ESPN State Of The Program: Nebraska

[Saunders]

With spring practice underway in the Big Ten, we’re taking a look at each Big Ten program, using recent performance, win-loss trends, coaching, current and future personnel. In continuing to look at the West Division, up next is Nebraska.

...

Trajectory: Up. Consider where they’ve been in the past 16 months, and it’s difficult to dispute that the Huskers are, at least temporarily, moving in the right direction. They bottomed out on Halloween with a loss at Purdue. The turnaround began a week later as Nebraska handed Michigan State its lone regular-season loss. The Foster Farms Bowl win over UCLA marked another step forward. This month, as Nebraska gets back on the practice field, an increased level of comfort is evident, too. Players know their coaches. Yes, that helps. But the upward momentum of this offseason may grind to a halt in a hurry if Nebraska fails to handle business early next season -- business that includes a visit from Oregon. The Week 3 game figures to serve as a telling gauge of the progress made in a year after the Huskers’ troubling first month a year ago.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/131290/state-of-the-program-nebraska-cornhuskers-2

 

[Redux]

While our season will ultimately be defined by our conference record, the Oregon game will undoubtedly set the tone for the whole year. Win it and we carry some serious momentum into league play. Lose a close one and at least the rest of our division will take us seriously. Get smacked around and the Fire Riley Troll Army will again be back in full force.

 

[NUinID]

For me I am fairly opptomistic about the Oregon game. Oregon has plenty of problems to worry about. They are not the Marcus Mariota team of a couple of years ago. Good but not a great team. I see this game being something of a test like the UCLA game was. Their offenses are somewhat similar though Oregon leans a lot more on the run game, but what they like to do is similar, up tempo with lots of space to cover. I know Hoke is coming in to coach defense, but it will most likely take a little time to get things going on that end. I thought Hoke was an O-line guy.

 

[Scratchtown]

I imagine the Oregon game to be very competitive at least into the early part of 4th quarter. The key to stopping Oregon is not letting them get on a "run". They may not be the Mariota team, but they can burn you on a single given play all game long. The issue with beating Oregon usually is that you have to outscore them. With a new defensive philosophy coming in...who know's about how their defense will look. They have athletes everywhere. If Nebraska/TA can keep from throwing too many INT's they will have a shot.

Oregon does very well on taking the ball away and then turning those possessions into immediate points via explosive plays. Unfortunately I don't see NU getting the win at the end. I see the inexperience/rebuild of NU getting in the way of this first game against Oregon. 2017 will be interesting but it's harder to win in Eugene than it is in Lincoln in the recent past. So who knows. It will be an interesting series. However just don't see NU on the winning end yet. Few years away still.

NU's Secondary and LB's have to be playmakers ALL game to have a shot in either game. The stress Oregon puts on those 2 groups is ridiculous.

 

[SuperBigFan69]

With spring practice underway in the Big Ten, we’re taking a look at each Big Ten program, using recent performance, win-loss trends, coaching, current and future personnel. In continuing to look at the West Division, up next is Nebraska.

...

Trajectory: Up. Consider where they’ve been in the past 16 months, and it’s difficult to dispute that the Huskers are, at least temporarily, moving in the right direction. They bottomed out on Halloween with a loss at Purdue. The turnaround began a week later as Nebraska handed Michigan State its lone regular-season loss. The Foster Farms Bowl win over UCLA marked another step forward. This month, as Nebraska gets back on the practice field, an increased level of comfort is evident, too. Players know their coaches. Yes, that helps. But the upward momentum of this offseason may grind to a halt in a hurry if Nebraska fails to handle business early next season -- business that includes a visit from Oregon. The Week 3 game figures to serve as a telling gauge of the progress made in a year after the Huskers’ troubling first month a year ago.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/131290/state-of-the-program-nebraska-cornhuskers-2

There goes ESPN again...with this crazy agenda that losing to Purdue was some sort of "bottoming out" situation...Do the math! NU started a backup QB and still basically out gained Purdue. Plus, if you subtract the turnovers and subtract the toxicness it was basically a Husker win.

 

[Enhance]

With spring practice underway in the Big Ten, we’re taking a look at each Big Ten program, using recent performance, win-loss trends, coaching, current and future personnel. In continuing to look at the West Division, up next is Nebraska.

...

Trajectory: Up. Consider where they’ve been in the past 16 months, and it’s difficult to dispute that the Huskers are, at least temporarily, moving in the right direction. They bottomed out on Halloween with a loss at Purdue. The turnaround began a week later as Nebraska handed Michigan State its lone regular-season loss. The Foster Farms Bowl win over UCLA marked another step forward. This month, as Nebraska gets back on the practice field, an increased level of comfort is evident, too. Players know their coaches. Yes, that helps. But the upward momentum of this offseason may grind to a halt in a hurry if Nebraska fails to handle business early next season -- business that includes a visit from Oregon. The Week 3 game figures to serve as a telling gauge of the progress made in a year after the Huskers’ troubling first month a year ago.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/131290/state-of-the-program-nebraska-cornhuskers-2

There goes ESPN again...with this crazy agenda that losing to Purdue was some sort of "bottoming out" situation...Do the math! NU started a backup QB and still basically out gained Purdue. Plus, if you subtract the turnovers and subtract the toxicness it was basically a Husker win.

Not sure if serious.

 

[NUinID]

I imagine the Oregon game to be very competitive at least into the early part of 4th quarter. The key to stopping Oregon is not letting them get on a "run". They may not be the Mariota team, but they can burn you on a single given play all game long. The issue with beating Oregon usually is that you have to outscore them. With a new defensive philosophy coming in...who know's about how their defense will look. They have athletes everywhere. If Nebraska/TA can keep from throwing too many INT's they will have a shot.

Oregon does very well on taking the ball away and then turning those possessions into immediate points via explosive plays. Unfortunately I don't see NU getting the win at the end. I see the inexperience/rebuild of NU getting in the way of this first game against Oregon. 2017 will be interesting but it's harder to win in Eugene than it is in Lincoln in the recent past. So who knows. It will be an interesting series. However just don't see NU on the winning end yet. Few years away still.

NU's Secondary and LB's have to be playmakers ALL game to have a shot in either game. The stress Oregon puts on those 2 groups is ridiculous.

I think you are thinking more with your heart than your head here. I remember you thought Oregon with not miss a beat last year without Mariota. Their season last year came very close to becoming a disaster in the middle of it. With a hurt or absent Vernan Davis they sputtered badly. I was impressed to see them right the ship though. I see this game as coming down to TA. If good Tommy shows up they win.

 

[Saunders]

I imagine the Oregon game to be very competitive at least into the early part of 4th quarter. The key to stopping Oregon is not letting them get on a "run". They may not be the Mariota team, but they can burn you on a single given play all game long. The issue with beating Oregon usually is that you have to outscore them. With a new defensive philosophy coming in...who know's about how their defense will look. They have athletes everywhere. If Nebraska/TA can keep from throwing too many INT's they will have a shot.

Oregon does very well on taking the ball away and then turning those possessions into immediate points via explosive plays. Unfortunately I don't see NU getting the win at the end. I see the inexperience/rebuild of NU getting in the way of this first game against Oregon. 2017 will be interesting but it's harder to win in Eugene than it is in Lincoln in the recent past. So who knows. It will be an interesting series. However just don't see NU on the winning end yet. Few years away still.

NU's Secondary and LB's have to be playmakers ALL game to have a shot in either game. The stress Oregon puts on those 2 groups is ridiculous.

I think you are thinking more with your heart than your head here. I remember you thought Oregon with not miss a beat last year without Mariota. Their season last year came very close to becoming a disaster in the middle of it. With a hurt or absent Vernan Davis they sputtered badly. I was impressed to see them right the ship though. I see this game as coming down to TA. If good Tommy shows up they win.

Oregon needs Prukop to be a rockstar far more than Nebraska needs TA to hit that level, because Oregon's defense is a dumpster fire at every level. I don't see Hoke as the answer either.

 

[BigRedBuster]

I do believe we have been on an upward trajectory since the Purdue game. If you want to call Purdue the bottom or not I really don't care.

We ended the season with momentum and there is going to be a lot more confidence and familiarity between the staff and players this off season compared to last. That hopefully will have them playing at higher level in game one this year than last.

The Oregon game is going to be interesting. If we win that, everyone takes notice. We probably move into the rankings and the national media starts to talk about us more in a positive light. We win this game and we go into the Northwestern game with a lot of confidence. We win that and we very well might be going into the Wisconsin game sitting at 7-0.

Now, if we lose to Oregon, I don't see it totally destroying our season. The coaches then just have a harder time keeping the team positive and moving forward.

I do think Oregon is going to be a tough game mainly because of what is between the ears of the players. Oregon probably is a more confident team than Nebraska right now. But, they aren't the same team they were a couple years ago. This game is definitely winnable in Lincoln.

 

[Redux]

QB situation: Advantage Nebraska

Oregon will have a new guy right? We have a 5th year Sr.

Defense: Advantage Nebraska

Oregon likes to run, we can stop that. If we improve at CB we could shut them down early through the air and make them run, which I am thinking we will be able to handle.

Offense: Advantage Oregon (MAYBE)

This is only if they are clicking. If we commit to an offense and what is working it will be advantage Nebraska.

SP teams: Draw

Honestly don't know who to give this to

Atmosphere: Advantage Nebraska

I mean, it's in Lincoln. Good luck finding tickets. People are jazzed for this. Gonna be a great home crowd.

Staff: Advantage Nebraska

They lost Frost as OC and will have a new guy at QB. Doesn't exactly instill fear into me.

 

[Saunders]

QB situation: Advantage Nebraska

Oregon will have a new guy right? We have a 5th year Sr.

Defense: Advantage Nebraska

Oregon likes to run, we can stop that. If we improve at CB we could shut them down early through the air and make them run, which I am thinking we will be able to handle.

Offense: Advantage Oregon (MAYBE)

This is only if they are clicking. If we commit to an offense and what is working it will be advantage Nebraska.

SP teams: Draw

Honestly don't know who to give this to

Atmosphere: Advantage Nebraska

I mean, it's in Lincoln. Good luck finding tickets. People are jazzed for this. Gonna be a great home crowd.

Staff: Advantage Nebraska

They lost Frost as OC and will have a new guy at QB. Doesn't exactly instill fear into me.

They also hired Hoke, and while he could possibly be an upgrade, he hasn't coached defense in like 30 years.

 

[SuperBigFan69]

QB situation: Advantage Nebraska

Oregon will have a new guy right? We have a 5th year Sr.

Defense: Advantage Nebraska

Oregon likes to run, we can stop that. If we improve at CB we could shut them down early through the air and make them run, which I am thinking we will be able to handle.

Offense: Advantage Oregon (MAYBE)

This is only if they are clicking. If we commit to an offense and what is working it will be advantage Nebraska.

SP teams: Draw

Honestly don't know who to give this to

Atmosphere: Advantage Nebraska

I mean, it's in Lincoln. Good luck finding tickets. People are jazzed for this. Gonna be a great home crowd.

Staff: Advantage Nebraska

They lost Frost as OC and will have a new guy at QB. Doesn't exactly instill fear into me.

They also hired Hoke, and while he could possibly be an upgrade, he hasn't coached defense in like 30 years.

I think I agree with all of this...

I do think that Oregon will travel well for this game. I think it is going to be a great atmosphere

 

[Scratchtown]

I imagine the Oregon game to be very competitive at least into the early part of 4th quarter. The key to stopping Oregon is not letting them get on a "run". They may not be the Mariota team, but they can burn you on a single given play all game long. The issue with beating Oregon usually is that you have to outscore them. With a new defensive philosophy coming in...who know's about how their defense will look. They have athletes everywhere. If Nebraska/TA can keep from throwing too many INT's they will have a shot.

Oregon does very well on taking the ball away and then turning those possessions into immediate points via explosive plays. Unfortunately I don't see NU getting the win at the end. I see the inexperience/rebuild of NU getting in the way of this first game against Oregon. 2017 will be interesting but it's harder to win in Eugene than it is in Lincoln in the recent past. So who knows. It will be an interesting series. However just don't see NU on the winning end yet. Few years away still.

NU's Secondary and LB's have to be playmakers ALL game to have a shot in either game. The stress Oregon puts on those 2 groups is ridiculous.

I think you are thinking more with your heart than your head here. I remember you thought Oregon with not miss a beat last year without Mariota. Their season last year came very close to becoming a disaster in the middle of it. With a hurt or absent Vernan Davis they sputtered badly. I was impressed to see them right the ship though. I see this game as coming down to TA. If good Tommy shows up they win.

A healthy Vernon ADAMS, and I would have been awfully close to correct. I don't see them somehow winning that Utah game last year but every OTHER game was right there.

 

[NUinID]

QB situation: Advantage Nebraska

Oregon will have a new guy right? We have a 5th year Sr.

Defense: Advantage Nebraska

Oregon likes to run, we can stop that. If we improve at CB we could shut them down early through the air and make them run, which I am thinking we will be able to handle.

Offense: Advantage Oregon (MAYBE)

This is only if they are clicking. If we commit to an offense and what is working it will be advantage Nebraska.

SP teams: Draw

Honestly don't know who to give this to

Atmosphere: Advantage Nebraska

I mean, it's in Lincoln. Good luck finding tickets. People are jazzed for this. Gonna be a great home crowd.

Staff: Advantage Nebraska

They lost Frost as OC and will have a new guy at QB. Doesn't exactly instill fear into me.

They also hired Hoke, and while he could possibly be an upgrade, he hasn't coached defense in like 30 years.

I think I agree with all of this...

I do think that Oregon will travel well for this game. I think it is going to be a great atmosphere

This is what I feel also. Oregon has a lot of ? going into next season, more than Nebraska. I am not going to debate that they had a better season last year, because they did. They certainly have athletes and they return a great RB so they will not be a pushover, but I wouldn't say they are overall top to bottom way more talented than Nebraska.

One thing you can't do is let them play their game all the time. You have to make them settle for FG and limit the chunk plays. You have to play your game and make them play at your pace. If your game is up tempo than that is great, if that is not your game than don't try to make it your game just because it is Oregon. The teams that have a hard time with Oregon are teams that try and match them point for point and fail. Look at how Stanford plays them and the success they have had against Oregon. They frustrate Oregon because they refuse to play fast offensively and can slow their run game down.

 

[NUinID]

I imagine the Oregon game to be very competitive at least into the early part of 4th quarter. The key to stopping Oregon is not letting them get on a "run". They may not be the Mariota team, but they can burn you on a single given play all game long. The issue with beating Oregon usually is that you have to outscore them. With a new defensive philosophy coming in...who know's about how their defense will look. They have athletes everywhere. If Nebraska/TA can keep from throwing too many INT's they will have a shot.

Oregon does very well on taking the ball away and then turning those possessions into immediate points via explosive plays. Unfortunately I don't see NU getting the win at the end. I see the inexperience/rebuild of NU getting in the way of this first game against Oregon. 2017 will be interesting but it's harder to win in Eugene than it is in Lincoln in the recent past. So who knows. It will be an interesting series. However just don't see NU on the winning end yet. Few years away still.

NU's Secondary and LB's have to be playmakers ALL game to have a shot in either game. The stress Oregon puts on those 2 groups is ridiculous.

I think you are thinking more with your heart than your head here. I remember you thought Oregon with not miss a beat last year without Mariota. Their season last year came very close to becoming a disaster in the middle of it. With a hurt or absent Vernan Davis they sputtered badly. I was impressed to see them right the ship though. I see this game as coming down to TA. If good Tommy shows up they win.

A healthy Vernon ADAMS, and I would have been awfully close to correct. I don't see them somehow winning that Utah game last year but every OTHER game was right there.

Yeah but Adams isn't there this year and you are counting another grad transfer to play that well?