The Return of the All-American
8 comments so far
March 23, 2009 by
Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini famously talked about making his own stars (versus recruiting guys with the most stars from recruiting services). Certainly, recruiting alone doesn’t produce All-Americans. If it did, Bill Callahan might have had at least one during his tenure. If you don’t think having All-Americans is important, look at the correlation between the number of All-Americans these NU head coaches had each year and their winning percentage. Playmakers win games.
| Coach | Avg All-Americans | Winning % |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Devaney | 2.00 | 83% |
| Tom Osborne | 2.20 | 84% |
| Frank Solich | 1.83 | 75% |
| Bill Callahan | 0.00 | 55% |
The Huskers enter the 2009 season with their best chance in years to put an All-American player on the field. Ndamukong Suh certainly played at an All-American level at the end of the year. When the Huskers faced Kansas, he lead the team with 12 tackles, including 3 for a loss and 2.5 sacks, to go with another quarterback hurry. He also caught a touchdown pass in that game. Against Kansas State he had a tackle and a half for a loss, including a sack. Against Colorado, he had a tackle for loss to go with two quarterback hurries, and he returned an interception for a touchdown. Against Clemson, he had 3.5 tackles for losses, including 2 sacks and he blocked a field goal. Extrapolate that production over an entire regular season and he’d have 78 tackles (he had 70 in the regular season to lead the team in 2008, extremely hard for a nose tackle to do), 22 sacks, 27 tackles for losses, 3 interceptions, 3 blocked kicks, and about 9 quarterback hurries (not to mention maybe 6 touchdowns). If those aren’t the statistics of an All-American nose tackle, I don’t know what would be.
We know the disclaimers, past production doesn’t guarantee future performance and so forth, but considering how he progressed and Pelini’s history of developing players, he seems like he could be Nebraska’s first All-American since Josh Bullocks (an All-American as a junior under Pelini and secondary coach Marvin Sanders in 2003, who did not repeat the honor in 2004 under Callahan).
And if Suh does deliver All-American production, the winning percentage should reflect that, just as it did over the last four games of 2008.
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James moore Mar 23 09
I'd be quite happy if these guys stay healthy throughut the offseason and next year as well. As for All-Americans, I'd love to have them for sure, but I would be even happier nd go from 55th overall to the around 30 for overall total defense in the national rankings. The best way to ensure that Suh betters his season from last year is the re-emergence of Barry Turner on the edge, and the returning players becoming more instinctive with their reads & assignments now that Coach Pelini's system has been in place for one year. . .
The question is, who will be that other player to step up and get All-Conference or All-American type accolades this year? Helu? Dillard? Allen?
darren Mar 23 09
Hey James, good thoughts.
As far as other contriutors, the "5 great players" theory is one that gets tossed around here at BRN quite a bit. That is, 5 "great" players (all conference or better) equate to a team that can win a title (conference or otherwise).
Suh tops the list of NU's possible 5. After that, I'd rank Helu. Then, it's a crap shoot. Asante (returning senior, safeties thrive under Pelini/Sanders...) would be next on my list. McNeil is high on my list, as well as Jacob Hickman.
JBLING22 Mar 23 09
The problem I have with your correlation between All-Americans and Winning percentage is that All-Americans are decided by a panel of people and therfore make judgement by whom they see and who is winning. Therefore you have to argue that the reason the team has more All-Americans is because they are winning...
Look at the list of All-Americans from CBS from 2008.. Either they are on a really good team, or they had some amazing, amazing numbers...
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/11167903
If you go off of that list, I know its not the only one, but check it out..
How many kids on that list are from schools with 9 or more wins... DAMN NEAR ALL OF THEM.. some are from smaller schools but only ones that have won allmost all of there gamess...
You can't tell me that out of all 120 teams there arn't guys on shitty teams deserving of all-americans. It dosn't happen often...
JBLING22 Mar 23 09
Its pretty simple, we had 9 wins last year, so next year we might get SUh an all-american canadate. If we 11 plus games next year, look for a second from the team to be added the following year..
Bill in Iowa Mar 23 09
I think an experienced, seasoned, intelligent, and confident man with the last name "House of Spears" is going to put the fear of God in opposing teams. But probably the biggest key for Suh's production and chance for All American status is going to be how well the other DT slot is filled. Coaches and players seem very high on Crick and I think Moore looks pretty solid too. Barry could become the first really speedy rush end we have had for a while. Hopefully, together they can be a force to contend with that will make offenses question whom they should double team.
teamster Mar 23 09
Is it Suh or Suhnami?
Sweet D Mar 27 09
Bullocks was a Redshirt Sophomore in '03.
Maybe if we develop some All-Americans we'll gain that respect, that intimidation factor again.
For NU, I think All-American and Winning % does play a role, but you have to look at the demeanor and approach of the individual coach as well.
Sweet D Mar 27 09
Bullocks was a Redshirt Sophomore in '03.
Maybe if we develop some All-Americans we'll gain that respect, that intimidation factor again.
For NU, I think All-American and Winning % does play a role, but you have to look at the demeanor and approach of the individual coach as well.
No none never explained how Pelini Defense in 03 was better than his 08 team.