ColoradoHusk Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 We need more talent true enough. But also need a shift in our mentality. Right now, we're soft, both mentally and physically. As evidenced by our 4th quarter dominance.Against teams that we out-talented by farther than Tennessee out-talented us yesterday.We had the same thought earlier in the season when NU would finally exert our talent and physical dominance in the 4th quarter of games against inferior competition. It wasn't so much NU having way better S&C now, it was more of just being better teams and Riley not doing things to screw up the 4th quarter (like the team did in 2015). One thing that stood out to me about yesterday is quote from Lamar Jackson after the game. He commented on how big and physical the Tennessee receivers were and they were "grown men". There was a time when NU used to have the "grown men" on the sidelines and weren't intimidated by another team's physicality. Quote Link to comment
fb30 Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 I agree with you 2019. I'm just wondering if our guys are putting up any decent weight? Do they have that posted anywhere we could find out? Quote Link to comment
84HuskerLaw Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 I suspect that one of the problems with trying to have more 'physical' practices and trying to toughen up the team is that we are so thin at so many positions that injuries will KILL us. We are effectively too thin to risk injury practicing what we need to practice. A half dozen pre-season and practice injuries to starters and we are facing an uphill battle against most of the teams we play. We are simply too thin to be gambling. I think the first 5 or 6 games we survived with the injuries we had vs the competition we faced. Our lack of depth meant we weren't able to freely substitute and wear our opponents down as quickly, hence the 4th quarters where we did have more success and sort of pulled away at that point. By the middle third of the season, as the bumps and bruises and sprains and etc accumulated across more and more players, our depth evaporated. Playing one third stringer here or there for parts of games can be sort of worked around or hidden or abided, but as one or two became 5 or 6, it took its toll. The opponents got better and we were in trouble. We managed to play with Wisconsin, perhaps, because I seem to recall they were also having some injury fatigue as well. We also had the unbeaten team 'expectations' and as much confidence as we've had in years. But the loss of Tommy A, Westy, Cethan, linemen and so on just was too much to handle. Then we hit Ohio State who has a three deep chart that dam few of our guys could make on their best day. Between injuries and a 59 point beat down following the disppointment of Wisconsin was just all the fragile team could handle physically and mentally. The season finish, looking back, should have been obvious. We recovered some by the bowl but still played with out about half our team captains and several 3 or 4 year starters. Frankly, it is rather surprising in a way that we managed to have any glimmer of hope vs Tenn. We ran out of gas and the result is not unexpected. The key for next year is can we find about 15 very good, hard nosed, strong willed, confident players to step into major roles while some of the young guys grow up big and strong and fast? Maybe it will take 20? Oddly enough, this actually give me a little more hope because, it suggests that while the cupboard is bare when the starters on on the field, atleast most of the starters are able to give a decent showing vs most opponents. We just need a bunch more and they don't all need to be 4 and 5 star guys to get us back into the hunt for the West division and from there, we can claw and scratch and recruit our way back to serious contenders. We are NOT bottom feeders and it doesn't have to take a decade. We are not a bottom twenty program and we have a fighting chance. Finish this class off with some more good and a couple greats and have most of the last couple classes pan out well and we can get there from here. It is NOT hopeless nor will it have to take three more head coaching hires to restore the order. Quote Link to comment
Decked Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 We need more physical practices hands down. Practice agressive and with attitude and you'll play with attitude. Quote Link to comment
Landlord Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 We hung with Tennessee, who quite obviously out-talents us, in the 4th quarter just fine. That's not quite a feature of being incredibly soft as a team. We came back from 10 down against Wisconsin in the 4th quarter and took them to overtime. That's not quite a feature of being incredibly soft as a team. 2 Quote Link to comment
huskerfan74 Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 The worst thing is that we can't stop anyone. Whenever a good player is struggling in other games, they seem to get their mojo back once they play us. We just seem to bring the best out of everyone except ourselves. Dobbs is not that good yet we made him look like dak Prescott. Our coaches look clueless most of the game and our head coach is a nice guy that just roams the sideline with no heartbeat. Our team seems to take on the personality of our coach, which is nice but not good enough to beat the good teams. Quote Link to comment
BoNeyard Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 The worst thing is that we can't stop anyone. Whenever a good player is struggling in other games, they seem to get their mojo back once they play us. We just seem to bring the best out of everyone except ourselves. Dobbs is not that good yet we made him look like dak Prescott. Our coaches look clueless most of the game and our head coach is a nice guy that just roams the sideline with no heartbeat. Our team seems to take on the personality of our coach, which is nice but not good enough to beat the good teams. Nebraska in general has made mobile quarterbacks look like Heisman quality. This has gone on for decades. Quote Link to comment
GBR62 Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 We need talent in the worse way. Anyone can complete passes against us, because of our lack pass rush. It starts the lines; both offense & defense. This started long before Riley got here. You can have all the talent,But if you don't have the coaching to develop that talent. All you have is talent. You need both. 2 Quote Link to comment
Redux Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 From winning the West division, we aren't that far away. From winning the Big Ten, we are a ways away. From competing in a playoff, we are nowhere close. Quote Link to comment
fb30 Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 Ha! Ok, you watch your dog crap video. I'm just interested in how much our guys can lift. Quote Link to comment
teachercd Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 We should start the old "How much do you lift" thread for us posters! We could all use a good laugh! Quote Link to comment
fb30 Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 Nah, but weightlifting is particularly important to NU football. Quote Link to comment
Husker Psycho Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 We need talent in the worse way. Anyone can complete passes against us, because of our lack pass rush. It starts the lines; both offense & defense. This started long before Riley got here. You can have all the talent,But if you don't have the coaching to develop that talent. All you have is talent. You need both. Recruiting AND Coaching Recruiting AND Coaching Recruiting AND Coaching Our athletic director... anyone in a position to make decisions about our program... and every member of our coaching staff... need to have this TATOOED ON THEIR FOREHEADS. We've lost our way. Quote Link to comment
ScottyIce Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 How many scholarship guys do we have each week that are healthy to liven up practices and have full contact? Can we keep 11 guys healthy on each side of the ball throughout the year if we are hitting all week long? I'm not so sure we can. I also am not at practices so I have no clue what goes on. Quote Link to comment
ScottyIce Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 From winning the West division, we aren't that far away. From winning the Big Ten, we are a ways away. From competing in a playoff, we are nowhere close. Where are you going with this brah? Quote Link to comment
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