myself - I have been that way. But it's NO GOOD when it comes to building trust and faith.

I don't see real leadership, and I don't see real poise from the team. I don't know where is going to come from, and I feel increasingly like the talents of players - like Taylor - have been stymied. I know he's had certain leadership issues 'personally', but, my shift is more or less from blaming him towards the coaches that influeced him. I continue to see Taylor as someone who really wants to improve and do the best, and I will basically always respet him as such.

But if I were Athletic Director or dictator at Nebraska, I'd put in Armstrong, and I'd seriously consider coaching changes - ESPECIALLY after Bo's comments. I 'm sure bo has gotten better in two years (I guess?), but that is disrespectful, and not really acceptable for a head coach. I don't think Bo has shown the championship caliber poise for coaching. I don't know what on earth he's doing with the defense now, and if he's not having an amazing defense, he sure isn't being a good overall for the program.

IDK what is going on with Tim Beck, either. He has the talent to do big things, but, why on earth would you ever get conservative? Nebraksa's offenes could easily be putting up 50+ every game. Taylor said something about "I felt like we should blow em out" - and I have sympathy for Taylor here, because I'm sure he is torn between how he thinks he should play and how the 'coaches' want him to play.

It's just kind of a fractured state of affairs.

conclusion:

- put in Armstrong and feed off of his new / calm atttidude.

- Let the players play as much as possible, because I'm sure they are actually quite talented, both sides of the ball.

- Find leadership somewhere. Bo might have to go, and he seemed really childish to me the last few revelations. I don't think that's the kind of influence our boys need.

- Get an entirely new defense system ( long run).

IT's strange, but, as it stands now, I have a tremendous amount of faith in the kids. The players seem totally ready to get to a BCS bowl as far as talent goes. I'm very excited about them. But is the coaching adapting to use their talents? No. Do they know how to win big games? Definitely not.

I don't want Armstrong's generation of huskers to be tainted into being unsuccssful by relation. There has to be a whole new attitude built somewhere. Who can do that, I don't know.

 
I don't think a new QB, whatever his leadership/talent may or may not be, is an answer to Nebraska's problems. There are so many issues prevalent and QB play, imho, isn't one of them. Only an injury is reason enough to take Martinez out of the game. Nebraska's issues right now are fundamental, mental and cultural. We had a separate team captain come out and say this team took it's foot off the gas against UCLA. Again, that's cultural and mental and has nothing to do with Martinez.

Inconsistent o-line and d-line, inconsistent pass rush, dropped passes, turnovers, inexperience, bad run defense, fundamental lapses... all more relevant than Taylor Martinez or our QB play at this time.

 
Ironic, you calling for TA to play.

The 12-15 plays we saw him against SMiss i was thinking, "redshirt freshman is SO obvioulsy not ready. In fact, how strongly TM burst onto the scene, we have been lucky to have him fr 4 yrs. That dude won us a lot of games during a real transition of the Pelini era. He has struggled at times for sure but he played pretty much every play like it was his last, cannot knock him for that. He was better at this point than TA is now."

QB is THE most important position in team sports and despite the struggles and turnovers, TM is by far and away the best guy for us right now. We are 2-1 with many more wins in front of us. Only the players and coaches know who is ready to play and who they trust.

I'm excited for the future too, but lets go win our 10-11 games this year before we throw out a guy who has given his all for as far as we've come so far. If it was a DB, or O-lineman--okay. But TM deserves to finsih out his hard won place as the undisputed captain and leader of this team.

Don't throw the baby out w the bath water.

 
I am I said:
Ironic, you calling for TA to play.

The 12-15 plays we saw him against SMiss i was thinking, "redshirt freshman is SO obvioulsy not ready. In fact, how strongly TM burst onto the scene, we have been lucky to have him fr 4 yrs.
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I didn't think that all when I saw TA play. I saw poised and aggressive, among other things. TM peaked 4 seasons ago. It is about who can win now. While that may still be a healthy TM, we are way past due to see someone else at the helm.

Our schedule is so weak I could probably coach and QB us to 9 wins. If TM gets us one or two more, I don't really care heading into next season vs. the 9 that are a gimmee.

 
Listening to some radio programs right now, I heard an interesting point - what happens when it's not 'us against the world'; what happens when it's Nebraska on the stage needing to perform?

I don't know where that will come from but that's the kind of attitude and poise that needs to change.

 
I'm not really dead set against TM, and in reality, I expect him to finish out the season. I would have no problems with that. But I just hope our younger talent doesn't get lost in this process.

The players - Enunwa, Bell, SJB, TMagic - even VV, Newby, much of the defense - I see a lottt of talent. I don't want the coaches to hold them back. I don't know what is going to change that. The guys who have heart need to be allowed to shine.

But my main 'concern' is still this attitude issue.

 
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The Red & White Knight said:
Listening to some radio programs right now, I heard an interesting point - what happens when it's not 'us against the world'; what happens when it's Nebraska on the stage needing to perform?

I don't know where that will come from but that's the kind of attitude and poise that needs to change.
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That's been another criticism. When Nebraska is on the stage needing to perform, they don't look good.

 
I don't mind us against the world, but I hate us against the fans. Seeing the tweets of players current and former like Tim Marlowe, it makes me sad, if that's the suspicion with which they view the fanbase as a whole.

 
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Scott Shanle said Tuesday that when he played at Nebraska, he and his teammates didn't take out their frustrations on the fans/media like some of the players current/recently former are now doing. Shanle said they understood that Nebraska had a tradition of excellence and demanded such tradition be upheld, and if they were losing games or not performing well, the only people they blamed were themselves.

It's entirely feasible this us against the world mentality breeds disconnect between fans/players. I mean, world is pretty all-encompassing. Nebraska is not a fair-weather fan base, as the sellout streak whole-heartedly supports, so it's plain as day that the fans support this team. And if this team fights, if this team shows that it gives it's all, the fans as a whole won't get angry in a loss. Losing like they did against UCLA, where there was a clear sign of giving up and complacency, that's something fans here won't, and shouldn't, accept.

Even though I doubt our current players will see this, it's important they understand something - the reason you guys live in a fish bowl is because of the great young men that came before you, young men that did give their all for this program and what it stands for. The fans here support you, first and foremost, and look to the coaches to make you perform at your best. I'd argue the fan base understands your frustrations and your love for your coach, but Nebraska is not a place where you take plays off, where you lose your focus and where you lack drive. Yeah, it's easy to say that from our computer desks, but we're not out to get you.

 
Enhance89 said:
Scott Shanle said Tuesday that when he played at Nebraska, he and his teammates didn't take out their frustrations on the fans/media like some of the players current/recently former are now doing. Shanle said they understood that Nebraska had a tradition of excellence and demanded such tradition be upheld, and if they were losing games or not performing well, the only people they blamed were themselves.

It's entirely feasible this us against the world mentality breeds disconnect between fans/players. I mean, world is pretty all-encompassing. Nebraska is not a fair-weather fan base, as the sellout streak whole-heartedly supports, so it's plain as day that the fans support this team. And if this team fights, if this team shows that it gives it's all, the fans as a whole won't get angry in a loss. Losing like they did against UCLA, where there was a clear sign of giving up and complacency, that's something fans here won't, and shouldn't, accept.

Even though I doubt our current players will see this, it's important they understand something - the reason you guys live in a fish bowl is because of the great young men that came before you, young men that did give their all for this program and what it stands for. The fans here support you, first and foremost, and look to the coaches to make you perform at your best. I'd argue the fan base understands your frustrations and your love for your coach, but Nebraska is not a place where you take plays off, where you lose your focus and where you lack drive. Yeah, it's easy to say that from our computer desks, but we're not out to get you.
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I agree with everything you said. I just don't think our players are mentally tough and use this "us against the world" to mask it. One quote I think the players and Bo need to hang up in the locker room is from Maya Angelou- " You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it."

 
Stumpy1 said:
Enhance89 said:
Scott Shanle said Tuesday that when he played at Nebraska, he and his teammates didn't take out their frustrations on the fans/media like some of the players current/recently former are now doing. Shanle said they understood that Nebraska had a tradition of excellence and demanded such tradition be upheld, and if they were losing games or not performing well, the only people they blamed were themselves.

It's entirely feasible this us against the world mentality breeds disconnect between fans/players. I mean, world is pretty all-encompassing. Nebraska is not a fair-weather fan base, as the sellout streak whole-heartedly supports, so it's plain as day that the fans support this team. And if this team fights, if this team shows that it gives it's all, the fans as a whole won't get angry in a loss. Losing like they did against UCLA, where there was a clear sign of giving up and complacency, that's something fans here won't, and shouldn't, accept.

Even though I doubt our current players will see this, it's important they understand something - the reason you guys live in a fish bowl is because of the great young men that came before you, young men that did give their all for this program and what it stands for. The fans here support you, first and foremost, and look to the coaches to make you perform at your best. I'd argue the fan base understands your frustrations and your love for your coach, but Nebraska is not a place where you take plays off, where you lose your focus and where you lack drive. Yeah, it's easy to say that from our computer desks, but we're not out to get you.
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I agree with everything you said. I just don't think our players are mentally tough and use this "us against the world" to mask it. One quote I think the players and Bo need to hang up in the locker room is from Maya Angelou- " You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it."
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That is a great quote.

 
The Red & White Knight said:
I can only look at Bo here. Even look at how he says "oh we don't need him" - Tommie Frazier? The guy who was honored at halftime? come on. I think that exempllifies the kind of "oops the line is crossed, time to shove everything we don't like away" mentality that has to go. I'm a little experienced with that personality myself - I have been that way. But it's NO GOOD when it comes to building trust and faith.
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Im sorry, but Tommie can go jump into a dumpster fire for all I care. Coming out like that and calling directly for coaches heads and such, Bo is right, we don't need him. Is there room for for criticism with this team? Sure, but how Tommie went about it is pure bullsh#t. Bo has been open to many former players and respects the vast majority of them but if you come out and make these types of comments, you deserve the comments that Bo gave. We don't NEED Frazier, we don't need that type of negativity and distractions surrounding the team. It's not all roses around the university, but F that noise.

 
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