In an interview in his North Stadium office Wednesday, Billy Devaney, the team's executive director of player personnel, said Nebraska's talent level was strong enough to win its division. "Coming in (to last season), talent was not a concern," said Devaney, who joined the program last February. "I thought we had a chance to have a really good football team. I thought we had really good players."
Let’s accept for fact that Billy Devaney knows more about football players and talent levels than you, I, and about 80% of the coaches in the nation. If he’s telling the truth in this interview with Steve Sipple, then it’s clear that the coaching sucked. That evidence can also be found in the fact that Mike Riley fired his defensive coordinator Mark Banker and special-teams coach Bruce Read. (Defensive backs coach Brian Stewart, also left for Rice to become their defensive coordinator.)
I find the idea overblown that Nebraska’s talent level along the offensive and defensive lines matched up well with Wisconsin, for example, or with Iowa (as much as it pains me to give them some credit). You could argue that Minnesota’s offensive and defensive lines played better over the course of the season than our beloved Huskers. (Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa finished higher in the Big Ten in rushing offense Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Northwestern finished higher in rushing defense.)
I’m already on record as saying that if it weren’t for Danny Langsdorf’s creativity in play calling that Nebraska doesn’t finish with nine wins.
This is something we can argue about (coaching vs talent) through spring and into fall camp, and probably will.
And, by the way, Devaney says he's not conceding anything in recruiting to Ohio State or anyone else. He's a fired up individual who believes in the Husker program from top to bottom.
I'll have plenty more on that subject in a column later this week.
Sipp has the teaser for more.... but you’d hope it’s more specifics about where the coaching and talent/player level is instead of this bit - He's a fired up individual who believes in the Husker program from top to bottom - because that line describes a whole crapload of people who may or may not work in the athletic department.
Five Husker football coaches have recently signed contract extensions that, in a couple of cases, also include salary increases, as Nebraska is set to again pay six assistants at least $400,000 a year.
Guys got raises. Yay.
Three Takes: Jess Settles on Derrick Walton Jr., Nebraska & Maryland « Big Ten Network
Nebraska has new life, and looks like a team to keep your eye on down the stretch. Perhaps no other team is looking forward more to the Big Ten tournament.
It will be interesting to see if the Huskers can play themselves into a post-season tournament. The NCAA is pretty unlikely, but a NIT berth would be a nice bonus to the season and real signs the team is going in the right direction.
Huskers Host Final Indoor Home Meet - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site
The Nebraska track and field team hosts the Nebraska Tune-Up on Friday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Indoor Track. The meet is the final indoor home meet of the season for the Huskers, and admission is free.
Huskers Aim for NCAA Championship Berth - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site
The No. 8 Nebraska rifle team begins postseason action on Feb. 18 as it travels to Murray, Ky., for the NCAA Qualifiers at 9 a.m. The Huskers will be joined at their site by Murray State, UT Martin and Memphis. NU is shooting for its fifth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance, which would tie the program record.
Huskers Open 2017 Against Highlanders in Tempe - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site
Coming off a trip to the 2016 NCAA Tournament and a second-place finish during the Big Ten regular season, the Nebraska baseball team opens the 2017 season on Friday, Feb. 17, at 2 p.m. (CT) in Tempe, Ariz., with a doubleheader against the UC Riverside Highlanders.
B1G 2017 Spring Position Rankings: Offensive Line - Off Tackle Empire
This squad is experienced and balanced. Last year's team ranked fourth in third and fourth down conversions in the B1G. They also gave up the fewest sacks of any line.
WHO ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?????
Maryland baseball tabbed as preseason favorite by Big Ten coaches - Testudo Times
John Szefc’s peers like his team’s chances.
The Preseason Poll is in and @TerpsBaseball is selected by the conference coaches to finish atop #B1GBaseball this season. pic.twitter.com/XbgeZHdEpo
— Big Ten Baseball (@B1Gbaseball) February 15, 2017
Other Places
Michigan will have 14 players at the NFL Combine - Maize n Brew
That’s more than anyone else.
Makes you wonder why and how they fell apart at season’s end.
10 Former Alabama Crimson Tide Players Invited to Participate in the NFL Combine - Roll 'Bama Roll
The NFL has announced the Scouting Combine invite list which includes ten former Crimson Tide players: Jonathan Allen, DE Ryan Anderson, OLB Reuben Foster, LB O.J. Howard, TE Marlon Humphrey,...
Six Wisconsin Badgers invited to NFL Scouting Combine - Bucky's 5th Quarter
Six former Wisconsin Badgers will look to boost their draft stock in Indianapolis.
A league source cites "off-field issues" as reason for not inviting him.
PJ Fleck Obtains Row The Boat From Western Michigan - The Daily Gopher
Expect to see new Gopher RTB gear ASAP.
We will be sick of this by... August?
The NCAA might tweak college football’s controversial targeting rule - SBNation.com
The changes should lessen the penalties, if they pass.
Then There’s This:
Written by a robot: Will algorithms kill journalism? - Business - Haaretz.com
Israeli startup Articoolo claims its AI engine can create original content on any topic in just minutes – and we won't know the difference.
Robots. Robots everywhere, taking over.
Dubai is planning to launch autonomous, one-passenger drone taxis this summer - Recode
Pilotless drones capable of carrying a person will begin to soar through Dubai’s airspace this July, according to an announcement made Monday by Mattar Al Tayer, the chief of Dubai’s Roads & Transportation Agency, at the World Government Summit.
Pilotless drones. Kind of like robots in the sky, in charge of your life.
Curious - anyone else read Robopocalypse??????