Diaco vs D players

[daddy mack]

I don't know. They look uninspired to me.
If we do not have the talent yet to run the 3-4, then why are we running it? Phase it in gradually for crying out loud. If our problem is that we have 4-3 talent but insist on playing the 3-4 then we are nuts. The reality is I think that we are actually in the 4-3 more than you think.

Unfortunately we no longer have the talent to run The 4/3 either sense Greggory left no real threat of the edge Still looked good but diapered against Wisconsin and OSU The 4/3 requires dominate pass rushing DT and outstanding RE

Isn't the LB coach a hold over from Banker? Bray? Should have hired a Nebraska guy, isn't Colman coaching somewhere.... he wouldn't let this happen...

Bo holdover Most active recruiter on Bos Staff was retained.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

Unfortunately we no longer have the talent to run The 4/3 either sense Greggory left no real threat of the edge Still looked good but diapered against Wisconsin and OSU The 4/3 requires dominate pass rushing DT and outs RE

Bo holdover Most active recruiter on Bos Staff was retained.

Bray was not on Bo's staff

 

[TribecaHusker]

Diaco is an odd duck, but I would say he is reaping what others have sown. If a DC was to go down with the Riley ship, it should have been Mark B.

Mark B already went down, in case you didn’t notice. And it was Riley who canned him after only 2 years. The new coach will pick who he wants, and I doubt Diaco will be on his list.

 

[NikkiSixx_rivals269993]

Mark B already went down, in case you didn’t notice. And it was Riley who canned him after only 2 years. The new coach will pick who he wants, and I doubt Diaco will be on his list.

Shawn Eichorst canned Banker, not Mike Riley.

 

[cubsker_rivals142943]

But Diaco has coached some top defenses though. I do have faith in him if he is here more than 1 year. Not always easy to change a 'corporate culture' overnight among other issues discussed above. I think 'iaco' is a bit unfair

3 man rush vs osu was just an awful strategy and he rarely came off of it. reminded me of another guy we've had here before for his stubborness.

 

[TribecaHusker]

Shawn Eichorst canned Banker, not Mike Riley.

FYI

LINCOLN, Neb. — After the press conference introducing new defensive coordinator Bob Diaco on Friday afternoon, Nebraska head coach Mike Riley gave some insight on why he fired former defensive coordinator Mark Banker, a longtime friend, over the phone nine days ago.

The main reason, Riley said, was he was pressed for time and needed to do it quickly to get the coordinator he wanted.

Riley said the decision to ultimately let Banker go came after Riley watched film of Nebraska’s 38-24 loss to Tennessee in the Music City Bowl.

“Some of the things that we had kind of earmarked that needed to be changed from a year ago were the same things I saw that we had some issues in the game,” Riley said.

After reviewing the tape, and thinking about the past two years, Riley said he decided Nebraska needed a change on the defense.

On Jan. 11, Riley called Banker to let him know his contract would not be renewed. At the time, Banker was in Denver International Airport during a recruiting trip.

“This wasn’t a brand new thought as of Wednesday, neither the thought about Mark or the thought about Bob,” Riley said.

Riley and Banker coached together 19 of the past 20 years at USC, Oregon State, the San Diego Chargers, back to Oregon State and ultimately at Nebraska.

Because of how close the two are, in stories in the Lincoln Journal Star, and the Omaha World-Herald, Banker voiced strong displeasure in being fired by a friend over the phone.

Riley said on Friday he understands that.

“You can understand how hard this was for me, knowing Mark and working with him for as long as I have,” Riley said. “I can understand why he is (mad). That is not the way I would have done it. Like I said, I ran in to a logistical problem that, I think you guys can figure it out just the timing of everything. To get done what we did, I had to do it.”

Riley said he and Banker have not spoken since the firing

 

[Camcon2016]

Cav is a joke. Another bad Riley decision. Our offensive line is the most underachieving aspect of the team. Some of those guys on our line were highly recruited four star and high three star guys. I know the stars are not infallible, but to have our entire line underperform is a tell.

Couldn't agree more! Cav could be one of Riley's Biggest problems. Cav really raised my eyebrows during an interview during fall camp. To dangerously quote him from memory when talking about technique he said ""those guys just need to go in and figure it out on their own, I'm not going to tell them how to do it". I asked myself what kind of coach doesn't physically teach technique before they get in there. I think about that interview almost every game and repeat to my self that those guys need a teacher and not just someone telling them they are doing it wrong.

 

[NikkiSixx_rivals269993]

FYI

LINCOLN, Neb. — After the press conference introducing new defensive coordinator Bob Diaco on Friday afternoon, Nebraska head coach Mike Riley gave some insight on why he fired former defensive coordinator Mark Banker, a longtime friend, over the phone nine days ago.

The main reason, Riley said, was he was pressed for time and needed to do it quickly to get the coordinator he wanted.

Riley said the decision to ultimately let Banker go came after Riley watched film of Nebraska’s 38-24 loss to Tennessee in the Music City Bowl.

“Some of the things that we had kind of earmarked that needed to be changed from a year ago were the same things I saw that we had some issues in the game,” Riley said.

After reviewing the tape, and thinking about the past two years, Riley said he decided Nebraska needed a change on the defense.

On Jan. 11, Riley called Banker to let him know his contract would not be renewed. At the time, Banker was in Denver International Airport during a recruiting trip.

“This wasn’t a brand new thought as of Wednesday, neither the thought about Mark or the thought about Bob,” Riley said.

Riley and Banker coached together 19 of the past 20 years at USC, Oregon State, the San Diego Chargers, back to Oregon State and ultimately at Nebraska.

Because of how close the two are, in stories in the Lincoln Journal Star, and the Omaha World-Herald, Banker voiced strong displeasure in being fired by a friend over the phone.

Riley said on Friday he understands that.

“You can understand how hard this was for me, knowing Mark and working with him for as long as I have,” Riley said. “I can understand why he is (mad). That is not the way I would have done it. Like I said, I ran in to a logistical problem that, I think you guys can figure it out just the timing of everything. To get done what we did, I had to do it.”

Riley said he and Banker have not spoken since the firing

Don't believe everything you read. Mike Riley didn't just up and fire his long time 20 year buddy of his own free will. Use some common sense.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

Shawn Eichorst canned Banker, not Mike Riley.

Admit. You don't know that. You are just guessing.
Don't feel bad though. I do it all the time

 

[NikkiSixx_rivals269993]

Admit. You don't know that. You are just guessing.
Don't feel bad though. I do it all the time

All I can say here is that you can't believe everything you read in the newspaper. They get it wrong more often than they get it right. It's a nice story, but it isn't based in reality.

 

[little a]

3 man rush vs osu was just an awful strategy and he rarely came off of it. reminded me of another guy we've had here before for his stubborness.[/QUOTE

Another reason Riley is NOT a good HC... going from 4-3 to 3-4 he should have known it was not a good fit and he didn't have luxury of time.... of course Diaco would take gig because it pays him 2 million.

 

[TribecaHusker]

Don't believe everything you read. Mike Riley didn't just up and fire his long time 20 year buddy of his own free will. Use some common sense.

I’m sure he heard from a lot people, including Eichorst. But ultimately, he had to pull the trigger. And, Yes, I believe what I read more than taking for granted unattributed rumors or fan speculation.

 

[little a]

I’m sure he heard from a lot people, including Eichorst. But ultimately, he had to pull the trigger. And, Yes, I believe what I read more than taking for granted unattributed rumors or fan speculation.

Omg that's funny.... newspaper reporting Riley calling Banker and informing him his services were no longer needed, along with quotes from Banker SAYING he was disappointed in manner Riley let him go.... but don't believe that, were all glib

 

[JohnRossEwing]

Admit. You don't know that. You are just guessing.
Don't feel bad though. I do it all the time

I think Billy D had more to do with it but in the end Riley did it...

He also did it after making his friend a millionaire. I wonder if they still chat

 

[Redblood23]

So sick of these players vs coaches revolts. Wtf?

 

[vs540husker]

My non-professional opinion on some of the problems:

1. Team culture. I have been hearing this for far too long, that the team just doesn't practice hard. Practice doesn't even have to be all out, knock you on your butt physical, but it should be 100% devotion to working your butt off. Whether it's the weight room, the film room or the practice field. One thing I heard when Diaco got here was he didn't like the effort players were giving. Now, just last week on Big Red Wrap Up, Jason Peter eludes to the players being pissed about a coordinator wanting them to work harder. I think 2 + 2 = Diaco is the mystery coordinator.

2. Player development. Start naming players that have gotten better each year here under Riley. I can maybe count them on one hand, and that would be fine if this were a basketball team, but it's not. A big reason for this is two fold in my opinion; the team culture aspect listed above and Riley bringing in some bad assistants when he was hired that contributed very little, or in the case of Hank Hughes, actually drove off several talented players.

3. General coaching blunders. Whether it's the amazing clock management at times, the hair brained play calling on both offense and defense, or the very questionable player personnel decisions like starting an injured Wilbon over a healthy and motivated Ozigbo, or Conrad over Decker, or moving one of the better looking corners to safety just two days before playing the most talented team in our conference, despite having a couple safeties riding the pine.


Does Nebraska need more talent? Of course it does. Is talent the reason it lost to Northern Illinois, struggled with Rutgers, got steamrolled in the 2nd half by Wisconsin, or gave up record setting numbers to Ohio State? Nope. That's because of everything listed above. The players need to be motivated, physically stronger, mentally stronger, and put into position to win, or in the case of playing against Ohio State, at least compete. Sadly, they strike out on all of those.

 

[inWV]

My non-professional opinion on some of the problems:

1. Team culture. I have been hearing this for far too long, that the team just doesn't practice hard. Practice doesn't even have to be all out, knock you on your butt physical, but it should be 100% devotion to working your butt off. Whether it's the weight room, the film room or the practice field. One thing I heard when Diaco got here was he didn't like the effort players were giving. Now, just last week on Big Red Wrap Up, Jason Peter eludes to the players being pissed about a coordinator wanting them to work harder. I think 2 + 2 = Diaco is the mystery coordinator.

2. Player development. Start naming players that have gotten better each year here under Riley. I can maybe count them on one hand, and that would be fine if this were a basketball team, but it's not. A big reason for this is two fold in my opinion; the team culture aspect listed above and Riley bringing in some bad assistants when he was hired that contributed very little, or in the case of Hank Hughes, actually drove off several talented players.

3. General coaching blunders. Whether it's the amazing clock management at times, the hair brained play calling on both offense and defense, or the very questionable player personnel decisions like starting an injured Wilbon over a healthy and motivated Ozigbo, or Conrad over Decker, or moving one of the better looking corners to safety just two days before playing the most talented team in our conference, despite having a couple safeties riding the pine.


Does Nebraska need more talent? Of course it does. Is talent the reason it lost to Northern Illinois, struggled with Rutgers, got steamrolled in the 2nd half by Wisconsin, or gave up record setting numbers to Ohio State? Nope. That's because of everything listed above. The players need to be motivated, physically stronger, mentally stronger, and put into position to win, or in the case of playing against Ohio State, at least compete. Sadly, they strike out on all of those.

vs540 is dropping some serious truth here.

 

[NikkiSixx_rivals269993]

My non-professional opinion on some of the problems:

1. Team culture. I have been hearing this for far too long, that the team just doesn't practice hard. Practice doesn't even have to be all out, knock you on your butt physical, but it should be 100% devotion to working your butt off. Whether it's the weight room, the film room or the practice field. One thing I heard when Diaco got here was he didn't like the effort players were giving. Now, just last week on Big Red Wrap Up, Jason Peter eludes to the players being pissed about a coordinator wanting them to work harder. I think 2 + 2 = Diaco is the mystery coordinator.

2. Player development. Start naming players that have gotten better each year here under Riley. I can maybe count them on one hand, and that would be fine if this were a basketball team, but it's not. A big reason for this is two fold in my opinion; the team culture aspect listed above and Riley bringing in some bad assistants when he was hired that contributed very little, or in the case of Hank Hughes, actually drove off several talented players.

3. General coaching blunders. Whether it's the amazing clock management at times, the hair brained play calling on both offense and defense, or the very questionable player personnel decisions like starting an injured Wilbon over a healthy and motivated Ozigbo, or Conrad over Decker, or moving one of the better looking corners to safety just two days before playing the most talented team in our conference, despite having a couple safeties riding the pine.


Does Nebraska need more talent? Of course it does. Is talent the reason it lost to Northern Illinois, struggled with Rutgers, got steamrolled in the 2nd half by Wisconsin, or gave up record setting numbers to Ohio State? Nope. That's because of everything listed above. The players need to be motivated, physically stronger, mentally stronger, and put into position to win, or in the case of playing against Ohio State, at least compete. Sadly, they strike out on all of those.

good post.. in some ways, it seems things are even more screwed up down there than in the prior era.

 

[dinglefritz]

Do any of you guys realize that we were playing Dicaprio Bootle at safety due to injuries at safety? I'm not sure why we didn't pull up a walk on that at least has played the position but I don't think realistically that playing Bootle at safety agaisnt a team like OSU was going to work. We're still paying the price for the crappy recruiting of Riley's first DB coach. Our injuries at safety and linebacker explain some of what Diaco was doing. I would have brought the house on virtually every play and let the chips fall where they may but that's just me. We did have some success doing that later in the game. Not sure what took so long.

 

[dinglefritz]

Bo holdover Most active recruiter on Bos Staff was retained.

Bray came with Riley from Oregon St.

 

[Headcard]

Bray came with Riley from Oregon St.

Yep. Warren was the only coach retained and then he left for UNC after signing day.

 

[73 Red I]

I have said all along that I believe Riley was a 5 year plan from the moment he was hired. Be a good dude, get better recruits, win enough games to maintain goodwill, then retire when we've got "our guy" lined up.

The problem is the guys they have aren't playing any better. Especially on the OL. I don't care how many stars were next to your name in HS, technique and effort work in every system. That's the reason you should be able to get off the bus and roll a team like NIU. "We're 40 lbs heavier than their front 4, we're gonna play harder and cleaner than them for 4 quarters and in the 4th, we'll run wild."

There's just no excuse for not being able to run the ball on a team when you're that much bigger than they are.

Relied on a walk on tough guy to make the lines calls even tough he knew the walk on didn't quite grasp what he was doing. Can't have that at the center position.

 

[Toms Wife]

Do any of you guys realize that we were playing Dicaprio Bootle at safety due to injuries at safety? I'm not sure why we didn't pull up a walk on that at least has played the position but I don't think realistically that playing Bootle at safety agaisnt a team like OSU was going to work. We're still paying the price for the crappy recruiting of Riley's first DB coach. Our injuries at safety and linebacker explain some of what Diaco was doing. I would have brought the house on virtually every play and let the chips fall where they may but that's just me. We did have some success doing that later in the game. Not sure what took so long.

Every team has injuries. My goodness, NIU lost their starting qb before our game. There 2nd stringer comes in and pulls the upset. However, he's not really any good and the third stringer has now come into play the last few games for NIU. We got beat by the guy who is now the 3rd string quarterback at NIU and we are whining about injuries to safeties?

 

[stonesak]

Every team has injuries. My goodness, NIU lost their starting qb before our game. There 2nd stringer comes in and pulls the upset. However, he's not really any good and the third stringer has now come into play the last few games for NIU. We got beat by the guy who is now the 3rd string quarterback at NIU and we are whining about injuries to safeties?

Tanner Lee is the third string QB at NIU now? Where have I been?

 

[dinglefritz]

Every team has injuries. My goodness, NIU lost their starting qb before our game. There 2nd stringer comes in and pulls the upset. However, he's not really any good and the third stringer has now come into play the last few games for NIU. We got beat by the guy who is now the 3rd string quarterback at NIU and we are whining about injuries to safeties?

Who's whining Missie? I'm pointing out that some of the things Diaco was doing was because he was trying to protect backups who obviously aren't as good as our starters. When discussing what happened against OSU you can't ignore the personnel on the field. I've stated multiple times that I was perplexed by Diaco's scheme regardless of how many people were injured. Send the house to try to help the back end, don't give the QB time to throw it and don't give the RB open running lanes by only rushing 3 and dropping your backers. I posted before the game that I thought it was our only chance.

 

[huskerssalts]

But Diaco has coached some top defenses though. I do have faith in him if he is here more than 1 year. Not always easy to change a 'corporate culture' overnight among other issues discussed above. I think 'iaco' is a bit unfair

Im fully with you here, Diaco has already proved he’s a good DC at Notre Dame. He’s won the Broyles award and was runner up the following season or was it the season before? We are having issues on defense, yes but I’m not going to claim or act like Diaco is a bad DC or was a bad hire. If he’s given time I know the dude would give us a great defense. Again he’s already a proven DC. He’s not just some no name hire or s stupid hire and we are all like “wtf Riley”? My guess is that are 3-4 switch is just taking longer then we like. But then again, teams like Badgers and Buckeyes can make a new defenses look silly. The Buckeyes game...I have no clue wtf happened there and I won’t even try and act like I’m some expert and claim I know. But I do know Diaco is a good DC and has already proven this with Notre Dame.

 

[bshirt73]

Run a 4-3 with DEs who can't make a play or run a 3-4 with OLBs who can't make a play. Potato, potahtoe.

Laughing

 

[Huskercigar]

How can anyone believe that the coaches are even playing the best players? We see this at a few positions where due to injury, someone gets rotated in and looks way better than the starter. Or in another position where someone else continues to get starts, and has played mediocre and the 3rd string guy comes in and cleans house week after week.

I don't think it is a talent issue at all. I certainly don't think the coaches know how to evaluate talent, nor do they know how to develop it. This is ineptitude and incompetence at the coaching level, and it is Riley that makes all the personnel decisions.

Biggest doghouse I've ever seen.

 

[dinglefritz]

Im fully with you here, Diaco has already proved he’s a good DC at Notre Dame. He’s won the Broyles award and was runner up the following season or was it the season before? We are having issues on defense, yes but I’m not going to claim or act like Diaco is a bad DC or was a bad hire. If he’s given time I know the dude would give us a great defense. Again he’s already a proven DC. He’s not just some no name hire or s stupid hire and we are all like “wtf Riley”? My guess is that are 3-4 switch is just taking longer then we like. But then again, teams like Badgers and Buckeyes can make a new defenses look silly. The Buckeyes game...I have no clue wtf happened there and I won’t even try and act like I’m some expert and claim I know. But I do know Diaco is a good DC and has already proven this with Notre Dame.

Great players make great coaches and he had the horses for a couple of years at ND. You HAVE to have GREAT D-linemen to run a 2 gap scheme. Our D linemen could be very good in a traditional 4 man front but at least one of our D-ends struggles and our only true NT is a true freshman. You add to it the fact that our boundary backers are banged up and maybe not a great fit for a 3-4 and you get what we've got. I just don't like what I've seen him do scheme wise to try to compensate for our injuries and deficiencies.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

Great players make great coaches and he had the horses for a couple of years at ND. You HAVE to have GREAT D-linemen to run a great 2 gap scheme. Our D linemen could be very good in a traditional 4 man front but at least one of our D-ends struggles and our only true NT is a true freshman. You add to it the fact that our boundary backers are banged up and maybe not a great fit for a 3-4 and you get what we've got. I just don't like what I've seen him do scheme wise to try to compensate for our injuries and deficiencies.

I don't like what I see scheme-wise either. But I am really uninformed about schemes and ****. My opinions are purely those of an armchair fan. So I like to hear from other people, like you, who know more about such things than I do. So, if you don't mind, could you be a bit more specific about what you don't like about some of his schemes, given our available talent?

 

[dinglefritz]

I don't like what I see scheme-wise either. But I am really uninformed about schemes and ****. My opinions are purely those of an armchair fan. So I like to hear from other people, like you, who know more about such things than I do. So, if you don't mind, could you be a bit more specific about what you don't like about some of his schemes, given our available talent?

I'm not great at xs' an o's and have never claimed to be but people who are have made it clear that you have to have really good D-linemen and a special NT to run a 3-4. It just doesn't make much sense to have a guy try to neutralize 2 300 lbers and still try to stop the run etc. It just looks to me like it leaves too many holes especially when you have guys still trying to think making mistakes in gap responsibilities. We've got way too much thinking going on and not enough attacking the QB and ball carrier. Maybe it would get better with more experience in the system.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

I'm not great at xs' an o's and have never claimed to be but people who are have made it clear that you have to have really good D-linemen and a special NT to run a 3-4. It just doesn't make much sense to have a guy try to neutralize 2 300 lbers and still try to stop the run etc. It just looks to me like it leaves too many holes especially when you have guys still trying to think making mistakes in gap responsibilities. We've got way too much thinking going on and not enough attacking the QB and ball carrier. Maybe it would get better with the more experience in the system.

Thanks. And it makes sense that if you are only going to play three lineman then they damn well better be good.

 

[BigB87]

I'm not great at xs' an o's and have never claimed to be but people who are have made it clear that you have to have really good D-linemen and a special NT to run a 3-4. It just doesn't make much sense to have a guy try to neutralize 2 300 lbers and still try to stop the run etc. It just looks to me like it leaves too many holes especially when you have guys still trying to think making mistakes in gap responsibilities. We've got way too much thinking going on and not enough attacking the QB and ball carrier. Maybe it would get better with more experience in the system.

This was my biggest concern with moving to a 3-4. Stoltenberg has done an admirable job trying to play NT, but he never should have been put in a position to have to play NT in a 3-4 scheme, he just does not fit that role.

 

[WHCSC]

What does the "bend but don't break" defense do psychologically to the players? Does it discourage them seeing their opponents march down the field? Wouldn't they rather attack?

 

[dinglefritz]

What does the "bend but don't break" defense do psychologically to the players? Does it discourage them seeing their opponents march down the field? Wouldn't they rather attack?

I think you can attack out of the the 3-4 and some would say maybe even better out of the 3-4 but so far I haven't seen much of that. When we have sent 5 it looked effective to me but we just havn't done it that much. Personally it would bug the crap out of me trying to play the way Diaco has drawn it up thus far.