Bo Pelini will have an awesome 2nd season

[HUSKER FREAK]

What about Kody Spano is he not a contender for the QB position? Just wondering because no one ever really mentions him.

[junior4949]

I really, really like the way our schedule is looking next season. With probable wins coming up against KSU and CU and a bowl game against what will likely be the #4 team in the Big 10 or Pac 10 conference, (which are SO WEAK) I really like our chances of winning out. That leaves us with a 9-4 record, a top 25 ranking, and some momentum heading into next season.

 

I think in personnel we either hold steady or gain strength at all positions except for right guard (Slauson) and quarterback. Our WRs will be slightly less consistent but much more explosive next year. The absolutely critical link and biggest question mark on our team will be at quarterback. I like the talent that we have between Witt, Lee, and Green, but whether that converts to success on the field is yet to be seen. The following predictions are based on the next QB playing at roughly Ganz's level.

 

Here's my early breakdown of 2009:

 

W- 09/05 Fla. Atlantic @ Lincoln - Obviously you would expect a win here

 

W- 09/12 Arkansas State @ Lincoln - Another easy win

 

?- 09/19 Virginia Tech @ Blacksburg - This will be a VERY tough road game. Taylor will have more experience next year and the VT defense will be better as well. Possibly our toughest regular season game of the year.

 

W- 09/26 La.-Lafayette @ Lincoln - Another easy win

 

W- 10/03 Missouri @ Columbia - With Daniel, Coffman, Macklin and almost all of their offensive playmakers going pro and Barnett possibly leaving I like our chances

 

W- 10/17 Texas Tech @ Lincoln - We lost in a heart-breaker this year, but next year we play them in Lincoln and they will lose the backbone of their team in Harrell and Crabtree

 

W- 10/24 Iowa State @ Lincoln - Iowa State has little to look forward to next year

 

?- 10/31 Baylor @ Waco - Robert Griffin returns and we play Baylor at home. Baylor will not be a team that anyone wants to play next year. However, if Griffin is injured in the interim, we win this game easy.

 

W- 11/07 Oklahoma @ Lincoln - Another Big XII team ripe for the NFL draft picking. If, as expected, Sam Bradford, Demarco Murray, and the entire offensive line go pro I like our chances. Yes we got blown out this year, but if you take away that nightmare of a first quarter we would have played Oklahoma right down to the wire. I also like playing them in Lincoln

 

W- 11/14 Kansas @ Lawrence - Kansas will have another tough year next year with a difficult schedule and without Reesing. This reinforces what I've thought all along: that 2007 was an aberration of success for Kansas, not an establishment of a new power in the Big XII North.

 

W- 11/21 Kansas State @ Lincoln - Kansas State will be TERRIBLE next year. With Freeman likely going pro, a new coach, and awful talent, the Skers will roll.

 

W- 11/27 Colorado @ Boulder - Colorado will actually be a tough game next year, but lacking solid play from the quarterback position Nebraska takes the win.

 

Big XII championship game?

 

BCS title game?

 

Perhaps I'm drinking a bit too much kool-aid here, but I love the way next year stacks up for us in the Big XII. The NFL draft is our best friend, come from above to pillage the talent of our toughest Big XII foes.

 

Thoughts?

 

Even with Frazier starting as a true freshman, we laid an egg to Iowa State. None of our QB's for next year have any experience. Hopefully, that will change with the last two regular season opponents. As a redshirt sophomore, I highly doubt Bradford goes pro. Reesing will be back at Kansas. We might be very competitive in the North next year, but then again we might end up #2 in the North this year.

 

In the end, I think we'll have a year similar to this one. It's going to be tough going into Blacksburg to take on a team that will have a seasoned QB with us taking in a QB with very little experience this early in the season. I think next year our defense will lead the way. They are getting better and better with each game. We hopefully get Turner back for the entire season. Right now, I'd say we'll lose 3-4 games next year. However, we may very well play in the Big 12 Championship game.

[Army Husker]

Nope. Paul was a true freshman last year who should have redshirted.

 

Chris Brooks will be a senior next year as well.

 

I missed Brooks...also missed Khiry Cooper, a freshmen WR as well.

[mickijc_20]

freeman going pro

[redout22]

freeman going pro

 

There really isnt a great reason to stay for him

But if we establish a QB early i think that most of this can be done

[bhunt7]

Swift and Peterson are pretty good and they may be carrying the team right now but there is plenty of other talent at the position. Niles, Meno, Brooks, Khiry, and Curenski will all do pretty well next year. Will Henry and Steve Osborne are both big targets that could also do pretty well. The cupboards are not bare.

[huKSer]

freeman going pro

 

There really isnt a great reason to stay for him

But if we establish a QB early i think that most of this can be done

 

Its early - and don't know who they are going to hire (Snyder for one year until AD and President gets settled?) but on a sound bite down here in an interview Josh sounded like he was staying around one more year (which would be 3 more than Beasley)

[huskered17]

Read this slowly and carefully.

 

NO STARTING QB WITH REAL GAME EXPERIENCE. VERY YOUNG. TWO TOP RECIEVERS GONE.

 

A year similar to this year I would expect, but the following year your predictions seem realistic.

 

Not next.

 

 

GBR!!!

[Armistead]

I agree that things are looking better....the defense will be better next year.......

 

 

 

I like the Talent on the O-line and the staff has done a nice job with the young guys...if Christensen comes back...look for them to be very good.

 

 

The Backs and receivers are better that we will see most days and as good as we will see.....OU may have better WR's.....but I like Paul and Co. to be very good.

 

 

The QB situation is up in the air....but it reminds me of the old days when we had talented guys battling

LEE Spano Green and Witt are studs.....I also expect to see the Huskers run more and more Option and QB run pass option next season....with a better Defense ...look for the Huskers to step up their Keep away game plan....the spread don't work if you don't have the ball.... I guess in a long winded way...I just think that we are fine at QB and the overall improved play by the rest of the team should help the transition.

 

 

 

The D-line will be better if SUH stays and a big year outta him in 09 will only bring up his NFL stock.....Look for Bo too upgrade this unit in the offseason.

 

LB's .....nowhere to go but up with this group....look for alot of youth and better speed...still a long ways to go.

 

 

 

secondary....decent talent and agin...bo will keep imroving this group...still....thay are a decent unit in 09...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

overall....I think 09 will be decent...I expect the Huskers to go 6-2 in the big12 and 9-3 regular season........

 

that is where we need to be.....2010 is where we return to our good Home schedule and Bo will be in year 3.....that when I expect to return to the top 15 in the country and contend

[huskerpilot]

Perhaps I'm drinking a bit too much kool-aid here, but I love the way next year stacks up for us in the Big XII. The NFL draft is our best friend, come from above to pillage the talent of our toughest Big XII foes.

 

Even with Frazier starting as a true freshman, we laid an egg to Iowa State. None of our QB's for next year have any experience. Hopefully, that will change with the last two regular season opponents. As a redshirt sophomore, I highly doubt Bradford goes pro. Reesing will be back at Kansas. We might be very competitive in the North next year, but then again we might end up #2 in the North this year.

 

In the end, I think we'll have a year similar to this one. It's going to be tough going into Blacksburg to take on a team that will have a seasoned QB with us taking in a QB with very little experience this early in the season. I think next year our defense will lead the way. They are getting better and better with each game. We hopefully get Turner back for the entire season. Right now, I'd say we'll lose 3-4 games next year. However, we may very well play in the Big 12 Championship game.

 

 

Yes I agree, the lack of a quarterback is going to be our Achilles' heel. I think we should see how spring and summer camps go, but if Cody Green is better, or even at the same level as our other QB's I think he should start. I say this simply because he will be the yougest player on the team, and if he has the right attitude, he will have the potential to build a very strong program on for the next 4 years. What do you guys think?

 

As for next year, if only we had ganz 1 more year, I think it would be MONEY. Too bad. My final verdict is this:

 

IF cody green or one of the other QB's really step up we have a good shot at the big 12 north, and a chance for the big 12 championship at 9-3 or 10-2. Without a good QB we will finish as poorly as 8-4 or 7-5.

[Hunter94]

lots of speculation, we will have no clue how strong or weak our qb situation will be until we play 3 or 4 games next year, but one thing we already know is that experience will be a real problem.

[Aim9]

Perhaps I'm drinking a bit too much kool-aid here, but I love the way next year stacks up for us in the Big XII. The NFL draft is our best friend, come from above to pillage the talent of our toughest Big XII foes.

 

Even with Frazier starting as a true freshman, we laid an egg to Iowa State. None of our QB's for next year have any experience. Hopefully, that will change with the last two regular season opponents. As a redshirt sophomore, I highly doubt Bradford goes pro. Reesing will be back at Kansas. We might be very competitive in the North next year, but then again we might end up #2 in the North this year.

 

In the end, I think we'll have a year similar to this one. It's going to be tough going into Blacksburg to take on a team that will have a seasoned QB with us taking in a QB with very little experience this early in the season. I think next year our defense will lead the way. They are getting better and better with each game. We hopefully get Turner back for the entire season. Right now, I'd say we'll lose 3-4 games next year. However, we may very well play in the Big 12 Championship game.

 

 

Yes I agree, the lack of a quarterback is going to be our Achilles' heel. I think we should see how spring and summer camps go, but if Cody Green is better, or even at the same level as our other QB's I think he should start. I say this simply because he will be the yougest player on the team, and if he has the right attitude, he will have the potential to build a very strong program on for the next 4 years. What do you guys think?

 

As for next year, if only we had ganz 1 more year, I think it would be MONEY. Too bad. My final verdict is this:

 

IF cody green or one of the other QB's really step up we have a good shot at the big 12 north, and a chance for the big 12 championship at 9-3 or 10-2. Without a good QB we will finish as poorly as 8-4 or 7-5.

 

Lee has some experience, but Witt and Green do not. All the same, I don't think something like a 2 loss season is unreasonable. Just to clear it up, I wasn't predicting a national championship- I was just saying that we're going to do very well next year, especially in the Big XII.

 

Yes, we'll lose Peterson and Swift, but honestly I don't feel like we lose much with Henry, Holt, Brooks and Paul. We have a lot of talent there. We'll have Suh, Allen, and Turner back on the D-line, which I think will be our strength on defense. Much of our secondary returns, including Anthony Bleu who is probably our best defensive back.

 

As for those mocking the idea of Josh Freeman and Sam Bradford going pro, go check out some of the early draft boards. Sam Bradford is a consensus top three pick. If he's smart he goes pro. Why risk an injury that could cost you 60 million dollars? His stock cannot get any higher than it is right now. Freeman's stock is also pretty high. True, he hasn't done well against Nebraska, but he's got all the physical tools and he's done really well for himself considering K-State has never really had a solid running game to keep defenses honest. Most analysts also predict he'll make the jump. Why would you stick around if you're Freeman? K-State will suck next year every bit as bad as they have this year, possibly worse.

 

I think our next season all pends on the play of our new quarterback. With good quarterback play we could end up being a 1-2 loss team. With so-so quarterback play we could end up being a 3-4 loss team.

[HuskerfromIL]

Easy on next year, we lose a lot offensively, and we have to get SO MUCH MORE athletic on defense before we will be in line for a statement win against the OUs, TXs, of the world! I really hope Suh stays next year....

 

But the good news..... we are going in the right direction. And if you are a defensive recruit that loves to "KNOCK SOME HEADS" who else would you rather play for in the country! Man, I get fired up just thinking about it...... We are going to have a great defense in a few years....and defense will win us championships.

 

I hope that Watson stays....if he does our offense will put up points consistently. You couple that with a great defense and we will be very good in the future.

 

We will be fine.....but give it time!!!

[Igetbored216]

I think our defense will be much quicker next season and will be anchored down by three great D-linemen (assuming Suh doesn't leave).

 

The big question is how quickly the new players learn the system in real game-time situations and how everyone on the defense will mesh together.

[fro daddy]

I have a question. This is not meant as a slight, just an honest unbiased question.

 

I think our next season all pends on the play of our new quarterback. With good quarterback play we could end up being a 1-2 loss team. With so-so quarterback play we could end up being a 3-4 loss team.

 

Why is it that NE with a new unproven QB will at worse will lose 3-4 games. But this whole thread is built upon what other teams are losing thus allowing NE to do well. This includes mentioning that K-State, Oklahoma, MU and TT will all lose their best players, allowing NE to earn wins. IF by your reasoning NU can not only compete, but flurish why cant MU, Oklahoma & TT? I would argue that those 3 teams, even with the loss of current players still have more offensive talent than Nebraska. Including a number of young players that all ready see lots of PT. Unlike Nebraska who is banking on 'potential'.

 

I understand this is a nebraska board, but I also enjoy the football talk. I look at all teams with an unbiased approach. I know my team is losing alot of players at the end of the season. I also know that they have a ton of young talent that has gotten alot of time this year. What I dont know is how it will gel and work next year. But I will tell you this. MU clearly had more talent than NE this year. I dont expect that to change in one year. I also know that OU is head and shoulders above MU right now, that wont change in one year either. You all should know that OU is a world above you, and unrealistic expictations only lead to disappointment.

 

I WANT NU to do well, I really do. (as long as you finish second to MU ) But lets not jump the gun. You are right were I thought you would be this year ( I said 7-5, 8-4 if you beat VT or KU). Good enough to beat teams you should ( you haven't gotten bit in the a** by a lowly team this year) but not able to really beat the top teams. I guess what I'm saying is you may very well make the 'jump', but you my finish 3rd or 4th in the north. WHO KNOWS AT THIS POINT.

 

Any way