Going into year 3
- Thread starter RED ED
- Start date
Some of it was an unrealized situation, some of it was self-induced, and some of it was just plain bad luck...……….kinda like life. This year is going to be tough, and if we don't turn things around this year, recruiting is going to create another hurdle. Everyone needs to make sure their seatbelts are on...…..this could be a rough ride.
I'm trying to imagine a scenario where we are worse than we have been the last 3 years, and the only ones I can come up with are either our d-line being absolutely terrible or our receiving corps just completely falls apart. Can't account for luck, so to me thats a non-factor. IMO, we have seen enough player development in years 1 and 2 to assume that year 3 will continue that trend. We aren't really lacking bodies at any position anymore like we have had at RB, QB, and LB.
I am not convinced that his shutdown affects us more than other schools. In fact, it may work in our favor.
The truth is that early on in the season defenses are ahead of offenses. Simply because reps are needed for the offenses to become proficient. The defensive schemes are easier to learn and run. However, NU has a returning two year starter at QB and returns the majority of it's O-line. This means they should jell sooner. Missing the spring practices will not be that detrimental to them. On the other hand, teams that are breaking in a new QB and trying to put together a new O-line are much more in need of every practice.
My gut feeling is that NU will be ahead of most of the other teams especially on offense due to the number of veterans they have.
The truth is that early on in the season defenses are ahead of offenses. Simply because reps are needed for the offenses to become proficient. The defensive schemes are easier to learn and run. However, NU has a returning two year starter at QB and returns the majority of it's O-line. This means they should jell sooner. Missing the spring practices will not be that detrimental to them. On the other hand, teams that are breaking in a new QB and trying to put together a new O-line are much more in need of every practice.
My gut feeling is that NU will be ahead of most of the other teams especially on offense due to the number of veterans they have.
Talk about your enigmas -- this year's team is definitely one!
I can say with all sincerity that I've never felt this unsure about what I am going to see in the fall than I am right now about our 2020 Huskers.
The one thing I will say for this year's squad is that they will not have the high expectations that last year's team had on their backs. Say what you will about the B1G West Championship predictions, it was UCF's miracle second year season under Frost that was in the back of the mind of every Husker player, coach, and fan, whether they were willing to admit it or not.
The collapse at CU really took the wind out of the teams' sails and they never recovered. Maybe this is the season that something good happens early and we ride that momentum into December. We'll see.
I can say with all sincerity that I've never felt this unsure about what I am going to see in the fall than I am right now about our 2020 Huskers.
The one thing I will say for this year's squad is that they will not have the high expectations that last year's team had on their backs. Say what you will about the B1G West Championship predictions, it was UCF's miracle second year season under Frost that was in the back of the mind of every Husker player, coach, and fan, whether they were willing to admit it or not.
The collapse at CU really took the wind out of the teams' sails and they never recovered. Maybe this is the season that something good happens early and we ride that momentum into December. We'll see.
So much possibility for both positivity and negativity. I do concur with one point from a linked story within this thread, (assuming the 2020 season happens) the ability for Nebraska to make a bowl game will be, I think, determined by the first 6-7 games. Ain't nothing going to be easy this year, thst is for sure.
Just dawned on me that I should have substituted volatile for rough. Pretty sure the direction this year won’t be all up or all down
I see this year being much like the early Bo years: look like world beaters our of the gate, be somewhat exposed by lesser competition shortly thereafter, recover a little bit and have strong showings against superior talent, but the real wildcard to me is whether those later games are wins or losses. Frosts career as a coach thus far has been very much about momentum. Not that its a bad thing, but he needs to learn how to teach confidence in technique and execution much more than he has shown so far.
Good point, over the last couple of years most of NU's losses have been by under a TD. A little better talent, a little better play, a little more effort, a few better coaching decisions, a couple of breaks and the W/L record is much better.
I my opinion, the talent level is better. The coaches have had more time to install their systems, so the play should be better. The coaches have a better feel for what is needed. Added depth should improve effort. We will have to see how the breaks go. However, I think they could be much better than most of us expect. I may have to start pumping sunshine and join Northwood.
We have been close. Huge strides can be made by simply cleaning up some things...….and I'm not just talking about players here. Another biggie is staying relatively healthy. If you throw in a TOTAL buy-in, we'll be much better. In fact, I strongly believe we WILL be better. If it weren't for this covid mess, and the loss of bowl and spring practices, as well as a MUCH tougher row to hoe this year I'd be downright giddy. As it is, this year is going to be a challenge. I hope we are up to it.
True enough sir! Along with "all" of our OLine returning should help a lot is my guess.
I hope the NCAA and/or B1G does something to address the spring practice inequities. They should let us start fall practice 13 days earlier or something like that. I know it isn't anyone's fault, but it's a problem nonetheless that should be rectified.
It's hard to imagine our special teams (especially kicking) being anything but much improved this year. I don't have much doubt it will be a better team overall, but my fear is that the schedule is so much more difficult that the end result could be much the same, even with better play.
It's hard to imagine our special teams (especially kicking) being anything but much improved this year. I don't have much doubt it will be a better team overall, but my fear is that the schedule is so much more difficult that the end result could be much the same, even with better play.
The one, not sure if positive is the right word, is everyone missed their spring practice and so every team will be starting from basically the same place. These are the adverse times that will truly test what kind of team we have. Everyone is talking about the tough schedule, all the problems we may face, but maybe it is because I've had a few cocktails tonight, I see a lot of opportunity for this year's squad. The question is: Will this team rise to the challenges in front of them? They've caved in year's past, but that's the awesome thing about college football, every year you get an opportunity to be better.
#Rise
#Rise
Not everyone missed 13 practices. And it can be argued it hurts Nebraska and five other teams more than the remainder of the B1G.
But it is something they can rise above. I like to hope so.
But it is something they can rise above. I like to hope so.
When you consider all the "Stuff" we have been through since the firing of Coach Solich....it's no wonder really.
The one decent hire was Pelini but little did we know the "extra" stuff that came with that hire.
I have said many times he just wasn't cut out to be a head football coach in this day and age where the Coach has to wear so many hats and manage to recruit and keep the Media Sharks from circling.
I know for fact HCSF didn't realize how bad things had gotten under the last 2 Athletic Directors and Harvey Pearlman. Harvey and the Board were responsible for hiring the right people to run the various departments of the University ....in this task they failed badly in my opinion.
Pearlman's Legacy will be " The Little Guy who toppled a Giant" because all of this bad "Stuff" happened on his watch. Some argue the fault is not all his....I'm not saying it is.....I am however saying it was part of his job to see things were done the right way.....and bottom line is he didn't do that so the blame landed on his desk.
I have said also several times the depths of just how far away we were from being where we were when I played my last game is like comparing a ditch with water in it to the Grand Canyon and it was going to take a great Coach who understands the Nebraska Way, who can recruit as well as being a "Developer of Talent" in short taking raw, big, tough, kids from Nebraska and it's border states and turning them into NFL ready caliber players.....this works because of all the behind the scenes work that was put in place by Coach Osborne and his whole Football group....from Nutrition to Weight lifting to how you practice to How good you feel about being a Nebraska Cornhusker Football Player....EVERYbody seems to forget alot that Coach Osborne EARNED a Doctor's Degree in Sports Psychology and was a man with a clear and concise plan.....yes he tweaked it along the way but nobody can argue with the outcome.
Scott is working as fast as is humanly possible to rebuild what was lost or discarded by those that came along "Post Solich" but he is also working to put the things he knows will work here in place also.....but especially now with the whole Covid-19 Pandemic crud....it just made a tough job a little tougher row to hoe.
I can say this one final fact before getting out of this but ....I have seen and heard HUGE strides made since he came home, yes the record of W vs L doesn't reflect it but if you knew and saw what Kate and I and just about all my teammates knew and saw.....to have expected much more than what we wound up with .....well you get my point.....however that being said....things are moving ahead in the right direction and it's picking up steam....all things Football related will take a big step forward this fall if indeed there is a somewhat normal season.....you will see for yourself, that we don't even slightly resemble the teams of the past few seasons.....but we do look very familiar to your memory....I can also promise you this....if there is a somewhat "Normal" College Football season you will be satisfied with our progress at the end of this season....no I'm not predicting a Divisional or Conference Championship but you will be very happy with the end results.....that much I know.....it is happening.....can you feel it ?
Go Big Red !
DOC & Kate.
The one decent hire was Pelini but little did we know the "extra" stuff that came with that hire.
I have said many times he just wasn't cut out to be a head football coach in this day and age where the Coach has to wear so many hats and manage to recruit and keep the Media Sharks from circling.
I know for fact HCSF didn't realize how bad things had gotten under the last 2 Athletic Directors and Harvey Pearlman. Harvey and the Board were responsible for hiring the right people to run the various departments of the University ....in this task they failed badly in my opinion.
Pearlman's Legacy will be " The Little Guy who toppled a Giant" because all of this bad "Stuff" happened on his watch. Some argue the fault is not all his....I'm not saying it is.....I am however saying it was part of his job to see things were done the right way.....and bottom line is he didn't do that so the blame landed on his desk.
I have said also several times the depths of just how far away we were from being where we were when I played my last game is like comparing a ditch with water in it to the Grand Canyon and it was going to take a great Coach who understands the Nebraska Way, who can recruit as well as being a "Developer of Talent" in short taking raw, big, tough, kids from Nebraska and it's border states and turning them into NFL ready caliber players.....this works because of all the behind the scenes work that was put in place by Coach Osborne and his whole Football group....from Nutrition to Weight lifting to how you practice to How good you feel about being a Nebraska Cornhusker Football Player....EVERYbody seems to forget alot that Coach Osborne EARNED a Doctor's Degree in Sports Psychology and was a man with a clear and concise plan.....yes he tweaked it along the way but nobody can argue with the outcome.
Scott is working as fast as is humanly possible to rebuild what was lost or discarded by those that came along "Post Solich" but he is also working to put the things he knows will work here in place also.....but especially now with the whole Covid-19 Pandemic crud....it just made a tough job a little tougher row to hoe.
I can say this one final fact before getting out of this but ....I have seen and heard HUGE strides made since he came home, yes the record of W vs L doesn't reflect it but if you knew and saw what Kate and I and just about all my teammates knew and saw.....to have expected much more than what we wound up with .....well you get my point.....however that being said....things are moving ahead in the right direction and it's picking up steam....all things Football related will take a big step forward this fall if indeed there is a somewhat normal season.....you will see for yourself, that we don't even slightly resemble the teams of the past few seasons.....but we do look very familiar to your memory....I can also promise you this....if there is a somewhat "Normal" College Football season you will be satisfied with our progress at the end of this season....no I'm not predicting a Divisional or Conference Championship but you will be very happy with the end results.....that much I know.....it is happening.....can you feel it ?
Go Big Red !
DOC & Kate.
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