Better or Worse by Unit

[default_28]

WR: Better. EXPERIENCE!!!! Young guys have a lot of experience now, plus hearing good things from JW (even though may RS). O ya, no more no hands Kinnie.

Last year people were saying we'd be better 'no more no hands Niles'. Someone always fills that role.

 

[HuskerFowler]

Im working on a device that will unbuckle the opposing teams chin straps so all of their helmets will fall off. Every other play we will be going against backups. With this new technology we should be NC for years to come. Should be done by the Wisconsin game.

So what happens if we lose before then?

your right, i just called my boss and quit.....24 hr days till i get it done, with the addition of bournehusker we should be able to get it done before the UCLA game. The team is going to have to win So. Miss by themselves.

 

[bournehusker]

I am laid off as of Sept 29th so ill have plenty of time to devote to said device.

 

[HuskerFowler]

Sounds like a few decisions have been made. Moss and Curry will play this year, and they left the possibility of McMullen and Valentine playing as well, but Moss, Curry for sure. Says big thing for those 4.

Looks like they are going to redshirt Westerkamp, but doesnt sound 100%... they referred to Enunwa, saying thats not what they want to do with him, only one catch as a freshman. Nothing against Westerkamp, just a depth issue, and they said he understands. TA to Westerkamp for 3 or 4 years sounds fun to me. We have some major talent from the last 2 classes waiting in the wings.

 

[The King]

Sounds like a few decisions have been made. Moss and Curry will play this year, and they left the possibility of McMullen and Valentine playing as well, but Moss, Curry for sure. Says big thing for those 4.

Looks like they are going to redshirt Westerkamp, but doesnt sound 100%... they referred to Enunwa, saying thats not what they want to do with him, only one catch as a freshman. Nothing against Westerkamp, just a depth issue, and they said he understands. TA to Westerkamp for 3 or 4 years sounds fun to me. We have some major talent from the last 2 classes waiting in the wings.

Impossible! Haven't you read anything on signing day posted here? We give scholarships to walk ons! Bo can't recruit! Bo can't fill all of our scholarship spots! All our best players transfer... No way we have any talent!

:sarcasm just in case..

 

[knapplc]

Offense

QB - Better. Taylor was still suffering the effects of the 2010 Missouri hit last year, and we had zero backup (everyone clamoring for Carnes should be eating crow now that he's not in the mix for PT right now). He should be able to run freely and not do that awkward avoiding-contact-but-getting-clobbered thing this year. If he's even marginally better passing, he'll be scary.

RB - Better. We know what we have in Rex. Ameer should be improved from his true Freshman year. Zimmerer and Marrow should provide a healthy punch at FB. Cross is sounding like a scary beast.

WR - Better. This is, on paper, one of the best WR corps we've had at Nebraska. Ever. Let's hope they live up to potential.

TE - Better. Hopefully everyone's healthy. Both Cotton and Reed missed time and/or played hurt last year. Both fell off the radar. Both healthy would be huge.

OL - ?????????? I have no idea what to predict from this group. None of the above happens if this unit isn't solid. We've had more upheaval in this unit than solidity this offseason. I'm hoping they'll be OK.

Defense

DL - Better. Kaz brought an up-tempo, attacking style to the line this offseason at Bo's request. The guys have been talking about being more aggressive, dictating what happens, rather than sitting back waiting for the opponent to run the show. This unit needs to attack. Hunt with the spear, not the net.

LB - Same. Losing David is the biggest loss on this team, bar none. Crick and Dennard were great, but both were gone for significant portions of the season. Crick only played five games last year. Losing him hurts, but we know what we have without him.

S - Better. This looks like Stafford and PJ Smith. Both are ballers, both are veterans. Both should be improved from last year.

CB - Better. We found out what we had without Fonzie in the first few games last year, and it wasn't bad. It's sounding like we have a ton of bodies to throw into the mix, and all, allegedly, had great offseasons. Bo says this unit is solid - solid enough that we moved Heard back to a stacked RB group.

Special Teams: Brett Maher is looking like Alex Henery 2.0, so much so that word on the street is Mauro Bondi is redshirting this year. Between Jamal Turner, Ameer Abdullah and Tim Marlowe, this unit will once again be very solid. Better? Hard to say, only because they were all pretty good last year.

 

[MichiganDad3]

Both of our lines worry me just as much as last season.

I think our LB core did get worse, it is impossible to replace David. LB worries me the most.

Other than that, I think we got much better across the board.

I would like to see SJB or Mo S. move to linebacker. There is plenty of depth at corner, and NU needs speed at linebacker. SJB and Mo both have the size for linebacker. Lavonte David and Demario Williams make me smile.

 

[carlfense]

Post-game revised list:

Offense

QB - Better. More experienced. I don't buy the "improved mechanics" off season story but I'd happily settle for fewer fumbles and sacks.

----Post-game: Happy to be quite wrong about Martinez. He looked fantastic. Hopefully he keeps it up!

RB - Better. Burkhead/Abdullah/Heard. Yeah . . . we're set.

----Post-game: Yep.

WR - Better. Lots of young talent with a few years in the system.

----Post-game: MUCH MUCH better. Not only catching the on-target passes but also making difficult catches.

TE - Better. Cotton and Reed both back. Depth might be a concern.

----Post-game: Much better. More involved, too.

OL - Worse but probably healthier as a group.

----Post-game: Better at pass blocking. Probably slightly worse run blocking.

Defense

DL - Same. Hopefully better by the end of the season.

----Post-game: Same or slightly worse. Little to no pressure from the front four. Hopefully this is due to a read and react game plan since the coaches didn't know what Southern Miss would be running on offense. The DL was manhandled far too often . . . particularly against a Conference USA opponent.

LB - Worse. Collectively they might be OK . . . but there is no spinning away the loss of Lavonte David.

----Post-game: Much much worse. No spinning this one. Badly missed tackles. Often out of position. Not good. Not good at all. David will be missed even more than I expected.

CB - Better. Losing Dennard hurts . . . but it sounds like these guys are ready to play.

----Post game: Better. They hardly threw the ball so it's hard to tell for sure but there were some sure tackles out on the corners.

S - Better. I expect big things from Stafford.

----Post-game: About the same. Some missed tackles. Nothing too bad . . . but nothing to write home about either.

 

[lo country]

QB- Better. Even if Martinez has not improved he has A) another year of experience and B) 100% healthy. We also finally appear to have a back up that Bo feels comfortable using if needed. WOW. Much better than expected. Looked very calm and in control.

RB- Better. best perceived depth in the league. Mr reliable in Rex. Some guys whose size can move the pile. Rex with Wisky O line = Hypesman. Sucks about Rex. Great to see AA step up as well as Heard, Cross and Marrow. Didn't expect so many guys to get touches. Glad they did and appears they will.

WR-Better based upon experience alone. No one known or the drops. JT who amazed at the start has finally "got it". Did great. I don't think they dropped a ball all game.

TE-Better. Healthy Reed. Reed looked good. Hope Cotton gets healthy. Nice to see Long get in the game.

Oline- Can they get worse. Concerned with center and depth. Should at least be healthy. Long and Choi another year is good. Performed better than expected. Looked solid and appeared to actually pull well (one play by Jackson comes to mind). Gave Martinez time.

DL-Better. Healthy, depth, eager freshman that can make a difference from the beginning. More experience in Carter and Martin. Improved DB should make them look better. Coaching. My bad. I drank the kool-aid with a side of sunshine. We looked slow, out of place and appeared to be re-acting to much. Don't even know if I heard any of their names called the whole gave save Stein once. Am looking forward to the Fresh getting reps. Only game one, but we need them.

LB-Better. Hopefully we will have 3 average+ guys back there this year instead of just one stud an some duds. Compton came on and was playing well at the end. Same with Whaley. Hopefully this continues and was not a result of the physicality of David ie Crick shined with SUH and then not so much. I was wrong they looked better because of David. Wow, what a loss. Whaley was out of position quite a bit. Didn't even see Santos or Anderson. If they are as advertised, get them reps now so they are ready for conference play. Agree, SMU threw a lot at us, but speed and fundamentals were missing IMO.

CB-Better. Depth. Healthy. Mo. Competition. Experience. Coaching Looked good from the limited passes thrown their way. Evans looks MUCH bigger. Smith and Stafford looked could at safety as did Jackson. We appear to have a lot of depth and experience back there. Want to see a healthy Mo and was looking for SJB. Perhaps Bo could bring in one of the DB's as a stand up DE ala Super D 2003.

Safety. Seriously? We need to ask. Better. Speed. Size. Experience. Stafford Looked good with limited work. Think it was Jackson who had a good blitz (missed QB), but timed it well.

Seems like kool-aid, but I just do not know how we can slip with a large chunk of our guys coming back. Speed in the DB's to have speed and athleticism in the nickel and dime. Deeper D line to rotate. Two new coaches with a different attitude in Kaz and Joseph.

O-more experience at the skill positions. Healthy Martinez. Bruiser sized backs who will punish DB's in the open field. Guys are worried about Quince laying the wood, imagine Marrow. Rex playing for his last shot at a title.

If we can clean up penalties and actually catch the ball, I think that would give us 2 more wins even if everything else remains the same.

I also like that the team has taken responsibility for its past failures. No cliche sayings or catch phrases, just a common mind set to win. Reminds me of the mentality of the Huskers prior to their magical run in 94.

Sat will show us a lot IMO. They won't be a push over. They were top 30 last year in all defensive categories. Will be nice to see us playing better competition prior to the conference schedule.

Overall, I was completely wrong ref DL and LB. Very surprised at ST and KO and FG by Maher (and punt). That dude had the trifecta of suck yesterday. Receivers were better than I expected. Martinez was the man.

Carl great idea to repost new opinions.

 

[Mavric]

Post-game revised list:

Offense

QB - Better. More experienced. I don't buy the "improved mechanics" off season story but I'd happily settle for fewer fumbles and sacks.

----Post-game: Happy to be quite wrong about Martinez. He looked fantastic. Hopefully he keeps it up!

I expected Martinez to be better, mostly just from being healthy - having the entire offseason to work - and from being in the same system for a second year (first time ever). I was hoping for improved mechanics but skeptical. I was very pleased to see the mechanics were actually quite a bit better. Having time to throw helps so hopefully he keeps it up. Confidence has to be sky high at the moment.

 

[carlfense]

Post-game revised list:

Offense

QB - Better. More experienced. I don't buy the "improved mechanics" off season story but I'd happily settle for fewer fumbles and sacks.

----Post-game: Happy to be quite wrong about Martinez. He looked fantastic. Hopefully he keeps it up!

I expected Martinez to be better, mostly just from being healthy - having the entire offseason to work - and from being in the same system for a second year (first time ever). I was hoping for improved mechanics but skeptical. I was very pleased to see the mechanics were actually quite a bit better. Having time to throw helps so hopefully he keeps it up. Confidence has to be sky high at the moment.

+1. Well said.