caveman99
All-American
I don't see many holes in Fickell's resume. Plus his face is a couple tiers less punchable than Rhule's.

I don't see many holes in Fickell's resume. Plus his face is a couple tiers less punchable than Rhule's.
I'd take Fickell over Rhule, without questionYeah I don't buy it.
And he doesn't wear a smock!I don't see many holes in Fickell's resume. Plus his face is a couple tiers less punchable than Rhule's.
Fickell is also already in Nebraska's record books due to being the coach of the team Nebraska mounted its largest ever comeback against. - That said, he's been my number 1 realistic hire since this started. I'd be ecstatic if it was him.
Yeah I know. Then Pelini kissed him on the neck. Which is fine nowadays.
I respectfully disagree. There are several roster spots where the talent of the players are huge questions. As other posters have talked about, it's a talent AND development issue.
Take quarterback: even with multiple scholarship QBs, Freshman walk-on Jarrett Synek was ahead of scholarship players Haarberg and Torres.
At TE: despite having 4 healthy scholarship players behind starter Vokolek, walk-on players Brewington and Boerkircher (RFr) are backups.
WR: Walk-on Brody Belt and converted CB Tommi Hill are higher on the depth chart than scholarship players Kamonte Grimes and Shawn Hardy II, despite both players now having nearly 2 years in the system. There are also 2 Scholarship true Freshman options Hill has also beat out for playing time.
DT: despite having 3 RFr and 1 RSo on the roster, walk-on Colton Feist has beat out 4 scholarship players with 2 or more years in the system.
Across the rest of the defense, it's quite obvious that players like Snodgrass, Malcom, Pola-Gates, etc. are probably not P5 level players.
I agree that with better coaching, that NU should have won more games than they did this year. However, I think it's naive to say NU would go from losing all of those close games to winning all of those games. Bad coaching isn't the only reason NU lost those games you mentioned.There are definitely a lot of needs, don't get me wrong. But this team is a 3 win team. With this exact roster and competent coaching at the beginning of the year, add in wins:
Northwestern
Georgia Southern
Minnesota
Purdue
Wisconsin
That's 8 wins that this team should have right now based on the talent that's in the program right now, with a chance to beat Iowa and get to 9. Could have also beaten Illinois.
Now can you imagine what this team could be if we had just an average offensive line?...
This team is a long way away from winning the conference, but it's just a quality coaching staff away from 8-10 wins
Agree Wisconsin broke the camels back. I was not impressed with the Illinois or Minny games either but losing CT hurt our chances there. Also had a hard time defending Rutgers even though we won. I think MJ could have had a real shot but no way now. Look at Leonard and the impact he’s had on Wisconsin. MJ held it together and that will get him a nice raise and position on the next staff and that is what I thought would and should happen all along.I don't blame Joseph for the way this season has gone and our losing streak, but the Wisconsin game was a bad look. It felt like the same old, same old. Of course there is some interest in wondering what he could do with more time, better assistants, a recruiting class, as he has done a good job of keeping the players competing and still fighting for something (Except for the offensive line). I just think if he gets announced as head coach it won't be all that exciting because these past 2 months have felt like the same old thing on repeat, even though he largely is trying to hold together scraps.
I agree that with better coaching, that NU should have won more games than they did this year. However, I think it's naive to say NU would go from losing all of those close games to winning all of those games. Bad coaching isn't the only reason NU lost those games you mentioned.
Oh, yes the infamous on side kick being the # 1 highlight reel play.Then, just think about the horrible boneheaded in game decisions that have been throughout Frost’s tenure that directly lead to losses.
Agreed.I agree that with better coaching, that NU should have won more games than they did this year. However, I think it's naive to say NU would go from losing all of those close games to winning all of those games. Bad coaching isn't the only reason NU lost those games you mentioned.
Damn.I agree that with better coaching, that NU should have won more games than they did this year.