We have accomplished nothing - reality check time

[knapplc]

So we're 4-0 (for the third time in the Pelini Era) and everyone's jazzed we beat Miami in a slugfest. We're 1/3 of the way through the season (which is awful to think about) and we're ranked (barely) entering conference play. We're set up to possibly get to the Conference Championship Game, and things seem all right.

But the defense has holes and has surrendered touchdowns on opening drives against three of our four opponents. We've cut way back on turnovers but part of that is luck - dropped INTs, balls on the turf we've recovered.

That four-loss specter still looms.

We have four road games and four home games left. We could easily lose to Michigan State and Wisconsin, and Iowa outplayed us last year on our field. In Iowa City, if they figure out their quarterback situation, that game's no gimme, either.

09/27/14 Illinois - Memorial Stadium
10/04/14 Michigan State - @ East Lansing, Mich.
10/18/14 Northwestern - @ Evanston, Ill.
10/25/14 Rutgers - Memorial Stadium
11/01/14 Purdue - Memorial Stadium
11/08/14 Wisconsin - @ Madison, Wis.
11/22/14 Minnesota - Memorial Stadium
11/28/14 Iowa - @ Iowa City, Iowa

Frankly, Illinois could pose the biggest risk of all right now - an uninspiring opponent sandwiched between what should be our two toughest games, but an opponent who can move the ball, who runs an offense that gives Nebraska matchup problems - particularly at linebacker. Miami repeatedly gashed us through the air, and Wes Lunt may be a better quarterback than Kaaya. He's certainly more experienced.

 

The recurring theme for Bo's teams has been trouble between their ears. They check out of games, they don't properly prepare for games (McNeese State), or mental mistakes within games snowball into catastrophe.

 

Combating that problem is Ameer Abdullah, who promised Husker Fans that a McNeese State lack of preparation would not happen again this year. Tommy Armstrong and Kenny Bell are vocal leaders on offense who demand excellence and aren't afraid to get in someone's face when they're underperforming.

 

On defense, that's Josh Mitchell. But who else is bugging these guys to bust ass every week, for every opponent? What other leaders on defense do we have helping Mitchell keep people focused?

 

For all the excitement over this team right now - and there's some reason to be excited - we aren't any further along than we were in 2010 or 2011. And we had a far better defense in 2010, yet we still lost four games.

 

I'm happy we're 4-0. It's a great place to be.

 

But we haven't accomplished anything yet, and our four-loss nemesis is still lurking, still a very real possibility.

 

 

It sucks to think about things in that respect. But that's the reality we're facing.

[kchusker_chris]

 

For all the excitement over this team right now - and there's some reason to be excited - we aren't any further along than we were in 2010 or 2011. And we had a far better defense in 2010, yet we still lost four games.

 

Agree 100% - but those two seasons you mentioned were FULL of potential. I think that's where we're at with this team - which is a far cry from the last couple of seasons where you knew by this point it was going to be a rough year.

 

Whether the live up to the potential or fold like normal will play out over the next 4-6 weeks.

[HuskerInLostWages]

You are correct Knap, I'm just waiting for our normal let down games. It sucks to think like that, but it's what we've come to expect. I'll be very happy if it does not occur but it's become the norm.

[presidentjlh]

If the team is going by Abdullah's attitude, which is pretty much yours, I think it will be different, but I agree.

 

Cautious optimism is the only prudent course right now.

[zoogs]

Such a downer

[RedRedJarvisRedwine]

I agree Knapp, but this year I feel like we have an offense that can go toe to toe with anyone on our schedule. The what if turnovers were actual turnovers in the past. Maybe we are getting a little luck this year. As far as the defense goes, I like that we haven't peaked yet. Yes we are leaky in some areas and I'm also worried about the lack of turnovers forced but so long as our offense isn't making our defense defend short fields like last year, I think we can manage. Special teams being a strength this year has made all the difference and can make up for the bendy defense. I'm still sticking to my 11-2 prediction pre bowl game. But I think the ceiling is higher than I thought before the season. When I get asked for a record prediction I almost always give my ceiling as a guess. I can see this team pushing 12-1 or 13-0 and maybe a shot at the playoffs. Gonna sit back and enjoy. We can pick this team apart only so much before we just gotta let em play it out. Remember the alternative to how our team is playing is always the offseason.

[irafreak]

Ugh....a quarter of the way through the season...It's already been a rough day without pointing that one out.

 

I am still going to take the mindset that we will play out the season as we usually do until we get down to the end and we don't have enough games to reach 4 losses. I want to just enjoy the season with low expectations and watch for better disciplined and consistent play.

[The King]

...

 

Good post.

 

The other reality, that you do not mention, is that we might just be a better team than we were before, which is entirely possible. Our coach has matured quite a bit, he is more of a leader and also has taken a new approach with the media as well as trying to "lighten" up a little bit. Maybe a little Tom Coughlin in him. Team chemistry and leadership has improved.

 

Our offense is better. The playcalling is better. We haven't been turning the ball over (I can't attribute it to luck as you do, I attribute it to being the game of football and people drop INTs and sometimes the ball bounces for you rather than against you, and with Taylor as our QB in the past, maybe we just had bad luck - he did fumble - A LOT). OR maybe its not luck at all, and its a numbers game. We haven't put the rock on the ground as much so we don't worry about the ball bouncing back to us or straight to the other team, don't need luck when you don't fumble the ball constantly.

 

Our defense is a year older and they know the system, night and day difference from last year. While we aren't the greatest defense, we've never really had a offense that can lean on the defense and the defense can lean on the offense when need be. This is something that is relatively new for Bo, of course it is still early in the season and injuries can change that as it has in the past, but it does look promising.

 

So while we haven't proven anything yet, we haven't NOT proven to be anything either. We're 4-0 and that's all that we could have proven up to this point regardless of anything else.

 

So the reality is this, we don't know what we are, other than we are a 4-0 team that has looked different in numerous aspects while winning these games (turnovers, playcalling, special teams, to name a few), so while the 4 loss "threat" still looms, so do numerous other outcomes that do not involve us losing 4 games at all. The only reality that matters, is that we are 4-0, when we are usually 3-1 at this point in time. That's the reality that matters.

[carlfense]

you're right knapplc. We need to show consistency over the course of the season. We've never seen that sort of stability under this staff . . . but maybe this is the year.

[Eagle1]

Good post (s) and a lot of truth. However, I choose to not worry about what I can't control, and not worry about what hasn't happened. For now, I'm just happy to watch a football team that seems to be finding the passion for the game again and one that could end up being very dangerous. If they faulter, I'll throw things at my tv, cuss a little, well ok, a lot, and then I'll be ready to support them the next week.

[sd'sker]

i am very worried that by the time we play wiscy, they will be a quality team. i think if we played them this week or next week we would have a pretty good chance. but if they continue to improve, i think they have a higher ceiling than us and could be near impossible for us to beat in madison. i just wish we played them earlier.

 

otherwise, if we keep improving i think we can have a very good year and break that four loss streak, in a good way. but we do need to demonstrate consistency over a season (even in losses) before we really prove anything.

[GM_Tood]

Damn, after reading that, knapp, I know how the French feel.

[Guy Chamberlin]

Why hasn't this team stepped up and won all its games yet?

[kchusker_chris]

...you also forgot to mention we use new footballs.

[sd'sker]

you guys, we are killing it in the responses. perfect so far.