@HuskerDan: I've heard nothing to suggest they didn't go well.
@Steve: Gracias for the compliment. I think most coaches avoid that sort of thinking. I think Riley definitely avoids it. He can't afford to be caught up in worrying. That slows down the process. And one thing Nebraska can't afford is to slow down as it tries to catch Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin.
@Robin: I don't see any questions except the ones that appear on the screen. In other words, no, I don't see questions that were submitted before the chat.
@rickylee41: Ricky, with due respect, that seems like an odd barometer -- to put that much weight on what occurs during a certain part of the season.
@kelsanova: As Mike Riley said Friday, it's easier to find linebackers in recruiting than it is finding defensive linemen. There are simply more people walking the earth that are in the 6-foot-2, 220-pound range than in the 6-foot-4, 300-pound range. It becomes a numbers game. The change to a 3-4 also can help special teams because you fill your roster with more athletes who can run and hit.
@RilesInCharge: I think it's impossible to say for sure. I will say this: I've been told that the Ohio State coaching staff mentality is akin to a hired-gun approach. The notion of camaraderie takes a back seat to the notion of winning. If you're Riley, you hope the coaches make it work professionally, and keep winning as the driving force on a day-to-day basis. Does that make sense?
@Robin: I definitely got that sense. Glad you asked.
@HuskerDan: I agree. The schedule becomes ridiculously difficult, which is why Nebraska needed to stockpile wins against Michigan, Ohio State and Rutgers. The next win? You hope for an upset of Purdue on Sunday at PBA. The Boilermakers' size is of obvious concern, but it is less of a concern if you can push the pace -- get those bigs on the run.
@MarkJ: I feel bad for Amy Williams because I know she walked into a very difficult situation -- she didn't even know what she was getting into.
@Robin: There's no question about that. Huge losses for the program. I've talked to Banker about it. Believe me, he understood the ramifications of losing those guys.
@NewportRed: Nebraska badly needs to pull an upset or two in the next three games. Without Ed Morrow, that will be difficult. I still believe Miles has done a good job recruiting. But he has to figure out how to win without Morrow because I don't think Ed will return for quite some time.
@Wenjo: I regard that as sort of an under-the-radar question in terms of importance. The easy answer is fans will respond with enthusiasm as long as wins are piling up -- including wins this coming November at Minnesota and Penn State. The late November wind and cold at Penn State would test the best NFL quarterbacks. Same goes for Minneapolis in November, obviously.
@FLhusker: Riley was asked who might play nose tackle, and he immediately threw out the names Carlos Davis and Mick Stoltenberg, although you could tell there is plenty of evaluation to be done before settling on roles. I do think Davis will end up in the middle, flanked by Stoltenberg and Freedom Akinmoladun. Riley mentioned Freedom mentioned as a possibility for short-side outside linebacker. But in my opinion, Akinmoladun, at 6-4, 260-plus (conservative), has outgrown OLB.
@RilesInCharge: Thank you for the question. It's a difficult and layered conversation. Loyalty is an admirable quality. But head coaches obviously can be loyal to a fault.
@JC: Well, thank you for the kind words. I tell people all the time that Los Angeles is my favorite place to visit. Love Dodger Stadium. Love Pasadena. Loved watching the Lakers at the old Forum in Inglewood. Loved staying on Hollywood Boulevard and seeing Little Richard in the Hyatt where I was staying. I think he lived on the top floor. I saw him a few times -- enough times that we started small talk a few times. I'll never forget it.
@Brit: Oregon will have a new system, too. I'm not that pessimistic. I leave open the possibility of immediate improvement -- much like in 2003 when the Husker defense went from 55th to 11th nationally in Bo Pelini's first season in charge of the unit.
@Buster: He's been on the road at least one day.
@rickylee41: Fire away. You never need to ask.
@rickylee41: Seems like a loaded question.
@jvicke36: A few names come to mind: Elijah Blades, Randal Grimes and Deommodore Lenoir. Also, the Los Angeles Hawkins High tandem of Joseph Lewis and Greg Johnson is a long-shot for Nebraska, but I still would keep my eye on that situation come signing day.
@RilesInCharge: More research needed before I would venture to answer that question.