19-7? If anything, I felt that the team "mailed in" their performance against the Huskies.I kind of felt like we got our teeth kicked in against Washington in the bowl game.
Connecticut played in a BCS bowl too. So did Virginia Tech. Playing in a BCS bowl is great, but it just means we're a popular top 10-16 team. I don't think we're a top 5 team though. Most are picking Wisconsin to go to a BSC game after losing to us in the B1G championship. Would u be happy w/ that? Win a couple big games and I'll change my mind...but I'm tempering expectations. Bo's helped me w/ that. In the last 2 years I think we've been favored in all but maybe 2-3 games? We have 8 losses.Last year we played under huge turmoil with a clueless offensive coordinator, a hurt and young OL, and an injured freshman quarterback. We were 3 points away from playing in a BCS bowl. We really aren't that far away....and think about where we have to be to consistently play for MNC's. We aren't there yet. Last year was proof that we aren't, and in no way supportative of being close[/size]
The proof is in the big red puddiNg.Sounds like a Husker fan from the late 80s early 90s.We play the big ones close but we can not finish the game.
I concur, I think this almost completely hinges on the OL.QB play has been the biggest concern and a make-or-break for me. It will be up to Taylor to make that 2nd year quantum leap.
But I'm with you on the OL. The fact that this is becoming a bigger concern speaks to the really questionable situation we find ourselves in regarding OL. It doesn't diminish the QB concerns, but OL is going to be another trouble spot potentially.
You don't think that winning the Big 12 is different from winning the Big East?Connecticut played in a BCS bowl too. So did Virginia Tech. Playing in a BCS bowl is great, but it just means we're a popular top 10-16 team. I don't think we're a top 5 team though. Most are picking Wisconsin to go to a BSC game after losing to us in the B1G championship. Would u be happy w/ that? Win a couple big games and I'll change my mind...but I'm tempering expectations. Bo's helped me w/ that. In the last 2 years I think we've been favored in all but maybe 2-3 games? We have 8 losses.
...and think about where we have to be to consistently play for MNC's. We aren't there yet. Last year was proof that we aren't, and in no way supportative of being close.Hit the nail on the head. I agree with everything EZ said in his post. We actually talked at length about that. To say that a team like Alabama or TCU wouldve rolled us last year because we lost 2 games to unranked teams is a little off base. We have seen it time, and time again were good teams lose to teams they shouldnt. We are not elite yet, but we are getting there. Think about where we were 3 years ago, and then think about where we are now.
Where we were 3 years ago makes little difference.
Yeah well in our first two series with Washington, the away team in the first game of the series won the National Title, but we blew that last year.I'm not worried at all...and it has nothing to do with the offense, defense, or special teams. It has to deal with who we play. Check out this interesting fact:
UT-Chattanooga has started it's past 4 seasons playing traditional powerhouses of Oklahoma (2008), Alabama (2009), Auburn (2010), and now Nebraska (2011).
Let's take a look at the past 3 National Championship games and who has played in them:
Oklahoma vs. Florida
Alabama vs. Texas
Auburn vs. Oregon
Hmm...could a national title game be in the future for the Huskers. Recent history says yes.
Nobody here wants to respond, but I think you are right and those hits are not always pad to pad.Big difference betweeen running QBs and RBs in my opinion. RBs tend to get wrapped up or leg tackled because of how they run and where the contact comes from - LB shedding a block at the 2nd level or flat out running into the line. QBs on the other hand typically take shots from a full speed running corner or safety as they round the edge. Also - the defensive mindset is to tackle the RB, not risk a big play by trying to get the big hit, but when they have a shot at a QB they take it full bore.