**2018 Husker Previews: SBNation - What should we expect from Scott Frost’s first Nebraska team?**

[brophog]

11 hours ago, Caliborn72 said:

What would a 6 win season mean for you then?

 

I hope that doesn’t come off as an attack, I’m honestly asking and I’m not looking for a right answer or anything. I have predicted what feels like (in my mind) a very safe 7 win season. I can definitely see a path to 8 or 9, mostly because I think the OLine will be far better, but I can also see us struggling and only winning 5-6. Would 5-6 wins put some assistants on a relatively hot seat for you?

 

I've officially said anywhere from 4-8 to 8-4. Certainly 7 or more wins is plausible, and easily pathed by any of us. But I wouldn't say it is "safe" and the reason is depth. This team, imo, has a below average safety margin at multiple positions. 

[lo country]

New staff, new system, new faces, brutal schedule.......With all this in mind, Frost and Co don't get a pass (even though the deck is stacked against quick success) and don't want one IMHO. This staff is here to win and win much sooner than even a  little later.  We have the talent.  We've been devoid of competent coaching.  A staff and team with a clear plan, vision and system (check), a unified vision (check), a solid work ethic (check), a never quit mentality (work in progress) will surprise some people in  year one.  

 

There are going to be some bumps in the road.  I just don't picture the car going into the ditch like it has the past few years....  Like Chinander said about the D, if he doesn't see you around the ball in practice and in games, you'll be seeing the game beside him or gone....The comments about Jackson.....The recruiting of the Juco's.....This staff isn't here for a great retirement package and "one last hurrah"......

 

I'm not expecting to win the conference year one or even win the west. I'm sure as hell not expecting to be 5th either.  8-4, 7-5 with all the issues mentioned above is do able and would be a great improvement from last season.  I think we surprise some team.  IMHO, not OSU, but Michigan or Wisky.  I'd love to beat Wisky right out the gate.  Beat em like old NU.  Physicality on both sides of the ball.  No more pretender, just a genuine contender.  Set the tone early....

 

I can't wait for this season to get started!

[Blackshirt316]

12 hours ago, 84HuskerLaw said:

Talent as indicated by recruiting service rankings puts us somewhere in the mid 30s I would suppose based on the comments I've read on this board over the past number of years.  Mid 30s talent (assuming the ratings are fairly accurate - I am not sure I would subscribe to that but allowing for that as being true), if poorly coached, in mediocre physical condition at best, and lacking the real motivation and desire to overcome and win (no Husker heart as a team in my view, then the results on the field for past decade or so are not surprising.

 

The term talent in my view includes both mental and physical skills and capabilities etc.   A player who runs a 4.3 forty and 10.4 hundred meters may have the physical ability but if he plays lackluster and half hearted, the results will be as we've been experiencing for a long time.    A guy who runs 4.6 but with the fire and determination of Roger Craig or Joel Mackovica has far more 'talent' for the game.  Track stars may not be as good on the football field if the hitting and toughness and heart are not there.  

 

If Frost and Company can motivate and condition the team mentally and physically to play up to their potential, we'll win more games that people are expecting this fall.  If the majority of the players have the 'want to' it takes to become winners.   I would say there were too many on the team in recent years that just seemed, by their actions and general level of play, to lack the heart and desire to give their utmost to win.  The challenge will be to find those players on the roster that have that heart and desire and will power to give their very best.  They also have to believe in themselves as individuals and as a team.  Not many comments suggest much faith in the current team.  

 

The talent on this team is NOT what it needs to be to compete consistantly with the top 25 teams based on the years of failure to do so.  However, Frost may well be able to bring out the best and the beast in the players and win 9 games this fall.   I will be disappointed with a 6 win season certainly as I expect better.   Give Frost the talent and he can win championships at Nebraska (or most any other program for that matter).  That is a true indicator of how good a coach is and Frost seems to have that 'it' factor.   Let him recruit players who have the heart and physical skill and he will win.   

 

 

Actually Rivals did a five year ranking report prior to last season.

 

Michigan was the 18th most talented team in the country. class ranks: 4, 4, 51, 31, 5

 

Their last couple classes were top 5 but their upperclassmen who weren't redshirts came from classes ranked 51st and 31st.

 

 

But look at Penn State. Who happened to be the 21st most talented team. class ranks: 12, 23, 15, 25, 42

 

ONE spot ahead of #22 Nebraska. class ranks: 20, 26, 28, 32, 17

 

 

The gap has been widening the past few years but it isn't gaping - yet. Hopefully with this staff it closes right back up. 

 

[Blackshirt316]

14 hours ago, Caliborn72 said:

What would a 6 win season mean for you then?

 

I hope that doesn’t come off as an attack, I’m honestly asking and I’m not looking for a right answer or anything. I have predicted what feels like (in my mind) a very safe 7 win season. I can definitely see a path to 8 or 9, mostly because I think the OLine will be far better, but I can also see us struggling and only winning 5-6. Would 5-6 wins put some assistants on a relatively hot seat for you?

 

It would mean a disapointment. If this staff is as advertised 7 wins should be the expected floor:

 

Nebraska should be 3-0 in the non con.

 

Nebraska should be expected to win against Purdue, Minnesota and Illinois.

 

Those are six games at home where Nebraska is the most talented team. You lose any of those you screwed up or just flat out didn't show up... like the last few staffs have shown.

 

Nebraska should also win at Norhwestern. A virtual home game at 11am (the least intimidating road game you can get) who Nebraska is more talented than.

 

MSU at home, Iowa on the road and Michigan on the road are the tossups. You can win these, but it wouldn't be an indictment to lose all 3.. as long as the MOV's are reasonable.

 

(Michigan is a tossup even though its a road game vs a better opponent because it's Frost's first Big Ten game and the first road game - that actually tends to bode well as motivation.)

 

Wisconsin and Ohio State on the road... win one of those - throw a party.

 

 

New schemes, new staff, new whatever, That is seven wins you should have. You lose any of those 7 and it's a disapointment. You lose one or two of those 7 AND get no upset? Big disapointment. Iowa and MSU expecially are winnable toss/upsets.

 

 

 

 

As for hotseat questions that quick?

 

If certain units don't perform AND they are a 6 win team or ...worse? Yeah it's a potential hotseat for some guys and year 2 is a prove it year. 

 

Frost may be one of ours but if one of his assistants turns out to be Banker or Diaco or Cavenaugh or even just Bruce Read or Hank Hughes 2.0 does he get a pass because it's Frost? ... dear god that staff sucked...

 

No.

 

Mike Riley and his staff sucked, but just because that staff took a 9 win team and won 4 games, doesn't mean we should give Frost a pass for taking a similar team (granted with a tougher schedule) and winning 6. Even if it's year 1. Just like it wouldn't have been ok for Pelini to win 6-7 games in his first year simply because Callahan only won 5 the year before. Or ok for Riley to only win 6 his first year even though the previous year they won 9.  The expectations for both were what the expectations are at Nebraska, regardless of what the last guy did.

 

That said, I fully expect this staff will achieve a 9 win season (8 pre bowl game). With significant elevation instead of a cliffdive to follow. This looks to be a MUCH better staff.

 

We win the 7 I said we should and score 1 upset.

 

[Vince R.]

6 hours ago, brophog said:

 

I've officially said anywhere from 4-8 to 8-4. Certainly 7 or more wins is plausible, and easily pathed by any of us. But I wouldn't say it is "safe" and the reason is depth. This team, imo, has a below average safety margin at multiple positions. 

I think this is fair.

[brophog]

4 hours ago, Blackshirt316 said:

Nebraska should also win at Norhwestern. A virtual home game at 11am (the least intimidating road game you can get) who Nebraska is more talented than.

 

Not at Nortwestern, they all go to bed early.