ESPN: Why Nebraska will, or won't, win double-digit games in 2016

[Saunders]

The conference media days are fast approaching, and that means the unofficial kickoff to the college football season (finally). In the meantime, we're taking a look at the reasons why each league team will or won't reach a specific goal in 2016.

Next up is Nebraska. The Cornhuskers finished last season 6-7 with a victory against UCLA in the Foster Farms Bowl, capping a nice turnaround in the final four games. Nebraska beat Big Ten champion Michigan State and hung tough with Big Ten West division winner Iowa in the regular-season finale. Mike Riley's first season in charge featured its share of unlucky moments -- the Cornhuskers' first five losses came by a combined 13 points. But most people believe Nebraska is back on the rise. Will the Cornhuskers win double-digit games for the first time since 2012?

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/134262/why-nebraska-will-or-wont-win-double-digit-games-in-2016

 

[TAKODA]

Nothing spectacular in this read. It's a fair assessment

IMO

 

[suh_fan93]

-- the Cornhuskers' first five losses came by a combined 13 points.

This is the one point I'm tired of hearing. When you lose to Illinois and Purdue does it really matter that they were close games??? Close losses. Sure. Were those two good opponents? Umm....

 

[admo]

I understand all DL are gone. But going into fall camp, I have a lot of faith in Parrella. I like Mick Stoltenberg, I like Freedom, and love Kevin Maurice. Plus the Davis twins should help the rotation. It's feasible that another (or two) DE's will emerge.

The LBs should be solid and it's no longer a question mark going into the year like last season. I do like the young talent in the secondary too, lead by a Nate Gerry and Kalu.

The offense is loaded as the article says. And the big key to it being about Armstrong "If he can keep his interceptions down -- he threw 16 last season -- the Cornhuskers should be as feared as any offense in the league." That's it in a nutshell.

 

[Saunders]

Nothing spectacular in this read. It's a fair assessment

IMO

It's the offseason. We'll take what we can get!

 

[Cdog923]

To me, it comes down to two things: Tommy's right arm, and Tommy's brain. If both perform, and perform well, then we can win 10 games and win the division. If not, then we're looking at another 5 loss season, at least.

 

[TAKODA]

Nothing spectacular in this read. It's a fair assessment

IMO

It's the offseason. We'll take what we can get!

Wasn't condemning you posting it Saunders, I need and appreciate a football fix, now and then. +1

Just commented that this opinion isn't something that you, I or any other Husker fan would be surprised by!

 

[Redux]

-- the Cornhuskers' first five losses came by a combined 13 points.

This is the one point I'm tired of hearing. When you lose to Illinois and Purdue does it really matter that they were close games??? Close losses. Sure. Were those two good opponents? Umm....

Just because you're tired of hearing it doesn't make it inaccurate. Quality of the opponent wasn't really the point and nobody is making an excuse for losing to B1G bottom dwellers.
It's just an indicator that we aren't as bad as the record indicated and with the first season in the past the on field play will improve and correct those mistakes. Those close losses to bad teams will turn into good wins over bad teams.

 

[Saunders]

Nothing spectacular in this read. It's a fair assessment

IMO

It's the offseason. We'll take what we can get!

Wasn't condemning you posting it Saunders, I need and appreciate a football fix, now and then. +1

Just commented that this opinion isn't something that you, I or any other Husker fan would be surprised by!

Oh, no worries, I knew you weren't! With media days starting next week, we're nearing the end of the long dark offseason. Can't wait!

 

[husker98]

I understand all DL are gone. But going into fall camp, I have a lot of faith in Parrella. I like Mick Stoltenberg, I like Freedom, and love Kevin Maurice. Plus the Davis twins should help the rotation. It's feasible that another (or two) DE's will emerge.

The LBs should be solid and it's no longer a question mark going into the year like last season. I do like the young talent in the secondary too, lead by a Nate Gerry and Kalu.

The offense is loaded as the article says. And the big key to it being about Armstrong "If he can keep his interceptions down -- he threw 16 last season -- the Cornhuskers should be as feared as any offense in the league." That's it in a nutshell.

I feel the same way, if parrella is a good as we have been led to believe then I don't think it is unreasonable to expect him to accomplish what Trent Bray did last year.

 

[Scratchtown]

I understand all DL are gone. But going into fall camp, I have a lot of faith in Parrella. I like Mick Stoltenberg, I like Freedom, and love Kevin Maurice. Plus the Davis twins should help the rotation. It's feasible that another (or two) DE's will emerge.

The LBs should be solid and it's no longer a question mark going into the year like last season. I do like the young talent in the secondary too, lead by a Nate Gerry and Kalu.

The offense is loaded as the article says. And the big key to it being about Armstrong "If he can keep his interceptions down -- he threw 16 last season -- the Cornhuskers should be as feared as any offense in the league." That's it in a nutshell.

Parrella will be a good one for sure. I was fortunate to hear him speak at the coaches clinic in the spring. There are enough changes going on that he's implementing that he said is going to be tough for them to get used to. He talked about how being coached a certain way for so long (high school) that it's hard to get them to break "horrible" (his words) habits quickly. They are changing the down hand position in the stance and it's HARD to get used to. The DE's will be quicker to the QB now on pass plays. Won't be playing containment as much as you've seen in the past. Still, the learning curve, while I see Parella being successful at NU. It's not going to magically be an elite squad. Heard Parrella also say that sometimes technique is harder to grasp than scheme. Especially when it's been engrained into a head to do something a different way for such a long time.

I don't question the LB's as much as I did the last two seasons, but it's still a question mark when Banderas and MRI are susceptible to injury. I think Bray is doing a fine job, however.

Offense is loaded? That's TBD. You can have skill guys all over the field but if you don't have a QB with at least average decision making, it's going to make the offense look bad bad bad.

I will say this, Armstrong's decision making will be better this year but the bonehead plays that defenders dropped INT's will become INT's this year, making his number still be high. I'd say he still throws around 12.