Let's not forget.....

[StrongArm517]

With the comparisons people are occassionally making between Cosgrove and Banker I was becoming quite nauseated so decided to refresh my memory about Cos, a guy I met once and instantly detested.

Good ole Cos, who I will always blame for 90% of what happened to my beloved Cornhuskers, is now the INSIDE LINEBACKER COACH at New Mexico. After 1 year stints at Akron, where his defense gave up 40+ per game with one win against VMI, and the Minnesota Vikings, he has found his place as a position coach with New Mexico.
Ran across this article. Really shows his true colors. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/126311-kevin-cosgrove-found-alive-and-well-rips-nebraska-fans

Now I don't know if Banker can turn out great, I certainly hope so, but in no way, shape, or form is he cut out of the mold of this guy. A complete a$$.

Here's an excerpt...
A few months ago, a few players came out and basically stated what every reasonably intelligent Nebraska fan saw.

That Cosgrove's defensive plan wasn't to attack the offense, that it was a "read and react" style of defense unfit for the superior athletes on offense in the Big 12.

Linebacker Blake Lawrence was quoted as saying that Nebraska defenders were never allowed to attack the offense, that their first move as a defender was always a reaction to what offensive players did.

And the strangest statement of all from Lawrence was that the defense seemed designed to funnel the ball carrier to one player and that player had to make the tackle. Wow, talk about setting up players to fail. No wonder they appeared to give up at times.

I guess Kevin didn't like the philosophy of gang tackling and all helmets and all players to the ball.

Most troubling to me is the way Kevin denigrates and criticizes Nebraska fans for criticizing him and the lack of effort that was often displayed by some players on the defense.

 

[HuskerTimOmaha]

 

[Mtnhusker]

Glad you posted that. The defensive Genius term that was regularly thrown around with our previous coach at times appeared to be Smoke and Mirrors.

 

[HuskerAlum92]

Something to remember with these "worst defensive performances in history" lists... Offenses are a lot more explosive today, and shootouts with 60+ or 70+ points scored are a lot more common now than it used to be. All other things being equal (never are), there's going to be a lot more recent entries on that list. And that would be true for almost any school.

But the overall point is still valid. Bo's defensive guru status was fraudulent, and nobody ever confused Cosgrove for a guru.

 

[jlb321]

Something to remember with these "worst defensive performances in history" lists... Offenses are a lot more explosive today, and shootouts with 60+ or 70+ points scored are a lot more common now than it used to be. All other things being equal (never are), there's going to be a lot more recent entries on that list. And that would be true for almost any school.

But the overall point is still valid. Bo's defensive guru status was fraudulent, and nobody ever confused Cosgrove for a guru.

yes those 2012 and 2014 Wisconsin teams that lead the list were revolutionary in their offensive schemes

 

[SnohomishRed]

Banker has already added four games to that list against Offenses on a whole much worse - lets hope that list doesnt get added to next year

 

[arf_man]

Banker has already added four games to that list against Offenses on a whole much worse - lets hope that list doesnt get added to next year

I don't quite understand your English, where does banker fit on that list? I'm curious as to what records he has broken.

 

[SnohomishRed]

I don't quite understand your English, where does banker fit on that list? I'm curious as to what records he has broken.

average yards per play - BYU 7.1, Miami 6.8, SO. Miss 7.0 and MSU 6.7

 

[Shocker_Fan]

HTO is just illustrating as bad as the defense has been this year, it is not as bad as the great Bo's defenses. Even the great McBride has two games on the list.

 

[Mr.Scary13]

Banker has already added four games to that list against Offenses on a whole much worse - lets hope that list doesnt get added to next year

He also has Pelini recruits on this defense....can you see a pattern?

 

[HuskerTimOmaha]

Banker has already added four games to that list against Offenses on a whole much worse - lets hope that list doesnt get added to next year

Each post of yours is very telling.

 

[HuskerTimOmaha]

average yards per play - BYU 7.1, Miami 6.8, SO. Miss 7.0 and MSU 6.7

Loss on last play, loss in OT, win, win. Now, let's examine your boy Peelini on the list....

1. 2012 Wisconsin, 70-31 loss
2. 2014 Wisconsin, 59-24 loss (NCAA record setting performance, in 3 quarters)
3. 2008 Texas Tech, 37-31 loss
4. 2013 Georgia, 45-31 loss
5. 2013 Wyoming, 37-34 win (congrats)
6. 2012 Ohio State, 63-38 loss
7. 2008 Missouri, 52-17 loss
8. 2008 Oklahoma, 62-28 loss
9. 2010 Oklahoma State, 51-41 win (congrats)
10. 2012 UCLA, 36-30 loss
    
11. 2013 South Dakota state, 59-20 win (congrats)
12. 2011 Wisconsin, 48-17 loss
13. 2003 Kansas State, 38-8 loss

Defensive guru!

 

[bigboxes]

Banker has already added four games to that list against Offenses on a whole much worse - lets hope that list doesnt get added to next year

That's ok, sweetie. Maybe Riley & Co. can lose some more games for you and your agenda.

 

[red rover 70]

Banker has already added four games to that list against Offenses on a whole much worse - lets hope that list doesnt get added to next year

What is it with you and Bo? Are you guys family?

 

[HuskerAlum92]

yes those 2012 and 2014 Wisconsin teams that lead the list were revolutionary in their offensive schemes

Didn't say that, but don't let that stop you...

 

[Husker Hunyock]

What is it with you and Bo? Are you guys family?

What is it with you and Bo? Are you guys a dysfunctional family?

What he is pointing out are facts. Bo had several years to build up these, while Banker is in his first year.

All of this is moot anyway, comparing the defenses today with those of the past. Rules have changed and most teams score more points than they did in the past.

 

[jflores]

HTO is just illustrating as bad as the defense has been this year, it is not as bad as the great Bo's defenses. Even the great McBride has two games on the list.

Yah, and both of McBrides are in the 90's of all eras. We had just won 3 NC's in that 1998 performance and the roster top to bottom was still Osborne flavored.

 

[red rover 70]

What is it with you and Bo? Are you guys a dysfunctional family?

What he is pointing out are facts. Bo had several years to build up these, while Banker is in his first year.

All of this is moot anyway, comparing the defenses today with those of the past. Rules have changed and most teams score more points than they did in the past.

Dysfunctional family???
Now that's rich. Last time i checked my brother wasn't summarily fired for snorting coke off a hooker's ass.

 

[timnsun]

What is it with you and Bo? Are you guys a dysfunctional family?

What he is pointing out are facts. Bo had several years to build up these, while Banker is in his first year.

All of this is moot anyway, comparing the defenses today with those of the past. Rules have changed and most teams score more points than they did in the past.

Banker has already added four games to that list against Offenses on a whole much worse - lets hope that list doesnt get added to next year

Agree that this is moot.

However, I would say the first year might be the year with the worst defenses, particularly if you are installing a new system. To say that Banker's issues are the same as another coach's issues after several years at the same school isn't an appropriate comparison.

 

[arf_man]

average yards per play - BYU 7.1, Miami 6.8, SO. Miss 7.0 and MSU 6.7

Gotcha, I was just curious where he fell on that list, let's hope with the anemic defense we have to run his scheme, that he stays off of that board from here on out. You have to admit he's missing a couple of pieces this year. Thanks for the reply

 

[wseattlesker]

We were back in Lincoln for the USC game a few years ago, when the Trojans totally mauled the Huskers. Cosgrove was quoted as having told the players that it was all on them. Lost all respect for him at that point.

 

[JHball]

What is it with you and Bo? Are you guys family?

Did he bring Bo into this conversation?

 

[StrongArm517]

We were back in Lincoln for the USC game a few years ago, when the Trojans totally mauled the Huskers. Cosgrove was quoted as having told the players that it was all on them. Lost all respect for him at that point.

You could have driven combines through the holes in the middle of the field. It was disgusting and all you got from him is "the schemes are sound"

 

[RedSea]

I thought the list of bad defenses was as interesting as any other stats you see around on the boards, especially since it goes back so far, and assuming it is accurate. And if Banker games should be on there, it is interesting to know that too. Why blast anyone for posting facts?

 

[c2o]

Anybody have Cosgrove's phone number? I want to leave him a message.

 

[Charlie Marlow]

Cosgrove and Pelini both sucked. Is it really that hard?

 

[SnohomishRed]

Sorry my point was exactly that Cosgrove sucked - Pelini sucked and so far Banker;s defense has been pretty poor - I just hope at some point we start playing good defense consistently again - until we do nothing will ever consistently get better

I really have no agenda to sabotage Riley - but unless Banker gets the defense fixed we will lose some and win some games but we will never win the Big10 or even probably the West

 

[jflores]

Sorry my point was exactly that Cosgrove sucked - Pelini sucked and so far Banker;s defense has been pretty poor - I just hope at some point we start playing good defense consistently again - until we do nothing will ever consistently get better

I really have no agenda to sabotage Riley - but unless Banker gets the defense fixed we will lose some and win some games but we will never win the Big10 or even probably the West

I don't think Nebraska's defense was particularly highly rated in the 80's, at least not against teams that mattered. Benning in particular has said a good first step for NU would be getting back to the NU of the 80's, before the defensive reinvention, but still being relevant in the conference and national races year after year. The 90's is when it all kind of came together in a super machine. This kind of narrative that Benning speaks of, a good offense and a "good enough" defense, is kind of the opposite of the way most fans talk about our progression as a program.

NU probably doesn't have to play lights out defense to be relevant. We can probably be pretty average at defense and still be capable of winning a fair number of games. We are two average coverage DB's away from an undefeated record in a year when Murphies law has dominated everything we do.

 

[SnohomishRed]

I don't think Nebraska's defense was particularly highly rated in the 80's, at least not against teams that mattered. Benning in particular has said a good first step for NU would be getting back to the NU of the 80's, before the defensive reinvention, but still being relevant in the conference and national races year after year. The 90's is when it all kind of came together in a super machine. This kind of narrative that Benning speaks of, a good offense and a "good enough" defense, is kind of the opposite of the way most fans talk about our progression as a program.

NU probably doesn't have to play lights out defense to be relevant. We can probably be pretty average at defense and still be capable of winning a fair number of games. We are two average coverage DB's away from an undefeated record in a year when Murphies law has dominated everything we do.

If you look at the 80's with a normal 12 game season the highest amount of points given up by our defense was 217 normally it was lower than that. Make no mistake we had good defenses in the 80's.

Now the 90's we got even better speed wise - I do agree the offenses are more wide open today and it means defenses in general are giving up more points

As far as our current defense - Its really hard to say if we had two really good CB's how different it would be. Most of our opponents have not even had to run to move the ball

If you go back and look at the leaders in the Big10 over the last 4-5 years and probably longer - you will not find a big10 winner that did not have a great defense

 

[jflores]

If you look at the 80's with a normal 12 game season the highest amount of points given up by our defense was 217 normally it was lower than that. Make no mistake we had good defenses in the 80's.

Now the 90's we got even better speed wise - I do agree the offenses are more wide open today and it means defenses in general are giving up more points

As far as our current defense - Its really hard to say if we had two really good CB's how different it would be. Most of our opponents have not even had to run to move the ball

If you go back and look at the leaders in the Big10 over the last 4-5 years and probably longer - you will not find a big10 winner that did not have a great defense

Well with an atrocious pass defense, we are basically a handful of plays from being a one loss team. Even considering all the other factors.

Supposing we even had a modicum of chance of Miami not putting up 17 points on Davie in the first 5 minutes, or any other number of situations where a key stop here or there would have denied points (say the final Wisc drive), its not that hard to envision a very real improvement in the W column if we had decent DB play. And again, that allowing for the front 7 and safety busts.

 

[bigboxes]

Well with an atrocious pass defense, we are basically a handful of plays from being a one loss team. Even considering all the other factors.

Supposing we even had a modicum of chance of Miami not putting up 17 points on Davie in the first 5 minutes, or any other number of situations where a key stop here or there would have denied points (say the final Wisc drive), its not that hard to envision a very real improvement in the W column if we had decent DB play. And again, that allowing for the front 7 and safety busts.

Now, there you went and injected common sense into this thread. Let's not let it happen again. The Mods have been notified. This is your final warning.

 

[SnohomishRed]

Well with an atrocious pass defense, we are basically a handful of plays from being a one loss team. Even considering all the other factors.

Supposing we even had a modicum of chance of Miami not putting up 17 points on Davie in the first 5 minutes, or any other number of situations where a key stop here or there would have denied points (say the final Wisc drive), its not that hard to envision a very real improvement in the W column if we had decent DB play. And again, that allowing for the front 7 and safety busts.

I agree if we had better DB play we would have won more games - How many more who knows - the issue is that when you are not stopping the other team you can never control the game and you will win some and lose some. Our offense has kept us close in these games not our defense. - Our defense is giving up 500 yards and 30+ point as the norm and is not reliable late in games when the games are in the balance.

That Miami game required stupid coaching by Miami and our offense catching fire to even be close

 

[bigboxes]

I agree if we had better DB play we would have won more games - How many more who knows - the issue is that when you are not stopping the other team you can never control the game and you will win some and lose some. Our offense has kept us close in these games not our defense. - Our defense is giving up 500 yards and 30+ point as the norm and is not reliable late in games when the games are in the balance.

That Miami game required stupid coaching by Miami and our offense catching fire to even be close

And yet Tommy and Company did it again vs MSU. You must hate for this team to succeed. Just eats you up inside. Excuses why we won. Five of our losses could have easily gone the other way. I view the glass as half full and you see it as half empty. Don't let your hatred get in the way of enjoying a Husker win.

 

[jflores]

I agree if we had better DB play we would have won more games - How many more who knows - the issue is that when you are not stopping the other team you can never control the game and you will win some and lose some. Our offense has kept us close in these games not our defense. - Our defense is giving up 500 yards and 30+ point as the norm and is not reliable late in games when the games are in the balance.

That Miami game required stupid coaching by Miami and our offense catching fire to even be close

Right and as I've indicated, our main issue with not stopping anyone is letting them throw all over us. I believe we have scored enough points to whether the run game mistakes and even some of the safety busts. We've even scored enough to let Young and Weber and others make mistake on pass D on some of the underneath stuff. Letting teams convert 3rd and long at will on Kalu or Davie or just burning them for a TD every third drive has been the major problem to my un trained eye.

 

[SnohomishRed]

And yet Tommy and Company did it again vs MSU. You must hate for this team to succeed. Just eats you up inside. Excuses why we won. Five of our losses could have easily gone the other way. I view the glass as half full and you see it as half empty. Don't let your hatred get in the way of enjoying a Husker win.

what exactly is your problem - HTO posts a list of bad defenses and I simply stated Banker is already on this list - I did not bring up Bo you guys did - Does your hatred for Bo cloud your view of current coaching?

I did enjoy the win and our offense and TA deserve huge props but no reasonable person can say our defense won that game - 38 pts - 491 yds - we did get one stop on their last possession but they were trying to run clock

I think it was a great win but the defense does not get a pass because the offense won the game - I do think the defense played hard the guys were going all out

Can you not look at a win and be honest about it and still enjoy it or do you have to lie to yourself to make it all right