Not just the "reigning pro-Riley message board opinion", so says Boyd Epley....
"Epley returned to the athletic department 14 months ago to oversee the Husker Power Strength and Conditioning Department. His staff continues to use a performance index that Epley established in the Tom Osborne era, although it’s been modified.
The index has been proven to identify talent, Epley said, noting Nebraska's football team has some catching up to do.
“If we could stop the world and let Mark go develop these guys for a year and a half, I think we would be right back where we need to be," Epley said. "That’s about how far off we are, a year and a half of development.”"
“I can tell you right now after testing football four times up here, that our talent level is not where it used to be,” Epley said. “We do have some outstanding individuals at some positions; for example, running back and receiver would be outstanding.
“But we also have some weak areas. I think it’s fair to say, and all the fans see, that our offensive line could stand some improvement and a little higher talent level. That’s not picking on any one individual. That’s just kind of across the board.
“It’s not that they don’t have great work ethic. I think they demonstrated that. But in football, we need to do a better job of bringing in talented recruits so we don’t have to do quite so much development, or quite so much coaching.”
Epley said 20 football players are below 900, which is considering the threshold for walk-on status. He didn’t know whether those players were walk-ons.
Link
"Epley returned to the athletic department 14 months ago to oversee the Husker Power Strength and Conditioning Department. His staff continues to use a performance index that Epley established in the Tom Osborne era, although it’s been modified.
The index has been proven to identify talent, Epley said, noting Nebraska's football team has some catching up to do.
“If we could stop the world and let Mark go develop these guys for a year and a half, I think we would be right back where we need to be," Epley said. "That’s about how far off we are, a year and a half of development.”"
“I can tell you right now after testing football four times up here, that our talent level is not where it used to be,” Epley said. “We do have some outstanding individuals at some positions; for example, running back and receiver would be outstanding.
“But we also have some weak areas. I think it’s fair to say, and all the fans see, that our offensive line could stand some improvement and a little higher talent level. That’s not picking on any one individual. That’s just kind of across the board.
“It’s not that they don’t have great work ethic. I think they demonstrated that. But in football, we need to do a better job of bringing in talented recruits so we don’t have to do quite so much development, or quite so much coaching.”
Epley said 20 football players are below 900, which is considering the threshold for walk-on status. He didn’t know whether those players were walk-ons.
Link
