All-Conference Honorees Only Bolster Pelini's 08 Performance
15 comments so far
December 3, 2008 by
For the second consecutive year, and third out of the past four, Nebraska didn't place a single player on the All-Big 12 1st team. Ndamukong Suh late season heroics had merited some first-team talk but he, along with Matt Slauson, was named as a second-team selection.
Overall, Nebraska had seven players garner all-conference honorable mentions for a total of nine players on the annual end of the season conference awards list as voted by the coaches. If you need another reason to be optimistic about Bo Pelini's future outside of the probable New Year's Day bowl game and 8-4 record consider this: That represents Nebraska's lowest total number of all-conference honorees since 2004, Bill Callahan's first year at Nebraska.
In 2004, Nebraska had a total of seven players show up on the all-conference list, one first teamer in Barrett Ruud, one second-teamer in Josh Bullocks and five honorable mentions. That team finished 5-6.
Now the general party line coming in to the 2008 season, spouted by the likes of Herbstreit, Steele et. al, was that there was talent at Nebraska, they just needed someone who could coach it. But at least in relation to the rest of the conference, in admittedly its most talent-rich year ever, is that really the case?
After Nebraska lost to Virginia Tech in September there was an interesting article by Denver Post reporter John Henderson, detailing Nebraska's rebuilding project. In that piece, Henderson wrote the following:
Asked how much defensive talent he inherited, the phone line went silent. Never has a coach said so much by saying so little.
Of course that was just that reporter's read on the conversation, but if you look over the lists of all-conference honorees from the past eight seasons--the Big 12 site only goes back to 2001 and that season only listed the 1st-team--Nebraska's slide into mediocrity comes into clearer focus.
Below is a list of the Big 12 teams ranked by the number of 1st and 2nd team all-conference players since 2002. I've omitted honorable mentions for the sake of clarity. Nothing against knowing who was the 6th best QB in the conference in any given year but what we're looking for is the best of the best in the Big 12. Also, if a player was named as an offensive/defensive player and a special teams player, he was counted twice:
1. Oklahoma - 78
2. Texas - 59
3. Missouri - 39
4. Texas Tech - 32
5. Oklahoma State - 31
6. Kansas State - 28
6. Colorado - 28
8. Nebraska - 26
9. Kansas - 24
10. Texas A&M - 23
11. Iowa State - 18
12. Baylor - 14
The nice thing about using all-conference honorees as a measure, as opposed to recruiting rankings or stars, is that you're looking at a developing/finished product and in that sense Nebraska hasn't had or been able to develop top level talent in the conference over the past seven seasons.
There's certainly some room for error here. In a year like this one Nate Swift could have legitimately been considered for the Biletnikoff Award and Joe Ganz has outpaced Zac Taylor's senior season, when he was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year, in almost every statistical category. Some years great players aren't great enough and in others good players are great by comparison, but overall Nebraska's been just about average in terms of impact players in the Big 12.
All of this gives me further reason to be optimistic about the future at Nebraska. On one hand it's distressing that, arguably, the Cornhuskers haven't beaten a single opponent they shouldn't have. But on the other hand, according to the Big 12 coaches, Nebraska has made it to 8-4 and exceeded the general preseason consensus without currently having one of the very best players in the conference at his position either.
That's not a knock against the current Nebraska squad so much as another feather in Pelini's cap for 2008. Last year Nebraska landed 12 players on the all-conference list, with the same total of two players garnering 2nd team honors, and went 5-7.
What's the difference? I think you probably know.
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Nitin Dec 04 08
I'm so proud of the way these kids are playing this year, it sure makes me proud to be a Husker fan again. I think these coaches are doing everything to right the wrongs, and I am proud of them as well. From what my sources tell me, I know everything is going well.
BTW Granite City, any good, Miller Lite?
Renny Dec 04 08
I think at one time we HAD talent that got coached so poorly it all the sudden became poor talent. But Pelini did a good job of getting those guys back to playing at or near their potential this year.
Suh coming back next year would be the best recruiting news of the year
darren Dec 04 08
Great take on the connection between talent and the coaching/development of that talent, Brandon. Nothing like research to prove a point.
Almost unanimously, Husker fans (and many Big 12 followers) believe Suh was slighted. Too bad for many others, too, Ganz included. Tough year in the Big 12. Consider Chase Daniel pre-season perception to opinion of Chase Daniel now, and it gets pretty obvious.
For years, Steve and I have espoused the "5 great players" theory on this site. Great defined as being All-Conference. When you have 5 of those guys, you probably win or compete for a championship of some kind. Whether that is a function of the talent or the coaching is debatable. But, it is certainly correlated to on field results. Win, and your players get props. Lose, and you are (generally) ignored. *cough* ISU *cough*
NU from 02 to present hasn't been any great shakes as your numbers (and their record) shows. I 100% agree that Pelini can and will continue to turn that around.
bnahusker Dec 04 08
Bo is following the TO pattern of coaching. Make them better than they are. The players are playing above their perceived talent level and as a team. The sum is much greater than the parts.
As for Granite City, the last time that I was there, they had a great sausage pasta dish.
GBR!
Bob
Vic Dec 04 08
That's not the AP all-conference team. That's the coaches' team. AP's team will be chosen by members of the media.
HuskerDeck Dec 04 08
Great article Brandon. I would like to know how Bo's record stacked up this year against other coaches that were in their first year as a head coach with no other head coaching experience at the college level.
The ole Swede and Husker in South Arkansas
JBLING22 Dec 04 08
I totally agree with you Renny... Suh statement that he's going to be staying at NU is by far the best recruiting news of the year... The best part of it is, that at the begining of the year it looked like we were going to be in serious trouble next year in terms of the Defensive Line.. It looked like it was going to be Suh and all Seniors on the line, and then next year could have been scary.. As much as an injury to Barry Turner might have seemed horrible for the kid, he might end up better because of it.. He will be playing next year with a more improved Suh, a now experienced Pierre Allen, and more importantly a secondary that should have all the experience needed to become a great unit.. And its no question that kids play better when they have strength around them....
WyHuskerFan Dec 04 08
Proves that BC had an eye for talented athletes and none for DCs (nuff BC bashing, although I still like the offense he brought here). Bo & Co. have done well with what they inherited.
I don't believe TO made them better athletes than they were, he made them part of a great system that worked then and would probably work today (ala GT). We had consistently good players with enough sprinkles of great players. I've always been amazed by the fact that with all of NUs great offensive numbers over the years, we always had more defensive players drafted. Even today the margin is nearly 3 to 1 in favor of defensive players.
Helu has the makings of a superstar, and certainly with Suh, Turner, Asante, and West returning the D will improve under Bo's system. From what I've read, there's a stable of good redshirt freshman for next year. QB will be the big ? Making all conference is as good a measuring stick as there is other than W/L record. I hope Bo is as good a salesman and he is a coach. We could be in for a long ride in the front of the train. GBR
Brandon Dec 04 08
HuskerDeck,
Early in October, I took a look at what some currently successful coaches had done in their first year. That included Stoops and Richt who both were moving up from coordinator to HC at the time. You can read it here.
To use the same format for Pelini that I did with the others, it would look like this up to now:
First Season: 8-4
Previous Season: 5-7
Second Season: TBD
Set-up: Charged with rejuvenating the worst Husker defense in history, restoring the glory.
Major Achievement of Year One: Took national title contender Texas Tech to overtime on the road.
Big Finish: Played in the Gator Bowl?
Put it up against the others in that post and it looks pretty similar.
HuskerDeck Dec 04 08
Brandon,
I was just talking about all the coaches that fit this catagory this year only.
sweet D Dec 04 08
1. That guy at GIT is having a great year.
2. The BIG 12 commissioner spilled the
beans...Huskers fans 'it is all but certain'
3. Compare the 2003 & 2008 defenses. If you have an article, pls send me the link.
a) Starters - base, nickel, dime packages.
b) I noticed in 2003 our blowout losses
didn't occur until 2nd half. Partially
due to 1-dimensional offense.
4. You think 35,000 Huskers fans will attend
the bowl game. $50 & $70
Brandon Dec 04 08
HuskerDeck,
Sorry about the confusion.
I'd agree with sweet D that Paul Johnson has probably had the most impressive first year at a new program but he'd been a head coach, a couple times even, before.
As for the other newbies this year? I'd have to do some digging--sounds like a good post for after the bowl season--but I'm sure of this: Bo Pelini had a better year than Paul Wulf at WSU.
WyHuskerFan Dec 04 08
Just crossed the wire that Suh was named first team B12 by the AP. Good for him!
Bill in Iowa Dec 05 08
I have to admit Paul Johnson's success has got me asking "what if he were here?". Not that I am not happy with Bo, I think he's done a great job.
What I think is very important to keep in mind in regards to the re-building project, is that Bo is not going after JUCO's (with a few exceptions). That means for the first time in years, players getting 4-5 years of development. That is going to have a greater impact over the next several years as each class of 20 plus freshmen develop.
bnahusker Dec 05 08
The Kitty Kats in Manhattan are paying for the Juco fixes that they tried. I couldn't agree more with you Bill!
Build with a strong foundation, and the house will stand longer.
GBR!
Bob