Friday Potpourri
14 comments so far
July 27, 2007 by
A lot has transpired the past week in Husker football that’s worthy of commentary. Rather than flush out each idea as an individual post, we’ll just hit these all at once:
Pederson’s Contract Renewed
It’s good to see the powers that be at the University aren’t getting swayed by some of the naysayers who have been downright cruel in their assessments of Pederson and Callahan. With Blaine Gabbert, perhaps the best quarterback prospect in the country after his recent showing at the Elite 11 camp, headed to Lincoln the last thing Nebraska football needs is to get hung up on 2007 and how it does or doesn’t fit into a four-year timetable. Those with their eyes open see brighter days ahead. Hopefully, this signals that the current regime will remain to make sure all of the rebuilding work doesn’t go to waste.
Callahan Confident
Callahan’s willingness to openly disagree with the Big 12 sportswriters pick of Missouri and comment “I love our team” and then to hear him gushing about depth on the offensive line is encouraging. Sure, it’s easy to talk big (see Ron Prince), but as a fan it’s easier to be confident when the head man appears to be.
Terrence Nunn Told He’d Play Early
Another interesting insight from the Big 12 media days was hearing Callahan confess that he told Nunn he’d play as a freshman. You wish players didn’t need to hear that in order to commit and you hope not every player is told that, but it gives you a sense of what the playing field is like for recruiting. In order to close, kids want some pretty big assurances and there are coaches out there (Nebraska’s included) willing to give them.
Craig Roark Departs
This week gave us another reminder of why recruiting is an inexact science. Roark was a four-star prospect and yet his departure seems tied to his inability to crack the two-deep. This also should make fans marvel at the progress of the offensive line considering how many washouts there have been: Danny Muy quit, Rodney Picou had classroom trouble, Brock Pasteur quit, Jordan Picou is struggling to get playing time, and now Roark and his brother have all left – expect to add Victory Haines to this list as well. It’s also another reason to be thankful that Matt Slauson popped up seemingly out of nowhere when the Huskers needed him most.
It’s funny how different players see the depth chart than fans. Husker fans want the Huskers to be three-to-four deep at every position, but players can see being second or third on the depth chart as hopeless. With Joseph Townsend’s delayed arrival, Demetrious Davis headed to junior college, and now Roark headed out, there are definitely some depth concerns on the defensive line. But obviously there are still some good players left to make Roark see his playing prospects as a long shot.
Will Compton Commits
Speaking of four-star prospects, Missouri Linebacker Will Compton committed to Nebraska. It’s good to see the Huskers loading up at a position of critical need.
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Josh Jul 27 07
Steve,
What do you mean about Victory Haines? Is he rumored to be transferring? Or, will he never see the field?
Steve Jul 27 07
Hi Josh,
I didn't mean to start any rumors. It's just that Haines is now a senior and it doesn't appear he'll even crack the two-deep. So it becomes another offensive line scholarship that doesn't really pay off big on the field.
Husker Mike Jul 27 07
Kind of a conflicting piece there Steve. On one hand, you point out that Steve Pederson's contract renewal is important because you don't want to risk losing an All-Rivals super duper diaper dandy recruit.
Then you go on to point out how recruiting analysis is pretty much guesswork (and, in the end, rather irrelevent) by pointing out the high profile washouts and that Nebraska's best lineman flew under the radar screen of every single recruiting analyst.
Steve Jul 27 07
Husker Mike,
Gabbert's not the only guy I wouldn't want to lose, just probably the single best. Steinkuhler, Okafor, Hoch, Robinson [if he recommits], Givens, Fisher, Mohler, etc. etc. all seem to be the nucleus of a special group. Now they're not all going to pan out. It's probably a lock that they won't. But it's too promising a group to walk away from either.
Compare this early stage to early 2005 (the year a lot of fans want to start the meter running) Gabbert is a better recruit than Beck, Steinkuhler & co. look much better than the 2005 group did, the linebackers (as a group) look better, and so on. Considering how fundamental quarterbacks and offensive lineman are to great success on the field (try to name national champions without standout QB's and lineman, it's hard to do), it would be a real shame to abandon ship on the Callahan experiment when the Huskers seem to be on the cusp of some very special talent just because some people want to hold to some kind of timeline.
brad Jul 27 07
I noticed Callahan's confidence too, and I think it is of great significance. Callahan isn't Ron Prince...he doesn't spout of big words for the hell of it usually. He usually sticks to coach-speak, so if he's that confident I think it's a great sign.
Greg Morrow Jul 27 07
Something else about Nunn. Nunn de-committed (to Wisconsin?) after Frank was fired. I think Callahan merely pointed out to him what (to Callahan) was obvious. Like Quarterback, depth a receiver was thin. There were the same number of bodies as now, but by the time the '04 season started, Ross Pilkington was the main "go to" at wideout and he wanted to give hits, as well as receive them. Remember all the "flush" hits the receivers took in '04? Painful lessons on learning to catch passes in a passing offense, no doubt.
To Husker Mike
Logic flows in a straight line, just an uneven "timeline". So, it is good for recruiting, that stability is in place at the Athletic dept. It's also good when you find a "0" star lineman in Slauson, who is now considered a legitimate pro prospect. It's inevitable for highly touteds to washout and it's nice to have overachieving walkons step up- at fullback, tightend and special teams, for example.
When a guy leaves prematurely, the fist thing I think is- scholarship opens up!
Jeremy in MPLS Jul 28 07
Yeah, I don't think the Nunn thing is anything to get our bloomers in a bunch over. Just like Greg said, the position was not steeped in talent by any stretch.
I don't think that is a frequent tactic now in recruiting unless the player is all-world.
I guess Callahan had reason to recruit Nunn as such, also. He's gonna be a 4-year player, and I think he should wind up wit the career receiving record at NU shouldn't he?
Jeremy in MPLS Jul 28 07
Yeah, I don't think the Nunn thing is anything to get our bloomers in a bunch over. Just like Greg said, the position was not steeped in talent by any stretch.
I don't think that is a frequent tactic now in recruiting unless the player is all-world.
I guess Callahan had reason to recruit Nunn as such, also. He's gonna be a 4-year player, and I think he should wind up wit the career receiving record at NU shouldn't he?
Bill in Iowa Jul 28 07
I was very suprised to hear about Craig Roark leaving...and it sounds like he may even stay on campus this year, instead of transferring to play for a D-II school. Talk about losing all hope of cracking the 2-deep in our weakest link (the d-line).
Not only does Coach C. sound confident, but the players (like Rudd) do too. There MUST be something the players and Coach C. know about this team that we in the cheap seats are going to have to wait until Wake and USC to find out??? We can only hope!
donfl Jul 28 07
Bill in Iowa, the MUST as I see it, is that for the first time since Cally arrived there appears to be an air of confidence in this team. Couple that with what I believe is a top five recuiting class for 08 (if we keep them all)and we have the ingredients to not only restore the order but get back to perennial dominance. Man won't that feel great!!
Scott Jul 28 07
To donfl,
I'm not so sure we'll get back to perennial dominance but I think this team can compete, and I think that is all we can ask of them year in and year out.
Bill in Iowa Jul 29 07
Donfl - I agree! I think even the 08 class is on board because they feel it too! In the words of J. Compton, the latest Husker recruit: "We feel like we'll be in the national championship picture in the near future with the class thats coming in". Well...that remains to be seen, but the excitement, confidence, and expectation is there and that is a great start!
OU7times Jul 29 07
I'm sure that most teams do go into the season with confidence. That's not a revalation but if you have confidence in your coach, it makes it just that much better. It could be that Coach "C" has already made it clear to the players that he will "press" and stay aggressive, especially when leading on the scoreboard, this year. Regardless, it does make one very curious as to what the buzz might be. Bring on the season and let's find out.
ze Jul 29 07
Ha, ha, got another(Compton) from 'Tiggerland'! Couldn't happen to a finer 'Nation', unless, of course, it was Puffland or Kittyland.