Don’t Overthink Cotton Move
I enjoy a good conspiracy theory as much as anyone. They're often far more interesting than real life. Since Barney Cotton hasn't always been a fan favorite as an assistant coach, his shifting responsibilities have provided some ammunition for those who want to portray him as a failure. You could color the change in roles for Cotton as him being supplanted by John Garrison as offensive line coach, but in truth it seems more about shoring up a big question mark for 2013 and perhaps also about fatherhood.
On Friday, it was revealed that Barney Cotton will move from his role as offensive line coach to coach the tight ends and "run game coordinator". Head coach Bo Pelini said it was "ludicrous" to call the move a demotion. So why the move? There seem to be some logical reasons that might not please the anti-Barney crowd.
Garrison Gets It
Credit where credit is due. You can't make a move like this if you don't have faith in John Garrison. The line had a good year in 2012 (Athlon named it second only to Ohio State in the Big Ten) and that's a credit to both Garrison and Cotton. With a lot of returning experience, you may not get as much "bang for the buck" with two coaches that you would with a younger group of players. If you've got one good guy, that can be enough. Garrison looks like that guy.
Help Wanted for Tight Ends
Tight end by contrast is perhaps the biggest question on offense for 2013. Jake Long is an experienced blocker at tight end, but then virtually everyone else is coming in cold. Considering how important the position is for run blocking, pass protection, and as a pass-catching threat, there's a lot of work to be done to get this group ready to play. Allowing a veteran coach to focus on this position in an exclusive way is probably one of the best ways to prepare your next generation of tight ends.
Family Time
One of the prime prospects for playing time at tight end will be redshirt freshman Sam Cotton. Yes, Barney loses some time coaching his son Jake by moving to tight end, but he'll get a chance to spend more time with Sam. At least for the coming season, tight end will probably be the more pressure position than guard and Sam is probably more crucial to team needs. There could be some anxiety with the tight ends under the microscope this season that the older Cotton wants to do everything possible to set Sam up for success. He can also take the blame when his son makes rookie mistakes. If Barney remained with the offensive line, he wouldn't be able to do as much to help Sam. Now, he can be right there when the heat is on.
People can believe that Cotton was demoted if they want. But the reasons probably have more to do with football and family than personality. Not nearly as interesting, perhaps. It probably makes more sense though.
2/20/2013
Most prognosticators argue that games are usually won or lost in the trenches. I don’t know. but it seems to me that John Garrison has a pretty important job coaching the offensive line. Pretty important position I should think…look at how bad they were last year and what it did to us in our losses. Taylor barely had time to throw! And I don’t buy this 2nd best line in the B1G. Bunk! And who is John Garrison exactly? What experience does he have really? An ex lineman for sure, but a great offensive lineman? No. Proven O line coach? No. One year experienced ex-grad assistant. Nothing personal, maybe he’s the next great O line coach in college football…it’s our only hope frankly of having a true top notch O line coach. Not a good basket I would think to put all your eggs in. He’s still a real rookie at that coaching position so I don’t think he’s going to win any awards anytime soon for re-creating the Pipeline. I still think we need to go out and get a true dedicated O line coach and be done with it. Do what any big time program does. Go out and get teh best. That’s what Alabama just did. There are lots of them to get too. Maybe even from the NFL.
Ya, we’ll get that dedicated O line coach alright…right after we set up a true recruiting department with a full time, big time recruiting coordinator….don’t hold your breath!
So, if this is the deal we have to deal with, go John and best of luck! Because we need a MUCH better O line!
2/20/2013
Something more deserving of a rant would be Dennard’s verdict.
2/20/2013
PE…..right on, man. This news is about as exciting as going out to pick weeds…I definitely agree about Taylor’s year…most of his fumbles came from being blindsided due to one of our linemen either missing someone or being shoved out of the way like a fly on the end of your nose…can you imagine the year he would have had with some decent pass protection? Like you, I wish John the best also…man I wish I could hear something that would actually make me look forward to this next season…ah, what the hell…let’s have a bud..
2/21/2013
I think this will be a good move for both Coach Cotten and Garrison. Garrison may be a young coach but he has experience and is said to be a great teacher. Also lets not forget Branden Stai is on staff as well as an intern. After 10 starting seasons in the NFL, one would think he knows what he’s doing. GBR
2/21/2013
This feels like a “right seat on the bus” move from Pelini.
Success starts with getting the right people on the bus. Then, getting them in the right seats. Cotton clearly belongs on the bus. Garrison does too.
Now, they have Cotton in a role that might best fit his roles. He’s been an OC. He sees the game that way and can help Beck in the press box. He’s also a good leader, and Pelini trusts him as assoc head coach. He’s also proven to be a capable recruiter. Those are all useful things.
Garrison is the technique teacher, the young guy and the line coach. Great. He has earned this job and opportunity. Also a good recruiter. Get him some help (Stai?), because the OL needs to have two coaches. And, the Huskers are better off today than they were before.
Right people on the bus - right seats on the bus.
2/21/2013
Darren I hope your right. It doesn’t seem like he’s got anywhere near the experience I’d like,but you never know…all coaches who are proven names now were no names at one time so lets hope that’s the case. But capable recruiter? That might be a little bit of a stretch.
2/21/2013
PE - Look around the ncaa at coaching staffs. All from top to bottom are filled with men and women of all skill levels. I agree with Darren, “right seat” sounds about right.
All the great coaches started somewhere, Bo may be one and/or may have one or two on his staff right now. Lets hope so.
Yes we got our arses handed to us defensively a few times last year but I’m more excited and less doubtful about the direction the team is headed than I have been the last couple.
Good line talent (finally) great offensive talent, better experience on the defensive side of the ball overall and what seems to be ( I hear from some parents of players and family that work at UNL ) that the team really hangs together and is working as hard off season as on. That builds the chemistry that Dr Tom has spoke and written about that got him to the championship level. Lets root for the team bus as it heads that way! Time for a Yuengling….GBR
2/22/2013
Cotton is about as much of an Associate Head Coach as I was a Defensive Coordinator in the Arky State game when Bo went down. Cotton is awful. Just awful. Needs to be moves down to “Storage Room B” with Milton Waddams.
Hartford SD
2/23/2013
The whole coaching staff is nothing but a big cluster fu**
San Diego, Ca.
2/25/2013
“Don’t Overthink Cotton Move”
Okay, shouldn’t be too hard.
That Cotton’s now got a pretty long career resume and he’s essentially a coordinator, it looks like Beck’s fine tuning things, in anticipation of an even more productive offense.
The positions he’s shifted into- “running game” and tight ends, seem to indicate simply tightening up the overall execution.
Possibly or, especially, timing with options and pitches.
Btw, I don’t recall a specialty coordinator since ‘03, when he was the OC and Tim Albin was his passing game coordinator. Albin’s now a co OC for Solich.
2/25/2013
Hey Greg, didn’t Barney run an option offense at NM State? People knocking Barney clearly don’t know much of his overall history. Bo likes him for some good reasons. His new role may be a pretty good fit.
Wiki: In 1995, Cotton was appointed as Head Coach for the first time in his career, back in his home state of Nebraska, at Hastings College. In 1995, Hastings College won the Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference (NIAC) championship and made an appearance in the NAIA playoffs, and Cotton was named NIAC Coach of the Year.
In 1997, former Nebraska Cornhuskers player and New Mexico State Head Coach Tony Samuel hired Cotton to the same position he had held at St. Cloud State; Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach. Although championships eluded New Mexico State during Cotton’s six years with the program, the production of his offensive players generated impressive statistics. New Mexico State ranked nationally in the top 25 in overall offense in 1998, 2000 and 2002, and was ranked nationally in the top 25 in rushing offense for all six years. In his final season, New Mexico State led the Sun Belt Conference in passing efficiency, rushing offense and total offense. Six New Mexico State linemen earned All-Sunbelt Conference Honors during Cotton’s tenure
San Diego, Ca.
2/25/2013
BallField78,
It’s been my viewpoint, since T-Magic was a redshirt frosh or so, that the offense is evolving into, what it would’ve already been, 6 years prior.
Instead of Joe Daily, for example, learning an over the top NFL wco as a sophomore in ‘04, he’d have been mixing in a few more passes, that what they were doing, with Jammal Lord.
If I recall correctly, Solich and staff were talking about and planning sets similar to Urban Meyer’s at Utah and Rich Rod’s at WVU. But with Nebraska’s principles.
It’s really all they needed.