Has anyone seen Bob Diaco?
Steven M. Sipple:Diaco warned of growing pains, and he got that part right
Diaco's defense needs serious work.
Hey, he warned us. The first-year Husker assistant made no bones last week that growing pains in his 3-4 system were a possibility.
"Game experience is invaluable," he said. "As you gain game experience, you can't help but get better and better. Practices are great, but playing in games is priceless. So, the evolution of the defense is going to be profound, and it'll never stop."
You don't have to be Kirk Herbstreit to deduce Nebraska might have to lean hard on its offense this season. We'll see. I would have loved to hear what Diaco had to say after the game, but he breezed past reporters without comment. That's unfortunate.
As poorly as Mark Banker's defense played at times, he never ducked out on postgame interviews. Langsdorf always is there to take questions.
Maybe Diaco will be available to media this week. I hope so. There's plenty to discuss.
Tanner Lee, Tre Bryant among offensive stars, but defense has hiccups in wild contest too close for comfort
But Diaco’s defense gave up 497 yards and 32 first downs before all that. The defense’s often tentative performance overshadowed, to some small degree, a sparkling debut for quarterback Tanner Lee — who threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns — a breakout performance from running back Tre Bryant and a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by JD Spielman. NU even had two interceptions and forced a safety.
Outside of telling reporters “excuse me,” as he walked to the elevator, Diaco had no comment. When asked about the performance of Diaco’s defense, coach Mike Riley paused for three seconds and slightly chuckled. He was in no particular mood to critique his high-priced coordinator. Riley said he liked how certain aspects of the defense were called and how the Husker D communicated.
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As the smoke continues to clear after what was by and large a terrifying outing against the Arkansas State Redwolves, one narrative seems to be leading the pack. That is one of the #Nebraska football’s defensive coordinator not talking to media after his team won the game. The rationale for why Bob Diaco should have been available after the game is rather obvious.
The Husker defense allowed 29 points (and another seven on a punt return) and almost 500 total yards of offense. Considering this was the first game under Diaco’s new 3-4 defense, the media was understandably curious as to what he had to say about what kind of improvements and corrections needed to be made.
While it would have been nice to see Diaco stand at the podium after the game and talk about those things, it appears as though the media wants to talk about what he didn’t say, more than they want to talk about what happened on Saturday night.
Why the Nebraska media has a point
After spending all summer seeing the Huskers offense talk about how good the defense has looked going up against them, there are some obvious questions as to why it looked so bad on Saturday night. The best person suited to answer those questions is, of course the defensive coordinator. The head coach, for his part, just made some comments about how he liked the direction of the defense.
That comment alone was enough to make people scratch their heads and wonder if they were seeing something the coaches weren’t. It’s why they wanted to see what the defensive coordinator had to say about the subject.
The media has also been burned by a defensive minded coach before. There were plenty of times Bo Pelini was nothing more than a world class jerk after a game. Diaco picking up and leaving, without a single comment seems like he’s acting quite a bit like Pelini in that regard.
Why the media needs to chill and just cover Nebraska football’s performance
A quick look at both the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Stars that every major writer for both papers has made some nod towards Diaco not talking after the game. Some writers have come out and said it is the duty of the defensive coordinator to talk about what happened when things go so wrong.
Others have claimed they are simply looking out for the fans. The fact of the matter is that the media seems to be going after Diaco because he didn’t act as they expected. One has to wonder if this is a good approach to take with a coach who is new to the program and who has his work cut out for him already. #Bob Diaco #NCA
I totally agree with Chris, all you will get from any coach after a game like that is coach speak and speculation. Mike Riley needs to be at the podium to answer all the burning questions. This is game one and I'm not sure I'm ready to start calling coaches names or try to figure out hidden agendas...especially if there are none. We gave other coaches way more time to present their personalities before we decided what kind of person they are/were. The media has a responsibility to report, but they don't have any rights as to who they must talk to, some of them have been around the program for years and they have a reputation that precedes them also.... let's let this program mature a little with the new staff before we start flinging arrows and attaching blame.
The media has also been burned by a defensive minded coach before. There were plenty of times Bo Pelini was nothing more than a world class jerk after a game. Diaco picking up and leaving, without a single comment seems like he’s acting quite a bit like Pelini in that regard.
So if Mike Riley is the voice of the program what was Coach Langsdorf and Coach Banker?
Court Jesters?
I'll be honest on this one. I don't think assistant coaches in general need to be at post game pressers. The way it should work is the head coach and maybe a few of the players be available to the press after a game. Coach Diaco is not the CEO of this program. Coach Diaco is not the face of the program. Coach Diaco is the defensive coordinator. Yes, he should be available to answer questions but not right after the game. I think more than anything the press needs to give the assistants time to break down the film and go from there. If the press can be patient enough to wait till Monday night maybe Tuesday to ask what the coaches saw, the answers will have more substance. I rather have more answers of substance than coach speak anyway.
In the debut performance of Bob Diaco's Husker defense, Nebraska surrendered 497 yards and 32 first downs over the course of 89 plays. Arkansas State quarterback Justice Hansen threw the ball 68 times. Quick stuff. Like bubble screens. Nebraska didn't tackle particularly well on the edge, or failed to get through blocks to get to the receiver.
Seriously, you are going to start calling Diaco names because he didn't answer questions for the press?
Okay Maybe an as$hole was too harsh. It got you to respond. For the record I like the hire. I just expected more. Plus I have heard Bobs pressers and he doesn't say much.
At least I got you to respond.
I just heard a comparison of Bob Diaco to Kevin Cossgrove!
The last week I listened to numerous sound bits from Coach Bob Diaco on several Sport Talk shows.
Coach Bob gives the impression the thinks he is smarter than us, the reporter who is asking the questions and anyone else listening.
Coach Bob is arrogant. He thinks he is the smartest person in the room. He answers questions like an arrogant politician. Never actually answering the question because were not worthy.
Huh? What? Wait?
Okay Bob how about sticking to coach speak.
If you're hoping to be Head Coach Bob someday you might not talk to the most knowledgeable fans like they are stupid.