22 - 9 - 58%

It's actually an increase of about 400 yards over last season's totals for both teams.

But even at 600 yards that's 46 yards per game.  That would have moved us from the #86 passing offense (yards/game) last year to #42.  That's a pretty good improvement but still a pretty average passing offense.

I think the biggest difference is what we think will happen with the running game.  You expect improvement.  I don't.  I think our passing game will get a lot better but the running game will have diminished production.  We'll put on a good show against the lesser teams but I'm not sure it'll help a lot against the best teams on our schedule.

 
StPaulHusker said:
What is the running back stats during this time?  Thorson had those numbers with arguably the best RB in the West playing on the same team.

I'm not happy with Lee at those numbers if our RB's aren't getting the job done.
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Northwestern had the #91 rushing offense last year at 153 yards/game (3.97 ypa).

Nebraska was #73 at 169 ypg (4.2 ypa)

 
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Mavric said:
It's actually an increase of about 400 yards over last season's totals for both teams.

But even at 600 yards that's 46 yards per game.  That would have moved us from the #86 passing offense (yards/game) last year to #42.  That's a pretty good improvement but still a pretty average passing offense.

I think the biggest difference is what we think will happen with the running game.  You expect improvement.  I don't.  I think our passing game will get a lot better but the running game will have diminished production.  We'll put on a good show against the lesser teams but I'm not sure it'll help a lot against the best teams on our schedule.
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I'm with Mavric on this one.  I just don't buy the concept of "the passing game will open up the running game".

 
Given the uncertainty at RB, I really think Lee needs to be a ~60% passer, preferably higher, if this offense is going to function well.

 
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StPaulHusker said:
Justin Jackson ran for 1500 yards and 15 TD's last year.  That's the difference.
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Yep, they definitely had the better individual runner.  Our stats were spread over several guys.

Though I don't think Newby was as far behind as it might seem.  Over a eight-game stretch in the middle of the season - all conference games - he ran for 707 yards (4.7 ypa) despite a less-than-inspired running scheme.  Jackson averaged 5.1 ypa for the season.  Newby was also banged up on and off but that pace would have been about 1,150 yards for the year.  Jackson got a lot more opportunities because we for some reason insisted on force-feeding the ball to a guy who is now our third-string back (at best) for a lot of the year.

 
I think if Lee plays all 12 games he gets around 3400 passing yards this season. I am predicting he throws 31 tds to 9 ints during the regular season. 

In regards to can the passing game open up the run game, I think it absolutely can. More hb draws will get us big play yards when they expect us to throw. It will not drastically improve our chances but rather the run game will get better. A healthy and deeper oline will also help with that.

 
Mavric said:
Yep, they definitely had the better individual runner.  Our stats were spread over several guys.

Though I don't think Newby was as far behind as it might seem.  Over a eight-game stretch in the middle of the season - all conference games - he ran for 707 yards (4.7 ypa) despite a less-than-inspired running scheme.  Jackson averaged 5.1 ypa for the season.  Newby was also banged up on and off but that pace would have been about 1,150 yards for the year.  Jackson got a lot more opportunities because we for some reason insisted on force-feeding the ball to a guy who is now our third-string back (at best) for a lot of the year.
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So you are making my point.  If our RB's are as good as Jackson was last year, then I'm fine with Lee having those numbers.

Furthermore, Thorson wasn't a running QB.  He was sacked 38 times and had 97 rushes for 98 yards.  So looking at rushing stats as a whole unit like that doesn't really apply.

 
Last year Nebraska ran for 2483 yards and 24 TDs.  Abs accounted for roughly 660 of that.

I don't see that decreasing this year even though much less will be done by QBs.  That means it will fall even more so on the RBs.  

 
StPaulHusker said:
So you are making my point.  If our RB's are as good as Jackson was last year, then I'm fine with Lee having those numbers.

Furthermore, Thorson wasn't a running QB.  He was sacked 38 times and had 97 rushes for 98 yards.  So looking at rushing stats as a whole unit like that doesn't really apply.
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Not really.  They had the better RB but we still ran for more yards.  We had a RB that I claim was near the same level so I don't see our rushing attack getting any better and might take a step back.  So a meager increase in passing yards is not going to make our offense much better.  TA ran for about 400 more yards than Thorson.  We don't have a replacement for that so even throwing for 400 more yards for the season would only be expected to be a wash from a total offense perspective.

 
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