Husker Gameday Game Day!

Measuring sticks come and go.  Each season gives Nebraska a few and each season, at least recently, Nebraska has responded with a loud thud.  Except in one instance. Last season Nebraska went to Columbus, Ohio expecting the worst. The Huskers responded by playing arguably their best game of the season, losing 36-31.  For a change, it looked like Nebraska was actually moving forward instead of backwards.  

This year, though, it seems as if Nebraska is still in the same place they were last season.  Even though Nebraska started 0-6 in 2018, it feels as if this 3-1 start to 2019 isn’t much better.  I think the loss at Colorado really put things in perspective for most people. Even Coach Frost said it in his press conference on Thursday, he hopes that Nebraska can stay with Ohio State and allow the crowd to carry the team.  This doesn’t feel like a team that is 3-1. Barely beating Illinois on the road will do that to you.

This game may not matter much in the overall scheme of things.  Nebraska certainly won’t be out of winning the West division with a loss. If they keep the game close, it may show everyone again how great a job Scott Frost is doing with this particular group of kids.  If they get blown out it will confirm the status quo that Nebraska is still seasons away from being a playoff contender.

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An upset would really get the ball rolling, however.  If Nebraska puts on a big performance, while ESPN sets up shop in Memorial Stadium, it would signal that the program is headed to better days.  

I don’t expect Nebraska to win.  I don’t think many do. It’s not to say that they can’t, but eye test certainly doesn’t favor the Huskers.  There is an upper echelon in college football that older Nebraska fans know all too well, but many younger fans just haven’t been able to experience yet.  I think in year four of this staff, you would hope that this type of game will be a distant memory. In year two, it just doesn’t seem reasonable. 

This season has already been more of a success than last season.  Nebraska is half way to a bowl game and has better talent than they did last season.  They may even be better coached than last year too. It is hard to keep expectations in check.  It’s harder to know that Nebraska just isn’t quite ready for big boy football just yet. I think it’s one of those stepping stone games.  This weekend, Nebraska will find out just how much farther they have to go. 

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last week’s prediction was Nebraska 41, Illinois 29.  The final score was Nebraska 42, Illinois 38. The game was much closer than it should have been.  Nebraska fumbled the ball four times and had an overwhelming disadvantage on penalties. The crazy thing is, Nebraska played it’s best game on offense in many ways. Not counting the fumbles of course.  The Blackshirts were put in bad spots all night, but responded when they needed it in the second half. Nebraska proved they could win a game on the road when they don’t play their best. A glass half full person would say that’s a good omen as they move through the season in the Big Ten.

Quick Notes:

Clean Game… I don’t know if it is Big Ten referees or just playing better competition, but Nebraska takes one step forward (Northern Illinois) then three steps back in their first conference game.  Poor officiating not withstanding, Nebraska continues to shoot themselves in the foot. Fumbles are a plague on this team that Nebraska has failed to cure. Add in special teams gaffs and failure to capitalize on the other teams mistakes and you wonder if Nebraska will ever be a consistently clean team?  Northwestern isn’t that great this season, but they are always one of the cleanest teams in the Big Ten. If Nebraska could get themselves 3/4 of the way to that, they could become a dominant team in the West division.

Wan’dale Robinson…. Co-player of the game last week with Adrian Martinez.  Robinson was so ballyhooed out of high school that if he failed to make a difference in a game this season, it would have been a disappointment.  The kid delivered when called upon. That hasn’t been the case often at Nebraska in the past. It’s not clear whether Robinson should play more running back, but I think we found out that he needs to at least be in the conversation.  Robinson carried Nebraska in the fourth quarter last week. If Maurice Washington can stay healthy, he gives Nebraska a one-two punch that only a couple teams in the Big Ten can match. It will be interesting to see how Coach Frost monitors touches going forward.  

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Blackshirts…Say what you want about Illinois, but they have a couple of weapons on offense that are as good as any in the conference.  The fact that the defense played average in the first half, but bulled up in the fourth quarter was a step forward from the Colorado loss.  Nebraska probably won’t be more athletic than most teams on defense, but if they do their job, the schemes seem to give the Huskers a fighting chance in each game.  If the Blackshirts can fill their expected roles this season, the defense can still win games for the Huskers.

Special Teams…Yikes!  I don’t know if it is because of the kicking game being so unbalanced, but Nebraska put out a stink bomb last week.  Kickoffs were short, the punting game looked like they were going for broke when playing it safe was maybe the better call.  Nebraska will be at best a seven to eight win team without getting special teams under control. At worst, they could be lucky to win a couple more games based on the issues that it causes.  The SOS for help needs to be put out in the worst way.

Score Prediction: Ohio State 44 Nebraska 36

This game is funny.  Nebraska went to Columbus and scared the hell out of the Buckeyes last season.  Nebraska is better than last season, so you would think they could replicate their performance.  Unfortunately, Ohio State looks like they are much better too. Nebraska probably caught OSU flat footed last season, because no one outside of Nebraska thought they could win.  I think Ohio State thinks that they could lose this game in Lincoln. That alone will have their attention. I expect Nebraska to play hard, but if they play anything like they did in Illinois, they won’t be able to climb out of a hole against Ohio State.  I think Ohio State gets a great start, with Nebraska closing hard at the end. Either way, I will be screaming like a lunatic inside the Sea of Red, GBR!!!

Scott Frost and the Road Warriors

As Nebraska passed the quarter pole and gets ready to start Big Ten play, I’m reminded that this team is young.  We are talking super young. Look at the offensive starters. Graduate transfer Kanawai Noa is really the only senior that plays significant minutes.  Adrian Martinez is just a true sophomore. J.D. Spielman probably has the most experience of anyone on the offense and he is a junior. Captain Matt Farniok is also a junior as is left tackle Brenden Jaimes.

I bring this up, because when you start to look at the culture that Scott Frost started to instill from the first day that he came back to Lincoln, he didn’t have the offensive leadership to show everyone the way.  Devine Ozigbo and Stanley Morgan helped. Tanner Farmer and Gerald Foster were strong in that regard as well. The thing is, you lose those players from the first season and now, your leadership is replaced by great talent, but not experienced talent.

When the Huskers offense couldn’t put a drive together in Boulder to end any threat of comeback, part of me thought, this group hasn’t done it yet.  Last season during the horrible start, you had to wonder if the small amount of leadership was ever going to be enough to win a game. You know Nebraska has talent.  They came withing a few dropped passes and some defensive busts from pulling an upset last season in Ohio State.

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So last week, when Northern Illinois came to Lincoln, I watched the defense start to show leadership for this team.  The defensive, led by Darrion Daniels and the Davis brothers, along with Mohamed Barry at linebacker, is where the veterans roam.  This is a significant transformation for this team. Last season it was those offensive veterans that had to plug away in order for Nebraska to have a chance to win games.  Now, the defense is in the leadership position. The positives out weight the negatives in that scenario. I never thought this would be an issue this season, but here we are.

You see, as a Nebraska fan, the offense should be the least of our concerns.  We have, in this blogger’s opinion, one of the top offensive minds in college football calling plays.  After last year, I’m convinced that there are great teachers on the staff on offense and while this team is really young on that side of the ball, I can already tell that the offense is working to get better each week and you can see the progress.  

Coach Frost knows that to win consistently, you have to be able to run the ball up the middle at some point during the season.  The first three games, as depressing as it might have looked, Nebraska continued to work on that aspect, even though those plays have been drive killers.  Finally against Northern Illinois, you started to see some of those efforts pay off. Dedrick Mills had his best day as a Husker, breaking off a long 60 yard run and scoring up the middle on a 24 yard run in the second quarter.  These plays might have been there against Colorado, but it is a work in progress for this offense. They didn’t materialize in Boulder, but they did the next week. 

I have to keep reminding myself of that inexperience as this rebuild takes effect.  Unlike at Central Florida, Nebraska’s schedule is not filled with weeks that you can get by with less effort.  The Big Ten is no joke, with the amount of resources, the types of players, both large and veteran, along with really good coaches, the schedule is a slog.  This offense is starting to find it’s footing. It just takes a bit, when you have so little veteran presence. I have started to see it evolve last week. Which is just in time to start playing games in the Big Ten.

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ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last week’s prediction was Nebraska 34, Northern Illinois 21.  The final score was Nebraska 44, Northern Illinois 8. The defense was really good.  I mean, really good. If Nebraska can limit turnovers on offense, you can see the battle plan coming together for this team.  The defense should be able to eliminate the run game early in first half. If the offense can put points on the board and make teams one dimensional on offense in the second half, they should be able to tee off on the quarterback and create their own turnovers.  The blueprint has worked well in places like Oregon and Central Florida. I think it will work well in Nebraska, once the team settles in. Last week was the first time this season that it looked like it should.

Quick Notes:

Kicking Game… Where is Barrett Pickering?  That is the question that might haunt this team all season.  Last year Pickering was almost automatic by the end of the season.  Having that type of special teams play in your back pocket was supposed to be a major benefit this season.  Unfortunately, Pickering has been injured and it has really put Nebraska in some trouble. If Pickering can’t come back, there are going to be games lost by the kicking game.  I hope the kid doesn’t miss the entire season, it could end up costing Nebraska any chance as the West division that we all hope to win.

Maurice Washington…. I said it last week and I will continue to say it again.  This guy is different than any other player Nebraska has on the roster.  He has the ability to get by guys that we just haven’t seen in a while in Lincoln.  Keeping him fresh is going to be a priority all season. Having now seen Rahmir Johnson, I’m hopeful that Washington’s workload will be light at times.  When Nebraska plays Ohio State, Wisconsin and Iowa, they are going to need a healthy Washington to even the odds in those games. Let Mills, Wan’dale and Johnson have some carries and put Washington split out.  He is a mismatch all over the field.  

Secondary…Braxton Clark got his first interception last week.  Let’s hope it is one of many in his career. Lamar Jackson and Dicaprio Bootle continue to be great in coverage.  Eli Sullivan and JoJo Domann have provided a boost to the secondary when they have played. Hopefully Cam Taylor-Britt’s shoulder injury isn’t too severe and he can continue to contribute.  Defensive Back coach Travis Fisher has this group playing at a high level. If that continues to be a strength for Nebraska, Big Ten teams may be in for a bit of a shock at how hard it will be to score consistently against the Blackshirts.

Road Games…So Scott Frost has failed to win on the road as head coach at Nebraska.  If you would have came from the future last year before the Akron game was washed out and told me that Scott Frost was win-less on the road by conference play this year, you probably could have owned my house.  It has been a frustrating start for Scott Frost. I expect by the end of the season, you won’t even remember it was an issue prior to this season.

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Score Prediction: Nebraska 41 – Illinois 29

Rolling into a venue at night on the road is a hard task, I don’t care how you look at it.  Illinois has a lot of individual talent. Reggie Corbin is a beast and will be as tough of any running back Nebraska will face this year.  Quarterback Brandon Peters was highly recruited by Nebraska, along with many other big time schools before he chose Michigan, then transferred to Illinois.  If Nebraska continues their upward trajectory, as I’m betting on, this game shouldn’t be all that close. If Nebraska turns the ball over or has busts in coverage and allows the Illini to stick with them, it will be a close game all the way to the end.  I think Nebraska puts the gas down though and has the game in control by the fourth quarter this week. It is conference football season, GBR!!!

Husker Football Deja Vu All Over Again!

You feel that?  I did, it was the pain of a thousand sharp needles, all over your body.  How did Nebraska play so well in the first half in Boulder? How did they play so bad in the fourth quarter in the same place?  

We have seen it before since Coach Frost has come back to Lincoln.  Nebraska gets up on someone, but they don’t put them away. Nebraska looks like a top 25 team against someone (Northwestern, Ohio State and 2019 Colorado) but they only look that way about 75-85% of the time.  It is super frustrating. After Maurice Washington scored in the fourth quarter on a 75 yard pass to erase the 96 yard flea flicker from the Buffs, it seemed as though whatever evil demon possessed Nebraska, they could overcome it.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be.

Whatever you think of Scott Frost, we know he suffers with us.  He is one of us. He played here, he bleeds red. His frustration is probably as high as anyone's.  So why do we keep losing close games? A couple of reasons come to mind.

First, the offensive line needs a lot of work.  It’s true if you can’t dominate the line of scrimmage on one side of the ball, you will get wrecked.  If you recall, in a Mike Riley coached game against Wisconsin, they simply decided to run the football in a close game in Lincoln.  They didn’t pass, they simply knew Nebraska couldn’t stop them. That happened a lot to Nebraska, playing against good offensive lines, since Nebraska joined the Big Ten.  Unfortunately, Nebraska’s own offensive line resembles nothing like that. It’s ironic that the first time since Bo Pelini left that Nebraska has a strong defensive line, and the offensive line is below average at best.

Second, this team has to learn how to win.  We talked about it last year when the Huskers had their worst start in our lifetime, this team simply doesn’t know what it takes to bury a team.  Nebraska really dominated Colorado in the first half of their game. When you are up on a team 17-0 on the road, you would say that the odds are in your favor.  The problem is, Nebraska struggled to do anything offensively in the third quarter. You could sense the walls starting to tighten up on Nebraska. When a team doesn’t win a lot, little things can start to make you think the whole thing will collapse.  Until you have those things go your way and you put a team away and get backups in the game late, you just don’t know what else bad can happen, but you are sure that it can.

Last, the expectations on this team were probably way too high.  I read a lot of preseason publications and sportswriters, basically wanting to will Nebraska into winning the Big Ten West.  It could still happen, the Colorado game really doesn’t matter in the big picture. However, we all knew (including Frost), this job wasn’t going to be a redo of Central Florida, no matter how much we all wished it.  Face it, Nebraska is a program that for five years prior to Frost taking over, was headed in a large tailspin. Poor recruiting, poor coaching, poor culture and poor development has plagued Lincoln for a long time. That is hard to turn around in a couple years, let alone one season and two games.  Nebraska doesn’t play in the same conference as Central Florida, the roadblocks are a bit higher up north.

Nebraska will be back in the national conversation, I’m sure of it.  I actually feel like Nebraska by the end of the season is going to be a team no one wants to tangle with.  I also think that in two more seasons, you will see Nebraska in the conversation for a national playoff berth if things continue at this current pace.  I get it that many of us want this program to head back to the 90’s type dominance yesterday. What we should be hoping for is a replication of the 80’s at this point.  Just start winning nine games a year again for 2 or 3 seasons. With this staff and the people behind Nebraska football, I foresee it happening. Unfortunately, this season is just another block in the base of what is being rebuilt.  It’s going to give us some gut punches along the way. Better prepare for a few more before it’s all said and done. 

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last week’s prediction was Nebraska 34, Colorado 31.  The final score was the reverse with Colorado coming out on top.  We know Nebraska can beat Colorado. If the played them 10 times, I’m sure Nebraska would win their 5.  Unfortunately, they only play one. It can be a stepping stone or an anchor. I think it’s just another step forward, despite the outcome.

Quick Notes:

Cam Taylor-Britt… A perfect microcosm of last week, Taylor-Britt made some unbelievable plays, tackles for loss, forced a fumble and yet he was the player defending the receiver on the flea flicker that really turned the corner for the Buffs.  Taylor-Britt is special. To me, he is like a mini version of how Nebraska is progressing. He can be sensational, but he isn’t perfect yet. He may get there, I just hope it is soon.

Maurice Washington…. Man, this kid is special.  Off the field stuff not withstanding, he is probably the most talented player on the Husker roster.  Washington makes plays that no one else on the team can make. Any time he is in the open field he can house it.  I’d like to see him play some wide receiver when Dedrick Mills and Wan'dale Robinson are on the field. Last season against Iowa he was almost unstoppable.  He needs to play as many plays as he can, he is that great.

Kickers …Nebraska was so spoiled last season with Barrett Pickering.  He adjusted after a rough start and became another of a reliable, if not spectacular kicker in a long line of Huskers specialists.  You could argue his absence has made Nebraska fall from the ranks of the undefeated. Hopefully he is healthy by conference play. Nebraska needs him.

Blackshirts…We talked about them some last week, but that first half against Colorado was almost brilliant.  I honestly felt like the emotion of the first half was what tired Nebraska out in the fourth quarter.  Nebraska put it on Colorado, and looked like they had the fire to carry Nebraska this season. Injuries have put a bit of a damper on their performance and the late game collapse was really bad, but I continue to be encouraged by their tenacity and willingness to tackle with violence.  I’d argue that the personal foul on Lamar Jackson in the first series was a bad call. I know it was early, but I felt like it gave Colorado some life. If Nebraska could have capitalized on that early stop, it would have really changed that game. The Blackshirts needs to cut down on penalties, but they could be a force in the Big Ten based on the first two games.

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Score Prediction: Nebraska 37 – Northern Illinois 21

When Northern Illinois came to Lincoln and upset Nebraska two seasons ago, it set in motion the ability to have Scott Frost come back to Nebraska.  I thought that was rock bottom for Nebraska that day, but I was probably wrong. I’m not sure if we really have hit it yet, but I sure hope so. Nebraska needs to make a statement at home this week, offensively and defensively.  If Nebraska is up by three touchdowns going into the fourth quarter, they need to get young players into the game. That's the only reason this game should be as close as we predict. Nebraska is capable of dominating this team. As always GBR!!!

Game Day in Boulder!

So that wasn’t exactly how it was supposed to go.  Nebraska has been a media favorite to win the Big Ten West division all off season and it looked like South Alabama would be nothing more than a stepping stone on the way to that title.  Then the offense took a turn into the ditch last week and as Nebraska only scored two offensive touchdowns on one of the worst offensive performances in Scott Frost’s coaching career.

So, what really happened?  A couple of things stick out and your crack blogger Kenny Bloggins went to former college football players to see if the bloggin’ eyes were telling the truth.

What surprised me was that two former players, one from Nebraska and one from the Minnesota Vikings had varying opinions on how the offensive line performed.  The former Husker told me that Cam Jurgens is going to need to be the “guy” at center. Right now, Will Farniok just isn’t ready to rumble in the Big Ten. He said that Jurgens will need to get as many reps as possible before Big Ten play and hope for the best.  The rest of the offensive line will need to get better too, but to him Jurgens is the key to the season. So goes Jurgens, so go the Huskers. Can’t say that I disagree.

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The former Viking was a little big more optimistic.  He said that hand placement was the biggest culprit for the Huskers against South Alabama.  He explained that hand placement is a matter of repetition and after doing it for a couple of games, the offensive line would be fine.  He expects offensive line coach, Greg Austin, to have it handled this week against Colorado. If they don’t, he said expect changes in personnel by week three.

From my vantage point and re-watching the first half about six times, the footwork was just as big an issue as hand placement.  The Huskers looked slow up front, like they were stuck in concrete. Matt Farniok looked like he had an invisible plow hooked to his hips.  Jurgens and new guard Trent Hixson didn’t look to be on the same page half the time. That is a communication issue and an experience issue.  I think that will get cleaned up. The feet in the concrete though? I don’t know if you can fix that.

Nebraska is in a precarious situation right now.  If the offense has a bad week against Colorado, the season may be headed toward .500 rather than any division titles.  If the Huskers can’t take advantage of the young skill talent it has, I think the coaches are going to need to take a long look at playing some different players on the offensive line and giving them a chance to build stamina and learn on the fly.  You can’t continue to put veteran players out in the trenches if they fail to perform repeatedly. Are better players on the Husker bench? I don’t think so unfortunately, but the staff may need to find out. This week more than probably any other, could foretell the rest of the season.

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ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last week’s prediction was Nebraska 40, South Alabama 17.  The final score was Nebraska 35, South Alabama 21. We were close on the score, but certainly not on our prediction of how they would get there.  Nebraska’s offense will need to be the bread winner this season for the Huskers to have great success. Hopefully South Alabama was an anomaly.

Quick Notes:

Blackshirts… You could have shocked me out of a coma if you told me before last week that the defense and punt return unit would carry Nebraska to victory.  Give big kudos do defensive coordinator Erik Chinander. He called timely blitzes and the Blackshirts forced five turnovers. They may not be world beaters, but if this defense can turn the ball back to the offense with any kind of regularity, the overall team could be good.  I don’t know if the defense can win many games for Nebraska, but it was nice to see them do it early in the season.

Maurice Washington…. Whatever you think of the suspension that Coach Frost handed Washington, it certainly was a lift to get Maurice back on the field.  He is clearly a difference maker for Nebraska. He sees the field so well, and it doesn’t take great blocking for him to get to the next level.  I’m not saying Dedrick Mills won’t have big games this year, but Washington clearly is a notch above almost any other athlete on the field. Nebraska needs Washington to play every game to increase their success.

Special Teams …I could tell that this unit was going to be improved, based on the depth of athletes on the roster this season.  When you have veteran players on special teams like Cam Taylor-Britt and J.D. Spielman along with newcomers like Wan’dale Robinson, you can see that explosive plays can happen at any time.  I foresee Nebraska having some big plays this year on both return teams. Now, Nebraska needs Barret Pickering to get healthy. If he shores up the kicking game, Nebraska will have a nice advantage on special teams in a lot of games.

Big Red Kool-Aid…With Adrian Martinez being so good as a true freshman, it was hard not to drink all the offseason hype with this offense.  That first taste against South Alabama was bitter as hell though. I think we all can see that the difference between 4-8 of last season and a possible flip to 8-4 doesn’t leave a lot of room for Martinez not to be at his best each game.  I expect the offensive line to get better, but I think it’s a lot to ask that they win the West division. It seems like even with the offseason hype, Frost’s initial prediction that it would be three years before this team is ready to make waves in the NCAA is probably closer to fact than what we would like to believe.  Who knows though, smack Colorado around this week and you never know what confidence may fly out of Lincoln.

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Score Prediction: Nebraska 34 – Colorado 31

Before the season started, I really thought Nebraska would win this game by two touchdowns and maybe more.  After last week, it is clear the team still has a lot of work to do before it blows out anyone. I’m not saying that Nebraska won’t play great this weekend, they certainly can.  I just think the thought of scoring more than four touchdowns this week may be wishful thinking. I think Nebraska gets three touchdowns on offense and the defense scores again this week.  The Blackshirts continue to create timely turnovers and Nebraska returns the favor in Folsom Field this season. GBR!!!

Editor’s Note: We regret putting North Alabama in last week’s score prediction.  The fact that we were in Alabama last week with someone from South Alabama was our punishment for the error.

Smell that Fall, Bring on Football!

So, have you been antsy this offseason?  Have you missed Husker football at all? How could you not, right?

Nebraska had the type of offseason that makes you want the season to start yesterday.  The Huskers final six games ended with a loss to Iowa, but the 4 wins down the stretch and the close loss to Iowa showed that Scott Frost had finally figured his new team out and that the players had figured out Coach Frost as well.  

A quiet spring game led way to a long off season.  Maurice Washington has been dealing with legal issues all summer and the offseason marijuana possession seemed to touch several incoming freshmen.  So far, nothing has come of the weed stories and Washington still awaits his fate in California that won’t be settled until after the first game against South Alabama.  We just found out Andre Hunt and Katerian Legrone have been suspended. That has to be the biggest thing that has happened this entire offseason.

So as the wait for games has consumed some of us, we followed recruiting and basically any other nuggets that we could obtain.  Cam Jurgens out with a foot injury? Of course. Graduate transfer wide receiver from California? Why not. These stories seem important, but small potatoes compared to the beginning of fall camp.  

Now that we have read all the articles, both local and national, we begin to see a swell of momentum for the Huskers like we haven’t seen in at least three seasons.  Several national prognosticators have listed the Huskers as the favorites to win the West division in the Big Ten and the Huskers are ranked in the initial AP poll for the first time in what seems like forever.

Is this too much, too soon for a team coming off a 4-8 regular season?  Probably. I think the Huskers are on the right track, but it would be easy to see any number of injury scenarios that could keep this team from finishing in the top 2 in their division.  Nebraska has slowly stock piled players at wide receiver, running back, quarterback and tight end on offense, but the offensive line still seems like it has shallow depth that can play in the Big Ten.  We all know that Adrian Martinez is the reason many think the Huskers are the odds-on favorites to win the West. Any regression or missed time by Martinez would certainly hurt the Huskers chances to do anything outside of reach a modest bowl game.

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Defensively, the Blackshirts were anything but solid in 2018 and there are only a couple of names on the depth chart that are different from a team that couldn’t stop anyone the first six losses of last season.  Darrion Daniels was a nice grab from Oklahoma State at nose tackle, but no other new player looks to make much of an impact early in the season. Scottsbluff’s Garrett Nelson may be the only true freshmen to see regular time and late added junior college sensation Jahkeem Green arrived in camp so late that he may not play regular minutes until the conference season starts.  Any improvement must come from within the current roster.

It’s easy to be pessimistic, especially coming off back-to-back 4-8 seasons.  This season however, I expect that record to flip completely, if not turn into a 9-win season.  

There is no doubt that Adrian Martinez, should he stay healthy, will be an All-Conference type quarterback.  We have seen enough of his talent to know that if he takes the next step in the Scott Frost offense, he will win games based on his talent alone.  When Scott Frost left Central Florida after his second season, his offense was considered one of the best in the country. Even if he only raises the Husker offense to top 20 status in the country, Nebraska should eclipse seven or eight wins.

If the Blackshirts can show any type of improvement over last season, Nebraska will be a lot to handle as the season wears on.  Special teams need to improve as well, as it was abysmal in Frost’s first year. It really has nowhere to go but up.

When it comes down to it, an easier schedule, along with a surging offense, a defense that is bound to be better and a special teams group that can’t get much worse, should propel Nebraska into bowl season in 2019.  Will it be enough to win the division? Consider us cautiously optimistic, but realistically tempered. We have heard it almost every season since 2011 that Nebraska is a contender to win their division. It is time for the Huskers to make that move.

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ON WITH THE REWIND…

We don’t have a previous score from the Spring Game, but I would have bet on the team wearing red.  Our recollection from that game? Luke McCaffrey is fast. Other than that, not much really stands out.

Quick Notes:

Offense… This group is young everywhere.  Kanawai Noa is the only senior on the team that expects to see big minutes.  This group is also very quick. You can say that it is small, with the addition of Wan’dale Robinson to pair with J.D. Spielman, there won’t be a group that is quicker in the conference.  The question is, will Nebraska’s running game continues to improve with the loss of Devin Ozigbo? I suspect that JUCO transfer Dedrick Mills and Maurice Washington, when eligible, should be able to cover what Ozigbo and Washington did last season.  I also expect the offensive line, in its second year with Greg Austin, to make a big step overall in 2019. The offense is by far the strength of the team and it has been overhauled in less than two years. It is very impressive. 

Darrion Daniels…. It goes without saying, but Nebraska struggled to put a true nose tackle on the field last season.  Carlos and Kahlil Davis are not true nose tackles, and Damion Daniels wasn’t ready to play full time last season.  Bring in Damion’s older brother Darrion from Oklahoma State and #boom now you have a real person to man the middle.  With Darrion coming in and Damion being a year older, what was a weakness last season just got a nice shot in the arm.  Throw in Deontre Thomas as another option and the Huskers should be much improved along the defensive line.

Linebacker …Nebraska’s next big jump in recruiting needs to come at this spot.  Nebraska has done such a good job addressing deficiencies all over the field but finding immediate playmakers at both the inside and outside linebacking positions has eluded the coaching staff.  There are plenty of young players with promise in the pipeline, but in 2019, outside of Mohamed Barry, you don’t have many players that have proven themselves on the field. If this position group even plays average this year, the Blackshirts will make a large jump in yards against and probably points given up as well.  This position group really is the question mark that may make the season a bust or success.

Season Prediction…I could see the Husker season going any number of directions.  Face it, they have under performed to their talent severely that last two seasons.  If they just play close to the level that they should, they would win 7 games easily.  I think we get a mix of second year explosion, but a dose of hard reality that Nebraska, while on the right track, still doesn’t have the horses or depth to win 10 games.  I expect Nebraska to win 8 during the regular season. For some reason, I think it will be difficult for the team to go much better than 5-4 in conference. If they do better than that, they could certainly win the west, but I think the lack of depth and lack of big-time playmakers on defense will hold this Nebraska team from breaking through.  They are close, but not ready for playoff football just yet.

Big Red Rising Shirt

Nebraska 40 – South Alabama 17

I expect the Huskers to have some inconsistency on offense the first game.  I also expect them to be explosive in the game and put up 4 touchdowns on plays longer than 25 yards.  North Alabama won’t get the team that played Troy last fall. They won’t get the best of the Huskers this year either.  Nebraska will work to get a lot of young players on the field to get the jitters out, knowing that going to Boulder the next week is the first big challenge of the season.  I expect this game to be over moving into the 4th quarter.  If it isn’t, this season may not have the promise it seems prior to the kickoff.  GBR!!!

NFL Draft Predictions/Husker Draft Predictions

Let’s do this thing.  My annual, “If I was this teams GM, this is the route I would take” mock draft.  Last year I was on the money with Saquan Barkley, Sam Darnold, Quenton Nelson and Roquan Smith.  The rest? Not so much. I thought Josh Rosen was the most pro ready QB in the draft and I also didn’t think Josh Allen would be that great as a rookie.  Looking back, I still like Rosen, but it appears the Cardinals may be moving on already. Most of these stories won’t be finished for at least four years, others may not be heard from again much past this weekend.

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This draft isn’t full of a lot of star prospects, but it has a few.  The depth in this draft is great though and people that I think should be first round picks might fall into the 3rd round.  The defensive and offensive tackles in this draft are deep, there are intriguing options at quarterback and there might be a running back that is an All Pro next season that I won’t even have in the first round.  And away we go…

1. Arizona Cardinals – Nick Bosa DE – I get it, people want to see the Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray go first overall.  The Cardinals took Josh Rosen in the first-round last season. So why didn’t that work out? The reality is, the Cardinals were a wreck last season.  They may not be any better moving forward. They have holes all over the team and Murray simply isn’t going to fill them all. Unless new coach Kliff Kingsbury is sure that Rosen is a bust, I’d take the best player available and that is probably Bosa.  If you are feeling good about things, trade down, let another team make a reach pick on Murray. Are we sure he is as good as Baker Mayfield? Are we sure he will be the best short quarterback since Russell Wilson came into the league? I’m not, and I’m not sure how the Cardinals can be either.
2. San Francisco 49ers – Josh Allen OLB – Bosa would clearly be the choice for the 49ers at this spot if he gets past the first pick, but Allen is a special talent.  His ability to get to the quarterback should translate well to the NFL level. The question as always, will he be better in a 3-4 playing in space or a 4-3 strictly coming off the edge?  Time will tell, but he is an animal off the edge and I would take him no matter what defense I ran. Looking at help for the offense here would be helpful to this team, but there is no skill player worthy of this pick.  You will see a lot of teams take defense in the first round, simply because this is where the best players are.
3. New York Jets – Ed Oliver DT – The first time I’m throwing a curve in this draft.  Oliver to me, is one of the best talents on the board. He is strong against the run, although he is undersized to be a nose tackle. He is a beast on the pass rush when he needs to be.  The Jets will run a 3-4 based on personnel but could shift to a 4-3 and keep Oliver inside. The Jets also need line help in the draft, but I can’t reason taking Jawaan Taylor or Jonah Williams at this spot.  If I’m the Jets, I try to trade down, recoup some later picks and let someone come up to get a quarterback if they want one.
4. Oakland Raiders – Montez Sweat Edge – The Raiders will be angry if Bosa and Allen are gone at this point, because they really need to replace Khalil Mack and the production that he took to the Bears.  With multiple picks, the Raiders can fill a lot of holes and could choose to go a number of ways here. I’d take a flyer on Sweat. He has unbelievable athleticism and he could play with his hand on the ground or in space if he needs too.  I know teams have taken him off the board because of a possible heart condition, but I think that is smoke to throw other teams off the scent. They could take a player like Rashan Gary and have him play defensive end, or they could to a different route all together and Quinnen Williams to shore up the middle.  
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers –– Quinnen Williams DT – You have to take the best available player sometimes and Williams is certainly that at the fifth pick.  I also love Devin White at inside linebacker and they could go that route. I would go with Williams because he can anchor the middle of your defensive line for a decade.  He plays with great strength and should help your defense against the run so that your linebackers are free to make plays. The Buccs need help all over the defense, but at this point there isn’t enough value at other positions in the draft to take another player this high.
6. New York Giants – Dwayne Haskins QB – I wrestled with this pick for a while, but if are the Giants and you know that you need to replace Eli Manning and you want this kid, you need to jump at it.  They could use the help from a player like Devon White or could help shore up problems on the offensive line with Jawaan Taylor. The thing is, the Giants are going to be bad again next season.  They traded away Odell Beckham Jr. and they need playmakers outside of Saquan Barkley. If you don’t want to waste Barkley’s prime, you better have a quarterback warming up in the bullpen. Otherwise, you waste another season without a plan for the most important position on the team.  Take Haskins, then get yourself some help with the next pick at 17.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jawaan Taylor OT – This is a perfect fit.  The Jaguars need help at right tackle and Taylor should fill that position for years.  The Jaguars are going a different direction with Nick Foles and they need someone to block for Leonard Fournette (assuming he plays).  It’s important to give a quarterback you paid franchise changing money, the tools he needs to be successful.
8. Detroit Lions – T.J. Hockenson TE – Again, taking the best player available.  Mathew Stafford regressed a bit last season. With everything he is going through with his wife this offseason, next year could understandably be a difficult year for the franchise.  So, go get the franchise quarterback a little help. I hate that Devin White is starting to fall, but the Lions need help scoring points. Hockenson is the best TE in the draft and could be a starter for 10 years.
9. Buffalo Bills – Jonah Williams OT – Josh Allen at QB was a pleasant surprise to me last season.  His lack of accuracy in college didn’t seem to be as big of a deal in the NFL as I thought it would be.  His size and ability to escape the pocket made a big difference for him. The Bills did a good job of addressing needs on the offensive line in free agency but adding Williams could be the cherry on top.  They need wide receiver help and they could use a pass rusher, but I think they can get those needs filled later in the draft.
10. Denver Broncos – Devin White LB – Sometimes when I do these mock drafts a player starts to fall that really shouldn’t fall this far, White fits that bill in this year’s addition.  White was a whirling dervish at LSU and the Broncos can add another piece to an already salty defense. The better of the two Devins (Bush being the other) would be my pick over players like Rashan Gary and possibly Noah Fant at tight end.  I just can’t justify taking a QB at this spot after trading for Joe Flacco. Eventually the Broncos will get a franchise QB, I wouldn’t do it here.
11. Cincinnati Bengals – Devin Bush LB – People keep saying they need to take a quarterback in this draft and I might think about it if Dwayne Haskins is here.  So, do you take Kyler Murray? I don’t know that he fits what new coach (former Husker) Zac Taylor’s offense typically needs. Do you take Daniel Jones?  I don’t know if he will even be a starter in the NFL and is he really an upgrade over Andy Dalton? With the quarterbacks coming out in next season’s draft, I think they need to seriously think about upgrading other positions first and come out swinging for the franchise quarterback next season, but that’s just me.
12. Green Bay Packers – Noah Fant TE – As a Bears fan, I dislike the Packers immensely and this is the type of pick that keeps that feeling going.  Fant was underused at Iowa and should be an immediate impact playing with Aaron Rodgers. The Packers need some help on the offensive line, but there is nothing that beats this pick.  Hockenson will probably be better right away, but Fant could be a transitional talent for the Packers. I’m already ill just thinking about it.
13. Miami Dolphins – Kyler Murray QB – This will never happen in a million years, but if you are the Dolphins, and Murray is still here at 13, you would jump at it right?  Murray is dynamic, and since Dan Marino left Miami the Dolphins have floundered in mediocrity. They need help on the offensive line and could also use a talent like Rashan Gary on the defensive line.  It this mock scenario, Murray is the only quarterback I would take at this spot, so go do it Miami!
14. Atlanta Falcons – Rashan Gary DE – Gary is an enigma for me.  I think he has an awesome skill set, but for some reason he never really stood out at Michigan like his pedigree would suggest.  I think moving him to defensive end or at least rotating him out there will help him flourish. Unlike at Alabama, Michigan players don’t always peak in college.  They could go a different direction with someone like Brian Burns, but I like Gary’s versatility and I think he has a high ceiling.

    

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15. Washington Redskins – Brian Burns DE/OLB – You might say, gie them a quarterback, but this team has a lot of places that need help.  I just can’t see taking Drew Lock or Daniel Jones, and you have Case Keenum for this year. I know Redskin fans won’t like this, but they really need to pick up help across the board and go for a quarterback in the second or third round.  They also could use an offensive lineman like Cody Ford or they could go with a wide receiver like Marquise Brown to blow the lid off.
16. Carolina Panthers – Cody Ford OT – I go back and forth on Ford and Andre Dillard, but Ford is the better run blocker and fits what Carolina likes to do better.  They also need an edge rusher like Clelin Ferrell or could use a defensive lineman like Christian Wilkins or Dexter Lawrence. Basically, anyone from Clemson’s defense last season would fit.  Are we sure Clemson’s defense wasn’t better than the Panthers last year?
17. New York Giants – Marquise Brown WR – After taking Haskins with the first pick, you might as well replace the other former Giant star, Beckham Jr. and start the rebuild.  The Giants can provide a big spark to the offense at this point. They could also take Dillard at this spot to help protect Haskins, but I love Brown’s ability to stretch the field.  My feeling is the Giants need to reinvent themselves on offense and if they take Haskins, getting him help is the best way to do that.
18. Minnesota Vikings – Andre Dillard OT – This is the spot that I thought about having the Vikings take a chance on Josh Jacobs from Alabama.  The Vikings need better protection for Kirk Cousins though and they need to shore up the offensive line. Jacobs could be the back that Dalvin Cook has yet to become and I think he would be a great fit for the Vikings.  They could of course take any of the remaining wide receivers that may end up in the first round like A.J. Brown or 40-yard superstar D.K. Metcalf.
19. Tennessee Titans – Dexter Lawrence DT – This kid just shows up in games and I love watching him play.  The Titans need a playmaker on the defensive line and to me you can’t go wrong with any of the Clemson trio of Lawrence, Ferrell or Wilkins.  I like Lawrence based on the eye test and his size, but I’m sure others will like Wilkins more or Ferrell. The Titans could also jump on a corner here, like Greedy Williams who I think is a steal at this point.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Greedy Williams CB – I don’t know how the Steelers do it, but they always seem to fall into a great player in the first round, just by being in the right place at the right time.  I also would be tempted to take Josh Jacobs at this spot to replace Le’veon Bell, but Williams is just too good to pass up at a place of real need.
21. Seattle Seahawks – Clelin Ferrell DE – The Seahawks traded Frank Clark to the Chiefs and the replace him with one of the more productive college rush ends, off a line loaded with great players.  Ferrell has great instincts off the edge. They could also look at local player Byron Murphy at corner or maybe go with a wide receiver like A.J. Brown.
22. Baltimore Ravens – Garrett Bradbury C – I wanted to put a wide receiver here, but I’m not sold completely on A.J. Brown and certainly not sold on D.K. Metcalf.  What I am sold on is getting a starting center for the next 10 years. Bradbury is my next best available for the Ravens. There aren’t any pass rushers that I can put at this spot either.  Take the lineman and drive on.
23. Houston Texans – Kaleb McGary OT – Ok, the Texans were the team that I wanted to give Josh Jacobs to.  Unfortunately, the offensive line is a mess for the Texans. McGary is a big kid and he can anchor one side of the line.  There will be other running backs available in the later rounds, I’m not sure someone with McGary’s upside will be around in round 2, let alone later in the draft.
24. Oakland Raiders – Jeffrey Simmons DL – Taking Sweat with their first pick allows them to take a flier on a top 5 talent that tore his ACL.  The Raiders have another pick at 27 for the Amari Cooper trade, so they have some flexibility. They aren’t going to be good next season, so why not load up on talent.  They could take Jacobs at running back here, but he may be around at their next pick. If not, they could take a wide receiver or tight end like Irv Smith.
25. Philadelphia Eagles – Dalton Risner OT – The Eagles have the luxury of picking for a few different spots.  They no longer have a pressing need at running back after trading for Jordan Howard and the edge rushers available don’t quite stand out like Risner does at his position.  They could choose to take a center from a deep group, maybe Erik McCoy, but I’d rather take a tackle.
26. Indianapolis Colts – Chase Winovich DE – I can’t help myself, but I really think this guy can play.  He may go down on my bust list, but he plays hard and he just seems like a guy that the Colts should have on their team.  The Colts need pass rushers on their improved defense. I thought about going with Irv Smith here and giving Andrew Luck another weapon, but I think adding a plus defender is the wise move.
27. Oakland Raiders – Bryan Murphy CB – You thought I was going to go with Jacobs, didn’t you.  Normally I would give in to the best running back out there, but in this situation, you would be adding a third starter on the defensive side of the ball.  Again, the Raiders need a lot of help, Murphy supplies that at great value. If you really think they are going to trade Derek Carr, maybe you could take the quarterback you want, I don’t know if Gruden likes one, but this could be the spot he takes Drew Lock.
28. Los Angeles Chargers – Greg Little OT – Again with offensive tackle…well when you need lineman and the draft is deep in them, you take the guy that can help you out.  They could go with a defensive lineman like Jerry Tillery, but I think Little has a great upside. I think he is a player that will be a better NFL guy than college and he wasn’t bad in college.  Johnathan Abram could also be a player that they could give a look.
29. Seattle Seahawks – Johnathan Abram S – Getting a pass rusher at 21 allows the Hawks to take advantage of the pick they obtained for Frank Clark.  Abram is a physical safety that should work well in Pete Carroll’s offense, taking over the spot that vacated by Kam Chancellor. They could go with a player like Tillery as well, but they need help on the back end after addressing the line with their first pick.
30. Green Bay Packers – Chris Lindstrom G – Giving the Packers Fant at 12 makes this a bonus pick for the Packers.  They don’t have an outside linebacker that I love here, but maybe they could go with a player like Jaylon Ferguson and figure it out from there.  Lindstrom is the best guard in the draft and it never hurts to invest in Aaron Rodgers health.
31. Los Angeles Rams – Jerry Tillery DT – It’s doubtful that Suh will be back with the Rams and Tillery would be a good replacement.  I went back and forth about drafting Josh Jacobs here, with Todd Gurley’s knee situation, Jacobs would be a great pick up, but the Rams Super Bowl run may be short if they don’t start replacing aging veterans on defense with some young guys right now.
32. New England Patriots – Irv Smith Jr. TE – I can’t imagine New England will make this pick.  Not because they don’t need a tight end like Smith, he would be a great fit, but they will trade down, I would almost guarantee it.  I will make a prediction on a trade here and say someone trades up to take Daniel Jones. I wouldn’t do that, but if Jones or Drew Lock is around at the end of the first round, someone with a quarterback need will jump up and give the Pats a 1st round pick next year and the Patriots won’t be able to accept that pick fast enough.

Now that we are finished, I didn’t have Daniel Jones or Drew Lock in the first round.  I’m not saying a team won’t take them, they probably will, but I don’t think they are day one starters.  I’d rather take my chances and trade the Cardinals a 3rd round pick for Josh Rosen and see how that goes.  I also think that Josh Jacobs is worth a first-round pick, but I didn’t find a home for him in my mock.

The hopefuls for the Huskers to be drafted may end with Stanley Morgan Jr.  Morgan could go as high as the 3rd round, but I suspect he will fall to somewhere in the 4-5 round action.  Maybe Tanner Farmer gets a late pickup on the final day. Nebraska should have at least one player drafted this year, but things should start to pick up in the next draft. It’s been way too long since Nebraska has had multiple draft picks in the first few rounds.  I think Scott Frost is working to straighten that out. I just don’t see Luke Gifford getting picked, despite the recent attention and I also don’t Devine Ozigbo getting drafted either, but I think Ziggy will play in the NFL as an undrafted free agent next season.

Ok, another year, another first round mock draft in the books.  Love it, hate it, enjoy the draft, it’s like Christmas for the NFL.  Oh yeah…and GBR!