What a contrast...

[Wingback Reverse]

As I watched last night's BCS Championship Game, I couldn't help but see a remarkably sharp contrast between the preparation and discipline of the Nick Saban coached Alabama team and what we have seen the past few years from our Nebraska team.  Now granted, I certainly understand there is a talent gap involved, but what I am referring to has nothing to do with talent.  It has to do with preparation and discipline.

Here is what we witnessed from Alabama that really caught my attention:

1.  No turnovers
2.  One meaningless penalty (an off sides penalty on an LSU punt with around 3 minutes remaining in the game)
3.  Absolutely no defensive breakdowns that I can recall (less than 100 yards of offense and only five first downs allowed)

Like Nick Saban or not, he knows how to prepare his team for a big game.  Again, in my more than humble opinion, this has absolutely nothing to do with talent.  It has to do with preparation and discipline.

This is certainly not intended to be a "Bash Bo" thread, as I have been a supporter of him from day one (although, for a variety of reasons, my patience is beginning to thin a bit).  But all I can say is - contrast what you saw in Alabama last night (from a discipline standpoint) with what we have witnessed in big games played by Nebraska the past few years.  I think we can all agree, it is very striking.

[jd]

They should have had another penalty, IMO.  The "fair catch" that LSU got a PF on I thought was not a valid fair catch.  I thought the signal had to be above the head.  If it would have been close, I could understand, but  I don't know that it was above the shoulder.  Don't know that it changes much in the game as LSU's offense couldn't do a thing.  Not sure why Miles wouldn't insert Lee at QB to try to provide a spark.  Jefferson was very ineffective.  At some point, you need to try something to jumpstart the offense.

[MadRat]

The musculature is night and day difference between Nebraska and Alabama right now.  I think it translates to work ethic and dedication out side the season.

[nickman23]

The talent of both of these teams is off the charts.  When you have that kind of talent and it executes and plays a great game, you see what these teams are capable of.  If we played mistake free football and so did LSU or Bama, we lose, they have more talent. But if we play discipline mistake free ball and they do not, it will always be close.  The problem is they have so much talent, that they do make mistakes, but other cover them and the mistakes get hidden.  You have D line man blast up the field and over run the play and another one makes a great play and covers it.  I am not bashing Bo at all, you give Bo those kids on either teams D and he will coach a masterpiece. Bo is a great chef, and those teams have top notch ingredients to make the meal from. 

[RED ED]

over signing and having tryouts and cuts might have a lil something to do with it to

[H-Town Husker]

I really noticed it in Alabama.  Yes they have freaks all over the field, especially on D, but they were discliplined too.  They didn't hit people out of bounds, didn't make mental mistakes, were super disciplined, and looks like they policed themselves as well.  I saw where things could have gotten a little chippy but a teammate would pull his guy away and give him an earful.  Saban, although is a snake, is a GREAT college football coach.  I really think it will be hard to beat Alabama as long as he's around, and the NCAA doesn't sniff around too much. 

[tfree32]

I really noticed it in Alabama.  Yes they have freaks all over the field, especially on D, but they were discliplined too.  They didn't hit people out of bounds, didn't make mental mistakes, were super disciplined, and looks like they policed themselves as well.  I saw where things could have gotten a little chippy but a teammate would pull his guy away and give him an earful.  Saban, although is a snake, is a GREAT college football coach.  I really think it will be hard to beat Alabama as long as he's around, and the NCAA doesn't sniff around too much. 

Agreed. That's a far far better team than we are right now. Better talent, better coaching, better run organization, etc. But Alabama's hardly unique in that regard. While tha gap between Alabama and Nebraska may be the largest, there are any number of teams that similarly have better talent, better coaching and better operations generally than we do right now.

[Big Sky Husker]

As I watched last night's BCS Championship Game, I couldn't help but see a remarkably sharp contrast between the preparation and discipline of the Nick Saban coached Alabama team and what we have seen the past few years from our Nebraska team.  Now granted, I certainly understand there is a talent gap involved, but what I am referring to has nothing to do with talent.  It has to do with preparation and discipline.

Here is what we witnessed from Alabama that really caught my attention:

1.  No turnovers
2.  One meaningless penalty (an off sides penalty on an LSU punt with around 3 minutes remaining in the game)
3.  Absolutely no defensive breakdowns that I can recall (less than 100 yards of offense and only five first downs allowed)

Like Nick Saban or not, he knows how to prepare his team for a big game.  Again, in my more than humble opinion, this has absolutely nothing to do with talent.  It has to do with preparation and discipline.

This is certainly not intended to be a "Bash Bo" thread, as I have been a supporter of him from day one (although, for a variety of reasons, my patience is beginning to thin a bit).  But all I can say is - contrast what you saw in Alabama last night (from a discipline standpoint) with what we have witnessed in big games played by Nebraska the past few years.  I think we can all agree, it is very striking.

Saban really schooled Miles last night.  Alabama was ready to play... and LSU wasn't. 

And Nebraska has a lot of work to do to get to the Crimson Tide level of play. 

[SUHnami]

I really noticed it in Alabama.  Yes they have freaks all over the field, especially on D, but they were discliplined too.  They didn't hit people out of bounds, didn't make mental mistakes, were super disciplined, and looks like they policed themselves as well.  I saw where things could have gotten a little chippy but a teammate would pull his guy away and give him an earful.  Saban, although is a snake, is a GREAT college football coach.  I really think it will be hard to beat Alabama as long as he's around, and the NCAA doesn't sniff around too much. 

This is that onfield leadership I've mentioned in the past that Nebraska lacks right now.  If we get that we'll be that much better.

[Jarhead Husker]

I really noticed it in Alabama.  Yes they have freaks all over the field, especially on D, but they were discliplined too.  They didn't hit people out of bounds, didn't make mental mistakes, were super disciplined, and looks like they policed themselves as well.  I saw where things could have gotten a little chippy but a teammate would pull his guy away and give him an earful.  Saban, although is a snake, is a GREAT college football coach.  I really think it will be hard to beat Alabama as long as he's around, and the NCAA doesn't sniff around too much. 

This is that onfield leadership I've mentioned in the past that Nebraska lacks right now.  If we get that we'll be that much better.

Very true, but we also need a little dose of those players they were fielding........

[tfree32]

I really noticed it in Alabama.  Yes they have freaks all over the field, especially on D, but they were discliplined too.  They didn't hit people out of bounds, didn't make mental mistakes, were super disciplined, and looks like they policed themselves as well.  I saw where things could have gotten a little chippy but a teammate would pull his guy away and give him an earful.  Saban, although is a snake, is a GREAT college football coach.  I really think it will be hard to beat Alabama as long as he's around, and the NCAA doesn't sniff around too much. 

This is that onfield leadership I've mentioned in the past that Nebraska lacks right now.  If we get that we'll be that much better.

Very true, but we also need a little dose of those players they were fielding........

Yes we could. The gap in talent is distressing to say the least. I was thinking we might be able to make a run in 2013. But I'm really doubting we can get our team ready and able to compete at that level in two years.

Alabama obviously had the better game last night. But either one of those teams would beat Nebraska senseless for 60 minutes.

[H-Town Husker]

I'm not convinced LSU would beat us senseless, their O looked horrible last night.  However, a lot of that was how great 'Bama's D looked.  I knew LSU's QB's would bite them in the rear some time this season, Miles has been making deals with the devil for a couple years now. 

[tfree32]

I'm not convinced LSU would beat us senseless, their O looked horrible last night.  However, a lot of that was how great 'Bama's D looked.  I knew LSU's QB's would bite them in the rear some time this season, Miles has been making deals with the devil for a couple years now. 

LSU's offense would have more than enough to cause us fits. I think that Alabama defense would cause any team some serious problems.

[Valiantsailor]

Agreed the Tide was really prepared for LSU.  They were about taking care of business and it showed.

One thing I noticed was the LSU offense simply stunk.  I do not believe the Bama defense did anything but stop the run and force the pass which is exactly what Bama wanted.  I dont think that QB at LSU needs to worry about playing on Sunday.

[Chaddyboxer]

The musculature is night and day difference between Nebraska and Alabama right now.  I think it translates to work ethic and dedication out side the season.

I think that plays a small part....I would beg to differ and suggest that genetic potential is a bigger factor. These boys are natural FREAKS. The coaches see this potential on the recruiting front and they snatch these players up in a heart beat. There are rare breeds that develop much faster and gain muscle much easier than other athletes...LSU and Bama happen to offer them and pick them up (probably by any means necessary).