Bill Callahan points to turnovers as the key factor in losses last year, according to a story in today's Omaha World-Herald. It's easy to look at the Oklahoma game and see the impact of 5 turnovers. But Nebraska only turned the ball over once in losses at USC and at Oklahoma State, which makes that 41-7 drubbing down the stretch against the Cowboys even more baffling. While turnovers played a factor in some losses (they certainly didn't help), there were more problems other than turnovers that need to be addressed.
I posted some observations about the quiet confidence of the Huskers over at CornNation last week. Steve Sipple of the Lincoln Journal-Star made the same observation in picking the Huskers to win the Big XII North this season:
Two things about the Huskers stood out in San Antonio: Bill Callahan’s sense of calm, confidence and growing ease around reporters. And Bo Ruud’s sense of urgency.
“There are no excuses now,” said Ruud, a preseason All-Big 12 linebacker, alluding to the fact Callahan’s recruits are in place. “There’s nothing to fall back on. We have to take that next step.”
AJ the Huskerh8er has a nice take about the obsession some folks have with recruiting. And yes...it's an obsession for some. Remember that all-everything, Tom-Lemming-rated-#1 recruiting class of 2005? Well, yet another of those can't-miss-gonna-start-as-a-true-freshman signees is departing the football program early. Craig Roark suffered from injuries and position switches, and is leaving the team and considering transferring to a division 2 school. For those of you keeping track, 11 players from that class have left the program prematurely. As I said 2 years ago, the 2005 class was severely overrated:
The 2005 recruiting class was simply overhyped.
First of all, let me say this: It's way too early to judge the 2005 recruiting class.
It's too early now, it was too early this summer, and it was too early last winter when some people handed these guys starting jobs.
Let me also say this: The 2005 recruiting class was ranked more on numbers (31 recruits) than on quality. There will, no doubt, be some fine football players in this group. And in a year or two, we should be enjoying their success on the field.
But somewhere along the way, the hype meter went off the scale. Harrison Beck, Craig Roark, and Rodney Picou were going to be starting. Marlon Lucky was this year's Adrian Peterson. Zac Bowman was going to declare after this season for the NFL draft.
I remember Terrence asking me, Coach, am I going to play as a freshman? I said, There's no question you'll play as a freshman, because at that time we didn't have any wide receivers that really came from a passing system, per se.
I also see that AJ hates my Cubbies... too bad that they're now a half-game out of first place. Nice to see that KOZN 1620 AM has picked the night and weekend games back up. Hard to say how long they'll keep it up, but Cub fans are always optimistic. Even with the idea that Kerry Wood might actually be able to pitch this weekend for the Cubs. Hope springs eternal....whether warranted or not.
2 comments:
QUIET CONFIDENCE!?!?!
QUIET!?!?
Who in the hell is quiet? You people are out of control unlike anything I've ever seen...and that's saying a lot coming from me. Do you want BIll Callahan to do cartwheels down radio row at the hotel in San Antonio singing "I don't want her you can have her she's too fat for me?"
All I've heard is how Mizzou has NO defense..Gary Pinkel sucks..Chase Daniel picks his nose blah blahl blah.
But not ONE person...and I mean ONE person has aknowledged the fact that Sam Keller is a lifetime 4-4 QB and has never even finished 60% of a single season in his career. Nor has anybody aknowledged the fact that although Mizzou's run defnese sucked..Nebraska's rating against the PASS was worse and unfortunately for you..all those guys are back.
Quiet?
Ummm...no.
Good post as always my friend. ;)
PS - There's a reason I hate your Cubs. I'll drop you a line and let you know why. It's kind of a funny little story.
Quiet...in terms of the team and coaches.
The fan base, on the otherhand, is as quiet as a 747...
Post a Comment