Husker Coach Bo May Just Need A Time Out

Husker followers will be all geeked up by a media blackout that head coach Bo Pelini has put on regarding practice until the end of the week.

"Oh no! No access! Whatever will we do? How WILL we fill the time and space?"

I can see it and hear it now. And my thought is, "Good grief people, it's only the 18th of August for pete's sake."

To me, all this is is the Coach calling a time out. And I think it's a good call. I mean, how many times can the guy talk for 5 minutes or whatever at the end of practice to a crush of microphones and cameras and say the same nothing phrases? Because that's what we're getting. Boiled down, shaken up, stirred 5 times, it amounts to Bo's version of Frank Solich saying "They moved around real well."

Well, if the most that can be said is a phrase that sounds like you're watching a horse show, then maybe it IS time to just take a break---send the camera crew to a high school practice--or maybe to see how the Midland College fall athletic season is going now that Midland has taken in a bunch of players from Dana in Blair--since Dana went bankrupt about 6 weeks before school was supposed to start.

Gee--real sports news. What a concept.

But, back to the Huskers--after all, this IS a Husker blog. I think another reason why Bo took a time out is because he doesn't want to let on how truly concerned he may be about how many holes this team has to fill. Because there's plenty of empty space that right now has potential, but few answers.

Let's review.

We start with this---there is only one--1--spot or unit on the team that is truly solid--where you absolutely KNOW what you're going to get based on past performance--and that is the kicking game with Alex Henery.

Yes, maybe cornerback--but I lump the CBs in with the overall defensive backfield, and that is not set at all. Also, maybe running back--although I don't know if our guys can stay healthy.

We lost 4 games last year because the offense was putrid. It looked great in games where Nebr had a huge physical advantage, but otherwise, come on. And enough with the Holiday Bowl giddiness--that doesn't mean a thing. How do we know that Arizona didn't basically say "Oh the hell with it" at the end of the season?

So now we come to the 2010 offense--and what? Pretty much the same outfit. Receivers who can maybe get the job done, maybe not. And O-line that does not have one single guy who folks can point to and say for sure, "Man--that dude is going to be in the League."

Then, of course--there's the QB situation. And here, from this fan's standpoint, I think that the best QB on talent and ability is freshman Brion Carnes. I think he's got the best throwing motion along with running ability combined. But--does a freshman QB get you to the title game? Also included here is the ongoing question of just how good an offensive coordinator Shawn Watson is. So far, I don't see him as a real guru.

Now to the D---and good lord people, the guts of this unit has to be replaced!---the best D-lineman in SCHOOL HISTORY---a linebacker who was a tackling machine--and BOTH SAFETIES. This was the unit that saved our bacon time after time after time in 2009---but has to have the middle re-built.

So you have all this construction that has to be done--some truly heavy-duty lifting---and then include the comments of "We're going to be better." Hmm.

I think Bo has tallied all this up, too. And if I were him I wouldn't want to do anything for a few days but just have practice either.

But, in thinking about it, isn't that why he's the man for the job? Because he has the priorities straight--get the team going and prepared. And when it's REALLY time for comments--after some action that means something--it'll be a lot easier to make remarks from the winning side. That's what we all want anyway.

Go Big Red!

The Old Husker Fan