Have we turned a corner?

[Ext. 55]

I was thinking about the fumble against UTEP. In the past, a play like that would have sent Nebraska into a spiral. Against a team like UTEP we usually would eventually recover and still win but against other competition it would be the beginning of the painful end. Last year the defense seemed to still fight hard even after turnovers which we obviously saw against UTEP with the safety....

...but what was interesting is that the offense came right back out and started marching and didn't stop until the game was out of reach.

That's something new for us. If our offense can become as resilient as the defense and take the miscues not only in stride but also make a noticeable counterpunch then this is a team that is transforming before our very eyes.

Ask this question again Saturday at about 10:30pm Central time. Then we will know.

 

[tman87]

Too early to say we have turned the corner. But we have made obvious improvements in the right direction.

The next 5 games will tell us if we have turned the corner. This saturday is a big test of that. Beat CU, the following weeks game should be another blowout where deep subs see time. At that point, we will know more, but I still need to see games on how we play against B1G opponents before we can claim we have truly turned the corner IMO. But things do look good. We just have to execute on the field and get wins. Getting wins is how the corner is turned.

 

[herbsinator]

To me there are at least a few more hurdles to clear. The first step was handling a clearly outmatched team, which is something we’ve barely been able to do the last 5 years. We still need to do the following in my mind to really feel like we’re on the path:
-handle business against a team on paper we should beat, but not totally overpower (Colorado) (something I’m not sure Frost did more than once or twice)
-Assuming we beat CU, avoid a let down game in the next few games (I.e. the classic Pelini move of showing up flat to a game against a lesser opponent)
-grind out one score/close games against multiple conference opponents
-not let the end of the season get away from us after one or two bad losses

 

[BradWesley]

siap

 

[HuskerDocCo]

Not going to lie. The way we responded took some edge off my PTSD...even within the same game.

know what takes the edge off for me Barry? Metamucil 2 spoonfuls in OJ

 

[DrumMonkeyRobot]

know what takes the edge off for me Barry? Metamucil 2 spoonfuls in OJ

Mixing in OJ is a pro move. Gotta hide the graininess of the Metamucil with the OJ pulp.

 

[FreightPimpDawg]

Everyone chill down. It was UTEP - let me step in and remind y’all to keep it cool. Stay focused. This was just a scrimmage game and has to be looked upon as so.

 

[djw004]

Everyone chill down. It was UTEP - let me step in and remind y’all to keep it cool. Stay focused. This was just a scrimmage game and has to be looked upon as so.

View attachment 41752

Freight - what you fail to understand is, we haven't comfortably taken care of our "UTEP" games in like, 7 years. This is big for us...

 

[HerbRedman]

Everyone chill down. It was UTEP - let me step in and remind y’all to keep it cool. Stay focused. This was just a scrimmage game and has to be looked upon as so.

View attachment 41752

Who wins - UTEP vs this NDSU? (neutral field)

Colorado is staking all their hopes on NDSU being "a very good team" in FBS. I don't think NDSU would be a 'very good team' playing in FBS. I don't think they will win out in FCS actually.

 

[FreightPimpDawg]

Freight - what you fail to understand is, we haven't comfortably taken care of our "UTEP" games in like, 7 years. This is big for us...

It shouldn’t be. Matt Rhule is a good coach.
UTEP shouldn’t even be able to breathe your oxygen.

 

[Mavsker]

It’ll take more than a small sample size against the 120th worst team in CFB last year

120th best team**

120th worst team would be like a Miami/Tennessee type team

 

[Tonkasker]

Who wins - UTEP vs this NDSU? (neutral field)

Colorado is staking all their hopes on NDSU being "a very good team" in FBS. I don't think NDSU would be a 'very good team' playing in FBS. I don't think they will win out in FCS actually.

I'd have NDSU -11 on a neutral field

UTEP has FBS body types NDSU doesn't have but there is a clear difference in how the two teams are stacked program-wise.

If anyone has the 360 team SP+ rankings I think that's the only place you can truly see them power ranked against eachother. I'd be really curious to see that

 

[Mavsker]

I'd have NDSU -11 on a neutral field

UTEP has FBS body types NDSU doesn't have but there is a clear difference in how the two teams are stacked program-wise.

If anyone has the 360 team SP+ rankings I think that's the only place you can truly see them power ranked against eachother. I'd be really curious to see that

I heard NDSU was in the 60s in SP+ basically right next to Colorado. UTEP I think was like 120ish. NDSU is almost certainly the better team

 

[Skerz4Life50]

I'd have NDSU -11 on a neutral field

UTEP has FBS body types NDSU doesn't have but there is a clear difference in how the two teams are stacked program-wise.

If anyone has the 360 team SP+ rankings I think that's the only place you can truly see them power ranked against eachother. I'd be really curious to see that

Sagarin would have NDSU -17.0 on a neutral field vs. UTEP. He ranks NDSU as #72 and UTEP as #150.

Nebraska is #31, and CU is #48. His ratings would predict a Nebraska win and cover.

College Football Ratings Page

 

[HerbRedman]

I'd have NDSU -11 on a neutral field

UTEP has FBS body types NDSU doesn't have but there is a clear difference in how the two teams are stacked program-wise.

If anyone has the 360 team SP+ rankings I think that's the only place you can truly see them power ranked against eachother. I'd be really curious to see that

I heard NDSU was in the 60s in SP+ basically right next to Colorado. UTEP I think was like 120ish. NDSU is almost certainly the better team

Thanks gents

How is Connelly doing SP+ on teams that are all transfers? Is he taking the player ratings from their previous school?

My only comment is that I think UTEP has a very good up and coming coach. And 18 of their 22 starters are new from the transfer portal. I actually think they are going to be decent by the end of the yr with this new coach.

Last yrs UTEP team was like the worst in FBS. This year's team has new coaches and almost entirely new starting O and D. So I actually think they are better than the preseason rankings would give them credit for.

 

[Tonkasker]

I heard NDSU was in the 60s in SP+ basically right next to Colorado. UTEP I think was like 120ish. NDSU is almost certainly the better team

Yeah that's what I was referencing but I think it's behind a paywall after the season starts

 

[Skerz4Life50]

I heard NDSU was in the 60s in SP+ basically right next to Colorado. UTEP I think was like 120ish. NDSU is almost certainly the better team

SP+ has:
NU #33
CU #64
NDSU #73
UTEP #175

He predicts a Nebraska win and cover as well (30-20).

 

[Tonkasker]

Yes.

 

[Ext. 55]