Gonna say this the best way I know how to

[TNT]

I will start with the positives,

The team has already improved over last year at 7-3 that was one more win than we had last season. Minus the bowl game Progress is good. Regression is not. EJ is the reason we remain winning. He is the biggest threat either catching or running the ball. He shifty and elusive. And he has gotten faster last year they would run him down from behind this year he is damn near untouched. He is the real deal and I hope he stays one more yr. Nothing against the team but EJ is making things happen from nothing. If you center on him that leaves a few of his teammates open to make plays. I am not worried about the QB(Great job to TJ and the Oline)position as I am about EJ getting hurt he goes down the drop off between him and number two is a huge gap in comparison to EJs abilities to jump cut as he does not to mention his reaction time in doing so. The defense is currently holding so that is good as well. The receivers are blocking very well. To the team as whole great job. With Dylan going down it was a wake up call for the team and Matt Rhule. It shown how they dropped the ball on the back up QB position. By not preparing the back ups to come in.
And if you want to know how to beat a ranked team with a backup QB ask Wisconsin how to do it they did it with all three QBs against ranked Washington. So if you say it can't be done. All I will tell you is.... you won't not with that kind of attitude GBR!!!

 

[ATX_Husker]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1987616137647898831

 

[ATX_Husker]

Receiver position has been upgraded as well from Banks and Nayor with the additions of Key and especially Hunter who has shown great playmaking ability and can take it to the house. Even Mills is a deep ball threat.

 

[Huusker]

No doubt we have different results without EJ. Think about how close he was to entering the portal last year...wow! Bullet dodged!

We've got to keep him healthy, but he has a workhorse quality that before this year I didn't know existed. He's averaging something like 28 carries per game over the last few contests. Coaches say they want to give him breaks more often but that he wants to stay in and doesn't seem to get tired. The results show he doesn't get tired.

Imagine having that much fitness... I'm glad to say EJ is going to be a wealthy man.

 

[ATX_Husker]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1987554902000927159

 

[Jimbosc]

Special teams are massively better - although they didn't have their best night vs. UCLA - I'd say EJ, Special Teams and "reasonable" performance by the D on points allowed are the keys right now to 7 wins

 

[Husker99]

This is the perfect thread to say some things that have been on my mind for the last 4 weeks or so. I also want to acknowledge my complicity in this and try to be better moving forward...

First the poll asking how many games left will we win? I'm sorry but that debacle in Minneapolis had me crashed out for days afterward.

I dislike when I hear Husker fans saying this team is bad. Are we great? Very good? No. I don't think anyone is going to try and make that case.

However, we're not a bad football team. Yes we have our issues at OT in pass pro, but as we have seen, the better Nebraska runs the ball, the better our OTs seem to play. They seem to be at least serviceable in pass pro when our offense isn't in 3rd & known passing yardage.

The run defense. We all knew it was a huge question mark coming into the season and in the three games we lost (Michigan, Minnesota, and USC) they pretty much jammed the football right down our gullets. In other games that we've won, we've still given up way too many rushing yards and we cannot (it seems) stop the opponent's QB run game to save our lives.

So now we're sitting kinda pretty at 7-3 with an opportunity to get to 9 wins in the regular season. How long has it been since we could legitimately say that????

I think a lot of times some of our fans forget that we're (especially in conference) playing an opponent who has equal to or better talent than what we have. The other team also wants to win and they're going to try and make plays to accomplish that goal. Just because an opponent makes a play, scores a TD, keeps the game close, or [gasp] wins, doesn't mean we suck, doesn't mean coaches need to be fired, doesn't mean we're a bad team.

Penn State is beatable as is Iowa. These last two games are going to be extremely tough, but I believe we match up really well with both of them. The key, as always this season, is can the Nebraska defense stop the run just enough to get the W?

 

[Doc Fumble]

I think a lot of times some of our fans forget that we're (especially in conference) playing an opponent who has equal to or better talent than what we have. The other team also wants to win and they're going to try and make plays to accomplish that goal. Just because an opponent makes a play, scores a TD, keeps the game close, or [gasp] wins, doesn't mean we suck, doesn't mean coaches need to be fired, doesn't mean we're a bad team.

The reality is our world is similar nowadays to a fan who supports an NFL team. Week to week, there are no givens once you've entered conference play.

The old days when you were guaranteed four conference wins out of seven before the season even started are long gone.

 

[Husker99]

The old days when you were guaranteed four conference wins out of seven before the season even started are long gone.

And that's where a lot of our fans, especially older ones, seem to be stuck. They expect 1995 results in 2025 and, while not impossible (see Ohio State and Indiana currently) it's difficult to say if we'll ever see those days again. I mean in this NIL, it is possible to buy a national championship roster so we'll see.

 

[innmc]

Week to week, there are no givens once you've entered conference play.

 

[OhioHusker]

7-3 sure sounds better than 6-4.

 

[j d]

And if you want to know how to beat a ranked team with a backup QB ask Wisconsin how to do it they did it with all three QBs against ranked Washington. So if you say it can't be done.

I was told the Punter was their leading passer.

 

[redfred]

I will start with the positives,

The team has already improved over last year at 7-3 that was one more win than we had last season. Minus the bowl game Progress is good. Regression is not. EJ is the reason we remain winning. He is the biggest threat either catching or running the ball. He shifty and elusive. And he has gotten faster last year they would run him down from behind this year he is damn near untouched. He is the real deal and I hope he stays one more yr. Nothing against the team but EJ is making things happen from nothing. If you center on him that leaves a few of his teammates open to make plays. I am not worried about the QB(Great job to TJ and the Oline)position as I am about EJ getting hurt he goes down the drop off between him and number two is a huge gap in comparison to EJs abilities to jump cut as he does not to mention his reaction time in doing so. The defense is currently holding so that is good as well. The receivers are blocking very well. To the team as whole great job. With Dylan going down it was a wake up call for the team and Matt Rhule. It shown how they dropped the ball on the back up QB position. By not preparing the back ups to come in.
And if you want to know how to beat a ranked team with a backup QB ask Wisconsin how to do it they did it with all three QBs against ranked Washington. So if you say it can't be done. All I will tell you is.... you won't not with that kind of attitude GBR!!!

You seem to say it pretty well.

 

[Jimbosc]

I too was crashed out after the Minnesota game because they played like crap against a pretty average team (that is above .500 at this point). However - we continue to make strides and I do think a week off to give the coaches 2 weeks to prep TJ for PSU will be a really good thing for the offense. Amazing how you opinion can swing based getting the Ws....lol.

 

[Huskergod84]

I too was crashed out after the Minnesota game because they played like crap against a pretty average team (that is above .500 at this point). However - we continue to make strides and I do think a week off to give the coaches 2 weeks to prep TJ for PSU will be a really good thing for the offense. Amazing how you opinion can swing based getting the Ws....lol.

I would like to believe that the bye week will help but I think we are 2-3 following bye weeks under Rhule. Hopefully this one will make us an even 500.

 

[GIJoeRed]

And that's where a lot of our fans, especially older ones, seem to be stuck. They expect 1995 results in 2025....

I'm pretty sure we dropped that train of thought after Bill Callahan broke our Bowl streak; however, there are some out there lurking...to pounce...when "them there times" come back.

 

[Doc Fumble]

I would like to believe that the bye week will help but I think we are 2-3 following bye weeks under Rhule. Hopefully this one will make us an even 500.

That's one of those stats that some fans try to give special meaning to. I suppose it could mean something in some instances. But to me, it all depends on when your Bye weeks are on your schedule and who you match up with afterwards.

I might look like an awesome post-bye week coach if I'm at home facing Purdue or Northwestern and an awful one if I come off a bye week on the road playing Ohio State or Oregon.

 

[Jimbosc]

I was doing some stats comparison - the big improvement is Special Teams as Rhule covered yesterday at his presser. We are better on passing and rushing offense (not by alot but an improvement) vs 2024. Pass D is MUCH better - but as we all know the Rush D is worse - teams are out gaining us on the ground to the tune of 30 yards a game. +3 on turnovers.

Scoring D is essentially the same - so teams aren't able to convert those rushing yards to more points.

Looking back - really the only thing I am disappointed about is dropping a giant turd at the 50 yard line vs. Minnesota. Hopefully I'll feel the same way after the next 2 games. Michigan and USC were close games - but I didn't go into either thinking a W was the likely outcome.

 

[innmc]

It would be great to go into Penn St pull out a victory but I'm not expecting to. Just beat Iowa That is what I want to see

 

[Doc Fumble]

Looking back - really the only thing I am disappointed about is dropping a giant turd at the 50 yard line vs. Minnesota.

After seeing the way we played before Minnesota and after Minnesota, I'm becoming more and more convinced that the speculation about Rhule to Penn State really rattled everybody, players, coaches, staff, and fans alike.

Yeah, I know Rhule told his players and recruits he was staying but his initial public responses weren't 100% definitive and, despite his pro-Nebraska comments, he was the odds-on favorite during Minnesota week to return to his alma mater.