Phil Steele says Nebraska will be #17 heading into the season

[EZ-E]

Is HuskerNationNick still here? Any thoughts on the defensive line play and Thad Randle?

I'm afraid the "average at best" assessment was giving Thad Randle a little too much credit. I legitimately think that he might be the worst defensive lineman to ever play for Pelini.

Which unfortunately says a lot about the guys around him he's somehow playing over. Sounds a little like last year.

"Worst DL" is a bit of a stretch IMO

I don't think that it's much of a stretch, if any. I can't think of a single defensive lineman that has been quite as bad as Thad Randle. As Knapp pointed out, it's likely that his lethargic play is due to the numerous injuries he has sustained, but nonetheless, I believe his play is probably the worst of any defensive lineman that Pelini has played.

It really doesn't seem fair to say it, but it really is true. Sorry Randle, but you shouldn't be on the field.

Reason I am saying what I am saying is because there are guys on the roster currently that came here with more natural ability and had huge McDonalds issues, etc. that never played a meaningful down. Thad has played a lot of snaps and our DL has improved a ton this year. I am not going to argue that he isn't the best option at DT currently because that is wrong. But to put the title on him isn't the case. He's done everything right and there are a number of other guys who are on scholarship that haven't and are not playing. Thad is probably the 4/5th best DT on the roster but no the worst. Would you rather play Jay Guy?

 

[True2tRA]

I had high hopes for Jay Guy when he came here. Though a bit undersized height wise, he was very skilled technically I thought. Good hands and quick feet. He might be one of those guys you're speaking of with the McDonalds problem? If I am sure it was him I saw, he looked a bit hefty.

 

[Goal-line]

Why did someone dig up this thread from 6 months ago?

 

[EZ-E]

Ankrah hasn't played as bad as people think. Nowhere near the pass rusher as either of them, but he's been good the past few games against the run and that is one thing Gregory hasn't been good against.

I don't know, he has been mostly a non-factor. I don't know how many times he's been in great position to make a tackle and didn't make the play. Seems to happen at least once per game. He couldn't even tackle UCLA's freshman punter.

He's behind Gregory, Moss and even Randle in tackles despite - I'm guessing - being on the field for at least as many snaps as any of them. Gregory has him doubled up. McMullen is tied with him and VV is only one behind meaning he basically has the fewest tackles of any of our regular lineman with the exception of Curry. Four players have more sacks than his one. Perhaps he plays solid and allows others to make plays but he really doesn't make many himself.

Maybe I am letting his play from the past two games cloud his entire body of work this season.

 

[carlfense]

Why did someone dig up this thread from 6 months ago?

Here's why . . .

Carlfense pulls the "I told you so" card. Kudos.

 

[jsneb83]

I will say this, Thad plays a mean patty-cake.

 

[sd'sker]

oh, i will wait.

I still hope to be proven wrong on that front . . .

unfortunately, you may be proven wrong in that we may be seeing bo field a team that is terrible.

 

[carlfense]

oh, i will wait.

I still hope to be proven wrong on that front . . .

unfortunately, you may be proven wrong in that we may be seeing bo field a team that is terrible.

Could be. I still expect to win more than 5 . . . but it's certainly possible that we could lose out.

 

[TGHusker]

What was the prediction? I'm lazy and don't want to scroll back.

Short version: what we've seen so far in the Pelini era is roughly as good as we can expect. We'll probably never be terrible . . . but we'll also never be great.

Carl - agree 100%. The trap of being in the average - not bad enough to fire, not good enough to compete for every year relevance.

 

[AFhusker]

What was the prediction? I'm lazy and don't want to scroll back.

Short version: what we've seen so far in the Pelini era is roughly as good as we can expect. We'll probably never be terrible . . . but we'll also never be great.

Carl - agree 100%. The trap of being in the average - not bad enough to fire, not good enough to compete for every year relevance.

So we are basically Iowa now.