Do We Have the Talent We Need?
- Thread starter Mavric
- Start date
bugeater17
Starter
Perhaps I'm buying to much into the recent transfer additions, but I think the 2021 team will have the most overall talent that Frost has had. I know Toure hasn't played a down yet, but when was the last time we had a WR on our roster who was a legit draft pick after his Junior season? Stanley Morgan was legit, don't get me wrong, but I don't think he had the draft prospects Toure does. I think Betts will see a big jump after getting his feet wet this year and continued learning of the playbook. Martin will be a solid possession receiver. The tight-end spot and depth is the best its been for quite some time as Allen has proven to be an effective weapon and adding Fidone to the mix may take some time but he will be a mis-match at some point next year. RB is still somewhat of a question even with Stepp but the talent is there (just none with the game breaking ability of Mo Wash).
The defense is also bringing back the most talent in 10 years and since 2009. I am not saying the defense will be on the same level or caliber (and still expect that 2009 to be better come seasons end) but this is the closest to that talent level we have had.
The defense is also bringing back the most talent in 10 years and since 2009. I am not saying the defense will be on the same level or caliber (and still expect that 2009 to be better come seasons end) but this is the closest to that talent level we have had.
admo
Heisman Trophy Winner
LOL my bad, just a type-Oh. I thought I typed "kickoffs" :facepalm: ( anything to do with kickoffs - meaning coverage/returns). And yes, Culp was best in B1G. That's exactly why I can't just say special teams.
Husker in WI
All-Conference
Right, Frost could fix and would just rather play at a disadvantage.
I'm probably too optimistic, but Hail Varsity pointed out our Special Teams analyst has had pretty meh first years compared to the teams' baselines, and then huge jumps in year two. We did immediately improve field goals, and I think we'd feel a lot better about the punt team if Cerni had been able to play. I'm willing to give Rutledge year 2, Culp (K), Cerni (P), Meyer/Cerni (KOS). The lack of progress in the coverage teams was unsettling, but I do think the hang time on punts and distance/hang time on kickoffs is an underrated aspect of good coverage teams. Kick returns looked hopeless.
HANC
All-Conference
So much negative talk about Jurgens. I understand and see first hand how bad the snaps are and how many times it has cost us negative plays, including the timing issues in the passing game.
I also know how hard it is to play center (technique alone), especially if you are going to run 99.9% from the gun. This is not a natural feat. Throw in the more demanding task of understanding defensive fronts and having to learn all the line calls at the D1 level. Jurgens is a FREAK athlete. I am as frustrated as the rest of you, but I refuse to banish him and constantly harp. For anyone who hasn't experience "turf toe", which may be the most difficult injury to play through, it limits a ton of movement. Considering a Center has a lot of weight transfer at the snap, yes it can play a part. No excuses, but a little insight.
As a coach, I am personally waiting to see what the beginning of next season holds. If he struggles, then I am all on board with the "Jurgens must go" side, but I just have a gut feeling that many will be eating their words when he is playing Center in the NFL.
I also know how hard it is to play center (technique alone), especially if you are going to run 99.9% from the gun. This is not a natural feat. Throw in the more demanding task of understanding defensive fronts and having to learn all the line calls at the D1 level. Jurgens is a FREAK athlete. I am as frustrated as the rest of you, but I refuse to banish him and constantly harp. For anyone who hasn't experience "turf toe", which may be the most difficult injury to play through, it limits a ton of movement. Considering a Center has a lot of weight transfer at the snap, yes it can play a part. No excuses, but a little insight.
As a coach, I am personally waiting to see what the beginning of next season holds. If he struggles, then I am all on board with the "Jurgens must go" side, but I just have a gut feeling that many will be eating their words when he is playing Center in the NFL.
BigRedBuster
International Man of Mystery
We have issues with turnovers and penalties on offense. However, I strongly disagree that our offensive coaches are "just going through the motions". I believe they strongly want this to change and will do what they think is necessary to change it. Weather that is successful is what is in question.
J-MAGIC
Five-Star Recruit
Last year the Big Ten West was rated the fourth-toughest division in the country behind only the SEC West, Big Ten East, and SEC East. It was significantly better from top to bottom than the Big 12, Pac-12 and both ACC divisions.
Most certainly. The staff did the study and knows that on drives where there wasn't a penalty, bad snap or turnover, that we score on 90% of those drives. I'm curious how much that study cost ... I think most of us on this board could have done a poll and given them that. Yet, the key is in your post ... "IF".Lightfighter214 said:
I'll hold out hope that he can be taught, trained and become disciplined in his trade ... but that still doesn't mean that one can't have fun that something so many Division I Centers have absolutely no problems with. It's not rocket science. If this guy was an a golfer at the college level he would be missing three or four 2' putts a round easily. It's great that he can drive the ball 350 yards though ... that's cool!
Undone
All-American
So your vote then is that we have the talent to get the better of Wisconsin, Northwestern, & Iowa but that it's the coaching that is lacking?
Undone
All-American
desertshox
All-Conference
I apology to anyone who believes I'm "harping on this". I read the whole thread and their was not one post stating what to me is the "obvious" ... so I did [there was enough praise in the thread for the OL ... but nothing on this]. Not trying to add insult to injury.
For me, I'll be personally really upset if Jurgens is playing Center in the NFL ... and during his five [5] years hear he couldn't make it through a game with a bad snap. That would really show me the development issue. So, just to communicate, I'm not saying "Jurgens must go", but Frost has his guy ... he's said it's a problem and it must get fixed ... that it will get fixed. HEY COACH, I'M HOLDING YOU TO THAT! I'm waiting ... that is all.
I do find it humorous that the same behavior by a player can continue for three years ... but a comment on a post about this issue has been said too many times [didn't realize I had said it 20 times in the past day]. Too funny.
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Husker in WI
All-Conference
You can call it coaching or whatever you want, but we played well enough to beat NW and Iowa this year. Yes, it all comes back to coaching, but there were plenty of non-coach mistakes that swung those games.
I think it's stretching quite a bit to say he hasn't made it through a game without a bad snap. I am also frustrated they popped back up early in the year, but they were not really present later in the year. And if we're saying he has 3 years of bad snaps, you're counting his year as an injured freshman TE. Can't say I care a lot about what his snaps were like then.
Agreed. I'm probably a head case at this stage. It's probably my own HTSD [Hiking Traumatic Stress Disorder].
Undone
All-American
Getting into game-specific analysis is really more of my thing.
In the Northwestern game we missed a field goal - and even though Culp is a pretty good field goal kicker, it still goes back to how special teams just continues to nag our team.
McCaffrey then does a great job of taking us down the field but then gets us into the wrong formation on the two yard line and Mills gets stuffed. Then he gets a pass tipped and it gets picked off. We would have had to then convert a two point conversion just to tie it, and who knows what happens after that.
Were we close in that game? I'd agree to describe it that way, yes. But I still see that game as 'the glass being half empty' instead of it being 'half full.'
Negative Nancy over here...I know.