2013 Mock Draft and rankings

I started following the NFL draft as a Junior in high school. I remember sitting in biology class with my radio in my pocket and single ear piece strung up my shirt ending behind my ear. Back then the draft was held during the day at the beginning of the week. As a Saints fan 1986 taught me the best way to build a playoff team was through the Draft. Jim Mora (Playoffs?) and Jim Finks drafted a starting tackle Jim Dombrowski , two starting running backs Dalton Hillard and Rueben Mayes and a great pass rusher Pat Swilling. After that year I read a story about Joel Buchsbaum, the original Mel Kiper, minus the cool hair and personality. Joel had hundreds of video tapes of college games all over his Brooklyn apartment that he used to provide his draft analysis for Pro Football Weekly.

With all that said I have been doing some level of a mock draft and player ranking since that year. Trust me I understand how meaningless they are but it’s like a habit I can’t seem to break.

1) Kansas City – Luke Joeckel (OT) Texas A&M: Personally I prefer Eric Fisher but I suspect Andy Reid goes with the big school Tackle. surprise pick Sheldon Richardson DT Missouri.

2) Jacksonville – Geno Smith (QB) West Virginia: I am torn between Smith and Dion Jordan. I’m going with the theory that QBs get overdrafted and that the Jags aren’t happy with Gabbert.  Surprise pick Dee Miliner CB Alabama

3) Oakland – Sharriff Floyd (DT) Florida: The Raiders love big athletic guys that’s Floyd. I personally would rank him behind Star and Richardson but Floyd fits the Raiders style. Surprise pick Ezekiel Ansah DE BYU.

4) Philadelphia – Eric Fisher (OT) Central Michigan: Fisher was the best player during the Senior bowl practices dominating nearly everyone he faced. Surprise pick Star Lotulelei.

5)   Detroit – Ezekiel Ansah (DE) BYU: The Lions need help in the secondary but I think the freak nature of Ansah will be too difficult to pass up. Ansah is very raw which causes people to compare him to Jason Pierre Paul.  Ansah is a long way from JPP right now. Surprise pick Lane Johnson OT Oklahoma.

6) Cleveland – Dee Milliner, (CB) Alabama: This is where I would take Star Lotulelei the big DT from Utah. Star would fit well in the middle of the new Brown’s defense. OG and CB however are big needs and I don’t think the Browns take a G this early. Surprise pick Chance Warmack

7)  Arizona – Dion Jordan, (DE) Oregon: The Cards would be ecstatic for the draft to fall this way. Jordan is a great athlete and is scheme versatile. Surprise pick Lane Johnson.

8) Buffalo – Tavon Austin (WR) West Virginia: Buffalo needs more playmakers.

9) New York Jets - Kiki Mingo (DE/OLB) LSU: The Jets are in a great spot with two picks in the top 13.  They need QB, LB, CB and RB help. Mingo has a ton of upside and should fit really well as a 3/4 OLB.

10) Tennessee – Chance Warmack (OG) Alabama: I think the Titans go OG here whether it’s Warmack or Jon Cooper from UNC.  Surprise pick Kenny Vaccaro S Texas

11) San Diego – Lane Johnson (OT) Oklahoma: Need to protect Rivers. They could also go interior OL with Jon Cooper or if Warmack fell to them.

12) Miami – Xavier Rhodes (CB) Florida State:  Miami had an interesting FA offseason, the other big need would be at OL but I think they take Rhodes over Jonathan Cooper.

13) NY Jets (trade w TB) – Star Loutlelei (DT) Utah: This is a guy that is easily a top five player in terms of talent. Some teams may be scared off by the health concerns.

14) Carolina – Sheldon Richardson (DT) Missouri: One of my favorite players in the draft. Richardson is a beast and can play all along the LOS. If he was taken number one overall I wouldn’t be surprised by the pick.

15) New Orleans - Jarvis Jones (OLB) Georgia: Jones has dropped in many mock drafts for any number of reasons. He has made plays vs some very good players while with the Dawgs. Fits into the Saints new 3/4 defense.

16) St Louis – Cordarrdelle Patterson (WR) Tennessee: One year wonders have struggled with the transition to the NFL at the WR position. Patterson is also a long strider that will hurt he and his QB coming out of breaks. Freak athlete however.

17) Pittsburgh – Keenan Allen (WR) California: Allen is just solid. Runs great routes, very good hands and could control the middle of the field in the mold of Anquan Boldin.

18) Dallas – Kenny Vaccaro (S) Texas: One of my favorite players in this draft. Can do multiple things in coverage from the slot to being the deepest. Very good tackler as well.

19) NY Giants -  Jonathan Cooper (OG) UNC: Cooper probably will go higher than this but I just going need for each team and this is where he fell. Cooper is just behind Warmack in terms of the OG position although is a little smaller and quicker than Warmack.

20) Chicago – Alec Ogletree (LB) Georgia: One of the top 5 players in this draft in my opinion. ILBs don’t normally get drafted as high but Olgetree is special. The Bears fans will love the way he plays.

21) Cincinatti -Matt Elam (S) Florida: One of the best tacklers in the draft. Should solidify the Bengals pass defense.

22) St Louis – Eddie Lacey (RB) Alabama: I know most people don’t have a RB going in the 1st round but I still think this is the best pick for the Rams so what the heck.

23) Minnesota – Slyvester Williams (DT) North Carolina: I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikes take a WR here at this spot. I would take Robert Woods I they go that direction. Williams can really get up the field from the 3 tech spot. Plus they like the name Williams on the D-Line.

24) Indy – Datone Jones (DE) UCLA: Jones does so many things well and he is not limited to any specific scheme. Both strong at the point of attack and quick enough to resemble JJ Watt at times.

25) Minnesota – Justin Hunter (WR) Tennessee: Justin Hunter isn’t the freak athlete that Patterson is but he is by far the better more polished receiver. Hunter has underrated top end speed and perfect NFL size. *This is the area where I see someone moving back into the 1st round for EJ Manuel.*

26) Green Bay – Tyler Eifert (TE) Notre Dame: Another playmaker for Aaron Rodgers it’s almost unfair.

27) Houston -Kevin Minter (LB) LSU: If you want to see how effective Minter can be watch the first half of the Florida game. He was all over the field. After he left with a leg injury Florida ran all over the Tiger’s defense.

28) Denver – Bjorn Werner (DE) Florida State: Werner has a lot to work on and some like his teammate Tank Carridine better at the next level. I think he will fit into what Denver does well. It also helps to be on the other side of Von Miller when it comes to be single blocked.

29) New England – Desmond Trufant (CB) Washington: Trufant is tough and likes taking on the best the other team can offer. At the Senior bowl he would jump in front of other guys in the one and one drills to match up with the best WR’s. The best of the Trufant brothers.

30) Atlanta – Zach Ertz (TE) Stanford: Eventually Tony Gonzales will retire and this gives the young fella a chance to learn from the master. Ertz is a better inline blocker that Eifert and has very good hands as well.

31) San Fran – Margus Hunt (DE) SMU: Hunt is still very raw but he is one of the strongest point of attack guys you will ever see. He really needs to work on his get off but this is the perfect place for him to learn.

32) Baltimore – Arthur Brown (LB) Kansas State: One of the most underrated guys in this draft. Other LB’s get pub because of where they played in college. Brown was the glue to a very good defense at K-state.

Producer Fight Tale of the Tape

“Sugar” Shane               Josh Tweeterson
Parts Unknown, IA      Means streets of North O

5’5          Height          5’11
140         Weight          170
61          Reach            74
0          Rhoads            1
1(M)       Ramen            0
1(M)       Cigarettes         0
0           CWS Produced  1
Dew          Drinks         Spirit Zero
Free Clothes   Fav teams   Dallas

.5            GirlFriends      1

2013 Super 6 Nebraska Recruiting Class

Let’s start with some numbers about this recruiting class. Nebraska finished this recruiting cycle with a composite score of 15th in the country. That’s averaging Rivals, Scout and 24/7 together. Not bad especially when you compare it to Nebraska’s avgerage Rival ranking since 2004 which is 24.4. Still top 25 but if you compare it to the average ranking of the national champion over those years, 6.7 NU still has a way to go.

In my 4 years of doing a Super 6 from Nebraska’s recruiting class this year is the most difficult because of all the talent. There are so many student athletes that I feel will have success in this class that narrowing it to a small number isn’t easy. So here are my top six, two that just missed and a sleeper.

Randy Gregory: Nebraska has no one like him on the roster. Gregory looks like one of those defensive playmakers you see at the top programs in the country. He can be both a wide defensive end type that lines up over or outside the TE or a standup OLB in a 30 front. I hope that is how NU uses Gregory in its Joker front with three down linemen and one rover who can pick his gap to rush. If Pelini uses Gregory correctly he certainly could put up Demarrio Williams type numbers. Gregory has the kind of body type that could carry another 10 or 15 pounds and still maintain his quickness.

Marcus Newby: Newby does everything expected of an OLB well. He can rush off the edge, drop in coverage on a TE and fill the hole in the run game. He is a solid tackler who takes great angles with outstanding instincts. In the end I wouldn’t be surprised if Newby makes at least two all conference teams. You rarely see a guy with this kind of change of direction at his size.

Adam Taylor: Big strong physical running back that reminds me of a combination of Mark Ingram and Montee Ball. Taylor might not beat you in a 40 yard dash but his first couple of steps is extremely explosive. His 10 meter will be one of the best on the team. Taylor squats 450 pounds and is extremely dedicated to his craft. Right now he’s working out twice a day trying to get even more powerful. All those things are great but what I like most is his patience getting to the hole. On film you see him allowing his blocking to develop and then hitting the hole with ease. Taylor will be the next great I-back in Husker history.

Terrell Newby: Reminds me of a smaller Ryan Williams because of how he sprints when in open field. Newby is a natural cutter who doesn’t lose speed while making guys miss. He breaks some tackles but for the most part Newby will make you miss. I expect he will start off as a kickoff returner and 3rd down back. He plays at such a high speed he will have to develop some patience at the next level. Hopefully we will get to see both Newby and Taylor in the backfield together in a couple of seasons. It could make for an exciting diamond (Bone) look with Imani Cross.

Ernest Suttles: This kid stood out since the first time I saw him on film. Then we spoke to him on the radio and I was amazed by Suttles. He is still very raw after moving from New York as a basketball player to Tampa and transitioning into football, but he is far ahead of where you would expect. He is a natural athlete with unique aggressiveness and quickness. It will be difficult to keep him off the field because he will excel in practice. My only hope is that he doesn’t put on too much weight and remains a true DE. On tape in played a lot of 5 tech (DE) in a 3/4 scheme. Future all conference player.

Maliek Collins: When I first saw Collins tape I gushed over him so much on twitter than one person joked that I made him sound like the next Suh. That’s a stretch of course but trust me Collins is as good as any DT on campus right now. His tape shows him equally aggressive on defensive and offensive line. He can beat your double team with strength or quickness. Collins has that kind of initial punch that gets you to rewind the tape. We asked Collins about his wrestling background and he said he never wrestled as a young kid but after reading that wrestling makes you a better football player he tried out for the his HS team. The first year he didn’t make the team but after a year of work he succeeded in his goal. Collins will play early especially now with the loss of Chase Rome.

Just missed

Chongo Kondolo: If I had my wish I would like to see Chongo get the chance to play OT for Nebraska. He reminds me of the kind of physical freak Bill Callahan liked in his offensive linemen. Chongo has long arms, a great build and really can run. Watching his film his first strike almost always knocks the defender off balance. He gets a little high at times but his strength can make up for that. I think he has the most upside of any offensive linemen in this class.

Tre’vell Dixon: I’m not sure where he will play but after talking to people who watched him play in high school this great athlete will find a spot and succeed. I would like to see him as a wing back type that you move all over the field. Dixon has great top end speed and exceptional elusiveness along with sneaky strength. If NU chooses to play in as a DB I think it will take a little longer to get on the field but he could make a nice nickel back or later in his career a safety.

Sleeper

Cethan Carter: When Carter first committed to the Huskers he was ranked as a two star. After watching how much progress he made from his junior to senior tape I see how the services initially missed on Carter. He reminds me of a slower version of Aaron Hernandez. Rummel High school used him all over the line of scrimmage and in the backfield. Carter can block in line with the best of them. What sets him apart is the way he plucks the ball and finishes the run after catch.

Of the 2012 class only Curry, Moss, C Jackson, Cross and Janovich played as true freshman. I would expect more from the 2013 class along with three of the JC guys. I could see as many as 12 newcomers playing this upcoming season.

 

Super Six

Let’s start with some numbers about this recruiting class. Nebraska finished this recruiting cycle with a composite score of 17th in the country (CFBMatrix). That’s averaging Rivals, Scout, ESPN and 24/7 together. Not bad especially when you compare it to Nebraska’s avgerage Rivals ranking since 2004 which is 24.4. Still top 25 but if you compare it to the average ranking of the national champion over those years, 6.7 NU still has a way to go.

In my 4 years of doing a Super 6 from Nebraska’s recruiting class this year is the most difficult because of all the talent. There are so many student athletes that I feel will have success in this class that narrowing it to a small number isn’t easy. So here are my top six, two that just missed and a sleeper.

Randy Gregory: Nebraska has no one like him on the roster. Gregory looks like one of those defensive playmakers you see at the top programs in the country. He can be both a wide defensive end type that lines up over or outside the TE or a standup OLB in a 30 front. I hope that is how NU uses Gregory in its Joker front with three down linemen and one rover who can pick his gap to rush. If Pelini uses Gregory correctly he certainly could put up Demarrio Williams type numbers. Gregory has the kind of body type that could carry another 10 or 15 pounds and still maintain his quickness.

Marcus Newby: Newby does everything expected of an OLB well. He can rush off the edge, drop in coverage on a TE and fill the hole in the run game. He is a solid tackler who takes great angles with outstanding instincts. In the end I wouldn’t be surprised if Newby makes at least two all conference teams. You rarely see a guy with this kind of change of direction at his size.

Adam Taylor: Big strong physical running back that reminds me of a combination of Mark Ingram and Montee Ball. Taylor might not beat you in a 40 yard dash but his first couple of steps is extremely explosive. His 10 meter will be one of the best on the team. Taylor squats 450 pounds and is extremely dedicated to his craft. Right now he’s working out twice a day trying to get even more powerful. All those things are great but what I like most is his patience getting to the hole. On film you see him allowing his blocking to develop and then hitting the hole with ease. Taylor will be the next great I-back in Husker history.

Terrell Newby: Reminds me of a smaller Ryan Williams because of how he sprints when in open field. Newby is a natural cutter who doesn’t lose speed while making guys miss. He breaks some tackles but for the most part Newby will make you miss. I expect he will start off as a kickoff returner and 3rd down back. He plays at such a high speed he will have to develop some patience at the next level. Hopefully we will get to see both Newby and Taylor in the backfield together in a couple of seasons. It could make for an exciting diamond (Bone) look with Imani Cross.

Ernest Suttles: This kid stood out since the first time I saw him on film. Then we spoke to him on the radio and I was amazed by Suttles. He is still very raw after moving from New York as a basketball player to Tampa and transitioning into football, but he is far ahead of where you would expect. He is a natural athlete with unique aggressiveness and quickness. It will be difficult to keep him off the field because he will excel in practice. My only hope is that he doesn’t put on too much weight and remains a true DE. On tape in played a lot of 5 tech (DE) in a 3/4 scheme. Future all conference player.

Maliek Collins: When I first saw Collins tape I gushed over him so much on twitter than one person joked that I made him sound like the next Suh. That’s a stretch of course but trust me Collins is as good as any DT on campus right now. His tape shows him equally aggressive on defensive and offensive line. He can beat your double team with strength or quickness. Collins has that kind of initial punch that gets you to rewind the tape. We asked Collins about his wrestling background and he said he never wrestled as a young kid but after reading that wrestling makes you a better football player he tried out for the his HS team. The first year he didn’t make the team but after a year of work he succeeded in his goal. Collins will play early especially now with the loss of Chase Rome.

Just missed

Chongo Kondolo: If I had my wish I would like to see Chongo get the chance to play OT for Nebraska. He reminds me of the kind of physical freak Bill Callahan liked in his offensive linemen. Chongo has long arms, a great build and really can run. Watching his film his first strike almost always knocks the defender off balance. He gets a little high at times but his strength can make up for that. I think he has the most upside of any offensive linemen in this class.

Tre’vell Dixon: I’m not sure where he will play but after talking to people who watched him play in high school this great athlete will find a spot and succeed. I would like to see him as a wing back type that you move all over the field. Dixon has great top end speed and exceptional elusiveness along with sneaky strength. If NU chooses to play in as a DB I think it will take a little longer to get on the field but he could make a nice nickel back or later in his career a safety.
Sleeper

Cethan Carter: When Carter first committed to the Huskers he was ranked as a two star. After watching how much progress he made from his junior to senior tape I see how the services initially missed on Carter. He reminds me of a slower version of Aaron Hernandez. Rummel High school used him all over the line of scrimmage and in the backfield. Carter can block in line with the best of them. What sets him apart is the way he plucks the ball and finishes the run after catch.
Of the 2012 class only Curry, Moss, C Jackson, Cross and Janovich played as true freshman. I would expect more from the 2013 class along with three of the JC guys. I could see as many as 12 newcomers playing this upcoming season.

Plus, Minus, Even

Week 9 then verses now.

Nebraska enters into a four game stretch that should end in Indianapolis. It’s a spot this team should find quite familiar. In 2011 Nebraska easily handled Michigan State 24 to 3. That win put a seven and one Nebraska team in the driver’s seat of the Big Ten’s Legends division.

A week later the Huskers played an uninspired game at home verses Northwestern. This year the critical week nine game takes NU to East Lansing. Michigan State sets up perfectly for a Bo Pelini defense that has hit its stride since being embarrassed at Ohio State. NU last two opponents have averaged 244 yards a game.

So what will make the end third of 2012 different from the stretch run in 2011? A quick look at the NCAA stat page has its share of good and bad answers to that question. The biggest positive by far is the increase in pressure Nebraska has created in the opponent’s backfield. Last year at this time NU was tied for 83rd in sacks and 111th in tackles for loss. In 2012 the blackshirts are in the top two in both categories among big ten teams.

The Huskers are also in the top ten nationally in pass defense (12th in 2011) and pass efficiency defense (23rd in 2011). As for the other side of the ball NU was 51st in total offense after week 8 in 2011, the 2012 edition sits at 15th in the country. Scoring offense and rush offense are slightly higher ranked with one of the biggest jumps happening in pass offense (106th in 2011, 71st in 2012). Right now Nebraska and Taylor Martinez are averaging 225 yards a game passing, up from 160 yards a game in 2011.

There are a few negatives comparison that could detour the stretch run to Indy. Nebraska’s Turnover margin is minus one, ranking 107th in the country. The 2o11 Huskers were not great in the turnover category but still they were at even at this time last season. Net punting (75th in 2012, 32 in 2011) and scoring defense (55th in 2012, 33rd in 2012) are both lower ranked.

The remaining schedule matches up better as well. The season’s final four have a combined record of 19 and 14. In 2011 it was 23-10 with 8 and 1 Penn state and 7 and 1 Michigan on the schedule.

The quarterback verses Blackshirts matchup is quite favorable with Michigan state, Penn state and Iowa all having pass first, run rarely guys under center. Minnesota’s Robert Nelson has run the ball fairly effectively when needed, but certainly isn’t the runner that converted WR Marquis Gray was before being injured and moved.

The odds of Nebraska running the table in the big ten after the Ohio State loss was 800 to 1. Before the Michigan game the number dropped to 400 to 1. I’m guessing that number will be closer to 100 to 1 this week with good reason. Bo and company really do have all their goals still in front of them with a trip to Indy within their grasp.

Running QB Teams Stats

We talk so much about how Pelini defenses struggle with dual threat qbs. The record certainly isn’t good but it’s not always the QB who makes hay. The primary running back and done very well in these games

5 non running qbs in 2011

QB pass yards 176.2  Qb rush yards 21 Other backs 113.8  Points 13.4

2 non running qba in 2012

Passing yards 176, QB rush yards -15, Other back 90.5, Points 20

 

 

6 Running qbs in 2011

Washington Keith Price

Wisconsin Russell Wilson

Ohio State Braxton Miller

Minnesota Marquise Gray

Northwestern Colter/Persa

Michigan Denard Robinson

QB Passing yards 186.6   QB Rush yards 55  Avg points 33.3  Other backs 114.3

Polk 130, Ball 151, Hyde 104, Bennett 55, Green/Schmidt 108, Fitz 138

 

2 Running qbs in 2012

UCLA Brett Huntley

Ohio State Braxton Miller

Qb passing yards 216  QB rush yards 119  Avg points 49.5  Other back 178.5

Franklin 217, Hyde 140

 

Combined 2011/12

Qb passing yards 194  QB rush yards 72.3  Avg points 37.3  Other back 130.3

Overall record 3 – 5

(Didn’t add in Anthony Alford who rushed 15 times for 84 yards)

 

***Another dual threat QB South Carolina Conner Shaw***

QB pass yards 230, QB rush yards 42, Other back 67

Kenny Miles 67 yards

 

Heads up for Michigan

Denard Robinson Passing yards 183.5, QB Rush yards 134, Other backs 67.5

 

Midseason = Rollercoaster

In 1975 The Ohio Players released the greatest album cover of all time.

The Honey album also had some pretty decent tracks on it including Love Roller Coaster. I heard the song this morning and immediately I thought of Nebraska football.

Originally I thought about doing the same old midseason grades but instead I thought I would combine two of my greatest loves football and roller coasters. I started thinking about the different position groups, comparing them to the highlight of any trip to an amusement park.

Quarterback = Superman (Man of Steel), very few roller coasters have been more controversial and exciting as the ride at the Darien Park theme park outside of Buffalo, New York. “Man of Steel” has a 208 foot climb and a 205 foot drop, with a 68 degree max vertical angle. At the same time the Hyperocoaster has had its share of problems, twice having to be shut down because of two major accidents. Much like Taylor Martinez “Man of Steel” will give you a thrill ride that can take your breath away while taking years off your life.

Running backs = Superman (Escape from Krypton). Few things in the word go from 0-100 MPH as quick as the Superman ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain. There are two separate tracks like Burkhead and Abdullah. They run side by side climbing nearly four hundred feet in to the air, basically straight up. Magic Mountain has always been a successful theme park but the introduction of “The Escape” was an extreme boost to park attendance and it’s reputation around the world.

Wide Receivers = Millennium Force. The tagline for this incredibly long coaster says it all. “The future is riding on it”. One of many great rides at roller coaster heaven; located in Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. MF is more than a mile and a quarter long and really is three different coasters in one. First off it’s fast with a top speed of 93 mph. At one point in the ride you actually catch a little air traveling over a 182-foot parabolic hill, which provides a moment of zero G-forces. Finally there are two long tunnels that take you from darkness to sharp banking curves.

Offensive line = The “Old” Wooden Rattler. Six Flags Fiesta Texas is located in San Antonio. If you ever had a chance to ride this coaster you have experienced the headache that hits you after getting off the ride. As far as wooden rides go The Rattler was one of the tallest and fastest ever. Now don’t get too excited, a tall wooden coaster only means about 175 feet and a fast one is around 65 mph. The Rattler beats you up especially during the quarry portion of the ride bouncing your head from side to side against your seat. The Rattler closed to the public this summer. It will be replaced by a updated steel version that will be called the Iron Rattler.

Defensive line = Colossus. Built in 1978 Colossus is one of the most “experienced” roller coasters of all time. Looking at this monster you would think that it might be the ride of your life, two huge drops and several banking curves that throw you deep into your seat. But really it’s just a big, slow, old ride. When I was ten Colossus was everything I needed in a coaster but then I started riding steel coasters with loops, zero g drops and 90 mph straight-aways. In other words it’s time to move up to a better ride.

Linebackers = Pysclone. In 1991 Six Flags Magic Mountain opened Pysclone. For several reasons the ride was never very popular. The cyclone coaster was built by a company that had never built a wooden rollercoaster before. Then the 1994 Northridge earthquake hit California. The trains and tracks were damaged and after the repairs were completed the already less than popular ride became kind of a laughing stock for park visitors. It was slow through the turns, it became an even rougher ride and in order for it to work correctly it required all the seats to be full. So it rarely ran and when it did it was less than efficient. Pysclone was torn down in 2007.

Secondary = Maverick, another of the many roller coasters that have called Cedar Point home. Before Maverick could be opened many alterations had to be made. Turns were too quick, vibrations too high, and too much stress on the tracks. But once it was refined Maverick became extremely popular. A 95 degree drop will do that for you. Much like the CB’s and safeties have to work together, two trains operate on the same track at the same time. One train is launched while the other sits at the bottom of the lift hill. Once the first train has reached the tunnel, the second train is launched. Since it’s stunted opening Maverick is consistently one of the top 20 coasters in the country.

Ok, let’s start the second half of the season

Another Bad Trip

      What an atmosphere, Columbus, Ohio. We did the sightseeing, we talked about game strategy and we enjoyed the build up to the game. The first time I felt like the Huskers might be in trouble happened during the pregame warm-up. Buckeye head man Urban Meyer was down there running the team drills, with his whistle around his neck. It looked like the Meyer of old, the Florida head coach that led the Gators to two national championships. Right then I said out loud in the Ohio stadium press box, Nebraska is in trouble (Place your bets).

     All along I thought Nebraska was the better team going into the game, with the biggest advantage for Ohio being Braxton Miller and at the coaching position. During the pre-game the entire Buckeye team stood in the end-zone and did a cheer with hand signals aimed at the student section. It was pretty darn cool. When it ended Ohio State left the field ready to hand another road loss to a ranked team to the Nebraska record.

      We can talk about Taylor being late on some routes, his tendency to still get lazy with his mechanics, the inability at times for offensive coordinator Tim Beck to call plays to fit Taylor’s strength’s and weakness. But instead let’s address head coach Bo Pelini, a man still learning on the job. Pelini once again packs up his team for a road trip without a once common travel partner, his defense.

      “Just don’t get blown out”. That was one of the most commonly repeated statements by Husker fan as the Ohio State game approached. Something I can’t imagine that ever went through many fan’s minds before 2001. Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State all had common themes, a fairly quick start. Again Nebraska was getting to the opponent’s QB early. Even with a pick six from the arm of Martinez the NU offense had some rhythm. Then what most Huskers fans feared the most came true, Braxton Miller got loose and Nebraska was in a track meet.

       Following the game Pelini had no answers. Ohio State is good, NU didn’t play well, he’s disappointed. Pelini had no solution other than saying he told his team they must win out to make it to Indy for the Big Ten championship game. But the problems seem so much greater than just the occasional road blow out. Nebraska, the home of the pipeline and Outland trophy winners gets beat up on the lines of scrimmage routinely. Adversity verses teams equal or better talent wise seems to cause the team to shrink.

       It’s no secret I didn’t think Pelini was the man for the job in 2008, not to be head coach. But the defense had to be fixed and it worked in 2003. It worked again in 2008 and 2009. Instead of building on that success the talent at several key positions and the experience in assistant coaches has regressed. So what is the solution, does there need to be changes?

       There is still a good chance NU could win the Big Ten championship. Northwestern, Michigan State, Michigan, Penn state and Iowa all remain ahead. The Huskers should win at least 3 of those 5. So I think those answers about changes will have to wait until after the bowl game. The one caveat is of course a new boss for Pelini. An inexperienced Athletic Director trying to make his mark at Nebraska could surprise all of us. With perhaps a Bill Byrne type request to improve the staff or something a little more drastic. The latter would be quite a large check for Shawn Eichorst to write, more than six million dollars worth.

      Whatever happens now, one thing is for sure, the honeymoon for Bo Pelini is long over, in fact the fans and head coach are probably sleeping in separate beds at this point. What a way to enter a weekend without Husker football.

Rumor Mill

It took about 15 minutes for my phone to start buzzing just after halftime of the Arkansas state/Nebraska game. By the end of the game courtesy of text, email, twitter and a message board head coach Bo Pelini had everything from a heart attack to a stroke to finally a panic attack. The last one actually kind of made me giggle because I always thought of Bo as a Tony Soprano type. If you watched the Sopranos you know that Tony suffered from panic attacks at some very strange moments. Smartly Tom Osborne addressed the Pelini situation right at the beginning of the post game news conference. Basically slowing down the rumor train.

Anyway, it made me think what makes folks start rumors? Some people say their information comes from their wife’s brother’s neighbor’s friend who works in the video department. In this case everyone apparently has a friend or family member that works at a hospital in Lincoln. Do the rumors hurt anyone? For the most part they usually don’t worsen the situation; however I say that not being a family member or friend of the coach. For those people a simple rumor from a well placed incorrect “source” could cause unnecessary pain and suffering. You know there are words used to describe unsubstantiated or made up rumors, you may have heard of slander and libel. But now any Tom, Dick or Las Vegas lawyer with a friend on the coaching staff with a message board handle and login can compose, pass along or add to a rumor that has no basis in truth.

I get it. Everyone wants to be closely involved with the thing they love. It makes them feel special to have a little bit more information then the next guy; whether it’s about a player walking out of practice or an ultimatum allegedly given to the head coach by his athletic director. Think about that popular email from last week for a moment. We are to believe that Tom Osborne told Bo Pelini that he had to win “insert your goal” or he would be fired? Even if that was true how many people do you think Osborne would tell about the conversation between coach and AD? How many would Bo tell? You realize that one of those two guys would have to be the leak of the information right?

Most of us are members of message boards across the Husker landscape. It’s a fun place to listen to people talk football or complain and even sometimes speculate on what information you hear is true or false. I have a buddy who is on one of those private message boards and all he does is try to start football 202 discussions. “Hey, let’s talk about what the blocking should be in this formation with this pressure”. As much as I enjoy those threads, trust me the one about the guy who picked a fight with the defensive coordinator at the big red breakfast has more views and pages.

So what do we do about the rumor mill? Does anything need to be done? I’m sure these same things were bantered back and forth over coffee at the local donut shop in the 50′s and 60′s. Of course the biggest difference now is the immediacy in which a “here’s what heard” goes from tweet or thread to thousands of people. Last year at LSU there were two separate and very popular rumors about what happened before the national championship game. The funny thing is the two rumors where vastly different and equally believed by the fan base; a fan base looking for reasons why their team took a beating in front of the nation. No matter how comforting having an excuse might have been for the fans head coach Les Miles had to spend time defusing and debunking those well thought out flights of fantasy.

In the end these rumors won’t ever stop. That’s because for every ten, one or two have a basis in fact. Yes Tyler Moore and Chase Rome did leave the team or practice. Taylor Martinez did not transfer UCLA and Bob Davie did not have cable installed in Lincoln. And finally Tom Osborne did not fly to Boise last week to meet with Chris Peterson, or maybe he did? See how silly that sounds. Man, conference play can’t get here soon enough for me.

2012 Omaha Nighthawks Roster

	47	LB	AKPUNKU	BRANDON	NORTH TEXAS	6’0	238
	43	LS	ALBRITTON	SCOTT	COLORADO STATE	6’4	250
	73	OT	ALLEN	TRAY	TEXAS	6’4	310
	99	DE	BASPED	KEVIN	NEVADA	6’6	250
	95	DT	BLACK	LUKE	FAIRMONT STATE	6’6	265
	17	QB	BOLTUS	JASON	HARTWICK COLLEGE	6’3	217
	19	WR	BREWER	ANDREW	NORTHWESTERN	6’3	220
	32	RB	BROWN	PRESTON	ARKANSAS ST./TENNESSEE ST.	5’10	200
	66	OC	BROWN	TERENCE	BRIGHAM YOUNG	6’4	312
	55	LB	BUSSEY	NATHAN	ILLINOIS	6’2	225
	58	OC	CAPUTO	MIKE	NEBRASKA	6’1	290
	6	K	COUTU	BRANDON	GEORGIA	6’0	195
	5	WR	DAVIS	CHRIS	FLORIDA STATE	5’10	190
	53	LB	DENSON	BRANDON	MICHIGAN STATE	5’11	240
	52	LB	DICKSON	JOJO	IDAHO	6’2	240
	16	QB	DIEKER	CHRIS	SOUTHERN ILLINOIS	6’5	235
	50	LB	DILLARD	PHILLIP	NEBRASKA	6’1	246
	28	DC	EDWARDS	DOVONTE	NORTH CAROLINA STATE	6’0	186
	61	OG	ERICKSON	MITCH	SOUTH DAKOTA STATE	6’4	285
	26	DS	ESTRADA	MATT	NORTHERN ARIZONA	5’11	190
	38	DC	FAGGINS	DEMARCUS	KANSAS STATE	5’11	185
	30	DC	FENELUS	ANTONIO	WISCONSIN	5’8	190
	80	TE	FORD	CAMERON	WAKE FOREST	6’3	243
	71	OT	GAY	DAN	BAYLOR	6’4	315
	77	OT	GIBBS	JOE	TENNESSEE MARTIN	6’4	310
	76	DE	GREEN	WILLIAM	FLORIDA	6’3	255
	56	LB	GREENWOOD	MORLON	SYRACUSE	6’0	240
	34	RB	GRIFFIN	JOHN	UMASS	6’0	210
	86	WR	HARDY	JAMES	INDIANA	6’6	225
	83	WR	HARPER	ROD	MURRAY STATE	6’0	202
	23	DC	HARRELL	JAMES	ARKANSAS – PINE BLUFF	5’9	193
	93	DE	HARRIOTT	CLAUDE	PITTSBURGH	6’3	250
	85	WR	HARRIS	MARCUS	MURRAY STATE	6’1	188
	84	TE	HOPKINS	CHRISTIAN	TOLEDO	6’5	270
	92	DT	JASPER	MICHAEL	BETHEL	6’4	390
	74	OT	JONES	JARVIS	OKLAHOMA	6’7	300
	75	OT	JORDAN	GERSHOM	TENNESSEE STATE	6’5	310
	24	DC	JUSTIN	TYRONE	WASHINGTON STATE	5’11	163
	48	DS	KELLEM	JEREMY	MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE	5’10	195
	11	WR	KENNEY	CAMERON	OKLAHOMA	6’1	205
	4	QB	KINNE	GJ	TULSA	6’2	225
	88	WR	KINNIE	BRANDON	NEBRASKA	6’3	220
	91	DT	LEWIS	TREY	WASHBURN	6’3	310
	57	LB	MCBRIDE	ERIC	RICHMOND	6’2	245
	44	DE	MOORE	JAY	NEBRASKA	6’5	265
	51	LB	OCTAVIEN	STEVE	NEBRASKA	6’0	257
	18	P	OHNESORGE	CORY	OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE	6’4	210
	96	DT	OKAM	FRANKLIN	TEXAS	6’5	350
	81	TE	OORDT	SCHUYLAR	NORTHERN IOWA	6’6	255
	68	OG	PALMGREN	JAYSON	MISSOURI	6’3	300
	21	S	PETERS	BRIAN	NORTHWESTERN	6’3	218
	87	WR	PFLUGRAD	AARON	ARIZONA STATE	5’10	180
	33	RB	PITTMAN	ANTONIO	OHIO STATE	5’10	210
	82	WR	ROBINSON	ANTONIO	NICHOLLS STATE	6’1	195
	37	P	SCHMITT	RICKY	SHEPHERD	6’3	215
	20	DS	SCHWEIGERT	STUART	PURDUE	6’2	210
	27	DC	SMITH	CHRIS	NORTHERN ILLINOIS	5’10	195
	45	TE	SMITH	GREGORY	TEXAS	6’5	255
	25	RB	SPANN	CHAD	NORTHERN ILLINOIS	5’9	206
	89	WR	TOWNSEL	DERRICK	MURRAY STATE	5’9	177
	31	DC	WEATHERS	AARON	NORTH TEXAS	6’0	205