Before every season, I'm always trying to figure out how well we'll do. Over the years, I've learned that while there are some things we can base our predictions on, we really don't have a freaking clue as to how things will pan out. Before the '07 season, I was certain we'd be good enough to play in a BCS game, what with gun-slinger Keller, big-time Mo Purify, and future NFL star Marlon Lucky in the backfield, not to mention we were good enough to win the Big12 North in '06. All of us were thinking pretty much the same thing - '07 is the year. We can beat USC, Texas, and be NEBRASKA again.
But...we all saw how that panned out. Because of '07, I will always be hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. The biggest problem, of course, was our defense, or lackthereof. However, I'd say another huge thing we aren't taking into consideration is our competition. I don't think anyone saw the emergence of KU and MU in '07. So, while I am trying to get an angle on the Huskers and their chances, I also really want to know about the competition - who will break out and make life in football hard for the boys in red.
As for the Huskers:
Offensively, I believe we'll be more effective running the ball, given the O-line isn't facing injury and depth issues, at least initially. However, the QB situation is troubling. If Zac Lee isn't 100%, I hope Cody Green has improved 200%, because if we're to be competitive at all, we need MUCH better play at QB than we did for several games last season. I think the receiving corps is about as good as they were last year, and Niles has proven himself a formidable threat returning punts/kicks. The kicking game is as good or better, as long as Adi doesn't kick it OUT OF BOUNDS. Dang it.
Defensively, there's a lot of talk about how the Blackshirts will stop teams without Suh. Will the Huskers be a defensive juggernaut again? I don't know. I think Crick, Steinkuhler, Cam Meredith, etc will do well, and we won't give up horrible amounts of rushing yardage. We should still be able to get pressure on the QB. However, a lot of us are forgetting about the loss of Phillip Dillard. Toward the end of the year, he was playing as well as any LB in the conference. He was a leader, and kept everyone in line during games. Now, we have some new really athletic guys like Eric Martin and Whaley, but I'm sure they need a good deal of game time to really be a force. As it is, we aren't Linebacker U. The secondary lost hardly anyone, so we should probably see no drop-off in their level of play. (Edit: Asante had his moments, but I think there are people that can be as effective or more than he was)
How all this translates when the bullets are flying? I haven't the foggiest idea.
