Howard Schnellenberger said after the game Saturday that Nebraska doesn't have a lot of great players but the sum of the parts makes a very good team. He was saying that as a compliment. Nebraska is not weak in any positions. They are deep and they are young which means we only get better as the season goes on.
Watching the Florida St./Miami game tonight makes me think that NU has closed the gap. Yes speed is evident woth the Florida teams but you didn't see our quarterback throw balls up for grabs like I am seeing these teams do.
Strengths
1.The defensive line looks really good. Suh is an All-American. Cameron Meredith is a great back-up to Barry Turner. Baker Steinkuhler played very well.
2. The linebackers played well especially for as young as we are.
3. The secondary overall was good. Remember Florida Atlantic probably had the best QB, tight end, and wide receiver in the Sun Belt Conference.
4. Helu was, you know, pretty good. Burkhead is going to be special also.
5. Zac Lee had some really great throws. The throw to McNeil was as good as it gets. He can throw the ball with accurancy. Receivers dropped four balls during the game. He can run too and should a little more. Cody Green has a ways to go but like Burkhead, he will be special.
6. The offensive line is as good as we have seen in many years. Maybe back to the Championship years. They are deep.
7. Holt and Gilleylen played great. Almost forgot about Swift and Peterson. Holt put on some moves and Gilleylen is just plain fast.
8. The tight end position is very very strong with a lot of playmakers. Watch for Tyler Reed to do some special things this year and McNeil is hard to beat.
9. Nobody hits harder than Ricky Thenarse.
Weaknesses
1. Penalties, penalties
2. Who can be the 3rd and 4th team running backs? We will need them before the season is over.
3. Two major missed assignments on defense with a fullback catching the ball and nobody close to him and also the defensive back running across the field away from the wide receiver and that wide receiver catching the ball in a wide open field.
4. Defense needs to be ready for a hurry-up offense
5. Where was the blocking on the blocked punt?
6. No sacks by the defense however the QB was very quick in throwing the ball away.
7. We need a couple of more receivers to step up with Holt and Gilleylen.
8. Play clock got close a few times of running out but overall better than the past few years and pretty good for a first game.
I would give the Cornhuskers a B+ after the first game. They are young. On offense, besides Hickman and Holt, you have underclassmen. The defense is about the same. The question is "How good is Florida Atlantic?" We will see.
How about Pat Ackerman and those UNK players knocking off UNO. What a victory!! Ackerman is a Holdrege High graduate and is a team captain for the Lopers. He ended the game with nine tackles. Great job Pat!!
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