I like his personality and style, no doubt, but I wonder if it he doesn't go on the the hot seat a little for how his unit has performed this year.

They haven't plowed guys out of the way

They've made huge penalties and errors in every game

They've been just so-so in pass protection

Now, I know the unit's a little banged up. I know that. But it has to perform better than this, doesn't it?

We all have our ideas about why the offense is so poor. Anyone with any sense knows that those five guys up front are the reason some teams are good, and some are poor. It is frustrating to watch and it doesn't seem to get better. I don't know Mr. Cotton and so I have no knowledge as to what type of coach he is. But, someone on the offensive side of the ball needs to look at it and figure it out. Maybe the players are not the type that know how to get the job done. Some players can be coached and coached and they always say, "Oh, ya I get it, my bad." Then on the next play do exactly the same thing. I think all involved need to put more into the finished product or it will continue.

Unless something apocalyptic happens, I'd give him another year. He hasn't recruited any of his starters, and aside from Ricky Henry, all of them were coached by Callahan; nothing against Cally (not here anyways, this topic is about Barney) but he taught things differently and it takes time to unlearn and relearn.

I'm not going to beat a dead horse on that issue, I just think that he needs a little more time and a few more of his own guys before we talk about a coaching change. Year 3 is when you can really start to see the fruits of your coaching labor (though I'm not impressed with the progress in year 2).

But if they play next year like they're playing now...

The line has to perform better than this. No excuses here. Year two in the system and the line is regressing. Cotton is not one of my favorites.

I really don't know about this one. It's a little fustrating..... okay really fustrating. He did coach our line last year and they did pretty well. I'm starting to lean more to the players. It just doesnt seem like these guys have gelled. Is that coaching? Or maybe its because they keep rotating guys in and out and they can't find a way to work together that way. IDK something is missing, maybe Cotton just can't find a way to relay his message to this group. I don't see anything changing this year. If they have not figured it out at this point in the season what makes us think they will anytime soon.

From Tad Stryker today:

Quote:

Originally posted by Huskerpedia There’s no doubt that the loss of right tackle Jaivorio Burkes has been problematic for Nebraska, but the fact is, last spring, Bo Pelini called this line “deeper than the one a year ago.” The Husker line is about as well-seasoned as any in the Big 12 North. Going into this fall, Nebraska’s o-line had more than twice as many career starts as the Kansas o-line, but you’d have to say that KU’s line has played at least as well so far.

That shouldn’t be happening. With Jacob Hickman (31 career starts) and backup Mike Caputo, Nebraska has two of the better centers in the conference. Left tackle Mike Smith (20 career starts) and left guard Keith Williams (14 career starts) have considerable talent and experience. There should be enough leadership on that line to eradicate the problems with penalties and missed assignments that have plagued it throughout the season.

Pelini has talked about Nebraska becoming more physical on offense. So has Watson. So has offensive line coach Barney Cotton. Well, it’s time to see it on the field. If you ask me, Cotton is the position coach whose status looks shakiest right now.

http://www.hu...09_11_04.html

I could not agree more....

Quote:

Originally posted by Big_Burruss  Unless something apocalyptic happens, I'd give him another year. He hasn't recruited any of his starters, and aside from Ricky Henry, all of them were coached by Callahan; nothing against Cally (not here anyways, this topic is about Barney) but he taught things differently and it takes time to unlearn and relearn.

I'm not going to beat a dead horse on that issue, I just think that he needs a little more time and a few more of his own guys before we talk about a coaching change. Year 3 is when you can really start to see the fruits of your coaching labor (though I'm not impressed with the progress in year 2).

But if they play next year like they're playing now...

Callahan HAD a running game , and a passing game , last one at NU so far.
Truth is folks in Nebraska are STILL trying to learn the WCO , to which BC was highly capable , witness the passing records fallen at NU , in a short time span.
All records completed with recruits brought in for option football. Very impressive actually if you care to give it thought ... or if you continue to bury your head in the sand as far as a coach who would turn his offense over to ....
BARNEY COTTEN
Really offensively we still are benefiting from BC , maybe not as much , but still to a degree. So yes Chet you are beating a dead horse , GIDDYUP !!!

Quote:

Originally posted by PSW  From Tad Stryker today:




http://www.hu...09_11_04.html

I could not agree more....

Look more to the strength program and the types of offensive schemes we run.
We position block now , with more technique than the old bull rush. We also pass block more , instead of the old drive blocking. Also we have abandoned the fullback , choosing instead to pull a tight end in a running situation. WCO demands different schemes of blocking than the old option blocking , even though at times WCO incorporates options football. We really are running more of a hybrid of WCO and the old Texas / Vince Young option , whose author is Shawn Watson.

Quote:

Originally posted by GooberKnows  Look more to the strength program and the types of offensive schemes we run.
We position block now , with more technique than the old bull rush. We also pass block more , instead of the old drive blocking. Also we have abandoned the fullback , choosing instead to pull a tight end in a running situation. WCO demands different schemes of blocking than the old option blocking , even though at times WCO incorporates options football. We really are running more of a hybrid of WCO and the old Texas / Vince Young option , whose author is Shawn Watson.

I would say by the look of the defense the 'strength program' is definitely not the issue. If Barney is not teaching 'technique' then that is still an issue with Barney. Helu got most of his yards tonight on one play. This was a stout OU defense we played last night but this is a seasoned O-line. No excuse here. None.

Quote:

Originally posted by GooberKnows  Callahan HAD a running game , and a passing game , last one at NU so far.
Truth is folks in Nebraska are STILL trying to learn the WCO , to which BC was highly capable , witness the passing records fallen at NU , in a short time span.
All records completed with recruits brought in for option football. Very impressive actually if you care to give it thought ... or if you continue to bury your head in the sand as far as a coach who would turn his offense over to ....
BARNEY COTTEN
Really offensively we still are benefiting from BC , maybe not as much , but still to a degree. So yes Chet you are beating a dead horse , GIDDYUP !!!

I wasn't Cally-bashing this time, because this is a topic about Barney Cotton. My only point was that Cotton's starters were all recruited by Cally and had 2 or 3 years of coaching from Dennis Wagner. Then Cotton comes in and has to teach them to do things his way and that, in my opinion, is why we're having some of the struggles we're having this year.

But then again, it might be that Barney Cotton just sucks at coaching the offensive line. I don't know, but I think we'll have a better idea next year, after Barney's had three years to recruit and teach.

What I do know is that Cally's "great offenses" and passing records did not equate to wins, so however impressive you think they are, they are simply not impressive enough. I've no idea why you continue to belabor the point, maybe you're the one with his head in the sand.

Oh and few quick stats from last night's game (even though you'll probably ignore it):

Passing yds: OU 245, NU 35

Rushing yds: OU 80, NU 141

Score: OU 3, NU 10

What matters more to you?