Ok. On to Rutgers.

[Pennsyhusker]

We have all vented and many various opinions of the sad state of our program have been put forward. A lot of good discussions. I have said that unless Riley turns things around this year he should be let go. And I stand by that opinion. Yesterday was a real eye opener for me. I knew we weren't world beaters but I really thought we would be better this year.

Nevertheless, coaching changes suck and nobody on here should really desire that. It would be the best for our program if Riley does turn this around. So let's get behind the team, set aside our bitterness and disappointment, and cheer our asses off as we begin conference play.

Strange things happen in college football. Teams that look woeful in weeks one to three can have the lightbulb go on and make a run. I am thinking of teams like Iowa, Northwestern, PSU.

The fat lady ain't sung yet. There is a conference season ahead. On to Rutgers.
GBR

 

[barney44]

I'm curious to see if and how they make a rebound.

 

[scarletred]

Just hope things get better instead of getting much worse like 2007.

Would hate for the season to be over with no hope before we even play Wisconsin.

 

[bomber89]

There are no gimmies here on out. Would it really surprise anyone to lose to Rutgers? Not me.

 

[huskerfan1414]

Right on que, penny.
You're right, strange things happen.
I'm afraid, however, that if we win seven or eight games everyone will be praising what a great coach Riley is in getting this awful team past The NIU loss, never mind that he was the coach for the loss. It's how he has lowered the bar since being here. Lower expectations then hit em with what used to be expected wins.
Anything less than 9 is a disappointment.

 

[otismotis08]

Folks, it is not happening. Pull the plug on this program and reboot.

 

[Husker Sledge]

Folks, it is not happening. Pull the plug on this program and reboot.

Too early to pull the plug just yet. We have a new season starting this week with conference play. Let's just see how things shake out by November. We'll know enough by then. GBR!

 

[chicolby]

Many of coaches have suffered early on to turn the team over to a freshman QB for a spark which has led to a turnaround. Happened at UCLA, USC, Florida State, etc.

I know the O line doesn't do a very good job protecting Tanner, and that may not change. But what can change is a more mobile QB. Does Gebbia get a look?

 

[TheNewNU]

Many of coaches have suffered early on to turn the team over to a freshman QB for a spark which has led to a turnaround. Happened at UCLA, USC, Florida State, etc.

I know the O line doesn't do a very good job protecting Tanner, and that may not change. But what can change is a more mobile QB. Does Gebbia get a look?

While Tanner isn't very good. Throwing a 185 pound freshman behind a pitiful excuse for an offensive line is the last thing we need.

 

[Lincoln100]

Many of coaches have suffered early on to turn the team over to a freshman QB for a spark which has led to a turnaround. Happened at UCLA, USC, Florida State, etc.

I know the O line doesn't do a very good job protecting Tanner, and that may not change. But what can change is a more mobile QB. Does Gebbia get a look?

Not only that, but Tanner seems to predetermine way too often where he is goin won the ball. Maybe it's because he doesn't trust the line, but he is making bad decisions, and too often is missing open guys. If he stays in there, they need to limit the 5 step drop stuff.

Wouldn't mind at all giving young blood a shot.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

Folks, it is not happening. Pull the plug on this program and reboot.

Do you mean that you think Eichorst and Riley should be fired immediately?

 

[Pennsyhusker]

Just hope things get better instead of getting much worse like 2007.

Would hate for the season to be over with no hope before we even play Wisconsin.

I agree. I have no desire for a repeat of the misery of that season

 

[RedMyMind]

At this point, Tanner is the entire offense and that is way too much pressure for him it seems. Need to have multiple backs in there at the same time and get some sort of running game going.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

At this point, Tanner is the entire offense and that is way too much pressure for him it seems. Need to have multiple backs in there at the same time and get some sort of running game going.

This entire team could turn around and still be competitive in the West IF, IF, IF, the offensive line gels and starts to run and pass block effectively. We still have good skill position players and our defense seems to be improving. But as many people said on here during the preseason, our fortunes this season will rise or fall depending on how the offensive line plays. So far they stink.

Will Cavanaugh be Riley's downfall the way Cosgrove was for Cally? I have said it many, many times: Cavanaugh is a lousy coach and should be shit canned.

 

[jlb321]

Right on que, penny.
You're right, strange things happen.
I'm afraid, however, that if we win seven or eight games everyone will be praising what a great coach Riley is in getting this awful team past The NIU loss, never mind that he was the coach for the loss. It's how he has lowered the bar since being here. Lower expectations then hit em with what used to be expected wins.
Anything less than 9 is a disappointment.

Unfortunately I don't know which would be better long term for the program

A 3-4 win season when you almost have to pull the plug so we can get on with trying to fix this thing

Or

A 6 win season where there is just enough hope to string this thing along for a few more years


Having said that I will hope for a miracle and we win 8-10 and it is an easy decision to stay the course

We have to go 6-3 in the BIG to get to 7 wins. Based on the quality of play thus far that is a tall tall ask.

 

[chicolby]

I've heard the coaching staff talk about how the O line was going to need to step it up before the season started. After Oregon when fans thought they played well, the coaches mentioned how they need to improve. This was not a surprise to them I'm guessing.

Now is that a matter of a coach or missing on recruits? I don't know.

The real shame is the wasted defensive performance in this game. That side of the ball really started to show up, and unfortunately it came in a loss when the offense gave up 14 points.

 

[jlb321]

Will Cavanaugh be Riley's downfall the way Cosgrove was for Cally? I have said it many, many times: Cavanaugh is a lousy coach and should be shit canned.

I don't know how you can keep the head coach when he completely struck out on the defensive side of the ball with his initial hires and now his O-line coach and one could argue his QB coach/off coordinator are failing miserably. When almost your entire staff failed that is on the head coach. Just like the current AD shouldn't be allowed to select the next head coach. Our head coach shouldn't be given any more mulligans in asst coach hires given his proclivity to fail in that endeavor.

 

[RedMyMind]

I don't know how you can keep the head coach when he completely struck out on the defensive side of the ball with his initial hires and now his O-line coach and one could argue his QB coach/off coordinator are failing miserably. When almost your entire staff failed that is on the head coach. Just like the current AD shouldn't be allowed to select the next head coach. Our head coach shouldn't be given any more mulligans in asst coach hires given his proclivity to fail in that endeavor.

eh, one more change couldn't hurt.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

I don't know how you can keep the head coach when he completely struck out on the defensive side of the ball with his initial hires and now his O-line coach and one could argue his QB coach/off coordinator are failing miserably. When almost your entire staff failed that is on the head coach. Just like the current AD shouldn't be allowed to select the next head coach. Our head coach shouldn't be given any more mulligans in asst coach hires given his proclivity to fail in that endeavor.

I actually completely agree with you. But since Mike Riley is still our head coach I am simply making the observation that his offensive line coach is dragging this team down. I think though you are correct: Riley knows he can't fire yet another assistant without looking like a clueless fool. So he will double down on his support for Cavanaugh the way Cally did with Cosgrove. Not good.

 

[scarletred]

I actually completely agree with you. But since Mike Riley is still our head coach I am simply making the observation that his offensive line coach is dragging this team down. I think though you are correct: Riley knows he can't fire yet another assistant without looking like a clueless fool. So he will double down on his support for Cavanaugh the way Cally did with Cosgrove. Not good.

He had a chance to get rid of him with Banker last year especially after the bowl game.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

He had a chance to get rid of him with Banker last year especially after the bowl game.

I know. Big missed opportunity

 

[huskerfan1414]

What does Mike Riley coach? What does he do? What decisions is he making in practice, game plan, and in game decisions?

 

[jlb321]

If you are a top flight asst coach are you hitching your star to Mike Riley at this time?

 

[Pennsyhusker]

If you are a top flight asst coach are you hitching your star to Mike Riley at this time?

Good point

 

[Bugeater]

If you are a top flight asst coach are you hitching your star to Mike Riley at this time?

Well, if that coach somehow makes a big impact, it might make his stock go way up and bolster his future as HC material. But you make a very valid point.

 

[otismotis08]

Do you mean that you think Eichorst and Riley should be fired immediately?

The wheels need to be moving in this direction now. Make the announcement as soon as we have the next guys lined up.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

The wheels need to be moving in this direction now. Make the announcement as soon as we have the next guys lined up.

Gotcha. Thanks. Interesting days weeks ahead

 

[oldjar07]

I don't know how you can keep the head coach when he completely struck out on the defensive side of the ball with his initial hires and now his O-line coach and one could argue his QB coach/off coordinator are failing miserably. When almost your entire staff failed that is on the head coach. Just like the current AD shouldn't be allowed to select the next head coach. Our head coach shouldn't be given any more mulligans in asst coach hires given his proclivity to fail in that endeavor.

Just because an assistant coach needs to be replaced doesn't mean the head coach should get a mulligan. Assistant coaches are replaced during the season all the time, even at top programs, and a lot of times those programs don't miss a step or see immediate improvement. I've seen enough of Cav to know the OL play will always be bad under his watch so NOW is the time to replace him.

 

[CDMXHusker]

Too early to pull the plug just yet. We have a new season starting this week with conference play. Let's just see how things shake out by November. We'll know enough by then. GBR!

Why? Besides being the anti-Bo, what has MR done that is good? There has been no improvement and I would argue the team has gotten worse under his leadership. Game management and play calling are a joke. How many data points does it take?