Here's What To Expect From the Season.

[Pipe Line]

I really appreciate your perspective. Interesting read. These two quoted sentences make me 1. super excited 2. sad at how far we've fallen. Basically the realistic ceiling with our most talented team in the past seven years is a 7 or 8 win season.

Another perspective is just how mind blowing the talent we used to have when we won 9/10 games a year with Pelini, and better, going back in time.

 

[...TrueColors...]

I hope so since haven't we been like 1 of the worst red zone teams each of the past 3 years?


like in all of power 5

Complex question that I’ve been meaning to do a thread on. Short answer is yes but it deserves a lot more context.

 

[KidsSeeGhosts]

can we fix 3rd down efficiency while were at it? We need more manageable 3rd downs.

Ranked 97th last year at ~37%. That was one of the most frustrating things to me that doesn't get noticed as much as penalties and turnovers. We're off the field on offense and gassing our defense damn near every game.

better passing offense will help this more than anything. Our success rate on passing downs was terrible.

 

[slattimer]

But if it was installed by analysts during illegal extra secret practices and we haven't lost any minutes of sanctioned practice time, then it's a win win win

I think fullbacks are fat running backs and I dislike them. Plus I like riling up run the damn ball guy and talking shit on a fullback.

 

[Havoc34]

I'm dead.

This post and the part about RSS drying up with sources is exactly why I can’t wait for my sub to run out over there. It’s just pointless drivel at this point over there.

 

[Bootleg11]

Sloppy Gregg from RSS looks terrible in person and wears one of those over the counter knee braces with baggy cargo shorts. He looks like he rolled on in from a 2 day bender.

This is funny

 

[HCFord1]

I think fullbacks are fat running backs and I dislike them. Plus I like riling up run the damn ball guy and talking shit on a fullback.

For some reason this cracked me up

 

[Jack Bauer]

Another perspective is just how mind blowing the talent we used to have when we won 9/10 games a year with Pelini, and better, going back in time.

 

[BBTown Bomber]

I think fullbacks are fat running backs and I dislike them. Plus I like riling up run the damn ball guy and talking shit on a fullback.

I'm actually wearing my "Run The Damn Ball" t-shirt today. "Feels Good Man" gif.......😅

.

 

[Driveway Jordan]

The stretch between NW, Michigan, @Minn, Purdue will be the defining point of the season. I

I would add MSU on the front end of that stretch. They won't be very good, but a tough road game right after OU. If we go 4-1 through that stretch, that's how we get to 8 wins, IMO.

 

[Huskerbuck85]

Co

What this translates into Saturday with wins and losses, I don't know exactly, but be excited. Leading into this season this team has more potential than any team in the last 7 years. Most of this is stuff that has been said before and this post is very generic in nature by purpose.

- A "Team", an energetic, motivated, and enthused team. This is the first time in a long time I've seen this from a Husker team where both offense, defense, young and old show signs of unity. I mentioned this in another post the energy levels are at a different level this year. Also, you have offense and defense players intermingling during down periods of practice. Compare this to last season you could feel a division and sense players or groups of players were outcasts or not bought in.
- The DL is by far the best position group, talent and depth on the team. The 2s have put it to the 1s on several occasions. Hopefully the DL group is that good and OL looks bad because of it. OL did have its moments too. Pass protection is much improved over last year.
- WRs, especially Toure, are game changers this year. Toure looks to have a special relations with Martinez and is the go to guy on scrambles or broken plays. Similar with Martin, he has a knack for being open. Betts is easily the most improved player on offense (mainly due to playbook and system knowledge). Manning looks like a man, but have seen him play soft from time to time. Don't be surprised if the token white WR (Falck) gets significant playing time.
- Coach Frost looks like a energized man and has a different personality to him this year - more outgoing and joking around. This was up until the press conference yesterday, but I've been around the Nebraska media a few times and they're like rats and hawks. It's funny watching when the cattle gates open (the doors to the practice field) and watching the media all run and scramble trying to get the best possible position for their stupid photo galleries or clips of the first 30 minutes of practice. Just being around them for those periods are annoying as hell. I can't imagine having to deal with them on a regular basis. Sloppy Gregg from RSS looks terrible in person and wears one of those over the counter knee braces with baggy cargo shorts. He looks like he rolled on in from a 2 day bender.
- As Martinez goes, this team goes. If he gets hurt it's downhill fast from there. The gap between him and Smothers is significant. He looks like better than freshman Martinez. Lost a little bit of the bad weight, throwing a lot better (not sure how much was him vs WRs at wrong depths and timing), and looks faster this year.
- Penalties and small details will still haunt this team. Mainly procedural on offense, but can tell they're head hunters on defense so don't be surprised by a few targeting calls again. By procedural fouls, I mean illegal motions/shifts, false starts (by backs), ineligible downfield (WRs covered up by formation - not knowing on or off line of scrimmage). These were mostly by younger WRs/TEs/backs. However, there were a lot of them in fall camp and scrimmages.
- Improved play calling. This is something that is completely new. In their scrimmages and team work this fall camp, they didn't do defined downs and distances and ran plays off a playsheet resetting the ball every time. They went full game mode with either a quarter or a full half of scrimmage calling plays from sideline. Most was still thud on ball carrier, but live everywhere else.
- I can tell you sources on the beloved RSS have dried up completely. There was a major scrimmage last week and not a single word was ever posted about it.
- Option football guy and I-Formation guy will get full husked from time to time.

With all that said, it's hard to compare when you're going against yourself. And more times than not, it's 1s vs 2s. I just have to compare this team vs what I've seen from them in the past 8 years.

The stretch between NW, Michigan, @Minn, Purdue will be the defining point of the season. If they get through these 4 game 3-1 (7, 8 or 9 win season possible w/ bowl game) or even 2-2 (6, 7, or 8 wins possible w/ bowl game). However, if they go 1-3, it could possibly end up a 5-7 season really fast.

The best possible scenario if Martinez misses time, it's during the NW, Michigan, @Minn, Purdue stretch and they go 2-2, or hell even OSU, Wisc would be better to miss.

I'll go out on a limb and say 4-1 to start, 6-3 before the Ohio State, @Wisconsin, Cockeyes stretch and they'll knock off Cockeyes this year. 7-5 going bowling.

Considering that their sources have nearly all but dried up, would you say that their vague mentions of Manning possibly having the same issues he was having last year are incorrect?

Would you say he is practicing as often as he should and putting in the effort to get on the field and provide help for Martinez?

 

[That SOB Van Owen]

Sounds like 10-2 to me GBR NFM

 

[...TrueColors...]

I would add MSU on the front end of that stretch. They won't be very good, but a tough road game right after OU. If we go 4-1 through that stretch, that's how we get to 8 wins, IMO.

Maybe a “yeah duh” comment on my part, but I don’t see a path to 8 wins unless we start 4-1

 

[Fargo Husker]

@alt f4 You don’t have to name names if you don’t want, but do you expect any of the freshman WRs (Neville, Hardy, Grimes) to work their way into the rotation consistently this year?

 

[...TrueColors...]

@alt f4 You don’t have to name names if you don’t want, but do you expect any of the freshman WRs (Neville, Hardy, Grimes) to work their way into the rotation consistently this year?

I think Grimes is your starting kick returner. Neville has the best chance to work in with Betts and Manning. Hardy is a year away. Needs to hit the weights.

 

[alt f4]

Co

Considering that their sources have nearly all but dried up, would you say that their vague mentions of Manning possibly having the same issues he was having last year are incorrect?

Would you say he is practicing as often as he should and putting in the effort to get on the field and provide help for Martinez?

I only know of one time he missed practice. I'm not sure the reasoning. However, when he's there, he looks to be having a good time and enjoying himself. Which is a completely different body language he had last year on the few practices he was at.

The one thing I will say about Omar. He has the potential to be a big time play maker, he just to use his big body, play to that size, and don't play scared/soft. However at this point, Betts, Toure, Martin are all playing at a higher level. Even Liewer looks to stepped up his game and was getting more snaps towards the end of camp.

I asked the guys that are there today to see if he is around.

 

[Pipe Line]

I only know of one time he missed practice. I'm not sure the reasoning. However, when he's there, he looks to be having a good time and enjoying himself. Which is a completely different body language he had last year on the few practices he was at.

The one thing I will say about Omar. He has the potential to be a big time play maker, he just to use his big body, play to that size, and don't play scared/soft. However at this point, Betts, Toure, Martin are all playing at a higher level. Even Liewer looks to stepped up his game and was getting more snaps towards the end of camp.

I asked the guys that are there today to see if he is around.

Random question. We heard some things both on here and RSS about how shitty Marcus Fleming's attitude was in practice. Can you shine some light on any inside info for a good story?

 

[alt f4]

@alt f4 You don’t have to name names if you don’t want, but do you expect any of the freshman WRs (Neville, Hardy, Grimes) to work their way into the rotation consistently this year?

Not in the regular rotation barring at least 1-2 injuries. That top group is quite a bit further along than the younger guys, especially when knowing the offense (see point about offensive procedural fouls). That young group is good, but not good enough to pass any of the top group just yet.

 

[huskerj12]

I really appreciate your perspective. Interesting read. These two quoted sentences make me 1. super excited 2. sad at how far we've fallen. Basically the realistic ceiling with our most talented team in the past seven years is a 7 or 8 win season.

Is it sad that I'll GLADLY take it if it happens? Gotta walk before we can run, etc... One way or another we just have to start actually standing on some kind of foundation this year. I'll take 7 or 8 wins in a heartbeat (for now).