**Ameer Highlights**

[bhamHusker]

Turner had one fumble all season. It was not a turnover, but it was a muffed punt against Minnesota.

 

*edit - to correct to "not a turnover." Transposed a row when I was looking at my list.

[irafreak]

I'm still so pleasantly surprised at how Ameer became a complete back through the offseason.

[Landlord]

I highly doubt Ameer will leave Nebraska before he exhausts his eligibility here. He's not nearly as concerned with getting his as he is with taking his team as far as he can. Too much humility to chase after the $$$

[girlknowsfootball]

He won't get 1,400 yds this season because we have way too many weapons that are going to share caries. As Ron Brown says, it's the "we back" university not "I back" university. With Braylon healthy, Imani a year further along, Newby coming in, and Taylor coming in.... Ameer won't get more than 80% of the RB carries a game. He'd need closer to 90-95% to pick up 1,400 yds this season.

[Enhance]

If he fixes his fumbleitis he'll be a good one. We just need a mean O Line to block for him and he'll be off to the races.

His fumbles are an issue, no doubt, but I think they get overstated a bit. He had a total of 8 fumbles, of which 6 were turnovers. Fully half of them, 4(3TO), were muffed punt returns - something he's clearly not great at. I hope he can clean that up because of his potential for a breakout return each time he touches the ball, but if he can't someone with surer hands should get that role full time. Set aside his issues on returns, and his fumble stats on the year in his role as a RB become a lot more tolerable. Regardless, it's still an area to improve upon, and I'm pretty confident he'll get that sorted out. Out of 257 touches as a RB, I can't be too upset over 4(3TO) fumbles, especially when at least one of them was questionable (yeah, yeah, never leave it in the ref's hands, I know).

The problem with Abdullah's fumbles is the timing. He's had two fumbles that vividly stick out in my mind - the one against South Carolina in the red zone, and the one against Georgia. Two big fumbles at crucial times in big games, fumbles that changed momentum. And while neither fumble led to scoring drives for the opponent, they both cost us points opportunities, and I believe we would have scored against South Carolina had he not fumbled.

[Chaddyboxer]

Chaddy, did you make that vid? I thought it actually might have excluded the best Ameer run of the year. My jaw dropped when he made that cut to the outside against Georgia and the UGA defender left his jock on the field.

No, I didn't. And yes, I do agree with you though. He/she left out the best run I have EVER SEEN from him. The run against Georgia was a thing of beauty. He made an amazing cut going full speed from what it looks like. It was insane! He's going to be a force next year IMO.

He made Georgia look silly. The play reminded me of a man amongst boys.....

[Chaddyboxer]

Great video, thanks for the link!

 

You should tweet a link to Ameer.

I don't have twitter....

If you do, do it man!

[Chaddyboxer]

If Ameer runs for 1,300+ yards next year and gets some national media attention is there anyway he leaves early for the NFL?

I would go more with...if he does that...and NEB has 0 losses or only 1 loss under their belt....look for him to possibly be in the Heisman discussion if he has some Heisman moment runs.

[huskergeorge990]

Look at that down field blocking from receivers too!

[The Dude]

Look at that down field blocking from receivers too!

Love that about our receivers.

 

This video makes me realize I'm really going to miss seeing Justin Jackson out there. Loved watching him flying at defenders this season.

[HuskerNationNick]

Chaddy, I wouldn't jump the gun on naming Abdullah the starter for 2013 season. I have been a Heard supporter since day one, and this kid has been out to prove he deserves that spot more than anyone else in that position. The times he has been on that field has proved, from talent wise, he should have it. Academically, off the field or during practice could be a different story. Quiet kid? Lack of leadership? Also, if the stories are true about him moving position, then its safe to say Abdullah would be the starter. Until then, I think its a dead even race right now.

 

I don't know why I am "obsessed" with Heard. Maybe its because, he is a more of a natural RB. He hits the hole with power, he has the speed and he has a tendancy to get extra yards that seemed like they were never there to begin with. He is less of a "dancer" and is out there to break people and run them over. Lol.

 

BTW, I am not saying he isn't going to be the starter, and great video btw

[bhamHusker]

The problem with Abdullah's fumbles is the timing. He's had two fumbles that vividly stick out in my mind - the one against South Carolina in the red zone, and the one against Georgia. Two big fumbles at crucial times in big games, fumbles that changed momentum. And while neither fumble led to scoring drives for the opponent, they both cost us points opportunities, and I believe we would have scored against South Carolina had he not fumbled.

That's part of the problem with the perception - people remember turnovers when they're perceived to have been game changers (whether or not they actually were is always debatable). That's an emotional response to the turnovers, when what's deserved is objectivity. All turnovers cost us points opportunities - so do lots of other things that we don't get nearly as worked up about. This kid's body of work is too good to get too overwrought about a handful of fumbles. Everyone that touches the ball will have a turnover at times. Cross had two in one game, and our QB had 16 on the year and lost half of them (I mention his here because most were on rushes rather than sacks). Even Burkhead, a much more experienced RB, managed to cough one up in his limited number of carries.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's not a problem - it's something that needs the attention of him and his coaches plus a lot of work between now and kickoff. I'm just saying that I think he gets too much crap for being "fumble prone." As a running back, he's got some work to do, but it's not as bad as some seem to think. As a punt/kick returner, he needs to get it sorted or let someone else with better hands do the job. I think he's the kind of guy that will do what it takes to get this fixed, so I'm just not that concerned about it.

[Enhance]

The problem with Abdullah's fumbles is the timing. He's had two fumbles that vividly stick out in my mind - the one against South Carolina in the red zone, and the one against Georgia. Two big fumbles at crucial times in big games, fumbles that changed momentum. And while neither fumble led to scoring drives for the opponent, they both cost us points opportunities, and I believe we would have scored against South Carolina had he not fumbled.

That's part of the problem with the perception - people remember turnovers when they're perceived to have been game changers (whether or not they actually were is always debatable). That's an emotional response to the turnovers, when what's deserved is objectivity. All turnovers cost us points opportunities - so do lots of other things that we don't get nearly as worked up about. This kid's body of work is too good to get too overwrought about a handful of fumbles. Everyone that touches the ball will have a turnover at times. Cross had two in one game, and our QB had 16 on the year and lost half of them (I mention his here because most were on rushes rather than sacks). Even Burkhead, a much more experienced RB, managed to cough one up in his limited number of carries.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's not a problem - it's something that needs the attention of him and his coaches plus a lot of work between now and kickoff. I'm just saying that I think he gets too much crap for being "fumble prone." As a running back, he's got some work to do, but it's not as bad as some seem to think. As a punt/kick returner, he needs to get it sorted or let someone else with better hands do the job. I think he's the kind of guy that will do what it takes to get this fixed, so I'm just not that concerned about it.

I agree with you, and Abdullah's body of work is impressive so far. But, I don't think the perception is unrealistic. He has to have better ball skills when it matters. The whole team does.

 

I wonder though if we will see Abdullah returning kicks much next season.

[HuskerShark]

Chaddy, did you make that vid? I thought it actually might have excluded the best Ameer run of the year. My jaw dropped when he made that cut to the outside against Georgia and the UGA defender left his jock on the field.

No, I didn't. And yes, I do agree with you though. He/she left out the best run I have EVER SEEN from him. The run against Georgia was a thing of beauty. He made an amazing cut going full speed from what it looks like. It was insane! He's going to be a force next year IMO.

He made Georgia look silly. The play reminded me of a man amongst boys.....

 

Agreed. And he's the biggest reason we beat Wisconsin the first time we played them. Borland had Rex locked down, and Ameer was a great change of pace. His cuts are so hard and quick, I love watching him run.

[Chaddyboxer]

Chaddy, I wouldn't jump the gun on naming Abdullah the starter for 2013 season. I have been a Heard supporter since day one, and this kid has been out to prove he deserves that spot more than anyone else in that position. The times he has been on that field has proved, from talent wise, he should have it. Academically, off the field or during practice could be a different story. Quiet kid? Lack of leadership? Also, if the stories are true about him moving position, then its safe to say Abdullah would be the starter. Until then, I think its a dead even race right now.

 

I don't know why I am "obsessed" with Heard. Maybe its because, he is a more of a natural RB. He hits the hole with power, he has the speed and he has a tendancy to get extra yards that seemed like they were never there to begin with. He is less of a "dancer" and is out there to break people and run them over. Lol.

 

BTW, I am not saying he isn't going to be the starter, and great video btw

I don't disagree with you at all man. Heard is right there personally. I love his burst and he is VERY fluid with his running...when he moves he doesn't lose much speed at all. I am basing Ameer being the starter because he ended up getting more carries than Heard did last year even though Heard was fighting an injury. We'll see how it pans out.