Grading the Huskers through five games

[RandyFloyd]

Here are my grades for the huskers by position after watching the

first five games.

QB= B-

Taylor is getting better each week, more scoring would be nice

and he had a couple bad turnovers last week, but I think Nebraska

had like a dozen or more interceptions by this time last year.

RB= A-

This is my favorite backfield since Phillips and Green. Ross is great

and the freshman are becoming a bigger piece of the puzzle.

OL= C

Pass protection seems to be pretty good, to many penalties and they

couldn't pound it in until the Tech game.

TE= C+

Their penalties in the Pitt game almost killed the Big Red. They are

young and don't forget an all american TE is standing on the side lines.

WR= B-

Lots of guys are catching passes, which says something about Taylor as well,

they dropped to many key passes in the first few games.

DL= B+

Lots of sacks and I like the rotation of players. LeKevin, Go Down!

LB= A

McKeon is playing like a third team all americn and Bradley and Rudd have come

up with some big plays, Rudd seems out of place sometimes. Ickes and Dillard

seem like pretty good subs. Wish Steve O. was playing.

DB= C-

Green gave up to much ground in the ISU game. It worries me how short

Grixby is and I thought Bullocks would be more of a factor on D this year.

Bowman coming back is helping.

K&P= who cares they're just kickers.

 

[Eric the Red]

Green gave up to much ground in the ISU game. It worries me how shortGrixby is and I thought Bullocks would be more of a factor on D this year.

Bowman coming back is helping.

Bullocks has missed several key tackles, especially in the open field where as the last line of defense you simply can't do.

 

[formerfan]

Here are my grades for the huskers by position after watching the first five games.

QB= B-

Taylor is getting better each week, more scoring would be nice

and he had a couple bad turnovers last week, but I think Nebraska

had like a dozen or more interceptions by this time last year. 

RB= A-

This is my favorite backfield since Phillips and Green.  Ross is great

and the freshman are becoming a bigger piece of the puzzle. 

OL= C

Pass protection seems to be pretty good, to many penalties and they

couldn't pound it in until the Tech game.

TE= C+

Their penalties in the Pitt game almost killed the Big Red.  They are

young and don't forget an all american TE is standing on the side lines.

WR= B-

Lots of guys are catching passes, which says something about Taylor as well,

they dropped to many key passes in the first few games.

DL= B+

Lots of sacks and I like the rotation of players.  LeKevin, Go Down!

LB= A

McKeon is playing like a third team all americn and Bradley and Rudd have come

up with some big plays, Rudd seems out of place sometimes. Ickes and Dillard

seem like pretty good subs.  Wish Steve O. was playing.

DB= C-

Green gave up to much ground in the ISU game.  It worries me how short

Grixby is and I thought Bullocks would be more of a factor on D this year.

Bowman coming back is helping.

K&P= who cares they're just kickers.

I think maybe you have rated the OL/TE's a little high, as well as the LBs.

I feel that you have rated the DL/DBs a little low, also. Maybe the DTs are a B/B+, but you really cant give the DEs anything less than an A. They have really played well this year.

DB play has been better than C-, maybe a C+ or possibly a B- if you really want to stretch it. CB may be the toughest, most unforgiving position on the field. I've been suprised by Tiedke (sp?), but like some of you have said, Bullocks hasnt quite played like we would have hoped.

 

[huskerstag]

No grade on the coaches?

I'll agree with the grades of the positions. It's a pretty fair assessment for the most part. I may give more credit to the secondary. We've known all season that they'd be in a tough spot this year. To this point I feel they've played above my expectations - but compared to other secondaries around the nation I'd say they've played slightly above average.

If we'll grade the coaches I'd give BC a solid B at this point. We haven't blown anyone away, but I've seen improvement and it appears he's gotten the kids to play for him. I can't fault any part of his gameplanning the last couple of games and considering the vast improvement on the offensive side those first three games are tough to grade.

If comparing to last year then I'd give Cos an A- thus far, based on the consistent intensity and high quality of play. To this point I'd have to say the defense has been winning games for us, and you can't fault them for last week.

I'm still a little unsure of exactly what role Norvell plays in terms of gameplans and playcalling, but again the offense seems to be moving forward and the ZT appears much more comfortable lately. B to B-

 

[DJR313]

Maybe the DTs are a B/B+, but you really cant give the DEs anything less than an A. They have really played well this year.

I thought John Blake was a terrible gravy-training coach? :sarcasm

 

[gamecocks]

Former, I totally agree with you about our secondary. They are doing everything that we ask them to do, which is pretty much bend but don't break. People may not like them playing 10 yards off of their recievers but they (for the most part) are coming up and making the tackle right where the reciever catches the ball. I don't think that we have given too many pass plays that have went for over 20 yards this year. Which should say something about our tackling abiltity and hitting ability.

 

[NamelessHusker]

think maybe you have rated the OL/TE's a little high, as well as the LBs.

Have to agree with FF on this one. The offensive line at best is a C. Last year the line gave up 16 sacks on the season. So far in 5 games, they have given up 11 sacks, and we still have 6 more games (maybe 7 or 8) to go. The TE's earn a F in my opinion if we take a 5 game average. TE has been the worst position on the offensive line in terms of blocking for Zac, and worst position when it comes to execution and catching ball. They have not contributed as was expected. I actually thought Phillips would be good, but he slapped me in the face, danced around and said "IN YOUR FACE".

I feel that you have rated the DL/DBs a little low

:dis . The play of Grixby, Bullocks, Green and Bowman has not played inspired football "YET". Grixby continues to get beat, and the second and third touchdowns by Tech were his responsibility for failing to cover his guy and make the proper tackle. Green can't be faulted because..well come on. He's a ex RB turned DB. We can't blame him for his performance when he clearly is still trying to learn the defense, but b/c of depth, seems to be the best man for the job because of his previous playing experience on offense. As far as Bullocks, i already compared his stats this year to last year in another thread and mentioned he has been quite this year. Right now, the DB's earn a C- over the 5 game average.

 

[Hunter94]

i don't prefer to complain much right now, as we are seeing improvement in most areas, BUT i said all along Grix was not going to match up very well with most wideouts, kid has alot of heart but his lack of size will continue to "serve him up" to taller more athletic receivers......with some of the inbound talent coming to play DB next year, i don't see him starting.....

hunter

 

[Foppa]

K&P= who cares they're just kickers.

That's true...we don't need Punters to put our opponent's offenses back inside their own 5 yd. line, or FG kickers to get us additional points :sarcasm

 

[junior4949]

K&P= who cares they're just kickers.

That's true...we don't need Punters to put our opponent's offenses back inside their own 5 yd. line, or FG kickers to get us additional points :sarcasm

:yeah

I agree. In at least one of our games so far, the punter was probably the MVP. I don't know whether or not he's as good as CU's punter, but I think 2/3 of his punts put the opposing team inside their 20. With some of the penalties we've had this year, it's nice to see our punter as consistent as he is with the ability to boot the long ball plus pin the opposing team deep. I give the punter at least an A to A+.

The kicking game on the other hand is average at best. I realize he's just a freshman, but some of those missed kicks could have really hurt. I give the kickers a C right now. I'm sure we'll improve there as the season progresses, but we're just average at kicking right now.