I've always been a big fan of Sam and this is one of his best article's....Sam pretty much nails why this is perhaps Bo's best coaching job ever....
I know a couple of folks may not like what Sam is saying....but it is what it is....
Husker coach Bo Pelini didn't even want to look at the Legends Division champions hat. And he may not reflect much on one of his finer coaching performances.
» Nebraska's defense created turnovers: 12 since the second half of the Michigan game. It's the No. 1 factor in the winning streak; in the Pelini era, only the 2009 defense got more takeaways in the last six regular-season games. They helped offset NU's own (often ridiculous) giveaways. In it last five games, NU is actually plus-1 in turnover margin. That's after being minus-9 in the first seven games.
» Martinez ran the ball like he never has in conference play: He gained 495 yards the last six games, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. In an injury-hampered 2010, he ran for 216 yards and 4.1 yards per carry in NU's last six regular season games. In 2011, he ran for 253 yards and 3.4 yards per carry.
» Terrific fourth-quarter run defense: Nebraska gave up 3.4 yards per carry in six fourth quarters of the winning streak, and that includes the final 15 minutes against Minnesota, when the Huskers had backups on the field. Take out that game, and the per-carry average goes down to 3.24. No run longer than 17 yards. Just three runs longer than 8 yards, and two of those were quarterback scrambles. Opponents couldn't run out the clock on the Huskers. That set the stage for comebacks.
» Even better pass defense: Opposing quarterbacks completed just 40.5 percent of their passes in the six-game winning streak. For the year, the Huskers are now No. 1 nationally in pass defense and No. 2 in pass efficiency defense.
That identity points back to Pelini. He tabbed Martinez as his quarterback. It's his pass defense that frustrates Big Ten quarterbacks. It's Bo who instituted a push-up plan in practice when the Husker defense dropped interceptions.
Much much more of a great article by Sam well worth the click on the link to read....
http://www.neprepzone.com/article/20121125/HUSKERS/711259863
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