Sam on the D

[inWV]

Is the entire defense finally ready to stop being lukewarm and fully commit? The surprising thing with Greg McMullen’s leave-of-absence-turned-retirement is how good he looked for most of camp, how many snaps and reps he took from young players who could have used them, and how unaware Banker seemed Saturday of his decision. This is similar to Banker’s mild surprise at Vincent Valentine’s declaration for the NFL draft, in part because Valentine had indicated he might return.
McMullen’s departure, along with Kevin Williams’ pending sixth-year transfer, continues a habit of behavior by defensive players — ranging from borderline questionable in McMullen’s case to flat-out disreputable in too many others — that well precedes Banker’s arrival.

http://www.omaha.com/huskers/mckewo...cle_f3a79d93-d37b-5da5-878d-511a7eb91de7.html

 

[big red22]

Is the entire defense finally ready to stop being lukewarm and fully commit? The surprising thing with Greg McMullen’s leave-of-absence-turned-retirement is how good he looked for most of camp, how many snaps and reps he took from young players who could have used them, and how unaware Banker seemed Saturday of his decision. This is similar to Banker’s mild surprise at Vincent Valentine’s declaration for the NFL draft, in part because Valentine had indicated he might return.
McMullen’s departure, along with Kevin Williams’ pending sixth-year transfer, continues a habit of behavior by defensive players — ranging from borderline questionable in McMullen’s case to flat-out disreputable in too many others — that well precedes Banker’s arrival.

http://www.omaha.com/huskers/mckewo...cle_f3a79d93-d37b-5da5-878d-511a7eb91de7.html

They are both from Ohio... Coincidence? I don't think so!

 

[ellobo]

I watched the first hour plus of your spring game and I was impressed. It looked like NU has made that second year jump where players aren't thinking anymore and now just doing. I even thought Armstrong looked like a senior out there...the article said there was no pass over 25 yards but I seem to remember a deep ball or two that was on the money and in season (especially since you had your #1 WR out...correct?) you probably hit those.

With that said, your DL also stuck out...but not in a good way. Actually they looked really bad...not able to create any leverage at all (simply manhandled). Get them to serviceable level by the opening of the season and you guys will win a lot of games.

 

[dinglefritz]

I watched the first hour plus of your spring game and I was impressed. It looked like NU has made that second year jump where players aren't thinking anymore and now just doing. I even thought Armstrong looked like a senior out there...the article said there was no pass over 25 yards but I seem to remember a deep ball or two that was on the money and in season (especially since you had your #1 WR out...correct?) you probably hit those.

With that said, your DL also stuck out...but not in a good way. Actually they looked really bad...not able to create any leverage at all (simply manhandled). Get them to serviceable level by the opening of the season and you guys will win a lot of games.

Well remember that the #1 offense was going against the #2 d line. The #1 d-line did a pretty good job against a pretty good #2 offensive line. IMO, there isn't much of a drop off between the 1s and 2s on the O-line. The D-line is really young and I expect them to make steady improvements through the season. The good news is that NU is going to have a really good group of experienced linebackers 2 deep backing them. That is the one bright spot from all of our linebacker injuries last year.

 

[NikkiSixx]

Sam used to have balls. That was a lame troll attempt IMO.

 

[Huskers_Rule]

Sam used to have balls. That was a lame troll attempt IMO.

Sam is a hack, never played but he's some kind of expert. Give me Sipple who always starts with I don't know squat but here's what I think. I honestly can't read his stories.

 

[mwulf]

I think Sam was on the Millard North teams that have dominated ...obviously a big difference between on and playing but he is a good read

 

[Soda Popinski]

Sam is a hack, never played but he's some kind of expert. Give me Sipple who always starts with I don't know squat but here's what I think. I honestly can't read his stories.

Sipple always, without fail, takes the path of least resistance. He had his own private 3 bed, 2 bath condo under Pelini's desk until the very end, and is still excusing himself for it. He may very well be a humble man (which I agree is a good quality) but he never, ever (ever) diverges from whatever narrative is fed to him. At least the OWH staff has the cajones to write an original piece.

 

[jay-cheese]

Ellobo...we should be hitting those deep balls in season. When Tommy puts air under them they get picked and when he doesn't he overthrows them (there were 2-3 of those this past week). Yes Westerkamp is likely our best receiver but Tommy is the #1 qb. Tommy has a cannon but is inconsistent. He is a better runner than passer. We do have the best WR corp in the conference but we lack consistency in getting them the ball.

Can't blame a 5th/6th yr kid that was recruited by others to stick around if they don't want to. They've completed their academic goal. Let's all move on and wish them the best. It's easy for any "fan" to say they'd never pass up a chance to play for the 'skers but this is a tricky deal and let's not act like we know (or an entitled to know) every detail that factored in here. Just thank them for their contributions to the program and let it be.

GBR

 

[ellobo]

Ellobo...we should be hitting those deep balls in season. When Tommy puts air under them they get picked and when he doesn't he overthrows them (there were 2-3 of those this past week). Yes Westerkamp is likely our best receiver but Tommy is the #1 qb. Tommy has a cannon but is inconsistent. He is a better runner than passer. We do have the best WR corp in the conference but we lack consistency in getting them the ball.

Can't blame a 5th/6th yr kid that was recruited by others to stick around if they don't want to. They've completed their academic goal. Let's all move on and wish them the best. It's easy for any "fan" to say they'd never pass up a chance to play for the 'skers but this is a tricky deal and let's not act like we know (or an entitled to know) every detail that factored in here. Just thank them for their contributions to the program and let it be.

GBR

My observation is based on watching an hour plus of your spring practice. What I'm not aware of is how Armstrong was performing in the 14 prior spring practices so if you tell me I'm off base I will certainly believe you. However, players do get better year after year and he is in his second year of this system. In that 1+ hour he looked like a guy who was making the right reads and threw the ball with confidence and good spin. And on one of the deep balls it looked like the WR slowed down and if he had run through the route would have had 6...if Tommy has turned a corner the timing with his WRs will only get better going forward. But as I said, I have no idea how he has looked the rest of the spring so my opinion is on limited information.

BTW...on your DL...someone said it was 1s vs. 2s...I must have not been paying close enough attention because I thought you guys did the format to get 1s on 1s (instead of split squad)...I guess I was wrong about that...even so...if it was the first DL vs. the 2nd OL the first DL should have at the very least gotten the better of the 2nd OL if not flat out dominate. Now I'm not sure when I was watching the first or second DL but at all points it was the OL winning the day...so it's not a good sign. With that said, I have to apply the same logic I did with Armstrong...I saw an hour plus of your spring practice and have no idea how things looked the rest of the spring.

 

[timnsun]

My observation is based on watching an hour plus of your spring practice. What I'm not aware of is how Armstrong was performing in the 14 prior spring practices so if you tell me I'm off base I will certainly believe you. However, players do get better year after year and he is in his second year of this system. In that 1+ hour he looked like a guy who was making the right reads and threw the ball with confidence and good spin. And on one of the deep balls it looked like the WR slowed down and if he had run through the route would have had 6...if Tommy has turned a corner the timing with his WRs will only get better going forward. But as I said, I have no idea how he has looked the rest of the spring so my opinion is on limited information.

BTW...on your DL...someone said it was 1s vs. 2s...I must have not been paying close enough attention because I thought you guys did the format to get 1s on 1s (instead of split squad)...I guess I was wrong about that...even so...if it was the first DL vs. the 2nd OL the first DL should have at the very least gotten the better of the 2nd OL if not flat out dominate. Now I'm not sure when I was watching the first or second DL but at all points it was the OL winning the day...so it's not a good sign. With that said, I have to apply the same logic I did with Armstrong...I saw an hour plus of your spring practice and have no idea how things looked the rest of the spring.

Thanks for your insights... Jay Cheese was relaying what has happened in the past with Tommy, and the general feeling from many on this board is that he will not improve, that Tommy will be Tommy and we will have to deal with it. This may or may not be true, but I appreciate your assessment of Tommy looking better at this reads and throws. We will see what happens in the fall!

Also, regarding our D Line, it does hurt that 4 of our interior D linemen with eligibility remaining will not be here next year. What you saw was a D Line that was green and inexperienced and still growing (you may already know this as you pay attention to what is going on here as well). We could be in some trouble next fall unless they grow up in a hurry.

 

[jay-cheese]

Correct...there were series of 1 vs 1's as well in the Spring Game. I may sound critical of TA's passing but I will readily admit it's way better than the previous QB's (Tmagic). I'm hopeful that his consistency will improve in yr 2 with this staff.

GBR

 

[CC_Lemming]

Sam is a hack, never played but he's some kind of expert. Give me Sipple who always starts with I don't know squat but here's what I think. I honestly can't read his stories.

But Sam is a much better writer and I have much more faith in his analysis, so pick your poison. (I also don't think it's necessary to have played to do analysis well, though it certainly doesn't hurt.)

 

[Huskers_Rule]

But Sam is a much better writer and I have much more faith in his analysis, so pick your poison. (I also don't think it's necessary to have played to do analysis well, though it certainly doesn't hurt.)

Sam has always been a big fan of his writing. Not sure you were around back then but he loved to dog Nebraska and us fans all the time before he started to get paid to drink the cool aid. I can't respect that nor the fact he is an expert in his own mind.

 

[CC_Lemming]

Sam has always been a big fan of his writing. Not sure you were around back then but he loved to dog Nebraska and us fans all the time before he started to get paid to drink the cool aid. I can't respect that nor the fact he is an expert in his own mind.

I was around when Sam was posting on here. I don't share your assessment of his intentions, but to each his own. I respected the fact that his writing was critical, and for that same reason tended to side more with World Herald writers at that time.

The last time I ever listened to or read Sipple seriously was his attempt to defend a non-playoff format on 1620 one afternoon. Not only was his argument facile and concerned entirely with "where do we draw the line, four teams? six teams?", when the hosts raised some very obvious and good objections to it he just kept insisting that a college football playoff was not a good idea and not collegiate. I was like, "this is the best person you could find to defend that side of the issue?!?" Then during the Pelini era he had his head so far up that guy's ass it was impossible for him to be objective or write with any integrity. Yeah, I don't have a high opinion of him.

A lot of sports journalists are writers first and football analysts second. I don't have a problem with that, as I am not a football analyst and don't presume that I can do it any better than the vast majority of them. I'd much rather read someone who takes a stand on an issue and can offer compelling reasons for thinking it is true. They can do that as humbly or as arrogantly as they want as far as I'm concerned.

 

[dockentwo]

My observation is based on watching an hour plus of your spring practice. What I'm not aware of is how Armstrong was performing in the 14 prior spring practices so if you tell me I'm off base I will certainly believe you. However, players do get better year after year and he is in his second year of this system. In that 1+ hour he looked like a guy who was making the right reads and threw the ball with confidence and good spin. And on one of the deep balls it looked like the WR slowed down and if he had run through the route would have had 6...if Tommy has turned a corner the timing with his WRs will only get better going forward. But as I said, I have no idea how he has looked the rest of the spring so my opinion is on limited information.

BTW...on your DL...someone said it was 1s vs. 2s...I must have not been paying close enough attention because I thought you guys did the format to get 1s on 1s (instead of split squad)...I guess I was wrong about that...even so...if it was the first DL vs. the 2nd OL the first DL should have at the very least gotten the better of the 2nd OL if not flat out dominate. Now I'm not sure when I was watching the first or second DL but at all points it was the OL winning the day...so it's not a good sign. With that said, I have to apply the same logic I did with Armstrong...I saw an hour plus of your spring practice and have no idea how things looked the rest of the spring.

I saw the same thing on the long pass