Pedro Guerrero
Team HuskerBoard
Here are three things that I hope get answered this weekend:
1. Is Zac Lee the real deal and after 2 solid performances against Sun Belt opponents how will he perform on the “Big Stage” against a “Big Time” program? I personally think he will do fine just as long as he sticks to the plays and doesn’t try to force anything. Shawn Watson has proven that he will put the players in positions to make plays it is just up to the kids. Joey’s bad turnovers against these guys last year really did us in so as long as Lee takes care of the ball he should be fine.
2. Are the young LB’s as good as advertised? As of right now after their first 2 games you would be hard pressed to convince me that Fisher and Compton are the up and coming stars that the media/coaches made them out to be in the preseason. They can’t shed blocks and at times appear vastly overmatched. That being said it is their first game action so mistakes should be expected, however those need to be corrected going into Saturday.
3. Does the OL finally step it up and push the other team around? Against Florida Atlantic the line showed flashes of how good it can be by opening up holes for Helu and protecting Lee. This last weekend they took a step backwards in my opinion. They were getting beat at the point of attack, Marcel Jones had that bad holding penalty that took away a 70 yard TD, Helu had no room to run and Lee was being pressured quite a bit. I’m still not sold on Smith at LT, Meyer at LG or Barney Cotton as OL coach. These 3 things could change but as of right now my concerns about Barney that I have had since 2003 are still lingering. Hopefully when Williams comes back things will click. Ricky Henry has been a bright spot and Hickman is steady as ever but if we are going to make the leap that we would like then we need all 5 guys playing up to their potential.
These are just the 3 things off the top of my head that I hope get answered this weekend and I’m sure everyone else on here has some questions marks going into the first “Real Test” of the season. Like I said I am pretty certain Zac Lee will be fine and hopefully the LB’s play is due to youth but the line being beat at the point of attack by Arkansas State is very troubling in my opinion. Will see come Saturday.
1. Is Zac Lee the real deal and after 2 solid performances against Sun Belt opponents how will he perform on the “Big Stage” against a “Big Time” program? I personally think he will do fine just as long as he sticks to the plays and doesn’t try to force anything. Shawn Watson has proven that he will put the players in positions to make plays it is just up to the kids. Joey’s bad turnovers against these guys last year really did us in so as long as Lee takes care of the ball he should be fine.
2. Are the young LB’s as good as advertised? As of right now after their first 2 games you would be hard pressed to convince me that Fisher and Compton are the up and coming stars that the media/coaches made them out to be in the preseason. They can’t shed blocks and at times appear vastly overmatched. That being said it is their first game action so mistakes should be expected, however those need to be corrected going into Saturday.
3. Does the OL finally step it up and push the other team around? Against Florida Atlantic the line showed flashes of how good it can be by opening up holes for Helu and protecting Lee. This last weekend they took a step backwards in my opinion. They were getting beat at the point of attack, Marcel Jones had that bad holding penalty that took away a 70 yard TD, Helu had no room to run and Lee was being pressured quite a bit. I’m still not sold on Smith at LT, Meyer at LG or Barney Cotton as OL coach. These 3 things could change but as of right now my concerns about Barney that I have had since 2003 are still lingering. Hopefully when Williams comes back things will click. Ricky Henry has been a bright spot and Hickman is steady as ever but if we are going to make the leap that we would like then we need all 5 guys playing up to their potential.
These are just the 3 things off the top of my head that I hope get answered this weekend and I’m sure everyone else on here has some questions marks going into the first “Real Test” of the season. Like I said I am pretty certain Zac Lee will be fine and hopefully the LB’s play is due to youth but the line being beat at the point of attack by Arkansas State is very troubling in my opinion. Will see come Saturday.