Heavy Equipment and looking to create a Pipeline

[Train]

Pipelines are serious stuff in Nebraska. Canadian oil will flow through Nebraska before long. It won't be the only pipeline under construction. They still talk about that bunch in the roaring nineties. That group of offensive linemen that ground some of the best defensive lines in the college game to dust. It was a 60 minute battle that always saw the forth quarter turn into routes. Flat bellied three hundred pound athletes. Nebraska had that rep as being the school that created offensive linemen. So much that they named a trophy after one. Nebraska players collected a lot of hardware in the last forty or fifty years.

It was a process that took young athletic kids and did not put them on the field of play until they were seasoned and ready. They were smart and they had all the bugs removed from their collective games. It was about collecting many kids and developing them for their last year or two of eligibility. This season they have many bodies on the assembly line. At least 28 names all working to be in the rotation. Rotations were something lost in the last decade. Rotation back in the 70's, 80"s and 90's meant that there were at least two full strings of quality players that created those dams breaking frequently in the latter stages of the games. Due to gaps in recruiting and many transitions, there were not many seasons of having a rotation in the past ten or twelve years. That appears to be changing.

Fifth year seniors were coach Tenipor's goal back in his days as the offensive line guru. Lately we have seen underclassmen having to learn on the job as starters and many times without relief. Back in the day those offensive linemen were the smartest kids on the roster. Many academic All-Americans and running a very complicated and sophistic line call system. Being able to do it in their sleep. Some tall some not so tall. All with leverage and techniques with few errors. You could go through an entire game sometimes without a penalty called on the offensive front. All very in control and unmoved by the jawing of the defenders. All knowing that the wheels would fall off the defenders in the forth quarter.

Coach Cotton had to deal with several different offenses and collection of techniques used by two different coordinators. The WCO and it's passive techniques are gone now. Cotton and his assistant coach Garrison can now teach the Nebraska way of blocking again. Downhill and brutal. The Tenipor way of football that they knew so well. Cotton got a bad rap doing other coaches' bidding. Still a year or two away from having those fifth year senior fronts of the past, but edging ever closer with each season.

Seung Hoon Choi, Spencer Long, Andrew Rodriguez, Brent Qvale and Jeremiah Sirles all with experience and starts under their belts. Even some very young players with starts such as Tyler Moore and Jake Cotton. Cole Pensick, Ryne Reeves, Mark Pelini, Ryan Klachko, Mike Moody, Brandon Chapek, Justin Jackson, Brandon Thompson, Adam Kucera all with time in this offense. Close to thirty names all working to get into the rotation. Spencer Long made all conference last season and I wouldn't be too surprised if some others encroached on the lists this season. Tyler Moore a true frosh was a starter at the beginning of the 2011 season but was injured early on is back again. Jake Cotton as well in the rotation early on in 2011 returns as well.

The 2012 season looks good on paper. The 2013 season looks to be a special season when most of the linemen return again. The teaching of another new system can be replaced this year by refining what was learned last year. You have to expect some big strides the next two years. Maybe not a pipeline yet, but at least the system is aiming at the old tried and true ways of yesterday. This group has leaders now. It has time to mesh and refine it's game. To play fast and watch each others backs. Now to hopefully have it all upstairs and avoid those underclassmen mistakes and penalties. Looks to be this groups year to take a big step. To have a familiar playbook and have the game slow down, so as to not make the mistakes of the past. We watched Wisconsin and their veteran line show how upper classmen do it in 2011. It's Nebraska's turn to be the veterans for the next two years and beyond. Experience means less errors and penalties. Once the assembly line is at full capacity again, then just maybe the oil will again flow and the system will find consistency from season to season.

Whose your guess for the rotation in 2012? Maybe a little more complicated with many more names this season. Not having a spring game gives us little help. There will be a sleeper or two.

My best guess but only a guess at this point.

Jeremiah Sirles T
Spencer Long G
Ryne Reeves C
Seung Hoon Choi G
Andrew Rodriguez T

Tyler Moore and Ryan Klachko first in the bull pen. Others in the rotation Brandon Thompson, Brent Qvale and Cole Pensick.

[Red Reign]

This is a great and very thoughtful post...thanks...

[YUENGLING]

Train...GREAT POST...I'm ready for the season after reading your thoughts.

[DuckTownHusker]

Great post. One other aspect that a lot of people forget is that Tenopir (and Osborne for that matter) redshirted about 95% of all freshman. Only a select few freak athletes (Tommie Frazier, Lawrence Phillips, etc) saw ANY action as a freshman.

The commitment to walk-ons coupled with an expectation that all freshman will redshirt provides two very important benefits to the program. First, it ensures that before an athlete even sniffs the game field, they've gone through at least a full calendar year (sometimes 18 mos) in the Nebraska program. A full year of training like a Husker, practicing like a Husker, eating like a Husker, and being 100% indoctrinated in the Cornhusker mold.

Secondly, it separates the wheat from the chaff. Nebraska has made no bones about the fact that we value hard work, determination and loyalty. Too many programs cater to the prima-dona blue chip recruits. These heralded athletes come in as freshmen and get the royal treatment from Day 1. But not at Nebraska. When you suit up in those white pants with the red stripes, you can be sure that first you've gotta earn your stripes.

Nobody with Big Red sees the field without a Big Heart.

Here's hoping that Pelini can improve on this tradition and continue to build the program the right way.

[wcbsas]

I remember reading an article where Paul Johnson GTech football coach (formerly of Navy and candidate for the NU job after TO fired BC) was quoted as saying that it takes 5 years (one entire recruiting cycle) to get an offensive line up to the standards expected for any offense. I found that interesting and inciteful in many ways.

He has a bit of a unique offense but I suspect every offense has a little bit of uniqueness to it. My interpretation of his comments is that by the time you are a four and fifth year player you finally should have learned the nuances expected of your linemen. It was very rare back in the Pipeline era that we had any first or second year athletes playing significant minutes.

Here we are in the fifth year of the Pelini-Cotton era and I have high expectations for this group. Argue or complain all you want about TM, WRs ... but the core of our offensive issues have been with the OLine play during the BP era.

We have a lot of talent hopefully they can stay healthy and perform consistently. I think there are 10 guys who could concerivably claim a starting position.

[Pop Corn]

I remember reading an article where Paul Johnson GTech football coach (formerly of Navy and candidate for the NU job after TO fired BC) was quoted as saying that it takes 5 years (one entire recruiting cycle) to get an offensive line up to the standards expected for any offense. I found that interesting and inciteful in many ways.

He has a bit of a unique offense but I suspect every offense has a little bit of uniqueness to it. My interpretation of his comments is that by the time you are a four and fifth year player you finally should have learned the nuances expected of your linemen. It was very rare back in the Pipeline era that we had any first or second year athletes playing significant minutes.

Here we are in the fifth year of the Pelini-Cotton era and I have high expectations for this group. Argue or complain all you want about TM, WRs ... but the core of our offensive issues have been with the OLine play during the BP era.

We have a lot of talent hopefully they can stay healthy and perform consistently. I think there are 10 guys who could concerivably claim a starting position.

My sentiments exactly!

Great post, Train.

[YellowDent#2]

Love it!

Don't forget that Will Shields played as a freshman, too....

[BigRedFA]

I truly love reading insightful posts. I enjoy reading about what made us who we were in the 90's. There are two main reasons why I appreciate this. 1) I was coming into my prime as a true Die Hard Husker Fan during this timeframe and 2) what's not to love about a timeframe where your favorite team was the undisputed front runner year in and year out?

There is a lot of truth with all above posts but I think one thing is constantly overlooked...ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things when there is an expectation that they feel they MUST uphold. I want OUR Huskers to be the dominant force of the 90's but I just dont feel that the "expectation" is there yet. That feeling alone will prevent fallouts like 2011 vs Northwestern. That feeling alone would PROVE that a Hail Mary right before Halftime was just a fluke and nothing more. That feeling alone breeds a confidence that saps the will to fight right out of the competition. Would I would love to have our Pipeline back? Yes. Would I love to have our 2001 offense back? Yes. Most of all I want that expectation of success that ran through our players veins throughout the 90's though.

I Love the Huskers, always have and always will!!!

[wcbsas]

Love it!

Don't forget that Will Shields played as a freshman, too....

So did Tonui Fonoiti and Dominic Ralioia I believe. There are exceptions.

I also remember one year in the Big 8 era where Chris Anderson earned second team pre-season All Big 8 despite the fact that the prior season he red-shirted. Back in those days they simply looked NU's depth chart took note of the next guy in line and already penciled him in as an expected star!

[wcbsas]

My best guess but only a guess at this point.

Jeremiah Sirles T
Spencer Long G
Ryne Reeves C
Seung Hoon Choi G
Andrew Rodriguez T

FYI - I will bet you a toothpick that Cole Pensick is the starting center when the season begins. I would like to see Reeves as well but history with this coaching regime has shown them to be pretty conservative with the choice of center's. Caputo was solid as will be Pensick and maybe the cerebral-ness of these two players is something we can not measure but I'd like to get back to the Hickman type players.

I still remember to this day Caputo getting blown up and stepping on and re-spraining TMs ankle a couple of years ago.

[Scarlet]

So did Tonui Fonoiti and Dominic Ralioia I believe. There are exceptions.

I also remember one year in the Big 8 era where Chris Anderson earned second team pre-season All Big 8 despite the fact that the prior season he red-shirted. Back in those days they simply looked NU's depth chart took note of the next guy in line and already penciled him in as an expected star!

I must have entirely forgotten Chris Anderson.

[FeelLikeAStranger]

FYI - I will bet you a toothpick that Cole Pensick is the starting center when the season begins. I would like to see Reeves as well but history with this coaching regime has shown them to be pretty conservative with the choice of center's. Caputo was solid as will be Pensick and maybe the cerebral-ness of these two players is something we can not measure but I'd like to get back to the Hickman type players.

I still remember to this day Caputo getting blown up and stepping on and re-spraining TMs ankle a couple of years ago.

Conservative? The staff has repeatedly said they wouldn't have traded Caputo for any C in the country, and it's hard not to take that at face value. He got 'blown up' primarily due to a torn meniscus in his knee, not because of size, strength, or any other fan-perceived deficit. Why does misinformation like this persist?

[Train]

There were some underclassmen that got to play early for Tenipor. They were exceptional players with maturity beyond their years. Shields, Steinkuhlar and some others. They were rare and had a lot of gray matter filling their helmets.

I recall that interview Bob Costas did with Osborne right before the Miami game in 94. He asked the Doc what was the difference of getting so close so many times and finally getting there. Paraphrasing he said that the biggest obstacle was having enough senior leadership on the team. It meant that playing on the road and trap games were handled by the leadership within the team. He talked about players like Wistrom, Peter, Stai and Wiegart as difference makers.

Last year leading up to the Northwestern game I warned of the obvious trap senario. Northwestern had it down on how to disrupt young teams. Many laughed at me. Then they were ************ at me when I bet Northwestern and the points. I remembered Osborne's words and looked at the many underclassmen playing for Nebraska. I hated to win that bet............well kinda.

Having many upperclassmen on your team isn't a bad thing and yes its good to find underclassmen with maturity. Pensick should have the upper hand with experience and calling the line calls. I do like a center with some push though. Especially with a guy like Marrow blasting through the middle. Since we missed the spring fling I am guessing that some underclassmen emerged and seperated from the pack. Reeves, Cotton and Moore will be tough to keep out of the rotation and if one of them can snap a ball, Pensick may have some trouble holding them off. No spring game leaves a lot for the imagination.

[ThotDoc]

FYI - I will bet you a toothpick that Cole Pensick is the starting center when the season begins. I would like to see Reeves as well but history with this coaching regime has shown them to be pretty conservative with the choice of center's. Caputo was solid as will be Pensick and maybe the cerebral-ness of these two players is something we can not measure but I'd like to get back to the Hickman type players.

I still remember to this day Caputo getting blown up and stepping on and re-spraining TMs ankle a couple of years ago.

I agree. I think Pensick is the starter and Reeves will get his snaps.

Very solid post Train. Our success at Nebraska will always begin and end with our offensive line.

[wcbsas]

Conservative? The staff has repeatedly said they wouldn't have traded Caputo for any C in the country, and it's hard not to take that at face value. He got 'blown up' primarily due to a torn meniscus in his knee, not because of size, strength, or any other fan-perceived deficit. Why does misinformation like this persist?

What would you expect the staff to say?

Caputo was an average center IMO. Hickman was better. And there were others before that were even better. If he had a torn MCL and was still playing what does that say about the depth?

I suspect the coaches place a lot of responsibility on the center for line calls, checks and audibles and as such this position carries more mental responsibility than the other four positions.

This is also why I think Pensick has the edge over other candidates.

[OldRedWood]

Pipelines are serious stuff in Nebraska. Canadian oil will flow through Nebraska before long. It won't be the only pipeline under construction. They still talk about that bunch in the roaring nineties. That group of offensive linemen that ground some of the best defensive lines in the college game to dust. It was a 60 minute battle that always saw the forth quarter turn into routes. Flat bellied three hundred pound athletes. Nebraska had that rep as being the school that created offensive linemen. So much that they named a trophy after one. Nebraska players collected a lot of hardware in the last forty or fifty years.

It was a process that took young athletic kids and did not put them on the field of play until they were seasoned and ready. They were smart and they had all the bugs removed from their collective games. It was about collecting many kids and developing them for their last year or two of eligibility. This season they have many bodies on the assembly line. At least 28 names all working to be in the rotation. Rotations were something lost in the last decade. Rotation back in the 70's, 80"s and 90's meant that there were at least two full strings of quality players that created those dams breaking frequently in the latter stages of the games. Due to gaps in recruiting and many transitions, there were not many seasons of having a rotation in the past ten or twelve years. That appears to be changing.

Fifth year seniors were coach Tenipor's goal back in his days as the offensive line guru. Lately we have seen underclassmen having to learn on the job as starters and many times without relief. Back in the day those offensive linemen were the smartest kids on the roster. Many academic All-Americans and running a very complicated and sophistic line call system. Being able to do it in their sleep. Some tall some not so tall. All with leverage and techniques with few errors. You could go through an entire game sometimes without a penalty called on the offensive front. All very in control and unmoved by the jawing of the defenders. All knowing that the wheels would fall off the defenders in the forth quarter.

Coach Cotton had to deal with several different offenses and collection of techniques used by two different coordinators. The WCO and it's passive techniques are gone now. Cotton and his assistant coach Garrison can now teach the Nebraska way of blocking again. Downhill and brutal. The Tenipor way of football that they knew so well. Cotton got a bad rap doing other coaches' bidding. Still a year or two away from having those fifth year senior fronts of the past, but edging ever closer with each season.

Seung Hoon Choi, Spencer Long, Andrew Rodriguez, Brent Qvale and Jeremiah Sirles all with experience and starts under their belts. Even some very young players with starts such as Tyler Moore and Jake Cotton. Cole Pensick, Ryne Reeves, Mark Pelini, Ryan Klachko, Mike Moody, Brandon Chapek, Justin Jackson, Brandon Thompson, Adam Kucera all with time in this offense. Close to thirty names all working to get into the rotation. Spencer Long made all conference last season and I wouldn't be too surprised if some others encroached on the lists this season. Tyler Moore a true frosh was a starter at the beginning of the 2011 season but was injured early on is back again. Jake Cotton as well in the rotation early on in 2011 returns as well.

The 2012 season looks good on paper. The 2013 season looks to be a special season when most of the linemen return again. The teaching of another new system can be replaced this year by refining what was learned last year. You have to expect some big strides the next two years. Maybe not a pipeline yet, but at least the system is aiming at the old tried and true ways of yesterday. This group has leaders now. It has time to mesh and refine it's game. To play fast and watch each others backs. Now to hopefully have it all upstairs and avoid those underclassmen mistakes and penalties. Looks to be this groups year to take a big step. To have a familiar playbook and have the game slow down, so as to not make the mistakes of the past. We watched Wisconsin and their veteran line show how upper classmen do it in 2011. It's Nebraska's turn to be the veterans for the next two years and beyond. Experience means less errors and penalties. Once the assembly line is at full capacity again, then just maybe the oil will again flow and the system will find consistency from season to season.

Whose your guess for the rotation in 2012? Maybe a little more complicated with many more names this season. Not having a spring game gives us little help. There will be a sleeper or two.

My best guess but only a guess at this point.

Jeremiah Sirles T
Spencer Long G
Ryne Reeves C
Seung Hoon Choi G
Andrew Rodriguez T

Tyler Moore and Ryan Klachko first in the bull pen. Others in the rotation Brandon Thompson, Brent Qvale and Cole Pensick.

When coach pelini kept saying this was a "process," many, who were impatient, somewhat mocked him. They wanted instant gratification. OK, no problem...I understand. But it is a process. This year, from all reports, the team is united in its stated goal to win every game. Many of the "practical" fans see that as a near impossibility...or at least highly unlikely. So the team's expectations are higher than the fan's. No problem. Then think of this year as a gigantic year-long practice session for a big time run at the mNC next year. Everybody will be "seasoned" one more year, one more year stronger, one more year to slow down the game. I can see it. If the football gods line up and get on the same page, we have got a serious shot in 2013.

[YUENGLING]

The 1971 National Championship team to a man claimed they won ( including me many consider the greatest team in NCAA history) that season because they wanted to prove themselves EVERY game and said it was leadership within the team that motivated them.
This team is loaded with VETERAN seniors ( tons of playing time) starters Burkhead, Cotton, Reed, Marlow, Whaley, Fisher, Compton, Meredith, Steinkuler, Martin, Maher, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some.They have a two year starter back at QB and some incredible young talent. This could be a VERY special year.

[FeelLikeAStranger]

What would you expect the staff to say?

Caputo was an average center IMO. Hickman was better. And there were others before that were even better. If he had a torn MCL and was still playing what does that say about the depth?

I suspect the coaches place a lot of responsibility on the center for line calls, checks and audibles and as such this position carries more mental responsibility than the other four positions.

This is also why I think Pensick has the edge over other candidates.

Who was recruited at C after Hickman in 2005 (and greyshirted)? That's right, no one. Caputo was a 2007 walk-on. What do you expect our coaching staff to do, manufacture a player out of thin air? Start a FR that's not ready because YOU think the starter is "average"? Sorry, I'm not buying what you or the other "experts" that continually denigrated Caputo are selling.

An MCL tear is a LOT different than a torn meniscus, by the way. Yes, it does require more mentally than the other positions.

Pensick definitely has the edge and I'm doubting it's very close at this point. I would like to see Reeves get some PT this year, as we DO need to develop depth at that position. At least we have more than one option at this point.

[Bo Pelinis Gum]

What would you expect the staff to say?

Caputo was an average center IMO. Hickman was better. And there were others before that were even better. If he had a torn MCL and was still playing what does that say about the depth?

I suspect the coaches place a lot of responsibility on the center for line calls, checks and audibles and as such this position carries more mental responsibility than the other four positions.

This is also why I think Pensick has the edge over other candidates.

I would say he was far better than average. Was he Riola, Taylor or Remington? No. He was as reliable a center as we could have asked for, and that’s huge. In about 15 seconds time from breaking the huddle, if there is any, and getting to the line, the center does about 95% or pre-snap activity for the offence. He calls the defense. A 4-3 and a 4-4 can look identical with a safety walked up, but have drastic differences as far as what the line is responsible for. He then calls the point, or the defender the line is responsible for in a blitz. This alerts the RB's, who they are responsible in the event they bring more than the line can block, and the QB who he’s accountable for, or who to read the hots on in the event they bring everyone. He then calls the direction the line moves on slide protection. Sounds pretty easy right? Let’s say that safety drops back before the snap, or the d-line shifts, now everything changes, and guess who? Right.. the center has to make all those calls again, maybe in about 1-2 seconds time.

Caputo was right probably 95% of the time, when there were busts, it wasn’t off his calls; it was mental errors on an individual’s part. He was a darn good center. Could he handle good 1 techniques 1 on 1? Id say he was about 50-50 but its easy in a 4 man front, the 1 technique will usually always get doubled up by the center and the uncovered guard. 5 mans, different story. But we played against very little 5 man fronts, so he usually always had guard help. Ill say this, as far as peeling off and picking up stunts or blitzes, Caputo was as good as they came. Very smart player that made everyone around him better. We will miss him immensely.

[wcbsas]

Who was recruited at C after Hickman in 2005 (and greyshirted)? That's right, no one. Caputo was a 2007 walk-on. What do you expect our coaching staff to do, manufacture a player out of thin air? Start a FR that's not ready because YOU think the starter is "average"? Sorry, I'm not buying what you or the other "experts" that continually denigrated Caputo are selling.

An MCL tear is a LOT different than a torn meniscus, by the way. Yes, it does require more mentally than the other positions.

Pensick definitely has the edge and I'm doubting it's very close at this point. I would like to see Reeves get some PT this year, as we DO need to develop depth at that position. At least we have more than one option at this point.

We have Caputo a former walk-on, Pensick who I think was a walk-on and certainly moved over from the defense.

We're year 5 into the Pelini recruiting cycle I would like to see him garner a scholarship athlete. Maybe Reeves will be that guy or nephew Pelini down the road. Do I expect him (BP) to manufacture one out of thin air? No I expect him to recruit, sign and develop a couple.

If we're talking about arguably the most important position on the OLine don't you think we should rely on more than just walk-ons and defensive players?

I understand your support and I'm not asking you to "buy" anything. You have your opinion that he was better than I think he is ... I offer that much of the offenses "struggles" the last couple of years traces to the OLine's inability to consistently perform. That inability may be due to inexperience, injuries, coaching, lack of depth, lack of recruiting initially ... I do think it isn't just coincidence THE most important position of the OLine was manned by Caputo during a time when the OLine as a whole underperformed.