It's all about depth
- Thread starter craigsker
- Start date
my understanding of "depth" is proven players at the same position, with proven ability that results in little or no drop-off in production at that position, regardless of substitutions.....i don't see that yet at the qb spot....let alone some others, just reality at this point, subject to change....now if you want to talk potential, that is another separate topic.
Fuzzy
All-Conference
My understanding of depth is somewhat the same of Hunter. I think of it as players who have experience and you can count on to step up to the starting plate should the starter get injured or not prove himself to be the starter.
On that note. there are a few positions that we don't have depth at. QB, OL, LB, S.
On that note. there are a few positions that we don't have depth at. QB, OL, LB, S.
zoogs
Assistant Coach
Depth at RB, Depth at CB, Depth (probably) at OL.
I don't think we're deep yet as the optimism of spring would inspire us to think. Lee aside (who had an unspectacular season last year), we have nothing but severe works-in-progress projects at QB; it's not as if we have talented young arms duking it out. As Willie reported, it's Niles and nobody else at WR (this is getting to be really frustrating as a fan, given all the exciting talent we have at that position - Cure, Khiry, Bell, Steven O and the like), and nobody is grabbing the safety positions (also disappointing - where's PJ Smith and Courtney Osbourne?)
It sounds like the offense might well take a step forward, which is really promising, because the D looks poised to take a considerable one back.
I don't think we're deep yet as the optimism of spring would inspire us to think. Lee aside (who had an unspectacular season last year), we have nothing but severe works-in-progress projects at QB; it's not as if we have talented young arms duking it out. As Willie reported, it's Niles and nobody else at WR (this is getting to be really frustrating as a fan, given all the exciting talent we have at that position - Cure, Khiry, Bell, Steven O and the like), and nobody is grabbing the safety positions (also disappointing - where's PJ Smith and Courtney Osbourne?)
It sounds like the offense might well take a step forward, which is really promising, because the D looks poised to take a considerable one back.
Husker_x
All-American
The reason I think we have to be optimistic is that Bo Pelini defenses don't really seem to 'take a step back.' They're solid top 15 units almost every season, with the exception of the year he got here where he only managed to take the unit up about 65 spots in the final rankings.
The offense will be better, deeper, and more talented overall than last season. Our defense probably won't repeat the number one overall in scoring, but considering our strength of schedule or lack of it, a top 10 finish wouldn't surprise me in the least. All of which adds up to a potential title run.
Add in a little luck and a few breaks going our way that haven't in the past––no reason we can't have a fantastic season.
The offense will be better, deeper, and more talented overall than last season. Our defense probably won't repeat the number one overall in scoring, but considering our strength of schedule or lack of it, a top 10 finish wouldn't surprise me in the least. All of which adds up to a potential title run.
Add in a little luck and a few breaks going our way that haven't in the past––no reason we can't have a fantastic season.
zoogs
Assistant Coach
Well, we are kind of fortunate to be a position where a "Top 15" finish on the D will still be a step back. It's just that last year, our D was flat out elite. This year, we can probably expect it to be good, but on par with a number of other top contenders. It's just that losing Dillard, Asante, O'Hanlon, and Suh is going to be a tough pill for any D to swallow. But I think we may have a more optimistic picture come fall camp.
Exactly.
And as far as depth is concerned, I agree with other sentiments that I look as depth in a sense of how many experienced guys you have in the line-up. You take a look at our 95 team, and that team had crazy depth, thanks to the fact that our second and third teamers saw PLENTY of reps thanks to all of the blow-outs we had. Honestly, our second and third teamers could have stepped in and been starters in almost any situation, and Brook Berringer was good enough to win all 12 games on our schedule that year.
We have a lot of 'inexperienced' depth at a few positions, but it is warming to see just how many guys we have on the o-line and at other positions. Our o-line has the opportunity to be very special this year and in the upcoming years.
One would hope.
First year under Bo Pelini = great offense and average to below average defense.
Second year under Bo Pelini = great defense and way below average offense.
Third year under Bo Pelini = everything coming together (hopefully).
NUance
Assistant Coach
Yeah, I look at these four positions and hope that somebody emerges for us this year. But like the OP said, at RB and CB we do have pretty good depth.