Post-Season Coaching Evaluation | Special Teams

[AustinTxBig Red]

Despite today's abomination in all three phases, I'm all in on Riley. I think he did a good if not great job this year, all things considered. Overall, the team, culture and coaching is better, even though some need to show what they can do with some players that better fit the system (Langsdorf, for example).

At the end of each year, I assume Coach Riley evaluates all assistants. For the program to continue ascending, there are tough questions that should be asked of all of them. However, one in particular stands out.

I cannot imagine any legitimate criteria in which Coach Read gets a season grade for his units' performance that is above an "F". Why?

• spotty coverage units all year
• piss poor return units (rendering our all-world PR useless)
• piss poor decision making across the board
• inability to develop punter
• allowing punter to kick a line drive down the middle of the field to the best (or one of the best) punt returner in the conference
• blocked kicks (many) allowed
• rarely a threat to block a kick/punt (today being the exception)
• no pressure, ever, on opposing punter
• lack of discipline in all phases
• no known recruiting prowess (would you feel inspired if he was in your living room? is he even involved in recruiting?)

Can somebody tell me any reason (other than loyalty) that this coach has earned a return next season? To be clear, today is not solely on him. His units did not help, but this is an observation based on the entire season.

Nebraska can only be elite with good to great special teams. We all want elite again. I think Coach Riley is building it, despite today's outcome. However, that phase of the game will hinder them, and there is no indication I have seen that Coach Read is going to turn it around.