Barney Cotton Relishes His Roles as Teacher, Big Picture Thinker and Dad

Randy York's N-Sider

To "Respond to Randy" click the link below and choose "Randy York's N-Sider" under "Area of Interest". Please include your name and where you live and comment on this column. Follow Randy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RandyYorkNsider

• Randy's N-Sider Archives
• Respond to Randy

Some coaches focus on explaining what to do, while others concentrate on inspiring. Barney Cotton, whose dad was the athletic director at the same Omaha Burke High School he attended, grew up with an appreciation for the educational component of athletics. "Hopefully, I can teach. That's what I aspire most to be - that and being a big-picture guy," Cotton told us when the N-Sider sat down with him to discuss Nebraska's 2011 offensive line. Ask any Husker coach or player, and he will confirm Cotton's passion to teach. The "big-picture" part of Nebraska's offensive line coach is also woven into his DNA. "It's part of having been a coordinator for so many years," he said. Cotton began his career as an offensive coordinator at St. Cloud (Minn.) State and kept that responsibility when he became head coach at Hastings (Neb.) College. After that, his first Division I full-time coaching experience was as an offensive coordinator for former Husker Tony Samuel at New Mexico State. In 2003, Cotton became Nebraska's offensive coordinator, helping the Huskers finish a 9-3 regular season under Frank Solich. That team, under interim head coach Bo Pelini, beat Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl. Cotton also was the offensive coordinator at Iowa State. "I enjoy being a teacher and a big-picture guy because the front has to match the rest of the unit," he said. Now that you know his background, we dig deeper into his philosophy. Please join our conversation with Cotton, who also happens to be the father of two potential Husker offensive starters this fall.

Q: John Garrison is a new member of the staff, helping you coach the offensive line. How much easier is it to coach when all that responsibility isn't solely on your shoulders?

A:  We're getting more done. The No. 1 thing is getting more reps in practice. In terms of preparation, now we can split in half and get two backside blocking schemes going at the same time or two front-side going at the same time or a front-side and a backside at the same time. While we're able to split up into two groups, Vince Marrow can take our tight ends into a third group. Last year, even if we tried to split up into two groups, we couldn't do it because John (Garrison) couldn't coach. So I would have one group (the line) and Ron (Brown) would have the other (the tight ends). That right there defeated the purpose of splitting up groups. Wherever I've been, even as a coordinator, I had always had a G.A. (graduate assistant) with the offensive line. Now we don't need a G.A. with the offensive line because we have two line coaches. The whole key is being able to have two sets of eyes instead of one. 

Q: One picture hanging on your wall shows three Nebraska players carrying Clete Fischer off the field. Another shows Milt Tenopir at an Outland banquet. Those two were such a tandem in your days as a Husker. What will it take for you and John to build that same kind of chemistry?

A: Clete and Milt had the same kind of thing going before Milt and Dan (Young) joined together. Once Clete retired, Milt became Clete, and Dan became Milt. I really enjoyed playing for Clete and Milt (intermixed with one season as a defensive tackle starter under Charlie McBride). John and I already kind of have that same chemistry because we've been working together for three years. He just hasn't been able to coach. So when Bo started talking to Tim (Beck) and I after he decided to make some changes "including adding another offensvie line coach," the first thing I told Bo was: "That coach is already here. John Garrison has been in our program for three years, and he's ready to get on the field."

Q: A great coach once said it's not what you tell players. The only thing that counts is what they hear. What did your linemen hear about this new offense last spring that got 'em in a groove against some formidable Blackshirts?

A: Well, this offense is simpler. Plus, we're doing things that have been in my background for a long time. Our splits are back to doing two-back things as well as one-back things. I think there's a comfort level amongst the staff, and that comfort level shows in the meeting room and in the way we teach, so the players are comfortable in what they're doing.

Q: It takes unselfish trust to transform an offense into something fast and physical. Without giving away secrets, what will be essence of an offense designed to impose its will on the defense?

A: The biggest thing is we want to play fast.We want to bring a better level of detail, fundamentals and simplicity which will allow to play at a fast pace. You want to make the defense defend the whole football field. You want to go "where they ain't" as some say. I'm not very smart, but I can count. I mean, if you have a numbers advantage on one side, then you would rather go there than go into where they have a numbers advantage. If it's even up, then you kind of take your pick. Tim and I are on the same page. As a coordinator, I always based things on being able to count, and so does Tim. You try to get good boxes. If you can run into a six-man box by removing one man rather than a nine-man box by keeping an extra guy, then run into a six-man box. If they're loading the box, then maybe we should be throwing the ball rather than banging our head against the wall. If it's a four-minute, close-out-the-game situation, you're going to have to find ways to run against loaded boxes. But you also want to make sure that if you're continually running into loaded boxes, you make the defense defend the whole field.

Q: Offensive line play is all about technique and pride. Isn't that the perfect two-word description for Mike Caputo?

A: He's a great technician. He plays with a lot of intensity, and he is a proud guy. He does not want to get beat. You'd like to line up with all five guys like that. Obviously, you wouldn't want all five of them to be six foot, but you would take five Caputo hearts to play with up front.

Q: I'm not trying to be negative, but going from a 35-point win at Washington to a 12-loss to the same team in San Diego seemed to start an emotional fire and trigger the offensive passion last spring?

A: We just didn't play well, and we didn't coach well. To imply we're more passionate now means we weren't passionate before, and I don't know if I'd go there. But I will say that the theme and the focus we had in the spring kept going in the summer based on what James Dobson and his staff have told us, and what we're seeing this fall. I see and sense an energy and a confidence that has carried over in all three areas - defense, offense and special teams. We have to have all three areas operating at a high level. You have to win at least two of those three areas every game to have a chance to win. You can't keep winning only on one side of the ball. Our strength coaches tell us this has been our best summer in terms of conditioning, teamwork and being unified.

Q: What did you see in Dobson that convinced you to recommend his hiring?

A: He worked for Chris Doyle when Iowa was recruiting Ben. I told Bo I was going to call Chris, so I did and said: "Chris, I know that we can't hire you, but you do you have anyone on your staff that's ready?" Chris told me opportunity had been there before, but James Dobson wasn't going to leave Iowa for just anywhere. Nebraska just might be one place that would interest him. He went through the interview process and ended up being the guy, and he certainly fits the mold of what we try to aspire to be. I mean, he's all in. There are no gray areas with James. It's all black-and-white, and when you think about it, that's kind of the mantra around here - there really are no gray areas in our approach.

Q: There were great expectations for Jermarcus "Yoshi" Hardrick last year. Perhaps those expectations were premature. This year's another story. Everybody's talking about this 6-7, 320-pound senior's discipline and desire. Tell us why

A: I think junior college kids have short windows and so a lot of expectations are heaped on their shoulders, and that's unfair. But they can also be their own worst enemies. Because they have such short windows, they can be very impatient as well and that's counterproductive. The good thing about Yoshi is he really likes this place, and his attitude seems to have improved. He knows he has one year left, and the things we've talked to him about doing, he's doing right now. He has really improved in the classroom, and the last time I saw his weight he was 319. We wanted him down to 320 by training camp and 315 by the time the season starts. He obviously bought into that because he's right on schedule. He was 350 when he got here and played in the low 330s last year. When Matt Slauson was here, he went from almost 360 to 317 for his senior year. Look at the senior year he had and the success he's having now, staying smaller as a starter for the New York Jets. So hopefully, the weight loss will lead to better conditioning. It's not necessarily hard to be good for three plays in a row. But when you have 8-, 10- and 12-play drives, and you have to do that over and over during a game, the extra weight you're carrying and your conditioning are big factors. There's no question that Yoshi is at a much different place than he was last year.

Q: Hard work and togetherness always go hand-in-hand. You have a lot of offensive linemen with big dreams. How much will they push each other to greater heights?

A: I hope they push each other a lot because competition is still the greatest motivator. Competition will motivate guys that aren't necessarily self-starters. We do whatever it takes. We played a fair amount guys our first year here, and injuries and other factors over the last two years have put a lot more scrutiny on us. People want to know why we aren't playing a lot more guys. Well, we make decisions on what we see. But this year, hopefully, we'll get back to where we're playing more than two guards. Last year, we played three tackles. We're going to be running at a faster pace and have more plays than we did last year. We plan to get more guys on the field. If we keep showing fresh legs, that has to help us be more productive.

Q: I'm not trying to put you on the spot but son Ben is a physical blocker, and younger brother Jake has positioned himself as a possible starter. Can you describe their drive and determination?

A: Jake is in the mix, but he has a lot to earn. As a dad, it would pretty cool to have two kids out there starting at the same time, but that's way premature. Jake has to earn a spot, and Ben has to earn it to keep his spot. Whether it's practice or a game, outwork everyone. A big part of being physical is outworking people. It's one thing to hit 'em hard and not finish. The finish is where all the hard work comes in.

Q: Where did you come up with that family mantra?

A: Every time I'd go out and compete, my dad told me the same thing. He (former Omaha Burke athletic director Dick Cotton) was a four-year starter on that UNO football team that played in the Tangerine Bowl. He was a good basketball player and baseball player and played at Omaha Tech High School with (Hall-of-Fame pitcher) Bob Gibson. They had some great players at Tech, and for him, it was always all about playing hard. That's always the most important message out of my mouth - how hard you play. That's the one thing you can control.

Q: Where does their drive and determination come from?

A: If you asked my kids what I said to them when they were little, they would probably tell you that before every practice and every game they ever played, I just told them to be the hardest working guy out there. I still say that. Before every game, I hug Ben and tell him to be the hardest working guy out there. I tell Jake the same thing, and I tell Sam (the youngest of three Cotton brothers) the same thing.

Q: Do you remember Daniel and Josh Bullocks or Grant and Tracy Wistrom as brothers that started for the Huskers? Can Ben and Jake Cotton join that elite list?

A: You know, the boys and I have never had that conversation. I just want all my boys to be the best they can be. I want 'em to be team guys - selfless and coachable and teachable ... those are the messages I give them and all the other guys that I coach. Ben knows that even when you earn a spot, you have to keep earning it every day so you can keep it.

Q: True freshman Tyler Moore's dad didn't start, but he lettered. So did a cousin. Why are our defensive coaches raving about Tyler as an offensive lineman?

A: He has very good feet and is pretty developed for a young guy. He was one of those guys that amazed us with his technique when he came to camp as a 10th-grader and an 11th-grader. It's kind of nice to have guys like Ryne Reeves and Tyler Moore come in the same freshman class. You think, oh my goodness, when half your recruiting class commit so early. We try to be two years early whenever possible. Tyler is a very athletic guy.

Q: I haven't even mentioned Jeremiah Sirles, Marcel Jones, Brent Qvale or Andrew Rodriguez. They're all prominent in the picture, aren't they?

A: Oh sure. Sirles started as a redshirt freshman. Marcel really hasn't played for a whole year, but we expect him to come back and have a fine senior year. We're going to see what Qvale can do at tackle rather than at guard. And Andrew is a guy I wish we could have redshirted last year. We played him in the K-State game, and he didn't really play much after that. As I look back, I don't know if that's ever happened where we played a guy like that. You want a freshman to play 20-some snaps a game or redshirt him. We didn't do that with Andrew. Hindsight's easy, but the decision was made because we were fighting injuries and weren't deep enough, so we had to go ahead and play him. Then we didn't play him. We can't do it over, but three years from now, we'll be kicking ourselves because Andrew will turn out to be what we hope he will be.

Q: I can think of several more names that should figure prominently in fall camp discussions. What kind of individual battles do you see and how will they translate into leadership, teamwork and overall character?

A: Brandon Thompson is a junior that will be competing for extensive time at guard. Spencer Long, a walk-on from Elkhorn, is on our two-deep at guard. We have to figure who's going to be our back-up center. There's real competition there - (Cole) Pensick, (Mark) Pelini or Reeves. We have to figure that one out. Caputo played hurt from the K-State game on last year, and that's a scary proposition when you think about who the backup is. We have some good guys competing for the job, but nobody has any snaps under their belt.

Q: Three pictures hang on the wall immediately outside your office - Tom Novak, Bob Brown and Dave Rimington. Were those the three best offensive linemen in Nebraska history?

A: All I know is that my dad told me that Tom Novak is the toughest guy ever to play at Nebraska. I met Tom, and he was a tough, tough guy. I never met Bob, but I know Dave. Both are legends, but a lot of other guys have come through here, too. I know those are three of the toughest ones. That's the greatest compliment you can have as an offensive lineman. You want to be called tough. Will Shields was as good as there was. He was tough. So was Dean Steinkuhler. We had a lot of great ones around here, and I'm hoping we'll have a couple guys who will emerge this year so people will want to call them tough.

Q: Carl Pelini is counting on this offensive line being extremely physical. How important is it for your guys to wage daily battles with the likes of Jared Crick, Eric Martin and Cameron Meredith?

A: We play against as good a defense and as good a scheme as we will ever play against in the fall. We're not bashful at practice. I mean, spring football is always 1s versus 1s, and fall camp traditionally is all 1s versus 1s until we get into the season. Then, for two or three days a week, we're going to be going "good versus" for short periods of time. There is no question that the better you practice and play, the better you have a chance to become. Whenever we have 1 on 1s and 2 on 2s, it's best against the best. That's the only way you can do it. I mean, this place is set up on competition. It's not so much competition for position as much as it is competition between the offensive line and the d-line.

Q: You had 15 practices last spring and gotten feedback from James Dobson, a strength coach you encouraged Bo to hire. What can we expect from a healthy Taylor Martinez playing behind what should be a vastly improved offensive line?

A: The same that applied to Jeremiah Sirles, who played as a redshirt freshman last year, applies to Taylor Martinez. I hope for huge improvement out of him just based on the fact that he has another year on his belt, he's had another winter, another spring and another summer. The same thing can be said about Taylor. You hope for huge improvement based on the same reasons. Just by the nature of being the quarterback, Taylor is in a leadership position. There will be different expectations placed on him rather than a lineman because he's the field general. My biggest hope is that having one more year of maturity and being in the program will be a huge difference maker for both.

Q: What about Rex Burkhead and those three freshmen running backs behind him?

A: I like Rex because he's full speed. He's not the fastest and not the biggest, but he may be the most committed and the most dedicated player on the team. And he's tough. Put those three things together, and you can overcome an awful lot of things. I know he's a very respected guy on our team because of the way he prepares off the field and on the field.

Q: Just have to ask a veteran offensive line coach about the speed and talent of those running backs behind Burkhead?

A: Just watching those guys on film, I was glad they're playing for us. They can run, they have vision, and I think they have pretty good hands, too. That's a nice combination. One thing I think we can have this year is to be an offense that can put more speed on the field. Speed is a huge asset to have, especially when you can put more than one or two guys on the field with great speed. We have good speed in the backfield, and our receiving corps has good speed. Our overall team speed on offense should be better this year than last year.

Q: Last question: What are you looking forward to most playing in the Big Ten?

A: Growing up, it was only the big schools you ever saw on TV ... Nebraska, Notre Dame ... I followed mostly Big Eight football. What's interesting for me is we're going places that I've never seen before. I've seen or played at Indiana, Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin, but I've never been inside the Horseshoe at Ohio State or the Big House at Michigan. I've never been to Penn State, never been to Michigan State. When I was at Iowa State, we had a big rivalry with Iowa, and I look forward to playing them because I have so much respect for Coach (Kirk) Ferentz and his staff and the way they do things. Having lived in Iowa for three years, I look forward to having a healthy competition with Iowa. Kirk Ferentz is a classy guy, and he has classy guys coaching with him. We had a great competition. Coach (Dan) McCarney was an Iowa guy coaching at Iowa State when I was there, and that really fueled the competition for him, which fueled it for us. Being neighboring states and having played in their venue, it's going to be interesting. They have a tough place to play, and we have a tough place to play. I think it will be a rivalry that will really take hold. I think a lot of Western Iowa has great loyalty for Nebraska football, but you get to the east side of Iowa or the Des Moines area, and you start to walk into Hawkeye Country. Iowa State does a great job over there, but Hawkeye football, all I can tell you is it's big over there. There's been a fair amount of Nebraska kids that have gone over there to play, and there are some there right now. Should be a great rivalry for everyone, but we have a lot of ground to cover before we get to that this year.

Respond to Randy