Red_Payne

IMHO; although Indiana does seem a little scary because they look like they can put up points; for that reason, I don't think they will be overlooked. PLUS, I think we can wear them down just like other mid-tier teams we have played.

The Iowa game will depend on the circumstances surrounding the game. If we have clinched B1G west, or are eliminated from the CCG, I believe the guys may play with less determination, while Iowa may be looking to salvage a season w/ a win over a rival.

Ohio St.

Wisconsin

Iowa/Indiana *depending on circumstance

Maryland - Haven't really played anyone truly noteworthy; still, they have won and won fairly easily.

Minnesota - Nothing special this year; but they still look like they can play a team tough

Purdue - Should be a win if we stick to a smart gameplan

Ozigbo hits the hole a lot better than Newbie. Had more carries, and may look to steal the starting spot if this continues.

Saw some Wisconsin style "guess where we're blitzing from" defense. I like that, but we didn't execute it as well as they do, but would like to continue seeing that.

Not convinced this will truly be the offensive scheme throughout the rest of the season, and it may not even be close to what we will see against better teams, but I can see that Riley is willing to put together a gameplan that gives us the best shot at winning; which is a MAJOR improvement on his part. kudos for that.

A successful season would be 9 wins. A GOOD season would be 10 wins.

8 wins should keep Riley his job; coaching turnover is detrimental to any program/franchise; and history proves that; although their have been a few recent cases of instant, or at least relatively quick success, but those are few and far between.

I would like to think that the Riley hire has potential for great success, and I would be willing to go through two 8 win season in order to try and reach that potential (and avoid the coaching turnover again).

That's just my opinion, though.

Alabama - They're the top dog, and you always wanna knock off the top dog.

Texas - Just something I wanna see

Oklahoma - Would love to see them match up again somehow in the post season; would naturally get tons of coverage, especially if an upper tier bowl game.

 

The fault lies ultimately back with "Dollar Bill Byrne" who helped engineer the Big 12 to begin with. The Big 12 sucks and always has really. It really should have been named 'The new and improved Southwest Conference Starring Texas" as that was what it was intended to be and became. The best decision Nebraska ever made was getting out of that cluster. The departure of Nebraska basically sent the conference into a long slow death spiral. Frankly, in my view, the Big Ten has been reborn with the addition of Nebraska as well. The Big Ten was the weakest of the power conferences before we joined and we are now a rival to the SEC which was easily the 'top' conference. Nebraska football carries enormous political and image weight if you will in collegiate football. If Nebraska were to suddenly withdraw from the Big Ten and join the PAC 12, that conference would rise up and become the new rival with the SEC. It is rather amazing. There seems little argument on this fact as we know the Rutgers and Maryland didn't transform the conference 'power image' from mediocre to championship level.

 

Ohio State benefited as much as anyone from Nebraska's joinder as it legitmized the entire conference in terms of gravitas and strength.

Wow, I think you're a little dilusional about how Nebraska is viewed outside of the state. I Iive in Michigan. And I can tell you everyone I know and meet think of Nebraska as a has been. Honestly we are not really taken seriously anymore by most big 10 fans I encounter. We do have tradition, but that's about it anymore. We need to regain a lot of respect, and we surely are not why the big ten has been revitalized. That would be the accomplishments of Ohio state and MSU, (and the hiring of harbaugh to a degree). We have some work to do.

 

How often do you get, "Nebraska? They were goo in the 90's, right?"

I, too, live outside of Neb. and No one thinks of Nebraska as a top tier program here.

Back to the main topic; We don't deserve any blame, unless you are a Tex. fan; even then, there is so much blame you can place on us, considering everything UT was trying to get done in there best interest, completely disregarding the state of the Big 12 or the complications their actions could cause.

I think we will upset two teams this year; but we will suffer to defeats at the hands of a lesser opponent.

I think we upset Wisky; and I think we beat Iowa (not sure if this counts as an upset; though).

People are down on Oregon; but they actually had a good season, and I see them having a similar season. I don't see us keeping up with them or Ohio St.

We have to go to Indiana; should be a win, but I'm a little nervous; but they have lost some key talent and have a ? at QB - Win

I just get a feeling we will lose one at home to either Fresno or Minn. I think we beat Northwestern away, though.

I think we go 9-3 and lose in CCG; That would be a good season in my eyes, considering it is Riley's 2nd season (as long as those losses aren't blowouts... We don't like blowout losses).

I disagree that the 50:50 ratio is the best you can do. Except for Baylor in recent years, the best offenses have a specialty in terms of being a running team or a passing team. The offense should have a strength that can be relied on.

Good point. I guess it depends on what you can find; So that brings up another big question. Can Riley recruit the guys he needs to run his system, Or does he recruit the best players he can possible find and structure his system around the talent he has.

Let's be honest; there are only a handful of teams that can honestly say that they can recruit the top talent that fit into their system; I think most programs have to structure their system around the players they have.

Can Riley be a guy that finds guys to fit his system, or just get the top talent you can find and build around them?

Just my opinion on that; what do you guys think?

For the LOVE of all that is HOLY!!! He has stated over and over and over, he wants a balanced attack. He wants to be as close to 50/50 as possible. That doesn't mean every game is 50/50, he is saying overall. Some games we will be pass heavy based on the defenses we are seeing and some we will be run heavy. Also, depending on whether our Blackshirts can stop anyone will dictate our offensive attack.

 

If you really think about it, being 50/50 is really the best offensive game plan. It makes the defense play straight up, they cant lean to one side or the other on their attack. I would bet if you looked at most NFL team statistics you would find the best ones are close to the 50/50 mark.

 

Now can we stop with the "what kind of offense do you think" threads.

To be fair, every coach say that they want to be balanced; I've never heard a coach say "I'd like to run a 1-dimensional offense" Saying something is a lot different than going out and implementing it. Also, some coaches may genuinely believe that a 60/40 play-calling ratio is balanced in their eyes.

I agree, however, 50-50 is, in my eyes, the best plan if you can build for it successfully. Hopefully Riley can/will.

First Thread; didn't see this come up, and things are slow so I thought I'd contribute after creeping for about a year.

What offense do you think we run when Riley get a QB he falls in love with. I'm talking a true prototypical drop back passer. Do you see us running a traditional balanced offense (ala. early-mid 2000's USC); or do you see us running a modern/Shotgun-heavy/pass-heavy offense (somewhat like what you see in the pros; SD, NE, NO, any team with an elite QB).