Recruiting waters get choppier as high profile recruits abandon ship
13 comments so far
December 10, 2009 by
There is simply no good, level-headed way to talk about decommitments. Firefox's spellchecker doesn't even recognize the word and I wish I didn't have to. Their suggested spellings includes the word "overcommitment" which is perhaps the better word anyway.
Both Curtis Carter and Tyler Gabbert, as was rumored as early as last Sunday, decommitted from Nebraska this week which means that they were probably overcommitted all along, right?
Either way, Nebraska's recruiting trail just got a little rockier.
Now I could say about Carter--who had some surprisingly harsh criticism for the NU offense--that I was enamored with his speed but never loved his size. I had questions about his fit for the slot receiver position.
I could say the same thing about Gabbert and size but, given his continued dalliances with Missouri, I felt even stronger about the prospect of him decommitting. I would even say I was happily anticipating it thanks to the classic decommitment defense of "If they don't want to be here than we're better off without them."
All of those things, from my perspective, would be true statements. The problem is there's almost no way to say them without it coming across as sour grapes. We don't look for shortcomings in recruits who want to go to Nebraska, only the ones who spurn it. I was never really as sold on Gabbert as I was on Carter but it doesn't matter. Backtracking still looks and reads like backtracking and that's what we're all forced to do with decommits.
Still, the fact is that the Huskers lost their two top-ranked incoming skill position players, but neither Gabbert of Carter looked the part of an immediate game changer as a freshman. It hurts, yes, but Nebraska is still faced with "fixing" the offense with what they have heading into 2010. That hasn't changed.
There are reasons for optimism. Take for example the addition yesterday of two other four-star recruits in OL Jermarcus Hardrick and LB LaVonte David from Fort Scott Community College. While neither directly replaces Gabbert of Carter, I think it's a very good sign that Nebraska's current class, as with their last class, looks stacked on both sides of the line. That's where football starts and if you're not solid up front you're rarely going places. The Big 12 Championship game was the perfect example of this. On one side, Nebraska was extremely effective. The other? Woefully inept. And they lost the title by one point.
There's still time for Nebraska to replace these skill players, but it won't be easy. Not getting a quarterback is usually viewed as a significant failure, but it occasionally happens. This class doesn't look like one heavy on skill players. That's okay. The Huskers problems on offense go far beyond what one player can fix so I'll take another line heavy class and know going into 2010--a year that looks pretty promising for NU--that Pelini and his staff will have a clear objective to replace skill position talent.
You have to think they'll be in a better position to do so than they are right now coming off the worst offensive season in 40 years.
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tim Dec 10 09
it all starts up front with the offensive line a good to great o line will make your average RB and QB look good your bad o line will make your good to great RB and QB look bad
Tyler Dec 10 09
Yet, you cannot downplay having great skill players. Even the best o-lines can't run or throw the ball. NU needs speed and talent, and are not going to get it.
J Dub 007 Dec 10 09
Our O-line looks pretty good to me next year with Harsrick, Sirles, Qvale, Ash and Rodreguiz in the rotation. IMO NU needs to run a system similar to Dallas Cowboys or the Steelers. We have the talent to do that, just not the commitment of the OC. There will be a come to Jesus after the season and if no agreement can be reached, than heads will roll.
Dwayne Dec 10 09
What was Bama's qb rated?
ruggerhusker Dec 10 09
We will never know if Gabbert or Carter would have made a difference at NU. Nothing to debate. I believe that Bo will have the offense turned next year and remember we still have young recievers and a young QB. Not picking up high talent this year doesn't hurt NU.
Remember last year and the defense that we had. Our talent didn't change that much coming into this year. It isn't always about the stars that you pick up, it's more about what you do with what you have. Bo has been really great at that on defense, now let's see what he can do with offense.
If the offense can show up in the Holiday Bowl, look out next year!
James Moore Dec 10 09
If we can get some offense next year we have a chance for a special season. . .
We can afford to be "multiple" if we have a base of plays that we can perform well, and an offensive line that can push on 1st down runs against anyone. No reason why we can't be something akin to Alabama offensively (formation wise) or a slower version (tempo but formation similar) of Oklahoma. We seem to be building with the strategy from the inside out. You don't have to run a no-huddle, 10-spread to have perimeter players and a QB making plays. Think Oklahoma two seasons ago or Alabama this year. Those teams (like most very good teams) were build with a powerhouse offensive line. . .
Man could the defense be really good these next two years. The depth is becoming terribly impressive. After what you saw this year you have to belive that anyone this coaching staff brings in on the defensive side of the ball can be developed into something formidable. . .
Spaceman Spiff Dec 10 09
Is it possible that Watson told Gabbert that he probably wont be back, and thus Gabbert decommitted? Maybe he told him we are going back to option with Green to learn it all offseason?
Either way, I bet TO and Bo are talking offense these next few weeks.
Husker Jim Dec 10 09
I hope TO doesn't talk Bo into staying with the power I. I am not arguing against the success we had in the 90's but that success was because of all the difference makers the Huskers were loaded with. Before that, we could hardly beat a good team, only all the easy one's we played year in and year out. I think the problem Solich ran into was he couldn't recruit too that type of offensive system he had anymore. Kids that want a chance at playing offense in the pro's won't come and play offense here if we are running the power I again. Hey diddle diddle, run right, run left, run up the middle, punt. That's what you have everytime you play a good defense.
Bill in Iowa Dec 10 09
I am still a fan of Watson, but what this season highlights is just how good your recruiting must be at every skill position in order to run a multiple offense. Last year, no problem, we were loaded. This year, big problems.
The reality of recruiting and personel must match what you are trying to do on the field. I think Lee is a much better QB than he appears on the field running option. If only, he had time to pass and if only he had open recievers who could catch. My biggest complaint this year is lack of creativity in the offensove play calling and often calling plays that did not fit the strengths of our players.
Ok...so here is a QB that I think should be on our short list. He is being recruited by K-State and Oklahoma. He is a Juco, so he could come in and compete for a starting role, hopefully. And he is a dual threat with a 4.5 40 and a 6-6 247lb frame.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Cameron-Newton-95471
Daniel Faulkner Dec 11 09
I agree with Bill in Iowa with a couple of exceptions. I am not that big a fan of Watson. I a play book weights more that an offensive lineman, it may be a tad complex for college the college level. I am more attuned to Bo's principle of "do what you do, do well what you do".
I also would like them to take a look at Cameron Newton. I have followed him for a while from a far and I like what I have seen.
I have maintained for some time that as long as Barney is the line coach, (love the man but don't respect his coaching of the OL) we will continue to strugle in protecting the passer and/or running the ball. This has been his history regardless of where he has been. Carl has been able to take the players that he inherited and build a formitable defense, unfortunately, Cotton has not done the same. Again, love the man, but don't think he can "coach them up".
dilusional Dec 12 09
Worst Offensive season in the last 40 years and we lose our best two defensive players and next year is looking promising? Have to say I disagree with you. Our defense will drop off next year and our offense is like you said the worst in 40 years and is brining in no playmakers. We will be lucky to finish 2nd in the north next year.
Brandon Dec 12 09
dilusional,
I disagree. This team was one second from a Big 12 title with a horrid offense. If it had been simply bad, who knows what would've happened?
In terms of offense, we're basically in Blackshirts '07 territory: they can't possibly be worse. As for the defense itself, I'll be shocked if there's a major drop off. Suh is irreplaceable but, as good as Asante and O'Hanlon were at times, I think we'll find guys who can play safety. We're deep in the secondary and we're deep on the d-line.
Believe me when I say this: If Nebraska somehow comes out and puts together an impressive offensive performance in the Holiday Bowl they'll get their share of preseason votes to win the Big 12. Not the North, the conference.
DJ Dec 14 09
I still remember Newton as a Gator on the sidelines a few years ago.
Defensively. Suh's impact will be greatly missed. However, we are loaded and still loading, particularly in the secondary and the line. Linebackers appears to our weakest link but not too much. L. David seems to be a great pickup especially in the dime situation.
Offensively. Ganz is good addition. He can teach Green, Spano, Martinez the ends of the playbook. The O-Line will have depth so weakest link will get benched. I hope this power stuff won't stay too long. Although, I do believe in favor of running the ball slightly more than passing.
I wish Carter knew his greatest asset (speed) was something we could have utilized against elite teams like Texas.