Nebraska Football: Reviewing The Overall Coaching Bill
If you’re going to put together a top notch football program in today’s modern age, there’ll probably be quite a bit of money spent. Nebraska football‘s attempt at a revival is no exception.
USA Today recently released its annual database of college football assistant’s salaries, so why not take a look at what the Big Red’s paying for?
DANNY LANGSDORF. A-. Langsdorf hasn’t quite been able to run the offense that he and Nebraska football head coach Mike Riley want to just yet. That said when you have to shape an offense around one specific player, you’re going to earn your paycheck. <p>While the Nebraska offense doesn’t look phenomenal on the 2016 stat sheets, the offensive gameplans didn’t just have to be drawn up for the opposition. The shortage of depth across the offensive line meant that the margin for error was slim, especially when it came to getting the running game going.</p> <p>Overall, Langsdorf did essentially take the same 2015 offense and helped guide Tommy Armstrong (and even Ryker Fyfe) to win games. A nine-win season is one heck of an improvement from six and ten is still a very realistic possibility.</p> <p>We haven’t seen what Riley and Langsdorf want to do just yet. However, the work getting the most out of Tommy Armstrong, Jr. was definitely worth the check.</p>. Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach. $527,875
REGGIE DAVIS. B-. Davis had four main running backs to work with in Terrell Newby, Devine Ozigbo, Mikale Wilbon and Tre Bryant. Newby did a fantastic job going from jitterbug to carrying the team on his back for long slogs at a time. Ozigbo started out well as a bruiser but faded later in the season in no small part thanks to a nagging ankle injury. Wilbon was mostly used for work on flare screens and Bryant showed flashes of elite speed. Fullbacks like Luke McNitt were mostly used for run blocking duty.. Running Backs Coach. $350,000
A+. One of the staff’s best recruiters, Williams is worth every penny. Not only is his coaching style a sight to behold, he gets results. Despite Armstrong’s erratic passing at times, four receivers averaged at least 35 yards per game. Of course, he had Jordan Westerkamp for two years which made things a little easier, but more fun is coming in 2017. Nebraska already has legacy Keyshawn Johnson, Jr. in the bag. There are some other potential big-time wide receivers that could commit to Nebraska who would get in the rotation immediately including five-star Joseph Lewis. Oh and there’s the little matter of NFL wide receivers coming back to train with him in the offseason.. Wide Receivers Coach. $400,000. KEITH WILLIAMS
I don’t think we know the whole story about Cavanaugh just yet. He’s done an excellent job at developing left tackle Nick Gates and left guard Jerald Foster. There’s a lot of young talent that will see playing time soon such as Bryan Brokop, Michael Decker, Matt Farniok, John Raridon and others. He did a quality job developing walk-ons Sam Hahn and Cole Conrad who filled in for extensive stretches over the 2016 season. 2017 should shed some real light about whether this money is going to good use.. Offensive Line Coach. $450,000. MIKE CAVANAUGH. ?