Tyler Moore walks out of practice...

[Enhance]

Hey 'Skersrule, just some numbers for your post on page 10.

You mention 533 total yards of offense and 383 on the ground against Washington in 2010? Washington finished 93rd in scoring defense and gave up 401 yards a game that year. In our bowl game against Washington, we only had 91 yards rushing.

You say a Kansas State thrashing in 2010? They finished 74th in scoring defense and gave up 441 ypg.

The Missouri game was a fair game, considering they finished in the top 10 in scoring defense that year. But, consider that Roy Helu never came close to repeating that feat. He also racked up all of those yards on three plays IIRC. Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in awhile.

2010 Oklahoma State - why bother even typing their defensive stats from that year they were so pathetic.

2011 Washington finished 101st in scoring defense and gave up 440 plus yards a game.

2011 Ohio State gave up 20.8 ppg and 320 ypg.

2011's 3000-plus rushing season? How about the stat we saw on the BTN a couple of days ago - when Nebraska rushes for 185 or more yards we're 18-0, when we rush for less, we're 0-8. Or how about our 17 points against Wisconsin and 159 rushing yards, 17 points against Michigan and 138 net rushing yards, or our 13 points against South Carolina and 137 net rushing yards. Those teams finished with the sixth, eighth, and twelfth best scoring defenses in college football, respectively.

Those are all facts.

The stats show that Nebraska rarely has any idea what they're doing when they face good defenses, rarely hitting that 185 rushing yard mark and losing each game they don't. Any objective analysis of Barney Cotton shows that, although we rush well against bad defenses, we also look plain average. Obviously, rushing numbers and overall numbers in general will not be great against better defenses, but these stats are telling nevertheless, and I don't see any way of denying this. Look at last year's Michigan state game - 270 total yards of offense, 190 rushing, 3.3 yards per rush. The drop off from when we play bad teams, to when we play good teams, is significant. That means we didn't even run well enough to get a first down with three running plays.

I've spent hours watching some of last year's game, looking for bad offensive line play. I'm no offensive guru, but I can sometimes pick upwards of 15 plays from each game where noticeable breakdowns occur, and we only have 60-80 plays per game. Is it really acceptable to allow anywhere from 18 to 25 percent of our plays to have shoddy offensive line play?

I don't hate Cotton, but I don't like his coaching, and I don't go over-the-top with my criticisms of him. He's exactly like Shawn Watson - his units can look great one play, and pop warner the next. The consistency level is average against good teams and average against bad teams. We get away with it against bad teams because we're more talented. When we play people that actually know what they're doing, our deficiencies are magnified.

 

[knapplc]

So, in a thread with in excess of 500 replies, you guys can find what, ten posts that are overreacting to Cotton? And this proves to you that all criticisms against Cotton are unwarranted?

How about this - I can go through the Fresno State game and show you ten plays where Cotton's line was bumbling around, either not blocking their man, not knowing who to block, getting beaten on the block, or flat-out playing in the wrong position.

That's one game. There were a dozen more games last year, half of which had a similar number of bonehead plays by Barney Cotton's unit.

And you guys accuse me of willfully ignoring what's being said? Do you even watch our games?

:huh: :dunno

Like what aspeedlin4589 said.

It's an internet forum, people are going to say whatever they want. If someone wants to say that, than thats their own opinion but it's not a reflection of everyone on this board. Because to be honest HB is probably the most level headed husker board on the internet.

I would say his is more of an observation than an opinion.

I took as he got butt hurt and just vented.

You take it wrong. You haven't been around long. I've been a "sunshine-pumper" for years. Facts are facts, though, and whether you like it or not, whether you disagree with the reality enough to think anyone who doesn't see it your way as "butthurt" or not, the O Line (that's Barney Cotton's position, BTW) has underperformed. Not just in 2008, not just in 2009, not just in 2010, but in 2011 as well. Go watch the tape. It's right there.

Now, bshirt brings up some recruiting errors - this is a good point. We've had recruiting misfires at several positions, and O Line isn't immune to that. But I fail to see why Barney Cotton should be immune to criticism when his unit underperforms, when we have gripes about the secondary, linebackers, D Line, wide receivers and quarterback and those are OK.

At what point did Barney Cotton become sacred? When did it become verboten to critique his unit?

O Line is, after all, the foundation on which the entire team is built. It's kind of an important thing.

 

[Foppa]

I totally disagree, about his needed status. Anyone that just walks away from his team at this time, is only concerned with himself, no matter the reason.

Tired of hearing he is just a kid, there are thousands every single day that take the oath of military service for this country. These kids on our football team call themselves warriors, going to war. But they can quit anytime the going gets tough and it is thought to be okay. Thank God the kids that defend this country do not think like that. Quitting is a cowards way out. This program does not need cowards. That maybe the old Marine in me, but that is the way I live my life.

I have seen kids in their dying eyes, wanting only to go home. Being home sick is a standard for youth, missing thier girlfriend is standard. But giving up a golden opportunity to play for Nebraska and to move on to the pros because your home sick is not acceptable for me. Letting others down that depend on you and your talents, being coaches and players is not acceptable to me.

There is more to this than just winning football games. Time some take a look at what is one of our motos.

But I still give him the benefit of the doubt until all the information is available.

He didn't 'quit'. His girlfriend made him redefine his geographical life position. Big difference. :lol:

 

[TJ Alum Husker]

agree with you Knappic. Cotton has not elevated the play of the recruits. In some cases they have regressed. Part of coaching is being able to handle/motivate the "prima donnas" as well as the walk-ons. Cotton has clearly not done this well. You could make an argument that it is far easier to motivate the walk-ons, since they are trying to claw their way upward without any sense of entitlement. I, for one, would like to see a clean break with Cotton after the season. It would be hard on the team to do it now, unless you have a ready-made stud replacement waiting in the wings.

 

[bshirt]

I totally disagree, about his needed status. Anyone that just walks away from his team at this time, is only concerned with himself, no matter the reason.

Tired of hearing he is just a kid, there are thousands every single day that take the oath of military service for this country. These kids on our football team call themselves warriors, going to war. But they can quit anytime the going gets tough and it is thought to be okay. Thank God the kids that defend this country do not think like that. Quitting is a cowards way out. This program does not need cowards. That maybe the old Marine in me, but that is the way I live my life.

I have seen kids in their dying eyes, wanting only to go home. Being home sick is a standard for youth, missing thier girlfriend is standard. But giving up a golden opportunity to play for Nebraska and to move on to the pros because your home sick is not acceptable for me. Letting others down that depend on you and your talents, being coaches and players is not acceptable to me.

There is more to this than just winning football games. Time some take a look at what is one of our motos.

But I still give him the benefit of the doubt until all the information is available.

He didn't 'quit'. His girlfriend made him redefine his geographical life position. Big difference. :lol:

Good point and I stand most humbly corrected.

 

[Polarhusker]

That's perfectly fine. Level-headed, fact-based, criticism is perfectly acceptable. Going off the deep end and reflexively spewing forth a ranting diatribe about how Barney sucks at every turn (like a segment of our fans do), should stop.

Where has this happened? Seems like much ado about nothing.

your kidding right! :dunno

I'd say it's about as humorous as basic grammar.

if you say so. :leghump:

 

[Foppa]

I did! h34r:

 

[Polarhusker]

You take it wrong. You haven't been around long. I've been a "sunshine-pumper" for years. Facts are facts, though, and whether you like it or not, whether you disagree with the reality enough to think anyone who doesn't see it your way as "butthurt" or not, the O Line (that's Barney Cotton's position, BTW) has underperformed. Not just in 2008, not just in 2009, not just in 2010, but in 2011 as well. Go watch the tape. It's right there.

Now, bshirt brings up some recruiting errors - this is a good point. We've had recruiting misfires at several positions, and O Line isn't immune to that. But I fail to see why Barney Cotton should be immune to criticism when his unit underperforms, when we have gripes about the secondary, linebackers, D Line, wide receivers and quarterback and those are OK.

At what point did Barney Cotton become sacred? When did it become verboten to critique his unit?

O Line is, after all, the foundation on which the entire team is built. It's kind of an important thing.

This is actually funny. Someone telling me how his facts (opinions) are more correct than anyone else's and how wrong they are. This had nothing to do with people agreeing or disagreeing with my view. This was only a response to you're post. I felt that you got butt-hurt about the way people where defending BC.

You probably didn't mean to come off like that, but to me you did.

and you're right, I probably interpreted wrong.

It's all good.

by the way BC isn't the only coach of the OL. But he is the lightning rod tho.

 

[Husker_x]

You take it wrong. You haven't been around long. I've been a "sunshine-pumper" for years. Facts are facts, though, and whether you like it or not, whether you disagree with the reality enough to think anyone who doesn't see it your way as "butthurt" or not, the O Line (that's Barney Cotton's position, BTW) has underperformed. Not just in 2008, not just in 2009, not just in 2010, but in 2011 as well. Go watch the tape. It's right there.

Now, bshirt brings up some recruiting errors - this is a good point. We've had recruiting misfires at several positions, and O Line isn't immune to that. But I fail to see why Barney Cotton should be immune to criticism when his unit underperforms, when we have gripes about the secondary, linebackers, D Line, wide receivers and quarterback and those are OK.

At what point did Barney Cotton become sacred? When did it become verboten to critique his unit?

O Line is, after all, the foundation on which the entire team is built. It's kind of an important thing.

Apparently I need medication. I must have just imagined all those endless threads about Cotton and his line, the saga of mediocrity that may or may not be broken in his fifth year. Now all of the sudden because Cotton apparently wasn't the cause of Moore's midnight ride (glad to be corrected, btw), he's no longer our single biggest coaching concern on the staff. In fact, he's not a concern at all anymore.

Well okay then.

 

[tschu]

'SkersRule and Barney sittin in a tree

 

[Foppa]

You take it wrong. You haven't been around long. I've been a "sunshine-pumper" for years. Facts are facts, though, and whether you like it or not, whether you disagree with the reality enough to think anyone who doesn't see it your way as "butthurt" or not, the O Line (that's Barney Cotton's position, BTW) has underperformed. Not just in 2008, not just in 2009, not just in 2010, but in 2011 as well. Go watch the tape. It's right there.

Now, bshirt brings up some recruiting errors - this is a good point. We've had recruiting misfires at several positions, and O Line isn't immune to that. But I fail to see why Barney Cotton should be immune to criticism when his unit underperforms, when we have gripes about the secondary, linebackers, D Line, wide receivers and quarterback and those are OK.

At what point did Barney Cotton become sacred? When did it become verboten to critique his unit?

O Line is, after all, the foundation on which the entire team is built. It's kind of an important thing.

Umm...when NU decided to recruit every single one of his kids? :hmmph

 

[HuskerfaninOkieland]

Baaaarney sucks...he really, really sucks.

 

[DTrain2020]

Some of you guys/gals wanting to fire Cotton should read this: http://en.wikipedia....i/Barney_Cotton

Here's a little excerpt:

In 1997, former Nebraska Cornhuskers player and New Mexico State Head Coach Tony Samuel hired Cotton to the same position he had held at St. Cloud State; Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach. Although championships eluded New Mexico State during Cotton's six years with the program, the production of his offensive players generated impressive statistics. New Mexico State ranked nationally in the top 25 in overall offense in 1998, 2000 and 2002, and was ranked nationally in the top 25 in rushing offense for all six years. In his final season, New Mexico State led the Sun Belt Conference in passing efficiency, rushing offense and total offense. Six New Mexico State linemen earned All-Sunbelt Conference Honors during Cotton's tenure.

The conjecture that he has no idea what he is doing is just that...pure conjecture and misinformation. He's a solid coach, a standup guy, and I think we'll be just fine with him where he is.

I do all my research papers using Wikipedia!!

 

[Polarhusker]

You take it wrong. You haven't been around long. I've been a "sunshine-pumper" for years. Facts are facts, though, and whether you like it or not, whether you disagree with the reality enough to think anyone who doesn't see it your way as "butthurt" or not, the O Line (that's Barney Cotton's position, BTW) has underperformed. Not just in 2008, not just in 2009, not just in 2010, but in 2011 as well. Go watch the tape. It's right there.

Now, bshirt brings up some recruiting errors - this is a good point. We've had recruiting misfires at several positions, and O Line isn't immune to that. But I fail to see why Barney Cotton should be immune to criticism when his unit underperforms, when we have gripes about the secondary, linebackers, D Line, wide receivers and quarterback and those are OK.

At what point did Barney Cotton become sacred? When did it become verboten to critique his unit?

O Line is, after all, the foundation on which the entire team is built. It's kind of an important thing.

Umm...when NU decided to recruit every single one of his kids? :hmmph

and what are the kids doing that's pissing you off? they seam to be solid players. :dunno

Never mind didn't know I was responding to you. I already know your hatred for the family.

I'm sure a grammar lesson will follow. :hmmph

 

[zoogs]

Cotton is at best a pretty ho-hum coach who has been on the hot seat lately. I see no reason why he should be immune to criticism. At the university of Nebraska we can do much better than a guy who will come in here after a failed HC who nonetheless is one of the finer OL coaches in the nation, and trash his coaching practices just for the sake of it. Barney's "screw technique, just play hard" approach from the beginning has NEVER sat well with me, and our OL has had a pretty stunning lack of discipline in his tenure.

It should be no surprise at all that a large amount of outside help has been forced on Barney with his position.

We deserve better than that.