Very good points. You are correct. I would imagine a huge subset of the players view posts here and the other site as well. Guys like me who are really critical of the coaches and the outlook... well we probably do not help much. None of us should bash players personally. But you are right, some optimism would be nice.
Predict the season outcome based on what we've seen thus far
- Thread starter Red is Power
- Start date
Very good points. You are correct. I would imagine a huge subset of the players view posts here and the other site as well. Guys like me who are really critical of the coaches and the outlook... well we probably do not help much. None of us should bash players personally. But you are right, some optimism would be nice.
Shockley03
Four-Star Recruit
I'll mention the defense. Actually, I really liked what I saw in the South Dakota St. game especially with the play of the 6-5 Randy Gregory. Coach Pelini's defense uses a lot of speed and quickness---but the guys are real young as evidenced in the shellacking they took in the 2nd half against UCLA (9/14). They are athletes though. They got flagged with some penalties at crucial moments in the UCLA game, but I see that as maybe being more of an aberration. Randy Gregory is going to be a star. I'll comment on the defense. I say they'll be fine. They've had a tough beginning, but I'm sure they'll be fine. Again, I really like the swagger I see in Randy Gregory. I hope he records a few more pic 6's this season!
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It'sNotAFakeID
All-American
Which does nothing to help player mentality. It's like when they score against us, and we can't answer back on offense, our defense is a little more timid their next time out. They get scored on again, they are even more timid.
A while ago (about 3 weeks or so), knapp and I got into a big argument about how the defense doesn't influence the offense and the offense doesn't influence the defense. I'd like to bring that argument back to the forefront. Taking a look back on those blowouts, when we started surrendering unanswered points, our offense didn't hardly do anything to get the momentum back. We couldn't get a field goal, heck most of the time we could hardly move the ball. That has to frustrate the defense. Anytime our offense did respond, the defense responded accordingly. This is partly why we get such inspired performances (1st half against UCLA or any one of our comebacks). But it is also why we get such devastating performances (Ohio State, 2nd half against UCLA).
The team right now, is not mentally tough when things aren't going their way. So either we have to ensure that things never don't go our way, or we need to get them more mentally tough when the chips are down.
It'sNotAFakeID
All-American
My bad, I forgot to clarify what I meant by that.
Our offense, not only didn't answer the score, they didn't even put up a response. Rarely did we have an offensive drive after an opponent score where we took it a good way down the field, but stalled out outside of field goal range. More often than not, we went three and out or turned it over. That's what I meant by not helping the defense out at all.
Where we are in terms of talent and experience on offense, and unproven talent and inexperience on defense, it's imperative that the offense does it's job by staying on the field. They don't have to necessarily score, they just have to give the ball back to the other team in a position where they have to go a long way to score again.
True2tRA
Banned
To expand. These moments where the game starts getting away from us, I'm more than willing to bet most of them start going downhill after a turnover by the offense on a key drive. Its very deflating for a defense. Especially in a hard fought close game. Though Taylor is not always responsible for these crucial turnovers, he has been reonsible for some. This also plays into the same type of explanation of the effect of blowout losses. The timing of these turnovers, and not so much the number of them, seems to cloud over all the positives you can take from things. Much like the timing of the losses and how they occur.
Sometimes, timing is everything.
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When you are getting your teeth kicked in like our defense, the longer the O is on the field gives them the breather they need and possibly (questioning here) could receive changes to plan and coaching of what is happening and going wrong. Have yet to see that from this staff, but we can always hope. It seems it happens almost instantly and has no change until half time or in the second half and no adjustments are made. The O is at fault for not holding on to the ball, moving the chains at least. The defense needs the breather normally and some how get the look of disbelief and lost off their faces. Would help if the staff did not have the same look though.
Shockley03
Four-Star Recruit
It's been a tough month of September for our Huskers. I think the tension is due to what is going on at the present. Maybe 2013 is somewhat similar to 2010 because of Taylor Martinez' turf toe injury and whatnot.
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Whistlebritches
Special Teams Player
Well said. I think most of us saw the avalanche coming in the UCLA game and the offense did nothing to slow it down. The offense has got go out and move the ball, even if they don't score, and give the defense a chance to catch their breath and let the coaches see what's happening. It's a perfect example of momentum in regards to a football game. This is an area that our offense, and Taylor in particular, is really poor at.
junior4949
All-American
How in Hades can we possibly lose 4-5 games and still make the B1G Championship? Why are some predicting this? I have no doubt that Ohio State would mop the floor with us. I'd even say Wisconsin would mop the floor with us. However, we don't play either one. If we lose two more games, I don't see any way we make the B1G Championship game. I'm not worried what Ohio State or Wisconsin would do to us because I don't think we'll play either one. Michigan and Northwestern are the two that concern me.
Haspula
All-American
Redux
Assistant Coach
Michigan no longer scares me as a team. Playing in Ann Arbor however terrifies me. Northwestern is not the world beater they are made out to be but theyll play like it against us. Northwestern is turning into a real rival already. Both of these are winnable games if we focus and give it 110%. PSU will be rough but Id be willing to say depth can win that game for us. MSU could be interesting but we should be able to outscore their talented D just enough to win and its in Lincoln where they dont tend to play well. If we can win this weeks potential shootout Ill be happy. Iowa Minnesota and Purdue are all wins. Again I think we can get over the 4 loss hump. Were not the only team with problems. Look how beat up some of the teams we face could be when we play them.
