No Excuses At Nebraska

NEBRASKA ANALYSIS:

A stunning, intolerable and inexcusable step backward took place at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, as Nebraska fell to Northern Illinois 21-17.

We can discuss thoroughly the reasons why and how this could have happened, but the end result of this mind boggling loss is that folks in charge of various aspects of the program need to be fired. Period.

We have been a longtime fan of Mike Riley. It appears that strides were being made, and Riley has to get kudos for making changes to his staff (each seemingly a strong upgrade) every year he has been at Nebraska.  More changes are needed.

A central reason for the debacle on Saturday was the inability of Nebraska to line up and run the football. With much of the line returning, there is no pop, no toughness and no firing off the ball. Nebraska ran for approximately 3 yards per carry, which is unacceptable for any team, much less at Nebraska. Coach Mike Cavanaugh can no longer be given the benefit of the doubt and must be terminated, which should happen today as time is out. The lineman on the field do not appear to be be being held accountable. If they are not getting it done, lets find someone who can. I wondered if the toughness I hear about in Boe Wilson might have been an option on Saturday, if for nothing else but to send a message. Given the line cannot run block, you might think they could protect the passer, but they are woeful at that as well as Tanner Lee has been under extreme duress.

Tanner Lee
Photo/Lincoln Journal Star

Under heat, Lee has not performed well. On Saturday, he tossed two pick sixes to UNI, difficult for any team to overcome.  Much of the fan base loved Tommy Armstrong at signal caller, but cringed as he had a pension for throwing to the other team. At least, for the most part, he balanced it with outstanding plays. Very few of those happening now.

When Lee does fire it in there, the much ballyhooed receiving core continues to drop balls.  An interception at Oregon, another pick six, bounced off the face mask of Stanley Morgan.  Everyone out there has had critical drops, which extends it to a mental issues which fall at the hands of the staff.

The play calling is also quite suspect. I have never bought into Danny Langsdorf at offensive coordinator, and have not seen the high level aptitude many around the program have voiced. When is the last time the Big Red got up on someone pulling away and hanging half a hundred?  There is not sense of offensive urgency, and the lack of attack arsenal places the team in situations they have no business being involved in. The famous game at Illinois a few years back remains the classic example. Hard to dump Langsdorf right now, but maybe Riley can call plays?

And Langsdorf appears to have some doghouse, perhaps considered an accessory unit. I think running back Devine Ozigbo is on house arrest in there. Ozigbo is a fiery competitor, but he watches; while we get beat.

The defense is showing signs, but when they needed a stop yesterday, they could not get one.  DC Bob Diaco spoke of his 3-4 as reactionary, as reported yesterday by Howard Griffith of BTN, not attacking. That mindset is a mistake, but Diaco did attack some late in the game.

Recruiting seems to be going well, much superior to recent years back. But when these guys get on the field, nobody is stepping up to showcase their talents. Where was the fire in someone yesterday. Did you see an offensive lineman offended that his quarterback was planted six inches deep in the turf? Hell, I was offended at my bar stool. Who on the receiving core appeared torques at the passes hitting the turf? Catch the damn ball! One wonders if the troubling result yesterday will negatively impacting a decent recruiting class that is, or was, shaping up. Nebraska certainly needs the help.

I remember hearing Bill Callahan being interviewed on the Husker Radio Network after Nebraska escaped Ball State a decade or so ago. Callahan was thrilled at the statistical prowess of his passing attack on the day, seemingly unaware that 30 years of Nebraska history almost melted away in the sun with another Nate Davis pass under his watch.

Callahan did not care. Does Riley? Does anybody out there on the gridiron? Don't they feel a responsibility to the fans, the higher standards set by the former players, or themselves?

Does AD Shawn Eichorst care? His tenure has been dismal. All programs are not where they need to be, with many appearing to be slipping. Eichorst is tied to Riley, so it seems Riley cannot stay if Eichorst is removed. But, Eichorst needs to be removed, and if that means Riley has to go as well, so be it.

I like Mike Riley, and have supported his hire. However, what happened Saturday is entirely unacceptable. Firing Riley could really negatively affect recruiting, but there are no more exits for him after Saturday. I hope he recognizes the crossroad the Nebraska football program stands at.

At an event for UCF in Orlando a couple weeks back where Tom Osborne spoke, I spoke with Scott Frost, a very impressive individual and obviously good football coach. Maybe somebody else should speak with him. Perhaps a new athletic director named Trev Alberts.