Plug 'N Play Linebackers
2 comments so far
November 20, 2008 by
It was a gift that made perfect sense.
We’ve all probably played Pacman and Dig Dug at the cool Showbiz birthday party as kids (those animated stage characters still give me nightmares). But in a Nobel Peace Prize-deserving invention, by simply plugging a couple of cables into your TV – Voila!- Pacman is on your big screen.
Records aside, if you are looking for any validation that Bo Pelini’s schemes and coaching ability are the real deal, then just look at some of the successful decisions that reminded me of Plug N’ Play technology
Colton Koehler. Matthew May. Matt Holt. These are names that Husker fans had probably never heard of before this season, me included. But due to an injury to Phillip Dillard and the indefinite suspension to Cody Glenn, the Huskers needed quick answers.
Pelini wanted to preserve the redshirts of freshman such as Will Compton and Sean Fisher and chose instead to test relative unknowns such as Koehler and May. In Koehler’s first play, he broke through the line and caused a safety in the Baylor game. Two weeks ago, Matthew May was a scout team safety and the Pelini brothers, alongside LB coach Mike Ekler, moved May to linebacker last Tuesday and by Saturday he was wreaking havoc on Josh Freeman and friends in the Huskers big win in Manhattan. You can’t make up that kind of story.
What is the recipe for such success? Coaching and Scheme. Bo Pelini has the ability to bring out maximum effort and the best of a person’s potential. If Pelini can take a freshman safety and turn him into a successful linebacker in three days, albeit against Kansas State, than what will he do with the redshirts and recruits (see Chris Williams) who are twice as talented as Koehler, May, and Holt?
I think the future is bright for the Huskers. Qualifying for a bowl game will pay giant dividends for this team. The 15 extra practices will allow Bo and Co. to develop and build even more talent than the impressive feats we have seen this year. Plus there are roughly two more months left before signing day in February. The Huskers are working towards a good class. With top-notch recruits and high-level coaching and scheme, the Huskers will be back faster than you can make it to Level 3 in Pacman.
And that gift would be at the top of my wish list.
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Related Stories: Bo Pelini, Coaching, Defense, Linebackers, Recruiting
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teamster Nov 20 08
You're right. Most coaches wouldn't be able to win a game against a KU or a lowly KSU with this duct-taped together linebacker corps. We can't even fathom the magic in that recipe.
Greg Morrow Nov 22 08
Thanks Renny, for the Chris Williams youtube clip! Almost shocking, in those isolated clips, how he'd step through the interior line.
Hopefully, he recovers 100% from the knee AND stays with Nebraska.
Along with the coaching cultural reflip, these walkons have been the story of '08. They're also not going anywhere. If anything, they'll have a head start on the redshirt frosh and the incoming. Koehler will at least alternate next season. Compton will have to beat him out for p.t.
Funny, the walkon thing was such a no brainer- for the right coaching staff. Mentally strong kids, no showboats preserving their bodies. Always a high percentage of academic achievers, relative to the rest of the team. Even under Callahan, you always had several make the two deep. Blake Tiedke, Adam Ickes, Brandon Rigoni, not to mention Stewart Bradley, were major contributors, just a few seasons ago.
Let 'em stick around, coach them, watch them develop. Watch them earn scholarships and more, right before your eyes! Watch them win playing time over those "twice as talented."