Graduation Hits Husker Opponents Too
51 comments so far
January 22, 2009 by
One of the bittersweet things about seeing the NU defense come together in the Gator Bowl was knowing that a number of the key pieces of that unit would be lost to graduation. Husker fans can be thrilled that Ndamukong Suh will return. But it's hard to lose guys like Ty Steinkuhler and Zach Potter. Likewise on offense, it was hard to lose guys like Nate Swift and Joe Ganz. The good news of course, is that NU's opponents lose folks too. Here's just a quick glimpse at who won't be back.
Virginia Tech will be without the services of cornerback Victor Harris, who positively KILLED the Huskers with his playmaking. They'll also lose a couple starting linebackers and a couple of starting offensive linemen. That's the good news, the bad news is that most everybody else will be back. Even without Harris, the Hokies may look better next season (especially on offense) and Nebraska must travel to Blacksburg for the game.
Missouri loses quarterback Chase Daniel, tight end Chase Coffman, and super-sophomore receiver Jeremy Maclin, who is entering the 2009 NFL draft. There's also two offensive linemen and a wide receiver departing. On defense, the Tigers lose three starters on their defensive line and three more from the secondary (with a linebacker for good measure). It's hard to believe that this team will just reload. Rather, they could be poised for a huge step backward.
Texas Tech will be similarly gutted on offense as they lose quarterback Graham Harrell, stud sophomore receiver Michael Crabtree and five other offensive starters. They also lose both starting defensive ends and a couple of defensive backs.
Iowa State brings back nine starters on offense (though that may not be a good thing). They lose five defensive starters too. But since they lost their head coach, in many ways the starters will be like newcomers as they adapt to a new system.
Baylor also returns a lot but loses their bookend starting offensive tackles as well as two defensive lineman.
Oklahoma loses four starters on the offensive line. I'd be happier about that if I hadn't remembered what happened after the Huskers lost four starters in 1994. Other than receiver Juaquin Iglesias and a pair of safeties, the Sooners will return a ton of starters.
Kansas loses three starting offensive linemen and wide receiver Dexton Fields. They also lose all three starters at linebacker and a defensive end.
The Kansas State offense loses three starting offensive linemen, junior quarterback Josh Freeman and receiver Ernie Pierce. The big loss on defense is end Ian Campbell.
Colorado's main loss will be three starters from the defensive line.
Yes the Huskers lost some good talent to graduation, but they are hardly alone.
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Seth C Jan 22 09
Good job as always, just wanted to offer a little clarification on Texas Tech. We will lose Crabtree, Harrell and 3 offensive linemen (5 total), only 1 defensive end (Brandon Williams) that actually made plays (the other being Jake Ratliff, but he was a non-factor) and Charbonnet and McBath (safeties).
OU7times Jan 22 09
No offense Steve, but wouldn't you want to play teams at their very best? You know, take their best shot?
It just seems that their is a different mentality now.
Steve Jan 22 09
Hi Seth,
I counted the three starting O-lineman, Crabtree, Harrell, and running back Shannon Woods, and "H receiver" Eric Morris. Sounds like we're on the same page about the D. =)
Steve Jan 22 09
OU7,
Ask yourself an honest question. Wouldn't you be a lot happier today if Tim Tebow had melted down and had thrown three more inexcusable and brainless interceptions against the Sooners rather than play as well as he did?
Besides, it's not like NU didn't graduate people and has some kind of unfair advantage. The point is more for those that think NU is in trouble because they lose so many key pieces, we're hardly alone in that area.
OU7times Jan 22 09
Not real sure how Tim Tebow really plays into my earlier comment but to answer your question "honestly"...No. OU wants to play the best so there is no doubt who is the better team when you walk off the field. Florida was exactly 10 points better than OU that night. I have no problem with that. Winning the tri-fecta is not easy (Heisman, Big 12 Championship, National Championship).
First of all, Tim Tebow doesn't melt down. Then people would say 'Well, Tebow had a bad game and if he played like he normally does, then you wouldn't have won' blah, blah, blah... Our "joke" defense had more to do with the 2 ints than Tebow did.
Anyway, playing better opposition makes you a better team. No doubt. This leads right back into the loading up with cupcakes discussion. Just say no to all that cake, dude.
My point about how mentality has changed is this: Since when do the 'BLACK SHIRTS' worry who is coming back and who isn't?? And since when has that been their mentality?
That mentality didn't come from the Tom Osborne associated teams I know. At least Tom Osborne TEAMS talked the talk even if they couldn't walk the walk (Game of the Century 2 1987).
Could you imagine Broderick Thomas saying to his teamates "I hope Bradford goes pro so we can have a chance to beat OU next year".
Uh, no.
Paul Jan 22 09
Steve, good analysis. During the off season it is absoutely acceptable to write about who your team lost, who you have coming back, and changes to your opponent's roster during the off season....We need to know how easy or difficult our victories will be next year.
Thank you for not erroneously quoting Broderick Thomas, as suggested.
darren Jan 22 09
I like these kinds of posts because it gives me a good (long distance) radar for my "getting better" or "getting worse" ratings of teams.
Missouri and TTech - you almost have to downgrade them for 2009. Don't you? That's a lot of talent leaving.
VTech and OU will be brutal. Everyone else on the list is still kind of a wait and see.
OU7times Jan 22 09
Paul,
"Could you imagine Broderick Thomas..." really suggests a hypothetical quote and not an actual quote. That is unless you thought (somehow) that Broderick Thomas had 20+ years of eligibility.
I would have thought the 'cupcake" part of my post would have stirred a response from you. It's always the obvious (uncomfortable)things that go unchallenged, it seems.
Nice try though, someone may have fallen for that.
James Moore Jan 22 09
You're analysis on Missouri is spot on. The disappointment lingering from the air of entitlement will be too much for the Missouri program to brush off. Add in the personnel (losing Maclin will be HUGE for them) losses and it seems that they're on a one year rebuilding project. For the North, at least, Kansas and Nebraska appear to be the healthiest at first glance. . .
As for the South, Oklahoma runs it, and the conference as well. Replacing a special offensive line will not be easy, BUT good habits, and winning get passed on. Whomever the backups were to the Sooner Mashers up front will be poised and ready to go, expect a drop-off but not aws significant as some might think. . .
As a resident of Virginia, I can tell you this much. Virginia Tech will have their best team in quite a while. Year after year Virginia Tech does as good a job as anyone in having their guys well prepared, ready to play, mentally tough, assignment-based, with intensity always from beginning to end. Throw in some very good, young Tailbacks, suttle signs of imagination offensively (The Wild Turkey, and God is that not the GREATEST name for any formation ever?), a program used to winning, and suddendly we will find out where we stand early next season. Don't put too much into Tech losing starters on defense, they do a tremendous job of replacing personnel losses. If we go into Blacksburg and play well, then we will know that we will be man-for-man a match (excluding Oklahoma), for everyone we have left on the schedule. . .
zE bOp Jan 22 09
Potter's gonna be a big loss, guy was just starting to come into his own. :(
zE bOp Jan 22 09
I wish TT was losing that LB, #52, he was their best player on D, stood Q right up on 4th and 1, which was a key play in the game. :(:(
zE bOp Jan 22 09
Rgdg OU7's question,
I think it is more of a sentiment to want other teams to lose key players, etc, so you have a better chance. But most people's serious reply would be that , yes, we wanna play the best that the other team has to offer--as long as we can knock them outta the game at some point! ha ha :) j/k LOL.
zE bOp Jan 22 09
Yea, VT is pretty much in 'reload' mode at this point.
That game's gonna be tough so early in the season with our new qb and all. We should be able to do better against them defensively, but if we can't establish the run and do better in the field position battle, we're toast...
JBLING22 Jan 22 09
I know this might sound crazy but we have to take care of first things first... FLORIDA ATLANTIC has a returning qb who through for 3000 yards plus and a reciever who almost made 1000 recieving.. I would hope Nebraska is a step above a Florida Atlantic, but in week one, especially with a new qb at the helm for NU our defense might have to really show its muscle in game one..
of course VaTech will be tough, I dont care if they lost everyone.. Beamer gets his kids to play..
As for the other Non Conference games if we don't win by 25 it would be disappointing.
Really in the big twelve North race I would be very surprised if it wasn't Nebraska/Colorado vying for the top spot.. Everyone talks about Kansas, but keep in mind they have to play OU, TU, and TTech again this year.. probably at least two losses in those games if not 3, and i doubt they run the big twelve north.. I know people are probably thinking im crazy with Colorado vying for the top, but they had a lot of underclassmen that look very promising.. Missou will have to completely reload, k-State looks to be a mess, and I would probably bet the big twelve wins a couple of National championships before Iowa State is vying for tops in the conference...
That being said the South with be crazy good again next year... You have the normals Texas, OU, Texas tech playing good but you can also again add Ok St, as well as *GASP* Baylor to be teams looking to impress... A&M appears to be at the bottom on the South but who knows in Aggie land.. when they are suppose to be good , they are bad, and when they are suppose to be bad they usually surprise a few teams...
JBLING22 Jan 22 09
wow Through... lol. threw..
Bill in Iowa Jan 22 09
I have to agree that the V Tech game could be the toughest game on our schedule (besides OU). Playing them at home with a rookie QB the 4th game of the season is going to be tough. But then again, that's pretty much what they did against us last year...played us at home with a redshirt freshman QB in his fourth starting appearance in his college career. Tyrod rose to the occasion with 170 passing yards (the most he gained all season), no interceptions, and 70 rushing yards.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=236838
zE bOp Jan 23 09
I'm pretty sure Tyrod was a rs soph last year, could be wrong...
Steve Jan 24 09
OU7,
You wrote: "Wouldn't you want to play teams at their very best? You know, take their best shot" I guess I'm calling BS on that remark in that if Tebow had three costly UNFORCED errors against OU, Sooner fans wouldn't be let down, they'd be REJOICING at a national championship.
And as I see you were fishing for a compliment over OU's schedule, I'll oblige. BYU, Tulsa, and Miami are a nice trio of teams. But even the Sooners couldn't help scheduling an Idaho State. I also think the teams you schedule should in some way relate to your recent experience. Since the Huskers have had two losing seasons in the last five years, some soft candy isn't indefensible. Virginia Tech just won a BCS bowl and returns everyone. Florida Atlantic won a bowl too. There are far worse offenders than NU in the cupcake department.
I can guarantee you there were some blackshirt defenders coming back from the 1988 team that were glad that Barry Sanders headed to the NFL. Probably the same with Eric Bienemy in 1990. And I'd bet my arm that there were OU fans who said they were glad when Vince Young left. Probably some players too.
OU7times Jan 24 09
Steve,
"answer honestly" have you ever boasted on Nebraska's 800 plus wins?
I'm just going to say yes. Take a good look at the high school's that NU played way back and then do the math. ALL OF THOSE GAMES WERE COUNTED!
You are hardly one to ever point out foshizzle against anyone. YOU SPEAK IN HYPOTHETICALS, dude.
Play good teams and you will get better. SIMPLE.
Correct me if I'm wrong but OU beat Vince Young once. Why wouldn't you go into a game thinking you COULD beat anyone especially if you had aleady had before?? Hell' OU has beaten teams that were clearly better than them on numerous occasions but the players lived up to the challenge.
Fact is this, YOU have settled for MEDIOCRITY!! Plain snuck up and bit you on the ass.
There is nothing about your post that says 'hey, we're Nebraska, we can beat anyone especially at home' and you have not posted anything like that since I have been watching. No, I'm not hearing that at all from you.
Face it you got CALLAHANed and no kiss either.
Steve, come to grips, these are not anywhere near the NU teams or fans from yester year. Fans are just as rude as anyone elses, fans leave the game when getting beat before halftime, in some cases, fans condoning bad behavior of NU players and freak-ass head coaches... I could go on but you surely get the point.
Don't settle for smoke and mirrors.
Don't worry about the state of Oklahoma Football either, OK? Six Conference Championships in 10 years is just incredible. No shortage of national spotlight either. ESPN just explained it to where you can understand it.
Do you even realize what you are saying about your "Barry Sanders" comment? The 'Black Shirts' N E V E R lost to OK-State with Barry Sanders. The way you say it is that even though NU beat OSU, during Barry's eligibility, the players wouldn't want to play OSU again for fear of getting beat?
I don't understand you, Steve. You have a tremendous chip on your square shoulders.
I have a question for you. When will you start representing what your 'nation' was founded on?
Fish that!
OU7times Jan 24 09
Steve,
OMG!
The non-conference schedule for the upcoming season looks uhhhh...'daunting'?
Think ABC will pick up the Arkansas State,La-Laffayette, or Fla Atlantic games??
Probably better rush to a dentist after having those cupcakes. What a sweet tooth you have.
Yea, don't think I'd be putting any crap on anyone.
Greg Morrow Jan 24 09
OU7times
"Don't worry about the state of Oklahoma Football either, OK?"
Steve wasn't profuse enough with the compliments on his original post, Okie?
"Face it you got CALLAHANed and no kiss either."
Actually, Callahan pretty well had you and your's pretty well sized up!
"answer honestly" have you ever boasted on Nebraska's 800 plus wins?
http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/seasons1910s.html
"in some cases, fans condoning bad behavior of NU players and freak-ass head coaches"
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=728274
Ivan Maisel: I thought that NCAA sanctions should have been more heavily weighted. But I didn't come up with the formula.
http://www.gnextinc.com/ousoonersblog/2007/07/history-of-oklahoma-ncaa-major.html
"I have a question for you. When will you start representing what your 'nation' was founded on?
Fish that!"
Stubborn, stubborn Okie.
Steve Jan 24 09
Greg,
Thanks for having my back.
OU7,
I'm a bit thrown here by the change in tone here from your usual comments. Are you OK?
I get that you don't like the premise of the article, but it's a reach to say that it makes some larger statement about NU football or the fans. You say I should want to see NU play teams at their very best, but what does that mean in the context of this article? Should I be wishing our opponents would get 6 years of eligibility? And does NU still only get 4-5? Who thinks like that?
Should I be rooting for their underclassmen to return? Does that mean NU gets ours back too? (Ahman Green sure would have helped in 1998, Johnny Mitchell in 1992, etc.)
And I can answer honestly, I've never boasted about 800 wins. I knew the Huskers had a lot of them, but I didn't know the exact number or anything. Feel free to explore our site and hit everything I've ever posted. Let me know if you find me mentioning it even once.
I don't know if you remember Barry Sanders, but he embarrassed about every defender he faced. Yes the Huskers lit up OSU, to make his production academic, but he made defenders look downright ridiculous. I'd bet there are opposing teams glad to see Jorvorskie Lane leave simply so they don't have to deal with a guy that size. Forget beating A&M, I bet you feel it for days after meeting him in the hole. Should I mention the score of the Texas/OU game from 2005 or let a Longhorn fan do it for me? There were no Sooners calling him and begging him to remain in Austin.
You're saying I've settled for mediocrity. What does that mean? Did you stop rooting for your Sooners in the 1990's? Did you expect them to win every game then? I wish I'd been your bookie then, if that's the case.
Play good teams and you will get better. Hmmmm. Then why did OU schedule UTEP, Arkansas State, and Rice in their 2000 national championship season? Or was it the teams they scheduled the year before that turned it around for the Sooners - San Diego St., Southern Methodist, and North Texas? You're proud of OU's non-conference schedule these days. We get it. Move on.
You can say I have a chip on my shoulder, but you're the one who decided that I can't look at other teams' depth charts to see who graduated without it "proving" that I'm bad, NU's fans are bad, or both. I like college football. I study my team. I study the opposition. Sue me.
Greg Morrow Jan 24 09
Steve
Always.
OU7times Jan 24 09
Greg Morrow is a coward. Cowards got your back, Steve so now you can slep at night. 'Bone Morrow' only pops up when he can interject with hate or something bad to say or to bore us with paragraph after paragraph after.... All in the name of NU Football.
Which way is the wind blowing for you today,'yes man'? Always with the wind and never against it.
Steve, I never said I read a post where you boasted 800 wins I just assumed you do. Right?
The ESPN reference got to Greg and I love it! Haaaaa haaaa. Kool Aid drinker.
Grow up Greg, I doubt any one 'relevent' cares what you have to say.
Greg Morrow Jan 24 09
OU7times
I understand. You can't be held responsible, for yourself.
You got lit. Again.
Funny, I don't think anybodys gonna try to pull me off ya, again.
zE bOp Jan 25 09
What's the big deal? You want to play the best players from each team, but you also FEEL a sense of relief when they move on--it's human nature.
zE bOp Jan 25 09
"...You are hardly one to ever point out foshizzle against anyone. YOU SPEAK IN HYPOTHETICALS, dude...."
__________________
I can see I've been a bad influence on OU7, LOL, I am soO sorry.......'yo', LOL.
zE bOp Jan 25 09
I'm not sure we have 'settled' for mediocrity, it's more like we have/had become temporarily maladjusted to it. Yeah, we got 'Callahaned' and there was a huge uproar and so we can-canned the Callahan. Is that 'settling'.
We know who we are or are supposed to be and we're doing everything we can to get back there--things look pretty well in place to do that with Bo and OZ. But what are you gonna do when your team kind of sucks for a few years and the previous AD scheduled a bunch of ridiculous nonconference teams?
Yea, we've had to painfully adjust our attitude and expectations temporarily but as a 'Nation' I wouldn't say we've ever 'settled' for the mediocrity that has been so brutally bestowed upon ua.
We'll be back......I HOPE! LOL, how's that for 'tude, dude?!
zE bOp Jan 25 09
I tend to agree with what OU7 is saying, but did OU Nation go around pumping their chests out in the 90s when they were getting 'Schnellingbergered'(LOL, that's funny sounding), 'Blaked' and whoTF was that other guy, 'Gibbed'?
I don't think you were, brotha, so plz, offer up some sympathy.....:)
zE bOp Jan 25 09
"empathy", that is...
zE bOp Jan 25 09
Steve said, "...Are you OK?.." Ha ha, c'mon, you're killin' me here...LOL!
zE bOp Jan 25 09
Do we have 800+ wins? Man, that's frickin' mad good, ain't it? "Yo, you guys just beat us 66-23 or wtevr, but 'WE HAVE 800+ WINS'!!!"
That works, that really works.....LOL.
zE bOp Jan 25 09
sry dudes, just think of my
'post mini series' here as one BIG post.
...don't taze' me, bro...
Greg Morrow Jan 25 09
zE bOp
OU7times punked himself over Steve's use of "happier."
You agree with THAT?
zE bOp Jan 25 09
GM,
Yea, I think that prolly got under his skin....thereafter things started getting kinda 'chippy'! LOL
Greg Morrow Jan 25 09
zE bOp
I suppose. I merely blew up his "reasoning," and he calls me a "coward"!
zE bOp Jan 25 09
I still can't get over Steve asking OU7, if he is "OK"! LOL
It's not a pun, I dunno wft it is....LOL.
zE bOp Jan 25 09
Well, you aRe a coward aRen't you?! LOL, spot on, IMO..(i keed, i keed).
No, the 'evidence' you provided was more than substantial, was rather gradifying to revisit as well, as a Husker Fan. :):) The BOZ, ha ha...
I get the gist of where OU7 is coming from, though, but I agree with Steve that he sorta took the whole thing outta context.
Tell you what though, even this slight level of 'chippiness' would've got peeps banned from some other boards I know of--I have 1st hand experience of that, IYKWIM!
woOt!
zE bOp Jan 25 09
Oh yea,
2 Greg 'the wimp' Morrow,
so-zin' I don't forget to tell ya, I was able recently to sneak myself back into the LJS board under a different nick, "bruno"(the g@y guy from the Ali G show, new movie coming out soon).
I had 'bruNo' going strong w 'fabuluz' commentary on a couple other boards, man, was some brilliant stuff imho, but had to shut him down on both sites as was too 'controversial'--though well loved, of course by my 'peeps'.
haha, so maybe from time to time I'll take 'bruno' out for a 'walk' on LJS, though that site kinda bores me....
:):)
Greg Morrow Jan 25 09
zE bOp obamic
See, I DON'T get his gist. His whole game is that Nebraska isn't as good as it used to be.
He continually tries to correct Nebraska fans (he isn't bright enough to do that). To me, he's easy pickins.'
He's simply a front runner, which I identified a solid year ago.
You challenge his points and he reveals what he's about: a stubborn, insolent, petulant "beach."
I hold back. A lot. This blog takes the high road, with every article.
Steve's whole article was virtually innocuous. "Innocent" almost.
NOTHING for this vapid "TOOLtimes7" to freak on.
Greg Morrow Jan 25 09
I'll be lookin' for ya!
I don't post too often on that anymore, either. The topics are usally better addressed on the brn.
When the topic fits, then I post. It's usally "the sky is blue," what's your take?
It's the hometown paper, though. Still the best of Nebraska!
zE bOp Jan 25 09
woaH,
GM, simmah down bra, sounds you and OU7 are at each others throats! Don't be hatin', 'it's bad for ya'(george carlin). But I missed that developing drama having been outta the loop here.
I've always had cordial interactions--I was gonna say 'relations', but that would've been too easy a 'set up'--with OU7(not 8). And I agree with him here that we, as a Nation, just haven't been able to flaunt our swagger about for quite some time now, even though it lives latent within all us GBR-ers(Goobers, ha).
But yea, it's not like we have to have painful reminders thrown up in our 'stupid faces' all the time. We are quite aware of our tribulations, ty.
Cool, well, I prolly won't be on LJS much and 'bruno' over their will not be the REAL, flamboyant bruno that makes his characature worth doing. It's too bad, really, I had a bruno fanclub brewing big time--some real post gems from 'that guy'.
Anyway, I post on a few other boards that have the 'bells and whistles' thing which I like, but this site has may be the best overall analysis going on...so it's cool..
lAte
zE bOp Jan 25 09
p.s., those flabby weight loss adds that pop up here are soO not-the-bomb though, LOL. (thumbs down emoticon).
:)
Jason Jan 26 09
I'm not sure what hot buttons got pushed in this relatively benign post, but this discussion is no longer educational nor entertaining.
There are plenty of boards where you can have free for all name calling battle royals. This isn't one of them.
If you have anything constructive to add to the topic at the top of the page, feel free to chime in.
Otherwise, go cool off and come back tomorrow when we'll be debating the highly charged topic of cheese vs. plain runzas.
OU7times Jan 26 09
OK, Jason.
Sorry to all of the pleasant people, Steve in particular and BRN.
zE bOp Jan 26 09
The Mizzou fan deserved it! :)
Steve Jan 27 09
I certainly did my part to fan the flames. I'll try to tone it down in the future...
OU7times Jan 27 09
Steve,
Life's good and you did absolutely nothing wrong. Have a great RED day.
zE bOp Jan 27 09
Oprah moment, group hug! :)
James Moore Jan 30 09
As a witness (after the fact) I must say that this post was very entertaining to read. In the wake of Rodney King on "Celebrity Rehab" on VH1 I feel compelled to say with the ever timeless words: "Can't we all just get along?"
Lol, To everyone involved, thanks for the laughs!!!
zE bOp Jan 30 09
Rodney King, a celeb?! "Most famous beat-up guy"!
He get royalties for that?