Sam is the best writer who covers Nebraska football, and no one else is even close. How he snuck past the anti-Husker guard dogs at the Herald baffles me. (That's not entirely fair, Jon Natawa (sic?) does good work, but Lee and Dirk are hugely prominent at the Herald, and they go out of their way to find any and all negatives and then enhance them over all else. So to me, the Herald is often absurdly hostile to what is one of if not THE biggest passion in the state. Same as Travis Justice. He was all over Omaha media forever, and I can still hear him on the radio talking about how his brother has a Hawkeye tat on his arm. Why do we have these people covering sports in Omaha?)
Anyway, I agree with Sam (as usual). Good link btw, Chaddy :thumbs . We almost have an embarrassment of riches at the skill positions on offense. Still disappointed about Green leaving because I thought he had the potential to be an incredibly explosive player, but the WR corps is one of the best in the nation, Cotton is (imo, naturally) quite undervalued at TE. He blocks well, and he has dependable hands. Probably won't run a fly route for a 80 yarder, but he'll reel in that hook pass on third and five. And, of course, we've got Reed to cover that home run route. (If healthy. Worried about that a little...Kyler is a guy that can give a DC a tough night's sleep. Hope he's 100%.) Don't even need to mention Superman. (Just did!) Ameer needs to hold onto the ball, but if he gets that figured out he'll be a nice back for us for a number of years. Same with Heard. I know there is still some talk about him playing a little D too, but I'd be shocked if he wasn't strictly with the RBs by mid-season. And I like the way he runs. Braylon actually impressed me just a hair more than Abdullah, and I'm an Ameer fan.
So, sure, it all comes down to Taylor. (Actually, no. It all comes down to the line first, then the burden transfers to Taylor.) I thought he made tangible progress as a QB last year. Yeah, the double-take inducing touchdown runs were absent last year, but I'd bet an awful lot that was mostly a reflection on how the coaches felt about the backups. It seemed pretty clear he was told to avoid contact whenever possible, every time. That, and a high ankle sprain PLUS a turf toe injury are bad. Those two injuries seem to linger for an extended period of time. But I think it was more of the coaches pulling back on the reins than physical limitation that kept the big runs down last year.
Yes, his throwing motion is ugly. Harrison Beck had much better form. Mechanics ain't everything. Taylor made wiser decisions, held onto the ball much better, and directed the offense far more comfortably and adeptly than his first year as a starter. And the kid was a redshirt freshman starting at QB after all. That's tough...for any kid. Never mind one who wasn't a quarterback for his whole playing career from Pee-Wee on up like a lot of starting D1 kids were. I think the offense could be very dangerous next year, but it isn't Taylor that worries me a little. It's the guys up front. If they play well...look out.
And really, offense isn't my concern anyway. Defense scares the sh#t out of me. If they aren't markedly better this season, this board is going to be ugly for awhile. And I don't see reasons for optimism there, I see big empty spaces where Lavonte and Dennard and Crick used to roam. In my heart of hearts, I hate to admit that I think the D will hurt us next year, often. And man...I really hope I'm wrong about that.
