Cornhusker Memes Mock Draft

Carlos Davis

Let’s do this thing.  My annual, “If I was this teams GM, this is the route I would take” mock draft.  Last year the class was front loaded with lineman and there wasn’t a lot of skill position players with first round grades outside of quarterback.  This season, it’s quite the opposite, there are multiple wide receivers that have high grades and could make an impact. Keep in mind about wideouts, they typically have the largest bust rate of all positions when it comes to first round picks.  While I typically would stay away from them early in the draft, this group will make that a difficult task.

Quarterbacks always drive the draft.  This year, there are may not be any can’t miss players at QB.  It always happens, someone will take a chance on a QB and trade up when you don’t expect it and then you will see in a couple years that a better QB was drafted later and the best team just waited to select them (Lamar Jackson anyone?). I like to build teams from the inside out, meaning I like offensive lineman and great tackles and if they grade high, I will look to fill a whole and find a skill player later in the draft.  So let’s find out what’s in store for this Thursday night. And away we go…

1. Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow QB (LSU) – If I was Zac Taylor, the Bengals head coach, and I knew I was on the hot seat, I would use this pick on Chase Young and go after Cam Newton and draft a QB with a later pick.  If I’m Taylor and the Bengals ownership said I have time to get this worked out, then you take Burrow and build your team around him. Young is the best player in this draft, in my opinion. That doesn’t always translate into who is picked first.  I like Burrow a lot, I love that he had a chance to grow into a great player at LSU and that he is as confident as I have watched a quarterback act in a long time. The question is, can he survive in Cincinnati where he has arguably worse receivers than he had at LSU?
2. Washington Redskins – Chase Young DE (Ohio St) – Generally the best player in the draft goes number one, but the Bengals are taking Burrow for need, which means that Redskins get a possible All Pro.  The Redskins put their eggs in the Dwyane Haskins basket last season but weren’t satisfied and traded for Kyle Allen from Carolina. I think if Tua had not gotten injured, you may have seen a different strategy not involving Allen.  Washington is in perfect spot at this point, Young was as dominant as any defensive lineman in college and unless they trade this pick to Miami, they will be forced to take the best prospect in the draft.
3. Detroit Lions – Jeffrey Okudah CB (Ohio St) – Detroit is in the same boat as Washington.  They don’t need a quarterback and they need a cornerback, and Okudah is the best in the draft this year.  Okudah was a stud in high school and that carried over with the Buckeyes. Again, the Lions have a lot of needs and would love to trade down, but why would Miami trade up, other than to assure themselves that they would get Tua?  The Lions need help on both lines but nothing of value lines up at the 3 spot. An intriguing pick would be Isaiah Simmons, but without a definite position home for him, I say take the cornerback.
4. New York Giants – Isaiah Simmons OLB/S (Clemson) – The Giants don’t need to overthink this.  They do need to take care of the offensive line to help their young guns of Saquan Barkley and Daniel Jones.  You can find a value player in the later rounds of the draft. Simmons is a one-of-a-kind player, that could shift attention of a quarterback wherever he lines up.  You can rush him, you can put him in coverage and you could play him at safety and probably have a Pro Bowl player at almost any position. My only other option, if you are looking for help for Jones, you have wide receivers like CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy, you could certainly trade down and try to obtain more picks.  
5. Miami Dolphins –– Andrew Thomas OT (Georgia) – Depending on which tackle you like better, (I prefer Thomas to Tristan Wirfs and Mekhi Becton) Miami has so many picks that they can take the best player at a needed position.  You say, well why wouldn’t they take a quarterback here? Because they have so many picks, they don’t need to take a chance. They already have Ryan Fitzpatrick. They don’t need a starter this fall and they can afford to take a player with a high upside and develop him.  I think that player is Justin Herbert and I think they can get him with one of their later picks in the draft.
6. Los Angeles Chargers – Tua Tagovailoa QB (Alabama) – Honestly, I would be really torn at this point.  The Chargers have Tryod Taylor and they have a lot of talent offensively, but they need help on the offensive line, especially at left tackle.  I want to take Becton right here, but…man it is hard to pass on Tua. He has won a lot at Alabama and he also makes throws that you really need to see to believe.  Justin Herbert has a lot of upside, but he isn’t as accurate as Tua. I also think Tua is a big-time leader. All of that needs to outweigh the injury history, which is severe, but I’m rolling the dice with Tua for the Chargers.
7. Carolina Panthers – Tristan Wirfs OT (Iowa) – After signing Teddy Bridgewater, you need to make sure you can protect him.  They need help on defense and if Simmons falls here, they really need to take him. In this scenario, the best defensive players they could take are CJ Henderson or Derrick Brown.  If the run on wide receivers happens at the bottom of this draft, you could see another tackle fall into the second round. That makes passing on Brown at DL difficult, because you hope you can fill the OL later.  I think you must protect your quarterback and your franchise player Christian McCaffrey. Wirfs was a stud in college. You may need to move him inside, but no matter what you are getting a 10-year starter on the line.  That’s not easy to pass on.
8. Arizona Cardinals – Mekhi Becton OL (Louisville) – This giant of a man will probably throw an eclipse on Kyler Murray, but he is a tough blocker and can anchor the left side of the line.  Duke Manyweather is a Jedi Master of offensive lineman training and he likes Becton as much as any tackle in the draft. That’s good enough for me. They need an explosive pass rusher, but there is no value at this pick.  You could also look to take an heir to the great Larry Fitzgerald, but with the depth at wide receiver in this draft you might get equal production in the second round if you trade back into it, or even as late as the third round.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars – Derrick Brown DL (Auburn) – A home wrecker, Brown can dominate plays.  He is the best available down lineman on the board after Young and should be an outstanding anchor for the rebuilding Jags.  They could use CJ Henderson at corner, but Brown is the better player. They also could use a tackle like Jedrick Wills Jr if they chose to start rebuilding the offensive side of the line first.
10. 

    Cleveland Browns – Josh Jones OT (Houston) – If I’m Cleveland I let someone else have this pick and let them take their quarterback.  If they stay, I say take Jones. I like Jones ability to move his feet and his size is NFL ready. If Jones struggles at left tackle, you may be able to move him inside or even to right tackle if he is coached correctly.  They need a left tackle at this spot, and I like Jones, over Wills, as Wills is a right tackle. Of course, they could surprise us all and take CeeDee Lamb and make a draft day trade of Odell Beckham Jr.
11. New York Jets – Jerry Jeudy WR (Alabama) – I love Jeudy.  I love him the most out of all the wide receivers in this draft.  He runs great routes, had great hands and simply gets open. I think he translates into the NFL better than any other receiver in this class, including Lamb, who I also think can be special.  The Jets need help on offense, Sam Darnold has struggled, Jeudy would start day one and help give Darnold a security that he hasn’t had since he entered the NFL.
12. Las Vegas Raiders – CeeDee Lamb WR (Oklahoma) – Speaking of great fits, this would be a great spot for the Raiders to take Lamb.  I know that Gruden loves him some Henry Ruggs III, but Lamb was much more productive in college. They would love to take a lock down type corner like CJ Henderson at this spot as well, but if you need a wide receiver, Lamb is your guy.
13. San Francisco 49ers – CJ Henderson CB (Florida) – I don’t see the Niners making this pick that they stole from the Colts.  The Niners have few picks in the middle and John Lynch will probably want to go with safety in numbers. They could use an offensive lineman, maybe they would take Wills if he was here.  I would take the best cover corner left in the draft if it were me.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jedrick Wills Jr. OL (Alabama) – What do you get the team that is suddenly a Super Bowl favorite with the addition of Tom Brady?  Well you could give him another toy in Henry Ruggs III at wideout, or you could solidify your offensive line to keep a 42-year-old quarterback from taking hits.  Wills was a multiple game starter at Alabama, a place that churns out great players. Wills will be around a lot longer than Brady, so he can be a right-side protector for the next quarterback as well.
15. Denver Broncos – Justin Jefferson WR (LSU) – If you like Ruggs because of his big play ability, I understand.  If you want production history, you can’t get any better than Jefferson. Joe Burrow made plays all year because Jefferson ran consistently great routes and make catch after catch and he will go get the ball.  I will ride with Jefferson every day of the week. Another intriguing pick at this spot is Kenneth Murray. People compare him to Roquan Smith of the Bears, and Vic Fangio knows all about Smith, from his time in Chicago.  Murray would be a great pick up at 15 if the Broncos decided not to go after a wide receiver this early.
16. Atlanta Falcons – Kenneth Murray LB (Oklahoma) – This is a best available draft pick in my opinion.  How many more years can you miss the playoffs with Matt Ryan? You may think, well Ruggs III is still here and would help, but the Falcons defense needs help.  I think they could go with a pass rusher at this point as well, or even help on the O Line with a player like Austin Jackson. I’d take Murray and figure out how he and Deion Jones can play together.
17. Dallas Cowboys – AJ Epenesa DE (Iowa) – Getting to the quarterback is always a priority and Epenesa is just starting to scratch the surface of where he will end up.  I may value Epenesa higher than most, but after getting a front row seat to watch him play at Iowa, I’m super happy to see him leave Iowa City early. You could argue that the Cowboys need a center to replace Travis Frederick, and they should trade down, but Epenesa will give you a pass rusher that you can move all over the D Line.
18. 

    Miami Dolphins – Jonathan Taylor RB (Wisconsin) – Taking a player like Andrew Thomas early gives the Dolphins some flexibility at this spot.  You may see that Justin Herbert is falling in my mock draft. I think a lot of that has to do with his accuracy. I’m not saying he can’t be an NFL quarterback, but he will need playmakers and a solid defense and run game to be ready to have success.  I think the Dolphins, with their multiple picks, can afford to take a work horse running back at this spot. You can’t argue with Taylor’s production in college. He put the ball on the turf, but so did Ahman Green and he turned out ok. Taylor’s vision is second to none in this draft and that to me is the key to becoming a great running back in the NFL.  
19. Las Vegas Raiders – Jaylon Johnson DB (Utah) – Still irks my rear end that Johnson didn’t end up a Husker.  He was one of the guys that Nebraska was in on that I thought we had a good shot at. What a miss and now he is one of the hottest names on the NFL draft board.  Johnson would be a good fit for the Raiders, who filled the wide receiver spot early. Now they fill the secondary. My only issue with this pick is that I really like Kristian Fulton from LSU at corner as well, but I just have a feeling we will see Johnson picked higher.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars – Kristian Fulton DB (LSU) – After landing Derrick Brown at 9, the Jags can afford to take a corner right here to replace Jalen Ramsey.  Fulton was a stud for a loaded LSU team, but he also is a very good tackler, to go along with his cover skills. AJ Terrell is another player that could end up here, but I give the higher grade to Fulton.  They also could nab a wide receiver at this point with the high end talent still available.   
21. Philadelphia Eagles – Henry Ruggs III WR (Alabama) – Ruggs III falls no further and provides an instant impact player for Carson Wentz.  I’m not sold on Wentz just yet and the Eagles need to provide him with more consistent help. They could also use a linebacker like Patrick Queen or another offensive lineman like Austin Jackson, who is currently rising on draft boards in the NFL.
22. Minnesota Vikings – AJ Terrell CB (Clemson) – Terrell is certainly athletic enough to play corner in the NFL.  With head coach Mike Zimmer’s style of defense, I think Terrell could shine. He has played in many big games, but he struggled against LSU in the championship in January.  I don’t hold that against him, many corners struggled against LSU. I think Terrell’s ceiling is high and I don’t think the Vikings can take Trevon Diggs, based on his relationship with WR Stefon Diggs and the fact that the WR Diggs left on terrible terms with the Vikings.  Wide Receiver is another spot that the Vikings could claim, along with someone like K’lavon Chaisson if they choose to take an edge rusher at this spot.
23. New England Patriots – Jordan Love QB (Utah St) – New England has not drafted well the last couple of seasons.  I feel like that issue, as much as anything else led to Tom Brady’s departure. The Patriots run will end this fall, but with the right draft pick, the fall may not be as gruesome as it could be.  If Love is here, I think they would jump at the chance to take him. I believe the QB sweepstakes hasn’t stopped just yet and the Patriots will likely add a veteran after the draft. Based on the team’s needs, especially at wide out, if the Patriots chose to pick Laviska Shenault Jr. or a linebacker like Zack Braun (who is made for this defense), they could take a QB later in the draft that may present as much upside as Love.
24. New Orleans Saints – Patrick Queen LB (LSU) – The Saints are a Super Bowl contender, although getting into the playoffs may have gotten a lot more difficult with the Buccaneers recent upgrades.  All things being equal, the Saints could use a stud athlete like Queen to light a fire under their defense. The fact that Queen is from just up the road in Baton Rouge makes this pick all the sweeter.  It’s funny that they could take Queen and leave a pass rusher like Chaisson still on the table, but Queen is a too good to pass up.  
25. Minnesota Vikings – K’Lavon Chaisson Edge (LSU) – The Vikings luck continues at defense. After adding a corner that can start day one like AJ Terrell, they are able to add a pass rusher than can provide instant third down help on long distance situations.  Chaisson is rising up on a lot of boards, so it’s doubtful he remains available at this spot on draft day, but with so many top notch wide receivers out there, it may make some guys fall that you don’t expect.
26. Miami Dolphins – Justin Herbert QB (Oregon) – If the Dolphins can be patient, they will get their guy if they truly want Herbert.  If they want to jump up earlier to take Love or really want Tua at the five spot, they can have them. If they want Herbert, I think he falls all the way down here.  It’s not that Herbert wasn’t productive. His biggest issue is accuracy. It’s typically not something you can “learn” in the NFL. Herbert is a strong leader and he has a big arm.  If he can harness that and learn from Fitzpatrick for a year, it may be the type of apprenticeship that allows Herbert to blossom.  
27. Seattle Seahawks – Yetur Gross-Matos Edge (Penn State) – I want to put Austin Jackson here, but…this is the kind of pick that when I review this draft will either be a steal for the Seahawks, or no one will remember this kid in 3 years.  Gross-Matos has a lot of athletic ability and hasn’t realized his potential. With Seattle, he won’t be expected to the be the star and I think that is a situation that he can really thrive in. What really matters though, is that the Seahawks won’t make this pick, they will trade it and this projection won’t happen.
28. Baltimore Ravens – Zack Braun LB (Wisconsin) – The Ravens consistently take the best players they can get, and they are one of the most consistent franchises in the league because of it.  Braun is that type of player. Cesar Ruiz is shooting up a lot of draft boards and maybe he is the better fit to replace Marshall Yanda, but Braun is smart, plays hard and would be a nice addition.  Or they could say screw it and take a wide receiver and give Lamar Jackson even more ammunition.
29. Tennessee Titans – Javon Kinlaw (South Carolina) – Austin Jackson is shooting up a lot of draft boards, but with Kinlaw in free fall and defensive line a huge need for the Titans, they can’t pass him up at this spot.  The Titans will need to address the offensive line, but one thing we know about this franchise, they have identified how to create a great offensive line. There are other players that they can take later in the draft.  There is no chance they are getting the upside of Kinlaw any lower than this spot. 
30. 

    Green Bay Packers – Laviska Shenault WR (Colorado) – I do not like Green Bay.  I hate that they always have players fall into their lap later in the first round.  This is another one of those times that it happens. Shenault wouldn’t be this low if it weren’t for the surgery that he had.  Now that it sounds like he is fully healed, I expect him to go in the first round and I expect him to be a pain in the NFC North for a while.
31. San Francisco 49ers – Austin Jackson OT (USC) – While it may have been clear that the 49ers aren’t that far off from winning a Super Bowl, it was also clear that they do not possess a lot of stars on offense.  That’s alright if you have a solid foundation. The depth at WR will allow them to make the best available player decision. The Niners will clearly be players to trade back on day one of the draft, but if they stay, the local product from Southern California would fill a nice spot on the offensive line.
32. Kansas City Chiefs – Trevon Diggs CB (Alabama) – It is funny to me that the team that needs offensive weapons, could look at all the wide receivers available in this draft and take one if they want.  On the flip side, you can take a cornerback that is big and played for a winning program in Alabama and help keep your team balanced and firing on all cylinders. Some mock drafts have them taking an offensive lineman, but if Diggs is there, he is the guy.  The Chiefs just continue to stock up.

We finished the first round and I’m looking at available players and I see, 5 maybe 6 guys at wideout that are in the same ball park as most of the wide receivers taken in the first round.  Teams will certainly have their pick of who they want at that position. I can’t say the same on the offensive and defensive lines.

Darrion Daniels 

So, what does that mean?  Well for starters, Huskers like Carlos Davis, Khalil Davis and Darrion Daniels have a good shot at being drafted in the later rounds.  I don’t know if another Husker besides Lamar Jackson will have a chance to hear their name called until the third day, but this should start up another streak of Huskers being drafted.  When Nebraska starts getting players in the first 2 days of the draft, we know we will be competing for the Big Ten West.

Welp, another year, another mock 1st round draft.  I hope you enjoyed it, let the debating, and the watching actual sports programming begin!  Stay safe and, oh yeah…GBR!

Bleedhuskerred.com

Deja Vu All Over Again!

So here we are again.  Nebraska is playing Iowa for a chance to close the season on a high note.  A win in Lincoln would put Nebraska into a bowl game for the first time in three seasons.  Man, that is hard to type. How did it get this way? You can look back at a season filled with what if’s and what could have been’s.  

Nebraska held on to win a couple of games, but they have blown double digit leads this season like a Pez dispenser.  Colorado, Indiana, Purdue are all games that Nebraska should have won. You can argue that they were lucky to beat Northwestern.  The Huskers finally put it all together against Maryland, but you have to wonder if that was a one week wonder, or if they are finally ready to get down to business.

Nebraska has improved somewhat on last season.  In some ways, they have regressed. I think the thing that I will take away from this season, no matter the score against Iowa, is how far away the Huskers really are.  And yet they are so close. They simply don’t have the depth to bench non-performers from week to week. It forces you to ride or die with the players on the field.

That’s the reality that Scott Frost finds himself in right now.  Nebraska needs to close hard in recruiting this season. They need to get another big influx of talent that can push the starters next year.  Nebraska brings back a lot on offense. They need to supplement that with players at wide receiver and depth at running back. It’s no secret that development at those two positions hasn’t come to fruition.

Defensively, Nebraska needs to take a big step forward next season.  It will be the third year in this system. The excuse that players are still learning will be out the window.  The Huskers will have to replace a lot of players on the defensive line and find someone to take over for Lamar Jackson at corner.  Otherwise, a lot of players will be back. You saw a little bit of the young guys on defense against Maryland. I think there is talent in the back-ups, but it will need to make a big jump to play more consistently and actually stop some third down plays to help the offense have a short field.

Special teams have had a few bright spots in the punt block area, but they have struggled mightily in practically every other area.  That must improve for the Huskers to have any shot at winning the division in years to come. I don’t know yet how that will happen.

How does that affect this weekend against Iowa?  I’m not sure. The offensive line and Dedrick Mills seem to be figuring out what they are good at, and it couldn’t have come at a better time as the Hawkeyes are in the top two teams the Huskers will play on defense.  So was the Maryland a precursor to what we will see on Friday, or was it the lone last bright spot for 2019? I don’t know, but what we do know, is this season has been a disappointment. The only way this season comes out as a wash is to beat Iowa at home.  That will be the injection that Scott Frost needs to move on to next season.  

bleedhuskerred.com 

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last week’s prediction was Nebraska 36, Maryland 30.  The actual score was Nebraska 54, Maryland 7. If anything could go wrong for Maryland it did.  Nebraska played really well and Maryland didn’t have any answers from the first turnover, to trying to slow down the 6th string kicker, one team could do nothing right.  Nebraska could do nothing wrong.  

Quick Notes:

Dedrick Mills…Mills had his second straight week of high volume yards per carry.  He looks comfortable playing now, when often a the beginning of the year, he was just a step the wrong way.  I think the offensive line is playing at the level that they expected all year. I expect Mills to have a big game against an Iowa team built to stop the run.  It will be an interesting clash of power on scheme.

Adrian Martinez…. I don’t know if he his close to 100% healthy, but he has finally started to live up to the promise that he showed last season.  I don’t know that he can throw the ball down field with much accuracy. Some of his play decisions on zone read and passing leaves me scratching my head.  All that being said, he is the one player than can make the Iowa game a win for the Huskers. If Martinez plays well at all, I expect the game to be a tight one.

Lamar Jackson…It is crazy to think that this will be his last game in Memorial Stadium.  When Jackson committed to Nebraska, I have to admit, I was really stoked. He hasn’t always been the most consistent and he has been maddening with his decision process over the years.  In the end, his ability to put his trust in defensive backs coach Travis Fisher has propelled Jackson into the conversation of a first round draft pick. That’s quite a ride. I will miss Jackson when he is gone.  I’ve enjoyed his career.

Mohamed Barry…Like Lamar Jackson, this will be Barry’s last game in Lincoln for the Big Red.  Barry hasn’t had quite the same success over his career as Jackson, but the thing about Barry, he bleeds red like the players of old.  It’s unfortunate that he hasn’t played on better teams during his time at Nebraska. When there is a need for someone to step up to the podium and talk after tough losses, Barry has always stood tall.  You have to admire someone that always takes the heat. I hope he closes out his career with a great game. I would love to see him play in a bowl game.

Black Friday Sales at bleedhuskerred.com!

Score Prediction:  Nebraska 28, Iowa 27

I don’t know why, but I have a feeling Nebraska is going to grab this win.  The Huskers seemed to have found themselves a little bit against Wisconsin. They realized that they don’t have to lay down when the going gets tough.  Last season, with a better offense, the Hawkeyes had to hit a last minute field goal to beat the Huskers in Iowa City. I think there is enough to play for that the Huskers will show up.  I also expect Coach Frost to lay all the cards on the table, including playing Luke McCaffrey in whatever position they need to get that speed on the field. If Wan’Dale Robinson can play at all, Nebraska may win by two touchdowns.  Frost will get it done and the Huskers will be going bowling. Dress warm and GBR!!

Must Win Weekend

There won’t be another opportunity like this for Nebraska again.  A reeling Maryland program that has more losses that Nebraska and may be even more beat up at this point.  Nebraska needs to capitalize on this opportunity to set up a possible bowl game entry against Iowa right after Thanksgiving.

Nebraska played hard against Wisconsin, the offense rushed for more yards against Wisconsin than any other team has all season.  The Husker offense continues to make large chunk plays. Unfortunately, they haven’t been able to capitalize with points. It’s killing them.

Coach Scott Frost said this week that if they could score 30 points a game they should win most of them.  We haven’t seen very many games in the Big Ten when the Huskers could score 30. They finally seem to have the offensive line working well enough to move the ball, but due to play calling, effort or whatever, Nebraska struggles in the red zone.

The Nebraska defense hasn’t held up their end of the bargain either.  They continue to struggle to stop the running game. Part of that is because they defensive line doesn’t keep the offensive line from meeting the linebackers.  Another reason is that the secondary at safety is so banged up, they have walk ons and true freshman as backups to the starters. When the starters come out, it is a big drop off.  When they are hurt and have to play, it is just as bad as when the leave.

Those aren’t excuses, they are just the reality.  Nebraska has underachieved this season, for multitudes of reasons.  Some of it is the player personnel, some of it is depth, some of it is coaching.  If you could pin point any one thing, you would say it should be easily fixed. That’s simply not the case.  Nebraska should be working on their 7th or 8th win this weekend, instead they are fighting to stay bowl eligible with 2 games left.  Lost chances, poor decisions and lack of leadership will mark this 2019 season. If Nebraska can somehow pull out a win at Maryland, they will have it all on the line in one week.

If they fail to win this weekend, it will be a long cold winter in Lincoln.

Bleedhuskerred.com

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last week’s prediction was Wisconsin 38, Nebraska 21.  The actual score was Wisconsin 37, Nebraska 21. It should have been much closer than it was.  Nebraska’s inability to make a field goal and keep the game close to a one possession game in the second half, forced Nebraska to try and make fourth down conversions when they could have used field goals, if only they had made the first one.  Nebraska’s inability to score in the red zone continues to be costly to this team.

Quick Notes:

Blackshirts…The inability to tackle has been a huge killer for this team.  Tack that on to the inability to get a consistent pass rush and you can see how the defense can’t win a game on their own.  Nebraska’s offense has had it’s own problems, but they are exacerbated by the defense’s inability to flip the field, create turnovers or get quick 3 and outs.  Nebraska will need to address all of this again this off season. Will it ever get better for Erik Chinander? He better figure it out, because the leash will start to get shorter the longer it takes to turn the Blackshirts around.

Cam Jurgens…. It has been an interesting season for the redshirt freshman from Beatrice.  He struggled early in the season with high snaps and often looked lost. Watching him against Wisconsin though, I started to think that Nebraska will have it’s first All Conference Center since Dominic Raiola.  Jurgens plays really hard. When he latches on, he plays to the whistle and he is able to get down the field and throw blocks that clear a lot of space. The entire offensive line has played much better as of late, but Jurgens’ rise has been especially notable.

Dedrick Mills…Can’t stress enough how big of a player he was against Wisconsin.  He was difficult to bring down, broke big runs and forced Wisconsin to play fewer defensive backs which opened up the passing game.  Sometimes as a player, the game, in a new system, doesn’t click right away. Mills has worked hard and now seems to understand where the seams are being created and he isn’t hesitating.  I feel like he will have a huge game against Maryland and probably against Iowa if he can stay healthy.

Young Players…Nebraska has played younger players quite a bit as we close out the season.  Ty Robinson, Myles Farmer, Braxton Clark, Chris Hickman and Keem Green have all seen an increase in snaps.  I expect a great many of the to continue to play more as the season winds down. It is apparent that the 2019 recruiting class has a lot of players that will help next season.  It’s nice to see them get the game reps that they wouldn’t otherwise get with the old red shirt rules. Nebraska has a bright future, these kids will the core of that future.

Score Prediction:  Nebraska 36, Maryland 30

For the first time in a long time, I think Nebraska will win a game on the road.  Maryland really is banged up and are playing out the string. If Nebraska can get up early on the road, they should cruise.  More likely, they will score often, but make mistakes that cost them easy points. It will make the game much closer than it should be, but in the end, I like the Big Red today.  With any luck at all, it will set up a big match for Iowa when they come to Lincoln. Turtle soup for the Huskers! GBR!!

Prepare Yourself Husker Fan!

We are in the last quarter of a Husker football season that has been beyond brutal when compared to preseason expectations.  Nebraska is fighting to get to six wins and a bowl game. I’m not convinced that all the players on the team are “all in” to get there.

I won’t call out specific players in the Purdue game but there was some false efforts by some players. Nebraska came back and took the lead in a fourth quarter game. They had done so many things right to get there, but had so many things they did wrong.  They looked great in blocking two punts. The defense had moments where they looked like they had the game in hand. Then the final Purdue drive happened and like so many other games this season, defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory.

Unfortunately, Nebraska failed to capitalize in a game on the road.  They had a double digit lead, but this time it really felt like it didn’t matter.

The issue with losing, once you do it a few times, it becomes easy.  Winning is hard. Doing the right thing all the time is hard. Nebraska, for years, never had to worry about playing out the string in a season because there was always something on the line for them.  The last three seasons, in November, there just hasn’t been much to play for in Lincoln.

That can wear kids down.  Think about this, if Nebraska fails to make a bowl game this season and possibly next, this will be the first class in most fan’s lifetimes that a recruiting class at Nebraska has failed to play in a bowl game.  I never thought in a million years that would happen. Nebraska has too many things in their favor. The fan support is the biggest thing. Fans continue to fill Memorial Stadium. Tradition and input are next. Nebraska is second to none in tradition and with the announcement of new facilities this fall, they are making sure that they won’t be left behind when it comes to providing the best athletic experience in the country if they can.

Scott Frost has not coached like a wunderkind the last two years.  Nebraska has failed to win more than one game on the road. There have been multiple games Nebraska has given up double digit leads.  There have certainly been questionable decisions throughout.

All that being said, Nebraska has a chance at home to shock Wisconsin.  You get the feeling based on interviews that the Badgers aren’t all that concerned about Nebraska.  Wisconsin is chasing Minnesota and they are much better stocked to thump Nebraska in Lincoln than most teams.  If Frost is honest with his team and they come out and play hard, it might still not be enough for this group of Huskers to come out victorious.  Based on early preseason, it’s quite a deflating look at where Nebraska football is right now.

Bleedhuskerred.com

 ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last week’s prediction was Purdue 33, Nebraska 31.  The actual score was Purdue 31, Nebraska 27. Nebraska’s road woes continue.  This time with a 3rd string quarterback leading a last minute drive and Nebraska overrunning a reverse and allowing a go ahead touchdown.  Nebraska has a hump that they continue to fail to get over.

Quick Notes:

Adrian Martinez… Martinez was really rusty against Purdue.  He turned it around in the second half and led two touchdown drives, but the poor play in the first half probably kept Nebraska from winning.  Martinez hasn’t found his spark from last season. If he would happen to find it the last three games, they could be exciting. I think he will get it turned around, but I will be interested to see if he has to sit out he spring to heal up.  I don’t think he has been healthy all season.

Darion Daniels…. This kid has been the best transfer I can remember at Nebraska.  He plays hard all the time, has a lot of talent and is a leader of the team.  I felt horrible for him that he didn’t score against Purdue. It might have completely changed the game.  Nebraska failed to capitalize on that turnover with a touchdown. Daniels may not play again this season due to injury.  That will really hurt Nebraska’s chance of sneaking into a bowl game. I hope he comes back. He has been a joy to watch this season.  

Special Teams…There are so many times that Nebraska’s special teams could help them out, but haven’t.  Against Purdue, they were able to block two punts. Unfortunately, Nebraska couldn’t capitalize on both of them.  They also struggled on returns again. The kicking game has been poor and below average most of the season. If Nebraska is going to get back to winning tight games, they will need to make some major changes in the off season.  Special teams might be the biggest needed change.

Linebackers…No sugar coating it, Nebraska’s linebacker play has been really bad in the Big Ten.  I’m not sure why they have struggled so bad. It’s a veteran group, but unless you have great play at linebacker, the 3-4 doesn’t do much to stop anyone.  This is a position group that has some serious soul searching to do this off season. Blown assignments, bad coverage, failure to make any big plays and a lack of pass rush has made this group easy to exploit by opposing teams.  Purdue consistently used the tight ends in the passing game to burn Nebraska. Those are coverages that linebackers are responsible for and they simply couldn’t do it.

Score Prediction: Wisconsin 38, Nebraska 21 

I’m going to hope I’m really wrong on this prediction.  Nebraska has played well at home for the most part and the crowd should help if the Huskers can strike early.  I worry that the offense won’t be able to do much, especially if Wan’Dale Robinson is out. If Nebraska can create turnovers and take care of the ball, they will have a shot.  I just think the Huskers are firing on about 2 cylinders on offense and will struggle. Let’s hope I’m wrong! GBR!!

When Will It End?

There is a certain amount of madness that encompasses Husker football the last three seasons.  Every time I think we are past it, Nebraska Football in general finds another way to stick it right to the heart of the fans.  

I know there is a certain number of other fans of other programs that are relishing the utter chaos that Husker football has found itself.  In some ways, that’s probably what it’s all about, wallowing in someone else’s misery, if you can’t have any joy of your own. Maybe that’s what I tell myself to get over the crushing agony each week.

We go through the same song and dance, over and over, right when you think they have righted the ship (Colorado? Minnesota? Indiana?) another disaster befalls the entire program.

And yet, here I sit, writing another blog, watching yet another game, or at least preparing to watch another game.  A wise person once told me, “enjoy these games, if you are lucky you get 13 a year, that’s not many and before you know it, you’ll be at the end of your life and be glad you watched any at all.”  That quote came circa 2011, but I keep that in my pocket when I think about how bad things have been for Husker fans the last few years. We only have four more games left in this season, if we are lucky five.  I know from last November until this August was an eternity. It’s been too long since Nebraska has played in a bowl game.

I wouldn’t even complain if we played in the Mars/M&M Bowl on the planet Pluto, as long as I get to watch Nebraska play again.

Checkout The Sales at Bleedhuskerred.com!

So really what is the point?  We all sit and criticize what we are watching.  As a state, and as a, (God forgive me) “Husker Nation,” we all come together a dozen times each fall and share a bond that you don’t always find in other areas.  I won’t let a couple of down seasons ruin that for me. There are too many other bad things in the world to not enjoy some of the great things that we have all shared together with Husker sports.

So as a fan with way too much emotion invested in Husker Football, I’ll just ask that you think about how lucky we are to get to watch Nebraska represent us each week.  The road ahead with this rebuild is probably far tougher than we can imagine. Scott Frost told us it would take a while. He probably knew better than any fan, media member, or outside observer.  I just want to see Nebraska get back to playing an extra game each year. All the other stuff at this point…well I’m just going to enjoy as much of it as I can.

 ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last week’s prediction was Nebraska 24, Indiana 23.  The final score was Indian 38 Nebraska 31. Nebraska really needed to win that game at home, to have a chance at getting to a bowl.  Don’t get me wrong, they only need to finish 2-2 down the stretch, but this is a game you hoped you would win so the pressure wasn’t so great.  The backup quarterbacks played superb outside of a couple of plays, but the defense continues to melt down when it’s needed the most. Nebraska hasn’t had a killer instinct in almost 4 years.  It seems a lot longer.

Carriker Live on Facebook

Quick Notes:

Quarterbacks… Noah Vedral and Luke McCaffrey played so well, you didn’t really miss Adrian Martinez last week.  McCaffrey especially gave the Huskers a jolt of athleticism at the position that it made you wish Martinez could get back to his 2018 form.  I will say, the group looks to be very exciting in the future and having great quarterback play is paramount to having a winning football program.  I think that Martinez has been playing hurt all year. I hope that the time off has allowed all his ailments to heal. We will need him to be healthy the last four weeks to have any chance of winning.

Road Games…. Since Scott Frost has returned, Nebraska has won exactly…one road game.  Out of 8 road games, that is about as rough a stat as you can have. It takes some resolve to win on the road.  You have to beat out the crowd, the feeling of not being in your own bed the night before and the realization that everything is just a little different when you walk into the stadium.  Great teams relish going on the road and beating someone. For Nebraska to get to that point, they will need to beat teams that are reeling. With only one exception, they have yet to do that under the Frost era.  

Erik Chinander…There has been a lot of talk this last week, that the defensive coordinator at Nebraska is in over his head at Nebraska and in the Big Ten.  As someone that has coached myself, I will say, better players make you look much smarter. I’m sure that Chinander has felt the pain of these losses and the poor play of the defense and wondered a little bit why his schemes haven’t worked.  As a coach, sometimes you need to shake up your own belief system, to see if you can shake something loose. I realize this group isn’t super talented, but I hope that the Blackshirts can rise up, once again and aren’t just a sieve the rest of the season.

Wan’Dale Robinson…Nebraska is so lucky Robinson picked them last year over his home state school of Kentucky.  There is no telling where Nebraska would be without him. He has played like a man on fire when given the ball.  His ability to make small holes into big runs has been a big reason Nebraska was able to move the ball up and down the field against Indiana.  I hope for his sake that he can last the next four games. I’d like to see Dedrick Mills get some more touches to try and lighten his load. Either way, he is electric, and he makes the Nebraska offense look bright for the future.  

bleedhuskerred.com

Score Prediction: Purdue 33, Nebraska 31 

Nebraska’s failure to win on the road the last two years is starting to make me weary.  I’ve thought Nebraska could have won at least four games the last two seasons on the road and they have failed in all but one opportunity.  I don’t know if the answer to the Husker road woes is with this group of players. If Rondale Moore plays for Purdue it will be trouble. Nebraska has shown that they can’t stop anyone from throwing the ball, because they fail to get a pass rush.  If Nebraska comes out flat, like they did at Minnesota, Tommie Frazier in his prime wouldn’t be enough to save them. I hope I’m wrong, but I will be cheering as hard as ever. GBR!!