Starting QB Present or Future View

[izzyhusker]

I agree with a majority of what you said about playing for the future. But why not Ganz??? As long as we give the younger guys, real gametime experience, whether it be mop up duty, or for a change of pace or just for a stupid reason like Texas did this year with playing the second string on the third series no matter what, then we should be fine for years to come. The problem we had the last few years is the NFL mentality of starters playing and playing the whole game. We were absolutly blessed that Ganz was able to step in like he did. He could of just as easy choked under the actual game speed. Callahan got lucky, Pelini is to smart and won't let that happen. When we are up or down by a lot in a game, the backup will come in and get some time. Just like in the old days.

 

[Armistead]

Can somebody please explain this attitude NU fans seem to have regarding how low our program has fallen and how it's going to take years to rebuild because the cupboard is so bare? Aren't we one year removed from playing for the conference title? I felt like we outplayed both OU and Auburn at the end of last year and I always heard about how great Callahan recruited, but all of a sudden we've fallen so hard that we have to expect to "rebuild" and "fall on hard times" before we can expect to win again? Until the MU and OSU games this year I thought NU was still on the rise, not going through a 10 year spell of crappiness after a big scandal a-la OU in the '90s. This "rebuilding" attitude sucks and is horrible - that will only lead to a sustained attitude of mediocrity. It's THAT attitude that is the FIRST thing that needs to go and if Ganz can help NU win next year and get back some swagger and confidence, then he needs to start. Period.

How many more games would NU have won this year with even a semblance of defense? I honestly think that Texas, KU, and CU would have been wins if NU's D had been even remotely good (look at how many points NU scored in those games). Weren't we ahead of CU at halftime? Are they really THAT much better? Didn't we go toe-to-toe with KU until our defense just rolled over? Don't you think a Pelini coached defense could have stopped KU's offense a few times out of 11? Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see the cupboard being so bare, and I don't think NU's talent level and overall program has fallen so far that any "rebuilding" is necessary and if there's a defense next year (and I think we all know what Bo can do on defense) that can go along with the numbers Ganz and the offense are capable of putting up (18 total TDs and 1400+ passing yards in only 3 games) then why should NU have to settle for anything? Why can't they EXPECT to WIN? Why do we need to start "rebuilding" and conceding whole seasons before we can get better?

Realize that many of the points that the NU offense scored were in games where they were way behind and the opposition was scoring at will. The opposition played a pseudo-prevent defense or a prevent defense and were less than intense --- allowing cheap meaningless points in blowouts. people see the Ganz numbers and their eyes light up. Well. Wait and see. Those numbers were good and I do not want to take anything away from Ganz or the offense --- but context matters.

How anyone can not see that NU is rebuilding and is nowhere near the level of Missouri or Kansas and likely behind Colorado as well --- well, I do not get that.

If you watched any bowl game this year at or around new years, then did you not notice how much faster and more explosive the skill position players were than ours. Did you not notice the guns on the LB's and the lineman on other teams? Then see our LB's (in physical terms) or our big-bellied soft lineman (not all of course --- but generally speaking). No, in terms of sheer physicality, NU is way, way, way behind.

Callahan's recruits that initially signed on had horrific attrition rates. Much of the recruiting hype came from the ones NU were in on --- but most of those we did not get. There has been, I think, more hype than there has been production from Callahan's recruits. That said, it is still early and some of the younger guys may be the real deal. We just do not know.

Anyway. A 5 - 7 team that has gone to only two bowls in four years and has a new, unproven coach (and an unproven staff) coming off of the #100 something defense. Well.... yeah, rebuilding is an appropriate description.

RBhusker...or what ever.....do you watch the games?......Ganz was crushing KU D.......CU's D and destroyed KSU's d......none of those teams played a prevent...........they could not handle the run...thats right the RUN pass option that Ganz can stress a defense with.....now for all the fans who whine about the INT's that Ganz threw...well, he was forced into throwing the ball late in the games just too try too keep up....the run was thrown out and that led the defense to key on his passing........with Pelini at the helm of the defense....I see us runnin more option and pistol formation stuff that will control the ball and grind another team down...lord knows we have a good o-line..........Ganz and co. will give teams like Va Tech and CU fits......MU KU are good but they lose more than you think to graduation(mu) and that bodes well for the Huskers

Now to all the fans who think the Huskers are talentless mob that can't win....We have out recruited the North for 4 years....it looks like a late rush by Pelini will put us well ahead of the north agin ....so the talent is there..... we finally come into a season with a clear cut winner at QB...a proven stud, last time we did that we won the north......that also coincides with the great home schedule...last time we had that we also won the north.....and we are getting better on defense(pelini)

KU will be decent next year....but they wilted in the only big game they played last year......MU will also be good, but agin....they will be on the road forever next year and they will need to replace key players on offense and defense.....I laugh when I hear about all the returning talent that everyone else has....and we have none....fact is , NU just needs to get their Sh-t together....the d will be light years ahead of last year...and there is a ton of talent.....a ton of it.

i just don't see the ton of talent here. if i remember correctly, we don't have anyone returning that was recognized as a Big 12 top notch guy......not a single one that i am aware of (Lucky, honorable mention?) and if there was one or two i missed, that is still farrrrr from a ton of talent, that has been recognized by any of the experts.

well i guess you failed to see the Huskers play the last three games....it was like having crouch back agin.....the Husker offense is loaded.....Paul Hardy pedersen and the in coming freshmen will certainly be enuff to keep the Husker passing game goin....but it's the run threat of Ganz and some decent play calling that will continue the stupid numbers that the Husker offense is putting up....as for the defense, well these guys were all great high school players...are we to believe they can't play now?????

the Huskers have out recruited every school in the North for 4 years and they need a late rush to do it agin.......folks it's coaching...plain and simple.............Reesing couldn't carry Ganz's jock......Ganz is quicker and has a way better arm....the Backs and receivers are better at NU and the O-line is light years ahead of KU.....MU has Maclin and Daniel so I'm not goin to go crazy.....but the Huskers have talent....period

 

[huskered17]

Dont be surprised if Lee comes out on top.

:yeah

GBR!!!

 

[Armistead]

Dont be surprised if Lee comes out on top.

:yeah

GBR!!!

If Lee is the better runner.....or he is just better than I will be stoked....I was thrilled to see the Huskers finally shed the plodding style of play we had under Keller.....to sustain a drive we needed the defense to committ a penalty or we needed a huge pass play....with Joe we were able to mix it up and lossen the defense.....big play were everywhere...and we also got to see Helu and the Castille....I like the o-line and the backs....the recievers are all good and have good size....hell, it looks like we will have a decent TE...so if Joe loses to Lee....I will be surprised but excited....we finally have a running QB agin, and that is when NU is great

 

[hack]

i liked Ganz toward the back end of the season. kid may not be the best qu, but he's got the tools and the knowledge to compete.

honestly, i don't think nebraska has a GREAT qb: they have three or four really GOOD qb's.

and to be honest, if nebraska has a qb that knows how to manage the offense coupled with an offensive line that can protect him and a blackshirt unit that can dominate the opposition's offense nebraska may not be in too bad shape.

but i still miss this guy...

we love ya, tommie!

 

[clone]

Let's begin by saying that NU has indeed fallen. I don't think many would argue that point. How far is a matter of opinion.

Bare cupboards? Recruiting ratings would say not. I personally think there is plenty of talent at NU.

Agree 100%

Problem is... lots of teams have talent. It's how you use it that counts.

That's my point about coaching - I have to believe the new staff will get vastly more out of this team's talent than the previous staff.

2008 starts a new coaching regime, starting with a 5-7 team. They have a lot of work ahead, evaluating the players, the offense and defense they want to run (given the players they have).

The players, even the "old-timers" will have some new things to learn from new coaches with different coaching styles than the old regime. Learning curves suck.

I think someone said this on another thread, but it's easier to switch defensive schemes than offense, so switching up the defense won't be too bad. And since the offense was pretty good and won't change much, I don't think the learning curve should be that bad on offense, either.

The top teams of the B12 north (MU, KU, CU), seem to have left the others behind.

Disagree. MU sure looks good, but with half a defense Nebraska can hang with Kansas and Colorado. Again, this is where better coaching will help.

OU and TX are always tough.

So??

So that makes the climb to the top longer and harder.

Teams have been turned on a dime before, but as KU and CU can attest, sometimes it takes a while. They took 5-6 years.

NU is starting at a higher level than they did. Maybe Bo can do it faster.

Bo will do ok. But it ain't likely to be a quick fix.

but opinions vary.

Although we can't expect a National Title in the first year or two, or even a conference title, I just don't think NU is that far behind and will at least compete next year, and if they do win a conference or BigXII North title I would call it a "turnaround" more than "turning on a dime". And KU hasn't done anything since about 1995, so I'd say they pretty much turned on a dime.

GO BO!!

I certainly agree with that as well.

This why I say...

...opinions vary.

GO BO!!

 

[Bleeding Husker Red]

but i still miss this guy...

we love ya, tommie!

Yeah... I think we all do.

 

[teamster]

If you want a coach that is going to preferentially play underclassmen in an effort to build for the future. You'll either have to get a different coach or a different team. Ain't gonna happen here. This staff and program isn't going to sacrifice a single win in exchange for the mindset of playing lower skilled underclassmen with the thought of building for the future. That isn't the way it's done. The young guys are brought along and developed over time, not thrown into the fire only to lose. Unity, winning tradition, and confidence (if you wanted any of these) would be thrown out the window. These young people live in the here and now. No college junior or senior wants to be used and discarded in lieu of young players as a business investment for 3 or 4 years into the future.

I've sent this same mindset used and fail at the highschool level. Where the incoming freshman class appears to be untypically loaded with talent. In reality it usually doesn't have as much upside as initially perceived. Then what is an already below average coach uses this mindset of building with his young players the coming dream team for 2 or 3 years later. They flop and flounder for the next couple of years and fail in the senior year also. The cycle goes on. Always in a rebuild mode. Losers in a loser program. It's a defeatist mindset.

 

[Igetbored216]

I want NU to play the BEST players - regardless of their class status - for each of the positions. If I wanted certain players to be picked based on any other criteria than "they are the best for that position," I would ask Bill Callahan to come back and coach...

 

[Lonestar_Husker]

Someone needs to ask Herm Edwards why games are played.

Playing the best players at their respective positions shouldn't be this difficult to figure out.

Whether it's Ganz, Lee, Witt, or even Spano, the QB who makes the most plays and has the fewest mistakes should play.

From what I understand, that is how Pelini will operate. If he is a no BS kind of guy, he will have a hard time explaining why he's playing younger, greener players to improve NU's chances in 2009.

Also, as recent history tells us, he won't have a lot of breathing room if he fails to produce some sort of championship in his first 4 years.

Are top recruits going to want to come here in the next few years if we are not competitive soon?

The best players should play. It doesn't have to be complicated, unless you want it to be.