Fixing the talent gap, article from Dirk...

[HBK4life_rivals100467]

http://www.omaha.com/huskers/footba...cle_ac29b66d-e155-5f68-8b46-0c8afa1c4f48.html
Just as Frank Solich and Bill Callahan suffered for the dreadful 2000 recruiting class, Riley will soon feel the pain of the 2013 and ’14 classes, especially at the offensive skill positions.

» 2013: Kevin Gladney, Tre’vell Dixon, Johnny Stanton, Greg Hart, Adam Taylor.

That class also included Terrell Newby and Cethan Carter, who didn’t redshirt.

» 2014 didn’t pan out either: AJ Bush, Glenn Irons, Jariah Tolbert, Monte Harrison, Mikale Wilbon, Larenzo Stewart, Zack Darlington.

That class also included De’Mornay Pierson-El.

» There are similar issues at other positions, like defensive end, where the high school signees from ’13 and ’14 have mostly missed: Dimarya Mixon, Ernest Suttles, A.J. Natter, DeAndre Wills, Sedrick King, Freedom Akinmoladun.

(Randy Gregory and Joe Keels were juco signees in these classes.)

Put it another way. These are Riley’s scholarship seniors in 2017:

» Offense: Adam Taylor, De’Mornay Pierson-El, David Knevel, Dwayne Johnson, Zach Hannon.


» Defense: Chris Jones, Boaz Joseph, Joshua Kalu, A.J. Natter, Marcus Newby, Kieron Williams.

Best-case scenario, that’s five or six senior starters. That isn’t many.

 

[jflores]

Wow.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

Ugh. Makes me want to puke

 

[NECoach31BB]

Well it certainly means that his players are going to be the ones that are getting in and getting work. When you don't have a lot of depth at the top had better make sure that the guys coming in as freshman and sophomore are ready to go. Man let's get him coached up and let's get after it in 2017 Huskers.

 

[jimbosc]

This ain't gonna magically improve next season - we depended on alot of seniors - unless our QB play is great and oline is MUCH better.......9 wins is gonna be a tough ask.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

This ain't gonna magically improve next season - we depended on alot of seniors - unless our QB play is great and oline is MUCH better.......9 wins is gonna be a tough ask.

Yep. Who was it on the board who said we might have a better team next year in terms of raw talent, but a worse record?

 

[jeans15]

This will be year 3. He should have incorporated his players in by now.

This isn't an excuse. Winning less than 9 means failure in your 3rd year.

It was stupid not to play as many players as possible.

He's the head coach. If players didn't like it. Kick rocks.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

Yep who was it that said Oregon was going to beat Nebraska by 3 scores.

That this year's team was going to win 6 or 7 games max.

Who was it that said Iowa won't go undefeated into the B1G championship game.

Everyone knows what's going to happen before it happens.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

This will be year 3. He should have incorporated his players in by now.

This isn't an excuse. Winning less than 9 means failure in your 3rd year.

It was stupid not to play as many players as possible.

He's the head coach. If players didn't like it. Kick rocks.

I am sympathetic to this view. I still wonder if a lot of the redshirted guys should have played. On the other hand, put yourself in Riley's shoes. Could he really afford to go 5-7 again? He went the slow and steady route knowing he needed some wins this year. Charlie Strong went all scorched earth at Texas in his first two years and now he is out of a job

 

[TruHusker]

Yep. Who was it on the board who said we might have a better team next year in terms of raw talent, but a worse record?

That was me. When looking at the goal of improvement it is going to be hard to measure. I am not sure how much better Nebraska will actually be next year. Let's say they are 10 percent improved which is a lot. Then assume some of the teams we play prove the same amount. Then factor in the schedule of better teams and the fact that so many teams in the league are really young. It could be a really frustrating year or it could be a tremendous year or the dreaded 9 win year which frankly I would be happy with at this point in time.

 

[Nebraska Fan]

just looked at the two deep for Alabama. 4 seniors offense 5 seniors defense

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

just looked at the two deep for Alabama. 4 seniors offense 5 seniors defense

not relevant. Alabama is not currently our competition.

 

[HBK4life_rivals100467]

just looked at the two deep for Alabama. 4 seniors offense 5 seniors defense

Probably because their players are so good they all go pro after their JR season and their are 4 and 5 stars waiting in the wings ready to fill their positions. Reload..not rebuild.

 

[dinglefritz]

ouch.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

In 2017 Nebraska will be starting

3 seniors 3 juniors and 5 sophomores on defense

1 senior 5 juniors and 5 sophomores on offense.

 

[dinglefritz]

In 2017 Nebraska will be starting

3 seniors 3 juniors and 5 sophomores on defense

1 senior 5 juniors and 5 sophomores on offense.

Not sure how you can make that assumption. I expect there to be at least one redshirt freshmen starting on either side of the ball. As a matter of fact, depending on who all signs this year, we may be starting several true freshman.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

Not sure how you can make that assumption. I expect there to be at least one redshirt freshmen starting on either side of the ball. As a matter of fact, depending on who all signs this year, we may be starting several true freshman.

Because it's a message board and I can post whatever I want. Since when do predictions have to be accurate?

 

[PeliniTheCrutch_rivals294365]

Not sure how you can make that assumption. I expect there to be at least one redshirt freshmen starting on either side of the ball. As a matter of fact, depending on who all signs this year, we may be starting several true freshman.

Very unlikely.

 

[dinglefritz]

Very unlikely.

VERY likely. I EXPECT that we will have at least one freshman or redshirt freshman starting in our O line and at WR. I also think it is somewhat likely that we will have a redshirt freshman starting at least some games at DE and possibly one in our defensive backfield. Some of the guys we're recruiting are that good,.

 

[bmb81664]

In 2017 Nebraska will be starting

3 seniors 3 juniors and 5 sophomores on defense

1 senior 5 juniors and 5 sophomores on offense.

I am thinking maybe 4 seniors on defense. Kalu, Jones, K Williams and Newby. I don't know much though.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

I am thinking maybe 4 seniors on defense. Kalu, Jones, K Williams and Newby. I don't know much though.

I don't count Newby, he's never healthy.

 

[Nebraska Fan]

not relevant. Alabama is not currently our competition.

ok OSU 4 and 2

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

ok OSU 4 and 2

we are no where near a top 4 program.

How about this. Go look at the 2013 and 2014 classes for both Alabama and Ohio St and show me the misses in their classes. Then compare them to the misses in Nebraska's 2013 and 2014 classes.

 

[HBK4life_rivals100467]

ok OSU 4 and 2

Once again, see Alabama post. Most of the top flight talent headed to NFL after Jr season.

 

[jeans15]

I am sympathetic to this view. I still wonder if a lot of the redshirted guys should have played. On the other hand, put yourself in Riley's shoes. Could he really afford to go 5-7 again? He went the slow and steady route knowing he needed some wins this year. Charlie Strong went all scorched earth at Texas in his first two years and now he is out of a job

I was thinking more his first year....We all would have accepted a losing season if he was going that route.

This team will have a good mix of veterans and young guys next year. If things go right I think next year will be at least no worse than this year.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

I was thinking more his first year....We all would have accepted a losing season if he was going that route.

This team will have a good mix of veterans and young guys next year. If things go right I think next year will be athe least no worse than this year.

Jeans you are one of my favs but there is no way people Nebraska fan was going to accept a losing season.

If they had gone in and started playing a bunch of young dudes, Nebraska fan base would have gone ape ****. He was brought in to take this team to the next level not blow up and start over.

In hindsight, that may have been the route to go, but I am not buying the we would have all been cool with it stance.

 

[Nebraska Fan]

we are no where near a top 4 program.

How about this. Go look at the 2013 and 2014 classes for both Alabama and Ohio St and show me the misses in their classes. Then compare them to the misses in Nebraska's 2013 and 2014 classes.

sure let us know what you find

 

[inWV]

Spitballing from looking at the last two deep
Offense starters
Seniors: DPE, Hoppes
Juniors: Ziggy, Lee, Gates, Foster, Farmer, Stan, Conrad
Sophomores: Decker, (Tre possible)
RS frosh: Spielman


Defense starters
Seniors: Jones, Kalu, Kieron Williams, Newby, Weber
Juniors: Freedom, Mick, Reed, Young
Sophomores: Carlos, Alex Davis
RS frosh: (Colin Miller possible)

 

[dinglefritz]

Spitballing from looking at the last two deep
Offense starters
Seniors: DPE, Hoppes
Juniors: Ziggy, Lee, Gates, Foster, Farmer, Stan, Conrad
Sophomores: Decker, (Tre possible)
RS frosh: Spielman


Defense starters
Seniors: Jones, Kalu, Kieron Williams, Newby, Weber
Juniors: Freedom, Mick, Reed, Young
Sophomores: Carlos, Alex Davis
RS frosh: (Colin Miller possible)

Not a bad list but I think we've got some redshirt O linemen that are going to compete very well for starting spots and at least one true freshman WR and potentially a DB that will compete for a starting spot before the season is over.

 

[jeans15]

Jeans you are one of my favs but there is no way people Nebraska fan was going to accept a losing season.

If they had gone in and started playing a bunch of young dudes, Nebraska fan base would have gone ape ****. He was brought in to take this team to the next level not blow up and start over.

In hindsight, that may have been the route to go, but I am not buying the we would have all been cool with it stance.

Hindsight is awesome isn't it...lol

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

sure let us know what you find

You have a turd in your pocket? Who is us?

You are the one trying to equate Alabama and Ohio St with Nebraska. Prove yourself right. Don't wait for me to prove you wrong.

 

[Nebraska Fan]

Spitballing from looking at the last two deep
Offense starters
Seniors: DPE, Hoppes
Juniors: Ziggy, Lee, Gates, Foster, Farmer, Stan, Conrad
Sophomores: Decker, (Tre possible)
RS frosh: Spielman


Defense starters
Seniors: Jones, Kalu, Kieron Williams, Newby, Weber
Juniors: Freedom, Mick, Reed, Young
Sophomores: Carlos, Alex Davis
RS frosh: (Colin Miller possible)

about the same as Colorado this year

 

[Archie Graham]

This will be year 3. He should have incorporated his players in by now.

This isn't an excuse. Winning less than 9 means failure in your 3rd year.

It was stupid not to play as many players as possible.

He's the head coach. If players didn't like it. Kick rocks.

This is why we can't have nice things. Unbelievable.

 

[jawbreakingsafetyplay]

http://www.omaha.com/huskers/footba...cle_ac29b66d-e155-5f68-8b46-0c8afa1c4f48.html
Just as Frank Solich and Bill Callahan suffered for the dreadful 2000 recruiting class, Riley will soon feel the pain of the 2013 and ’14 classes, especially at the offensive skill positions.

» 2013: Kevin Gladney, Tre’vell Dixon, Johnny Stanton, Greg Hart, Adam Taylor.

That class also included Terrell Newby and Cethan Carter, who didn’t redshirt.

» 2014 didn’t pan out either: AJ Bush, Glenn Irons, Jariah Tolbert, Monte Harrison, Mikale Wilbon, Larenzo Stewart, Zack Darlington.

That class also included De’Mornay Pierson-El.

» There are similar issues at other positions, like defensive end, where the high school signees from ’13 and ’14 have mostly missed: Dimarya Mixon, Ernest Suttles, A.J. Natter, DeAndre Wills, Sedrick King, Freedom Akinmoladun.

(Randy Gregory and Joe Keels were juco signees in these classes.)

Put it another way. These are Riley’s scholarship seniors in 2017:

» Offense: Adam Taylor, De’Mornay Pierson-El, David Knevel, Dwayne Johnson, Zach Hannon.


» Defense: Chris Jones, Boaz Joseph, Joshua Kalu, A.J. Natter, Marcus Newby, Kieron Williams.

Best-case scenario, that’s five or six senior starters. That isn’t many.

This piece was mostly toilet. His logic was terrible

 

[inWV]

The 2013 class is filled with deadwood but is 5th year and largely off the books. 2014 has 12 starters/contributors. Dirk had a bit of an agenda.

 

[Suhrreal]

Recruiting sucked under Pelini. You could almost call it sabotage. It's going to affect us until year 5 or 6 of the Riley era, and there is nothing we can do about it. That's just how the NCAA works.

 

[Rcnut223]

So with the talent gap we have why not look to Juco ranks to fill in?

 

[jflores]

So with the talent gap we have why not look to Juco ranks to fill in?

You want to chip in a Ford?


The top JUCO DE this year.

 

[kaz36_rivals189319]

So with the talent gap we have why not look to Juco ranks to fill in?

Because Riley has a plan and his plan doesn't involve very many, if any jucos. Jucos don't always mean a quick fix. Whether that plan will work is yet to be seen.

 

[huskerfan1414]

Recruiting sucked under Pelini. You could almost call it sabotage. It's going to affect us until year 5 or 6 of the Riley era, and there is nothing we can do about it. That's just how the NCAA works.

My gawd.