[Husker] Revealing OWH Chart

[Steve Reichenbach]

Okay, you've almost convinced me.  The defensive coaches are doing
a great job.  Wait, that's not quite right.  How does it go?  Oh,
yeah: They're doing a "heck of a job."  Now, if only their players
would do a "heck of a job", we'd all see what a "heck of a job" the
coaches are really doing.

I know that "benchmarks" aren't popular, but how are those nettlesome
benchmarks, like national rankings in the defensive rankings?

This year to date:
  Scoring defense: #66/119 (LSU is #1)
  Total defense: #45/119 (LSU is #1)
  Rushing defense: #99/119 (Penn St is #1, LSU is #3)
  Passing defense: #13/119 (Fresno St is #1, LSU is #2)
In 2006:
  Scoring defense: #24/119
  Total defense: #56/119
  Rushing defense: #37/119
  Passing defense: #79/119
In 2005:
  Scoring defense: #25/117
  Total defense: #26/117
  Rushing defense: #26/117
  Passing defense: #43/117
In 2004:
  Scoring defense: #71/117
  Total defense: #56/117
  Rushing defense: #11/117
  Passing defense: #110/117
In 2003 (Solich/Pelini):
  Scoring defense: #2/117
  Total defense: #11/117
  Rushing defense: #24/117
  Passing defense: #11/117
In 2002 (Solich, Bohl)
  Scoring defense: #45/117
  Total defense: #55/117
  Rushing defense: #49/117
  Passing defense: #57/117
In 2001 (Solich, Bohl)
  Scoring defense: #6/115
  Total defense: #8/115
  Rushing defense: #22/115
  Passing defense: #9/115

In the Callahan and Cosgrove era, NU has ranked in the top 25 in only
one of these four categories each year.  In 2003, the last year of
Solich/Pelini, NU was in the top 25 in all four of these categories
as they were in 2001 with Solich and Bohl as DC.  Even in 2002, when
Solich's team finished with a .500 record and Bohl was fired, NU
finished at #55 in total defense, which is better than 2 of the 3
years since the coaching change, and #45 in scoring defense, which
is better than the current ranking.  The rushing defense ranking has
gone down every year.

I'd sure like to be convinced they're doing a "heck of a job", so
I appreciate your arguments.  Please continue to help me with this,
because I'm struggling with being convinced.  Maybe if you'd pass a
little of the Kool-Aid it would help.


> Good point...
> I'm not saying there weren't big holes on occasion.  I stated that in MOST 
> cases, the right call was made.
> 
> USC ran the ball 38 times.  Do those 6 photos suggest that the other 32 
> times the holes weren't there?  Probably not, but even still, I have a 
> problem with stating that those photos indicate bad coaching decisions.
> 
> Photo #1 - Obvious hold just to the left of the ball carrier.  Another 
> player in position to make the tackle.  Player in the bottom right hand 
> corner...why was he clear back there?  Had he already missed the tackle? 
> Hard to tell without the entire sequence.
> 
> Photo #2 - No argument
> 
> Photo #3 - Missed arm tackle.  A player on each side of the stack...ready to 
> make the tackle.  What happened next?
> 
> Photo #4 - 3 Huskers in the backfield...all of them missed the tackle
> 
> Photo #5 - No argument
> 
> Photo #6 - No argument.
> 
> USC had 68 total plays on offense.  I don't have access to any photography, 
> but I imagine someone could come up with six pictures showing how the 
> Huskers defense dominated.
> 
> Finally, check this article out:
> 
> Husker players, coaches stand by Cosgrove
> http://journalstar.com/articles/2007/09/19/huskerextra/football/doc46f09905441b7816946700.txt