Nebraska Season Preview
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Good article!
Couple of take-aways:
1.) I think the secondary and the linebackers are going to be great this year. There is plenty of experience, there is enough depth to be successful, and some key guys (Banderas, Gerry) have been around for a very long time and should look to be good leaders.
2.) Obviously, the worry is the defensive line, and I agree, we need a really nasty pass rusher in there. I hope Freedom is able to stay healthy and be a threat all year.
3.) The offense should be a buzzsaw.
4.) Odds on beating Oregon? I know they're kind of rebuilding and they're not anywhere near as good as the were a couple of years ago, but they're still very deep in talent and a very successful program. I completely agree that if we can beat them, a 7-0 start is perfectly reasonable (and a better-than 8-4 season should be expected). Thoughts?
Couple of take-aways:
1.) I think the secondary and the linebackers are going to be great this year. There is plenty of experience, there is enough depth to be successful, and some key guys (Banderas, Gerry) have been around for a very long time and should look to be good leaders.
2.) Obviously, the worry is the defensive line, and I agree, we need a really nasty pass rusher in there. I hope Freedom is able to stay healthy and be a threat all year.
3.) The offense should be a buzzsaw.
4.) Odds on beating Oregon? I know they're kind of rebuilding and they're not anywhere near as good as the were a couple of years ago, but they're still very deep in talent and a very successful program. I completely agree that if we can beat them, a 7-0 start is perfectly reasonable (and a better-than 8-4 season should be expected). Thoughts?
I think that Oregon game is HUGE for team confidence. If we win and look good doing it, I can see us rolling on with a ton of swagger. Something that has been missing in this program for some time. National perception will be on the up and I don't see a game after that we can't win. Yes, that even includes that game in Columbus!
Oregon may not be what they were a couple of years ago but they are loaded with talent, speed and will be a very tough game.
And Banker has not shown a consistent ability to stop good spread teams. This will be his opportunity.
Absolutely true. I would think it is only an advantage having a head coach who used to have to try to beat them every year while they were getting good, but who now has a totally different level of talent and resources at his disposal to play against them with.
Also I agree that this game looks to be a shoot-out. Like I've been saying, I think our defensive backfield and linebackers are going to rock this year, but our D-line is going to be...a work in progress. And Oregon's one strength right now is running the ball. So that match-up does not favor us. They are also, I'm reading, completely depleted on defense, and they weren't even great at defense to begin with (a historic knock on their program ever since it got good; blowout scores but you can score on them, too). I think if it becomes a shootout, we have a better shot at winning, but thats just conjecture at this point.
Let's give Banker another year or 2 before we throw him under the bus and call him Cosgrove.
And if our D does well does Banker get any credit?
A recent interview with Banker about explosive plays.
http://journalstar.com/sports/huske...cle_1db85537-fe6b-53dd-87df-f60d95364772.html
http://journalstar.com/sports/huske...cle_1db85537-fe6b-53dd-87df-f60d95364772.html
Oregon's running attack is contingent upon deception and getting speed out on the perimeter. They rarely try to run into the teeth of defensive line. And if they do, it's because the defenders, especially the linebackers are fooled by the Zone Read, motion, or counter fakes. I think the bigger question about Nebraska's defense is whether they have the speed out on the edge, namely at Linebacker, to defend the whole field from sideline to sideline.
I like our chances of winning the Oregon game. I think our offense is as good as theirs. And our defense, even with a questionable line, is better than theirs. The game is at home and the crowd will be pumped. Everyone in our program - - players, coaches and fans - - are hungry as hell. Plus, Riley knows these guys and would LOVE to stick it to his old State rival. Now he has the talent to get it done.
I'm not going to spend a lot of time defending Mark Banker because you have the right to your own opinion.
However, his defense went into 2015 with the following personnel:
Dedrick Young at the WILL, 3 months removed from high school.
Luke Gifford, a 219 lb converted safety, playing the most important position on the team, SAM linebacker. Let's not forget it was also his first game ever in week one. He then missed the season after week 2.
Jack Gangwish, with a 4.9 forty, was your starting Weak Side DE... aka the most important pass rusher.
Freedom Akimadoluan was seeing his first collegiate action ever, and had only been practicing at DE for a month.
True Freshman Aaron Williams was thrown into a major role at Safety despite being undersized and likely needing a redshirt.
Marcus Newby had never played a meaningful snap before.
Mike Rose Ivey had missed 18 months of football.
Ross Dzuris had never played a meaningful snap and was basically there by default.
Daniel Davie and Jon Rose had been playing zone coverage the previous 2 seasons.
Josh Kalu had been almost exclusively a Nickel back.
Chris Jones had never taken a snap.
Josh Banderas had rarely been a true MLB in the 4-3 under Bo.
Nate Gerry was given free reign under Bo to improvise coverage. His responsibility in the new scheme was far more detailed.
The irony about Bo's recruiting was on the defensive side of the football. He was a defensive minded coach who continually left roster holes on his roster. You would've thought concentrating on defensive recruiting would've been his biggest focus.
Let's see wait to judge Banker the next 3 seasons. His 2016 defense will have a bunch of experience and his 2017 and 2018 teams will be full of his own players.
A lot of the same things in the article that we discuss on here. So, to some degree, it looks like we see what some others are seeing. I didn't really see a prediction in the article.
I've read a few articles lately, so I don't remember where this came from. One of coaches was talking about improving the run game.....so that it could set up the pass game. Here we go again. I get the impression that the run game is burden, a cross to carry, for this staff. I don't know what to think, we'll see in a couple months.
I've read a few articles lately, so I don't remember where this came from. One of coaches was talking about improving the run game.....so that it could set up the pass game. Here we go again. I get the impression that the run game is burden, a cross to carry, for this staff. I don't know what to think, we'll see in a couple months.
I'll never understand how Bo didn't turn Suh and Amukamara into a recruiting draw. I was expecting Pelini to field the baddest defense after '09, even with his distaste for recruiting.
I dont believe this to be true as they've had seasons with good rushing numbers when at Oregon St.
I understand they've also had poor rushing numbers in certain years, but they've proven before they can and want to run the ball. I will also say that last year was a bit confusing in terms of why they didn't run the ball more often, but I don't think their pass/rush ratio was too far off.
As of right now I trust MR and DL to improve their play calling (whether that be rushing or passing) going forward now that they know their players' abilities more and the players know the system better.
I think we judge Banker as any coach is judged - from day one - You expect a good coach to have a positive impact. I am not doubting the roster holes but a good coach improves the team - Banker finished 64th in total defense and his last year at OSU he finished 74th
I really do not think three years of finishing in the lower half of all D1 is needed to know if he is cutting it or not - Now if he gets much better this year then I buy the theory it will take getting his players in here to build a top ten defense - Hogwash he needs his players to field a decent defense
Nebraska's 2015 defense would've been bad under any DC. I think you should wait until December 2016 to judge the man.
I also thought it was a fair and neutral article. I appreciated the lack of kool-aid, and yet it wasn't big on negativity either.
The secondary play wasn't very good last year. They didn't get much help from the defensive line either. We were really hurting at the LB position, but it became a strength under coach Bray. So now we got JP on the line and Banker is helping out with the secondary. I guess time will tell if those areas get shored up or not. If they do, we could have a very sound defense. If not, it's going to leak and the LB's will be asked to do too much.
We have excellent players in the secondary, so there is no reason for that position to suck this year.
How the defense goes is how I think the offense goes.. i.e. the types of plays they ask TA to run, and our overall success.. Come from behind mode or the O carrying the D isn't where I would want to be placing monetary bets on our success.
The secondary play wasn't very good last year. They didn't get much help from the defensive line either. We were really hurting at the LB position, but it became a strength under coach Bray. So now we got JP on the line and Banker is helping out with the secondary. I guess time will tell if those areas get shored up or not. If they do, we could have a very sound defense. If not, it's going to leak and the LB's will be asked to do too much.
We have excellent players in the secondary, so there is no reason for that position to suck this year.
How the defense goes is how I think the offense goes.. i.e. the types of plays they ask TA to run, and our overall success.. Come from behind mode or the O carrying the D isn't where I would want to be placing monetary bets on our success.
Oregon returns only 2 offensive linemen with any starting experience (about 60 starts btwn them) and looks to be weaker at QB. This alone should off set any disadvantage we may have with an inexperienced d-line.
On the other side of the ball they will be replacing 6 starters from their defensive front 7.
On top of that we all know they have to replace Frost at OC and add a new scheme with Hoke at DC.
Of course their skill players match up against any in the country. BUT it is a tall order to come into Memorial stadium, inexperienced on both fronts, so early in the year. This game is ours to lose. For the reasons I stated above I think we can limit their offense by making them 1 dimensional and I'll take our offense against almost any defense in the country.
That is conjecture only and stating our defense would have been bad under any coach is false - I do not think the players were there to have a top 20 defense but it could have been much sounder. There were holes yes but also some pretty strong players.
I have grave doubts about Banker based on not only last year but his body of work - But am hopeful we see a much stronger defense this year. my point was I do not believe we need 3 full years of crappy to determine if he is going to work out - If on the other hand we see significant improvement this year that a good sign. I just believe most teams can field a decent defense if properly coached - elite championship defenses need top players and top coaching. Banker does not need all his own players to be respectable
C'mon man. Look at who Banker had to work with this last season. Look at the injuries. It is what it is. How much more transparent can our deficits be? As Cornicator said, "Nebraska's 2015 defense would've been bad under any DC." You're going to have to give staff more than a single season. I don't think that you gave them half a season before you made up your mind. You're going to have to gut it out while the rest of us support the staff.
Black and White...here we go.
1. <450 yards and 28 points vs Oregon.
2. <360 yards/game and <24 points/game for a season average.
In my opinion, that is a successful season for Banker. Are those goals unreasonable? If so, we need another guy.
1. <450 yards and 28 points vs Oregon.
2. <360 yards/game and <24 points/game for a season average.
In my opinion, that is a successful season for Banker. Are those goals unreasonable? If so, we need another guy.
Boxes I am giving him time in my mind - I want to be hopeful and we did look better in stopping the run at times last year. What gets me riled up is this argument that the coaches but the players either had no talent, no experience or head cases last year and that is why the defense was bad. I think we had holes yes - but we also had two NFL DT's and adequate back ups - Gangwish you can say all you want but the kid plays hard every snap and makes plays -
I think with the gaps and coaching changes it would have been a miracle to field a top 20 defense but 64th come- on have our expectations fallen so far
I think people underestimate how significant the scheme change was last year for the defense and how much that contributed to the quality of play we saw on the field. The defensive style Bo and company ran is very different than what Banker runs. No matter how good your players are, if the are out of position, or thinking about responsibilities instead of reacting to plays, the whole defense is going to suffer.
That said its too early to have grave doubts about Banker at NU. The lack of talent at OreSt and the PAC12 consistently being one of the best offensive confrences in the country makes it difficult to glean any significant info about how Bankers OreSt. Ds will translate to his success at NU. However, I do agree that any improvements or lack there of after a full year two at NU will go a long way in providing answers to those concerns.
Lol... that's not conjecture. That defense had plenty of depth and inexperience issues which were magnified by a scheme change. Nebraska had less scholarship linebackers on their roster than any other team in the Big Ten in 2015.
Again, I don't need to defend the guy, but That defense was doomed from the day Bo left town.
So what do you have the stats and season looking like last year if Narduzzi is the DC?
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Yikes. So you think coaching is scheme?
In addition, their quarters adjustments and front fits most certainly are not the same, but I thought you knew that based on the "expertise" you display here?
Personnel dictates adjustments and fits... If you think Narduzzi would've run his scheme circa 2014 with Nebraska's personnel in 2015, then please enlighten us with your brilliant football acumen.
Personnel NEVER effects fits!
And I got it. You think it was a poor decision to ATTEMPT to run a Narduzzi type scheme last year. I agree 100%.
It's the same scheme, but we didn't run tight press coverage last year like Narduzzi does. It showed too.. We let the opponent run their routes all day long and got burned over and over again.
Wait a second.. you are saying Narduzzi would not have run his scheme with Nebraska's personnel last year, but then why do you think it was ok for Banker to do that??
It's like saying the great Narduzzi wouldn't attempt something so stupid, but it's ok for Banker to do. Brilliant!
Don't stop short. In your opinion the scheme last year should have been....?
I'm totally fine with a 4-3 scheme and quarters behind it as a BASE. But going press coverage on the outside as much as they did isn't really even true quarters and the corners they had should have dictated they stayed away from it. Did anyone really enjoy watching Daniel Davie chasing receivers from behind(don't even get me started about proper leverage) at the beginning of the year even though they were technically in "zone" coverage? Any competent DC would have seen in spring ball that this just ain't working. It reeked of Callahan with Joe Dailey.
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