Huskers Will Be Competitive Soon
13 comments so far
November 4, 2008 by
Like Bo Pelini, I'm not going to dwell on the Oklahoma game. I'm looking ahead. The Kansas game on Saturday is important for two reasons. One, a win against a division opponent instantly negates the feelings after a bad loss. Two, we're clearly facing the Big 12 North team that's number two next to Missouri. It's extremely difficult to catapult from a losing season to winning your division title, but what can be done in one year is move ahead of an opponent. Simple as that. In the mess that is the Big 12 this year, just moving in a positive direction to place yourself ahead of another team is a huge undertaking.
In the Big 12 this year, there have been some surprising games. At the beginning of the season, Missouri didn't look like a team that would lose to Oklahoma State at home. And Iowa State certainly wasn't a team that could take Kansas down to the wire. Nebraska was not expected to be competitive at Texas Tech, instead taking them to overtime. Recently, we've had a Baylor team that took the Tigers until their last field goal to put away, Kansas State losing 14-13 to Colorado, and to the surprise of many, a Texas loss to the Red Raiders.
Nobody may know exactly what the whole Big 12 is all about, but one thing is certain, the North is not fairing well against the South. The Big 12 South is now 13-3 against North opponents, and the average score of these games is 43-26. Ouch. To me, parity is a lie the NCAA cooked up in order to try and stop a playoff system from ever occurring. Parity may be here on a national scale, but not on the divisional or conference level. The best teams in our conference are so above and beyond everyone else, that it seems to be years away for that 13-3 to be 8-8 or better in our favor.
What I do see from the North side, is that the Huskers are only a year off from being in the race for the North Title right away. I'm already happy with the fact that when you compare MU's average score against South opponents (28-37) with Nebraska's (30-39), we're almost there. And if we had somehow managed to beat Texas Tech, we would have been the only North team with two wins against South opponents. That would have been great, but all I'm really looking for from the Huskers is that one chance in December to take down the best team in the Big 12 South on National Television. There's always next year!
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James Moore Nov 04 08
Tom, you are correct in your analysis. Truthfully we have the opportunity to sneak up in the North next year, as it will be wide open. I think the biggest obstacle we have to overcome is the failure of player development both from a fundamental/technique perspective and athletically. For the first time these guys are REALLY having to compete in practice and in the strength/conditioning area. Whatever character you have off the field, it will show when you are on it. These guys have to learn to intensely compete, all the time, in all aspects, whether it is weights, drills, or performing in games. Time, obviously is needed, BUT let's look at your main point. . .
Being competitive? I would say that we have been competitive in all but 2 games. Losing to Missouri and Oklahoma in the manner that we did is not pretty BUT we took Virginia Tech and Texas Tech down to the wire. Take away a critical Personal Foul Penalty and a pick in OT, and we COULD very easily be 7-2, not a stretch. We're already competitive in conference, BUT what I think that you're really hitting at is. . .
Being competitive in big games!!! Last year's USC, Missouri and Oklahoma this year. As we know this is the 2, maybe 3 year plan. Speed, speed, speed, and more speed are needed. Depth, depth, depth, and more depth need to be added. Playmakers, playmakers, playmakers, and more playmakers are urgently needed. We really need to address the defense in every way possible (particularily the secondary). Allen, Crick, Steinkuhler, Compton, Fisher, Washington, Williams (incoming MLB from TX), are the BEGINNING building blocks for Husker Defensive Units of the future. However they need to be complemented with at least 20 guys of similar athletic capabilities, and it is imperative that these next 2 recruiting classes address this strategic issue of speed and depth. . .
When we have our own Crabtree, Maclin or a Bryant-type at Wideout, we'll know we're getting very close. When we have a beast Safety matched up with a Maclin-type on a jailbreak screen instead of a walk-on, we'll know we're very close. When we have a Compton or Williams (assuming they live up to their billing and potential) matched up with a Murray-type in space, we'll know we're very close. When we can run the ball on 1st down anywhere, on anyone, we'll know we're very close. When we get that "signature win", we'll know we're very close, AND. . .
When we have Blackshirts handed out, we will know that we are THERE!!!
GO BIG RED!!!
darren Nov 04 08
I'm with you. As nuts as this sounds, the Huskers are "competitive" now. Sure, they got totally ROCKED by OU and Mizzou. But, they played TTech in to overtime. Tech beat Texas. Texas beat Oklahoma. Not enough? You are right to include how hard Baylor (a 12 point loser to NU) pushed Missouri. It's a tough league, folks.
I might be the worst kind of Husker homer. But, I think NU has a must shot at the North as anybody next year.
huskers Nov 04 08
they'll be competitive again around 2020.
herbie Nov 04 08
CU Buffs are great and the pinkshirts will lose on 11/28.
Scott Nov 04 08
I love the Buff comments. They know they have nothing until the last game in November every year. What a proud bunch. No wonder no one likes playing games there....except for Montana State. Or was it Montana Tech??
Scott Nov 04 08
I hate being a pessimist but I'm not going to say anything about next year until I see how these next three games go. I haven't seen how this team is going to respond and Saturday will be a lot tougher of a game than people think. This Husker team has been too inconsistent to make us feel good about what lies ahead. Turnovers, penalties, poor tackling, and too many players playing out of position happens too often and that will turn a game faster than anything. I wouldn't be surprised if we went 0-3 or 1-2 to finish the season.
For recruiting and momentum sake I hope not.
James Moore Nov 04 08
Herbie,
Yeah, you guys. Well let's see, you've convinced 4, or is it 5 incoming recruits to buy into DaddyBall? Has Colorado hired an ultra-Marxist, terrorist-sympathizer to replace the fake Indian Ward Churchill yet? Throw on some Birkenstocks, grab a granola bar, and go write some poetry in solitude somewhere. . .
WOW Nov 04 08
Scott,
You are not a "pessimist" but a realist.
That is something I rarely see in the husker fans I cross paths with and hardly ever round these parts.
Your post reflects in print what others here seem to be willing to push aside in favor of a warm fuzzy feeling brought on by the memories of years past.
I'm not saying this team isn't competitive, as what I have seen is a group of VERY DETERMINED young men who either haven't been taught or failed to learn those fundamentals required to turn determination and heart into more points than their oponents.
Based on the lack of takers of my Misty's based wager on this seasons outcome I'll offer another one now that just might peak some interests.
One of the two wagers per person and maximum of two persons per wager.
1. Nebraska will not win 9 or more games next year. 8 wins you lose 9 wins I lose
2. Nebraska will not win the Big 12 North next year.
Winner gets dinner choice at Misty's paid for by the loser.
In the interest of fence sitters I will close these offers AFTER the Kansas game.
JR
OU7times Nov 05 08
@WOW,
Just curious, living in Kansas, I don't know what Misty's is.
I could Google it but will you tell us, who don't know?
Brandon Nov 05 08
OU,
Misty's is a steakhouse in Lincoln and THE traditional hangout for Friday night pregame festivities.
http://www.mistyslincoln.com/
HuskerRugger Nov 05 08
Some great comments from all, but herbie! The one thing that I have noticed with the team this year is consistency. Hence taking Texas Tech into overtime, but getting blown out by OU.
I will never take anything away from OU; they are as good as it gets this year in NCAA Football. But the Husker for the second time in my years of watching them was intimidated after that first interception; the first time was USC last year. It took them some time to come back around and start playing again. If you take away the 21 points that was scored while the Huskers were trying to get their heads about them, the score was not as bad as it seems. Now this is the “what if� scenario, and not what happened, but it does go back to my point of being consistent. If they had played consistent throughout the OU game the outcome would have been a loss, but more respectful at the end.
I would say that the coaching staff has an uphill battle with this during the off season. They do need to bring in more talent. They need to get a defense that deserves the blackshirts. I believe they can do this with recruits and walkons. All that have followed the Huskers know that if it isn’t talent that comes with walkons, then it is the competition. That is the second part that they are lacking.
It is very possible for them to win the North next year with the way things are going. But winning the North is only half the battle. They need to become more competitive with the South. They need to come out of the Big 12 on top, and enter into the BCS again. I think that they are about 4 years from doing this again. I really hope that I am wrong, but it usually takes a new coach a few years to get his team in there.
In the mean time I will be watching them and offer my support that they play with pride and heart like all the teams of old.
WOW Nov 05 08
Thanks Brandon.
Sorry for my oversight.
Misty's serves up one of the most consistently prepared Prime Rib offerings in town.
Not sure they do anything 'BAD' and their menu is pretty varied.
For those who imbibe they also offer some pretty tasty Microbrews.
JR
HuskerDeck Nov 06 08
All I have to say is think of Michigan and that is where we could be with a new coaching staff bringing in a new system on defense as compared to their new system on offense.