Hello Husker Nation

[da skers]

Guess I'll start off by asking about any under-the-radar players you all see becoming big players this season? How is the D looking, especially in the secondary?

I'm going to go with Yoshi on the OL. He'll have his breakthrough season I believe (kind of stretch, but just a hunch). Also look for a young running back not named Rex to rack up around 1,000 all purpose yards. There's 3 coming in this fall, and a couple on the roster that could contribute. Time will tell which it is - none of us has a clue. I'd throw Kinnie/Reed in here, as well as Dennard. Known to all Huskers - they are still unknown to the rest of the conference for the most part. Each should have HUGE seasons and make a name for themselves.

 

The secondary will be fine. The loss of Prince/Gomes/Hagg will be offset by a much more dominant DL. The linebackers will be drastically improved from last year as well. Without Suh, our pass rush and therefore sacks/TFL's trailed 09' levels (at least it seemed that way). They should return to similar dominance this year which will help the secondary more than anything.

 

The overlooked question mark of this season will be special teams. Loosing Adi/Henery/Paul means we'll have someone new in all phases of the kicking game. With Niles Paul gone we'll be searching for a new return specialist as well. Nebraska has been kicker U the last 15 years. I can't see that being the case this year. It could cost us a close game. Tim Marlowe could emerge as a return man, or possibly one of the few 5'7" speedsters now on the roster.

Yoshi better step it up. Right now. . .I would guess he's going to end up second string.

 

 

I'll agree, look for Reed to have a big year in the new offense, actually about any tight end is going to have a good chance of making some headway. I think we're going to have 3-4 good wide outs if they continue to take the coaching. I think Heard may have the best chance to be our #2 RB at this point and I hope we can red shirt Green.

 

I think Evans will have a good year in the secondary and I would bet that by the time B10 rolls around Bell (former receiver) will be a heavily substituted contributor back there too. That is unless he hits a wall in fall camp. On the D-line Randle is being talked about like a poor man's Steve Warren who was a very good Husker and was key for a few years with the Packers D-Line. He's got to pick up a little bit of technique yet but I think by the time Summer Conditioning is over he'll be a major contributor.

Good point on Thad, da skers. At times, last year, he looked like a man on a mission. Especially in the Mizzou game, he was in the backfield the whole first half. Just a observation, but it seemed like he maybe needed to drop some baby fat.

He's just kind of built squatty. Lots of leg strength but you're right in that it seemed like he needed to build some upper body strength to move a guy out of the way. I think he worked hard on that this winter.

[zoogs]

Very excited about our DTs, when guys like T-Mo and Randle are the #3 and 4 guys in the pecking order.

 

Pretty stoked about our WRs too. It is about time. There are too many guys we've heard good things about, all at once....SJB, Quincy, K.Bell, Khiry, Jamal Turner. Their time is now.

[MinnwiscowaSker]

I'm excited to watch Eric Martin as the season progresses. He could turn out to be an over-excited Benard Thomas-type, but I think he could be a force.

 

Benard Thomas. That guy made me laugh. Changed his number to 5, because that's how many fingers the quarterback was going to see as he hit him.

[ADS]

I'm excited to watch Eric Martin as the season progresses. He could turn out to be an over-excited Benard Thomas-type, but I think he could be a force.

 

Benard Thomas. That guy made me laugh. Changed his number to 5, because that's how many fingers the quarterback was going to see as he hit him.

Emart needs to get dreadlocks and gold plated teeth like Bernard. In 2003, Bernard was a talent to watch under Pelini, just an animal.

[kchusker_chris]

Very excited about our DTs, when guys like T-Mo and Randle are the #3 and 4 guys in the pecking order.

 

Pretty stoked about our WRs too. It is about time. There are too many guys we've heard good things about, all at once....SJB, Quincy, K.Bell, Khiry, Jamal Turner. Their time is now.

Is it me or does it seem like we get stoked about our WRs every year only to be let down? I can't remember how many times we talked about Paul having a breakout year last April. He was being discussed as a possible late 1st round pick. We knew Kinnie was going to have a solid year. Texas came and the balloon went flat. I never thought they'd actually become a liability.

 

The year before last was us talking about Paul again. Year before that was Peterson/Swift. (I'd say they delivered, but that can be partially attributed to Ganz) Year before that Purify/Hardy/Nunn. etc, etc.

 

I'm going to be EXTREMELY guarded with my expectations for the WR corps for a long time. This year I'll base that on our QB. Until he proves he's a consistent passing threat I can't be excited about what we have at WR. I'm more stoked about seeing Rex catching balls out of the backfield than I am about some of these young guys.

 

Prediction: About 50% of T-Marts completions will be to someone coming out of the backfield.

[HuskerInLostWages]

Very excited about our DTs, when guys like T-Mo and Randle are the #3 and 4 guys in the pecking order.

 

Pretty stoked about our WRs too. It is about time. There are too many guys we've heard good things about, all at once....SJB, Quincy, K.Bell, Khiry, Jamal Turner. Their time is now.

Is it me or does it seem like we get stoked about our WRs every year only to be let down? I can't remember how many times we talked about Paul having a breakout year last April. He was being discussed as a possible late 1st round pick. We knew Kinnie was going to have a solid year. Texas came and the balloon went flat. I never thought they'd actually become a liability.

 

The year before last was us talking about Paul again. Year before that was Peterson/Swift. (I'd say they delivered, but that can be partially attributed to Ganz) Year before that Purify/Hardy/Nunn. etc, etc.

 

I'm going to be EXTREMELY guarded with my expectations for the WR corps for a long time. This year I'll base that on our QB. Until he proves he's a consistent passing threat I can't be excited about what we have at WR. I'm more stoked about seeing Rex catching balls out of the backfield than I am about some of these young guys.

 

Prediction: About 50% of T-Marts completions will be to someone coming out of the backfield.

 

Agreeing with you 100% here. Our Receiving corps have been a liability the last few years. if the game is on the line they simply will not or can not make a play. You go back the last few years, if the game is close or on the line you see missed blocks dropped wide open passes, self inflicted fumbles heading into the end zone, etc. I can't put my faith in them until they can actually prove something to me. New coaches and new players, maybe this year will be the year.

 

On a different note Chris, your avatar really is the only thing that catches my attention in these threads:D Them is some FANTASTIC mammary glands.

[blasted_imposter]

Hey, we got a new WR coach! Give him a chance.

 

Prediction: our passing game will score more points this season than our running game.

[ADS]

Hey, we got a new WR coach! Give him a chance.

 

Prediction: our passing game will score more points this season than our running game.

That's a pretty bold prediciton, especially with no idea what kind of offense Coach Beck is installing.

[kchusker_chris]

Hey, we got a new WR coach! Give him a chance.

 

Prediction: our passing game will score more points this season than our running game.

I'll give him a chance - I think he's going to be great. But the last few years has taught me to expect less and be happy for more.

 

As for your prediction...depends on if T-Mart is healthy through the season or not. He alone will have 12+ TDs, Burkhead will have 12+. Don't forget we only had 16 TOTAL TDs through the air last season. If our passing game produces more points than our running game I will be one happy camper because it means we are putting about 40 a game up.

[blasted_imposter]

I think it's more about the defenses we'll be facing, and what they might be more susceptible to.

[kchusker_chris]

I think it's more about the defenses we'll be facing, and what they might be more susceptible to.

Maybe. What worries me more is that we'll be playing actual defenses - not the cup cakes the big12 put forth. If we couldn't put up more than 16 TDs on this crew...don't see why we will all of a sudden start putting up 40+ on the Big10 defenses.

 

 

From a pass defense standpoint we played the #115, #110, #94, #71, #70, #52, #51, #36, #35, #34 (2), #8 pass defenses (average #59)

 

(note: we didn't play #120 Texas Tech or #113 Baylor last year)

 

 

Next year, based on last years rankings #111, #85, #60, #55, #44, #34, #33, #25, #22, #4 (average #47)

[zoogs]

Very excited about our DTs, when guys like T-Mo and Randle are the #3 and 4 guys in the pecking order.

 

Pretty stoked about our WRs too. It is about time. There are too many guys we've heard good things about, all at once....SJB, Quincy, K.Bell, Khiry, Jamal Turner. Their time is now.

Is it me or does it seem like we get stoked about our WRs every year only to be let down? I can't remember how many times we talked about Paul having a breakout year last April. He was being discussed as a possible late 1st round pick. We knew Kinnie was going to have a solid year. Texas came and the balloon went flat. I never thought they'd actually become a liability.

 

The year before last was us talking about Paul again. Year before that was Peterson/Swift. (I'd say they delivered, but that can be partially attributed to Ganz) Year before that Purify/Hardy/Nunn. etc, etc.

 

I'm going to be EXTREMELY guarded with my expectations for the WR corps for a long time. This year I'll base that on our QB. Until he proves he's a consistent passing threat I can't be excited about what we have at WR. I'm more stoked about seeing Rex catching balls out of the backfield than I am about some of these young guys.

 

Prediction: About 50% of T-Marts completions will be to someone coming out of the backfield.

 

I agree with you that the X-factor is at QB. But quarterback aside, this group of WRs is an exciting bunch.

 

In years past...I'd say it's more or less the last two years that our WRs have let us down. Swift, Peterson, Purify, and Nunn all delivered, and in the earlier years we were thin at WR anyway. It's '09 and '10 where we weren't supposed to be thin, but were. Meno's play was disappointing, Curenski didn't live up to his potential, Paul was a bit of a headcase, and Brooks rarely saw the field.

 

But while in the past we've had good reports about guys - like Brooks, Curenski...there hasn't really been a time when they've comprised nearly the entire receiving corps. Quincy Enunwa and Kenny Bell are beasts in the making by many accounts. Khiry, hopefully he's still promising. Then you hear the same type of hype about SJB and even KC Hyland. That's all aside from one solid starter in Kinnie. Of course, maybe Kinnie and Marlowe start and none of these guys reach their potential. But that would be a surprise (and a major disappointment). You're right, we'll need to wait and see.

 

Disagree about the 50% number by the way. Last year he struggled with his touch on screen passes, and rarely used his checkdown. I think Reed and the WRs will be frequent targets. Rex too, but I don't think the RBs come close to 50%.

[OH HSKR FAN]

Bucks:

 

Do you think Entienne Sabino will get some playing this year at LB?

[Bucks]

Bucks:

 

Do you think Entienne Sabino will get some playing this year at LB?

 

 

Just read an article about him a few days ago. I would say he is going to play heavy time. The general consensus is he is in the lead @ MLB. I have plenty of respect & excitement for him. He took the redshirt last year, which I've read quotes from him about. Certainly wasn't his ideal situation. I'm always hesitant to refer to recruitment rankings b/c you never know who will pan out and what "nobody" recruit turns into a monster, but he was the #1 overall inside LB recruit for 2008. He didn't take to the defense as well as some so got the backburner. As referenced in the article, he came so close to losing his redshirt towards the end of the year (injuries) which would have been terrible for him. Didn't happen thankfully.

[OH HSKR FAN]

I remember Mike DeAndrea from a few years back. He was highly regarded out of Avon Lake. I remember injuries derailed his college career. Check your Private Messages.