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The Rosy Scenario
by Steve Hanway
When politicians make forecasts for the purposes of budgeting, they often rely on the most optimistic growth scenarios for the economy, which allow them to say there will be more money coming in from taxes for spending programs and yet tax rates won’t need to be increased. It’s probably not the most realistic outlook, but it sure feels good at the time.
You can look at the statistics for Bo Pelini over the past five years and see his teams have finished in the top fifteen nationally in total defense. You can look at Nebraska over the past two years and see the Huskers have finished in the top fifteen in total offense. If the Huskers could put those two things together they’d have a great team. In the last nine seasons twenty-three teams have managed the feat (that’s fewer than three a year) and they’ve gone a combined 248-37 (an 87% win percentage). That translates to about 11-2. Not surprisingly, the only Husker team in the last nine seasons that finished near the top of the rankings in total offense and total defense was the 2001 squad that went 11-1 in the regular season.
The Huskers lose their offensive MVP in Maurice Purify, and while nine touchdowns might not seem irreplaceable, he was a match-up nightmare for opponents that the Huskers don’t appear to have for next year. It’s anybody’s guess at this point whether Marlon Lucky will be back next year. The play of Joe Ganz was encouraging but three games might be too few to really know what he’ll look like next season. The offensive line should be better with youngsters like Mike Smith, Jaivorio Burkes, and D.J. Jones coming along behind a number of returning veterans. But whether or not the Huskers will remain a top fifteen offensive unit remains to be seen, especially when they may need to adapt to a new playbook.
Defensively, the Huskers are sure to be better on the defensive line with everyone back along with some newcomers. They lose four senior linebackers including defensive MVP Steve Octavien and three senior cornerbacks. It’s hard to imagine Nebraska won’t be substantially better than 112th in total defense, but can they climb 100 spots in the rankings in one season? That would seem like an awfully tall order. Much of it may depend on the staff’s ability to find recruits that can step in immediately and help.
But if they put it all together by playing to form offensively and coupling it with some Bo defensive magic, then the Huskers will back in their rightful place in top ten. Likely? Maybe not. But for now, let’s just think about what could be if things go right.
The Rosy Scenario
by Steve Hanway
When politicians make forecasts for the purposes of budgeting, they often rely on the most optimistic growth scenarios for the economy, which allow them to say there will be more money coming in from taxes for spending programs and yet tax rates won’t need to be increased. It’s probably not the most realistic outlook, but it sure feels good at the time.
You can look at the statistics for Bo Pelini over the past five years and see his teams have finished in the top fifteen nationally in total defense. You can look at Nebraska over the past two years and see the Huskers have finished in the top fifteen in total offense. If the Huskers could put those two things together they’d have a great team. In the last nine seasons twenty-three teams have managed the feat (that’s fewer than three a year) and they’ve gone a combined 248-37 (an 87% win percentage). That translates to about 11-2. Not surprisingly, the only Husker team in the last nine seasons that finished near the top of the rankings in total offense and total defense was the 2001 squad that went 11-1 in the regular season.
The Huskers lose their offensive MVP in Maurice Purify, and while nine touchdowns might not seem irreplaceable, he was a match-up nightmare for opponents that the Huskers don’t appear to have for next year. It’s anybody’s guess at this point whether Marlon Lucky will be back next year. The play of Joe Ganz was encouraging but three games might be too few to really know what he’ll look like next season. The offensive line should be better with youngsters like Mike Smith, Jaivorio Burkes, and D.J. Jones coming along behind a number of returning veterans. But whether or not the Huskers will remain a top fifteen offensive unit remains to be seen, especially when they may need to adapt to a new playbook.
Defensively, the Huskers are sure to be better on the defensive line with everyone back along with some newcomers. They lose four senior linebackers including defensive MVP Steve Octavien and three senior cornerbacks. It’s hard to imagine Nebraska won’t be substantially better than 112th in total defense, but can they climb 100 spots in the rankings in one season? That would seem like an awfully tall order. Much of it may depend on the staff’s ability to find recruits that can step in immediately and help.
But if they put it all together by playing to form offensively and coupling it with some Bo defensive magic, then the Huskers will back in their rightful place in top ten. Likely? Maybe not. But for now, let’s just think about what could be if things go right.
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