@TO: I'm not sure what the hell I was thinking when I wrote "loup." Perhaps I should be thrown to the "wolf."
@BigRedneck: Your "take" is an example of why I really appreciate these chats. I mostly talking about the last part, on how coaching these days perhaps should be judged. That's something else for me to ponder.
@Jack72: I've never believed that Frost coming back is a given. He's an independent thinker. What's more, I know this: It would take the right A.D. to draw Frost back to a region that isn't loaded with the type of fleet skill talent he needs in his fast-paced offense.
Sorry about the delay, I had to open up new supply of Fig Newtons and get some more coffee.
@NewportRed: Newport! That is what I call a loaded question.
@SiliconValleyHusker: Once again, another excellent question that stimulates my brain on a dreary day in Lincoln. I don't think your "take" is unfair. But you can understand why it is impacting to read that in writing ... It puts pressure on those kids. Wow. If you think about it in the terms you suggest, well, that's a lot of weight on those young men's shoulders. Which just may be another reason why Tanner Lee should be considered the favorite. He's basically a grown man -- the age of an NFL rookie. He probably is more equipped to handle that pressure. Sounds like a column!
@Ryan: Wilbon was a four-star running back coming out of De La Salle High School in Chicago. Highly touted. Then, yes, the former Nebraska coaching staff raved about his talent as a scout-team player. I know that last year, he struggled to gain a strong grasp of the new offense. I'm not sure exactly what led to his minimal playing time this year. I do hold out hope that he can make a late-career surge. One thing on which we can all agree: Players develop and mature at different rates. I use Tai Webster as an excellent example of a late bloomer, so to speak. I'm hoping Wilbon becomes another example.
@SiliconValleyHusker: To be fair, a lot of major-college teams missed out on Zenner. Same goes for Woodhead.
@TO: You know my background well. I spent quite a bit of time on the Loup outside of Columbus.
@NewportRed: Newport! You once again have come down hard with a loaded question!
@rluben: The 3-4/4-3 discussion is nuanced. We have to be careful. I have to be careful. I'm told Wisconsin's 3-4 actually is more of a "stunt 4-3," in that it essentially becomes a 4-3 on the snap.
@Wonder: For the sake of a (relatively) informal chat, I have what is probably an extremely misguided theory about not the soft-tissue injuries, but all the ankle/foot problems. It's a theory that Adidas would surely not like at all. Here goes: I despise the shoes Nebraska players wear for games. They look like ballet slippers, and probably have about as much support as ballet slippers. If I were a head coach, I would look into the issue immediately. I think many players care far too much about how they look.
@Zadi: "Transition shmanism." LOL. LOL. Thanks for that.
@NewportRed: The short answer is Miles, in my opinion, has recruited very well of late. I liked how this Big Ten season was shaping up until Morrow's foot ailment cropped up. I strongly believe Miles has set up the roster well for the immediate future, especially with the addition of the five-star transfer from Georgetown. Yes, I'm a bit concerned about Isaac Copeland's back issues, but you can watch his video as well as I can: The kid is a player with ample promise. Think about 6-foot-9 Copeland, Jacobson, Morrow and Tshimanga as interior players... And I think Glynn Watson is a bona-fide star in the making. The roster's overall length and athleticism has improved dramatically with Miles in charge.
@CD: I agree that we -- myself included -- tend to get ahead of ourselves. Chalk it up to enthusiasm.
@hus1ker: I will say it's pretty common to have two full-time coaches dedicated to the offensive line/ tight ends.
@CD: I strongly disagree that Ryker Fyfe wasn't a competent backup. Unfortunately, the media liked to portray it that way, thereby disrespecting Fyfe's ability. A lot of those media members were singing a different tune after the Music City Bowl, where Fyfe played well under the circumstances -- those circumstances being Derek Barnett in his grill the entire game.
@JimNE: You make a good point there, as usual.