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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Can Nebraska Win This Weekend?

Yes, we can win but with the weaknesses that have been exposed on defense there is no guarantee. Let's hope we get those mostly corrected this week.

GOOD
Tommy Armstrong is playing better than I ever imagined and with our great bunch of receivers well our passing attack is excellent as long as the line can hold the opposing defense long enough. Armstrong can pass on the run and he can also run when needed. He provides leadership. He has great receivers in Jordon Westerkamp, Stanley Morgan, DeMornay Pierson-El, Brandon Reilly, Lane Hovey, Tariq Allen, and Alonzo Moore.

BAD
The defensive secondary just can't consistently stop the opposing offenses. Until we do that, its hard to get overly excited about this year's overall prospects. I do think we will get better but will it be enough. We must get much more physical before the pass and throw them off their rhythm plays. Then we have to finish the play by getting turned around and ripping the call out or intercepting it. This was NU's strength last year and now it is a weakness.

GOOD
Nebraska has been petty good against the run. Most teams have been stopped in their tracks. Maliek Collins has a lot to do with this.This asset will be good in Big 10 play.

BAD
Penalties!!  Have to eliminate 75% of our penalties!

GOOD
DeMornay  Pierson-El and Jack Gangwish will be back to some extent this week. Hopefully Banderas and Valentine are coming soon too.

BAD
Nebraska's running attack has to get better. The line needs to continue to improve and the running backs need to be quicker through the hole.

I feel confident that we will improve all the BAD's; some of them vastly.I also think most of the GOOD's will get even better.

This week I think it will be close:

NEBRASKA 28 ILLINOIS 27

Mad Chatter: The 2016 Husker offense, Pelini vs. NFL QBs, the Royals' wild card miracle - Omaha.com: Big Red Today Blog

Mad Chatter: The 2016 Husker offense, Pelini vs. NFL QBs, the Royals' wild card miracle - Omaha.com: Big Red Today Blog

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Nebraska wins weird game!

Nebraska dominated the first half but yet couldn't put much into the end zone settling for five field goals and one touchdown and led 22-0. By end of the game, Nebraska had to hang on for a 36-28 victory. What a game.

I had the feeling that the fans almost felt worse after this win than they did in our two losses. It was just a feeling. It felt like we lost in some ways and I had to remind myself that we did win.

This years strengths are the offensive pass and run defense. Our weakness is run offense and pass defense and special teams. Last year our strengths were the opposite and our weakness were opposite.

I thought for a long time that Andy Janovich is an awesome athlete. I thought we should have had him playing linebacker so he could be on the field and make more of a contribution. Wasn't his performance yesterday so fun. He's strong tough and can even juke a little. Very fine performance and I hope he has many more.

Our pass defense just isn't good especially their second half performance yesterday. Daniel Davie looks pretty good right now. Too many receivers were open for the opposing team. This will have to be fixed for us to win games.

Nest week we play a very good Illinois quarterback and we must improve.

Steven M. Sipple: Disaster averted, but Banker grasping for answers : Latest Husker News

Steven M. Sipple: Disaster averted, but Banker grasping for answers : Latest Husker News

Player Points: Adam Carriker's key takeaways from Nebraska-Southern Miss - Omaha.com: Big Red Today Blog

Player Points: Adam Carriker's key takeaways from Nebraska-Southern Miss - Omaha.com: Big Red Today Blog

Cindy Lange-Kubick: Planting a tree for tomorrow in Pastor Larry's name : Lincoln, NE Journal Star

Cindy Lange-Kubick: Planting a tree for tomorrow in Pastor Larry's name : Lincoln, NE Journal Star

Friday, September 25, 2015

Nebraska evens record tomorrow

Nebraska wins tomorrow 41-17!  Go Huskers!

Steven M. Sipple: Powerful Collins proceeds in quiet frustration : Latest Husker News

Steven M. Sipple: Powerful Collins proceeds in quiet frustration : Latest Husker News

O-Line starters, conditioned for every snap, seek consistency : Latest Husker News

O-Line starters, conditioned for every snap, seek consistency : Latest Husker News

TBL: Jon Nyatawa's 'Picks to Click' as Huskers take on Southern Miss - Omaha.com: Big Red Today Blog

TBL: Jon Nyatawa's 'Picks to Click' as Huskers take on Southern Miss - Omaha.com: Big Red Today Blog

Practice report, Sept. 24: Defense will be missing key contributors Saturday - Omaha.com: Big Red Today Blog

Practice report, Sept. 24: Defense will be missing key contributors Saturday - Omaha.com: Big Red Today Blog

Special teams tidbits from Bruce Read's radio show - Omaha.com: Big Red Today Blog

Special teams tidbits from Bruce Read's radio show - Omaha.com: Big Red Today Blog

Recruiting: Highly rated DL Jordan Elliott set for Nebraska visit - Omaha.com: Big Red Today Blog

Recruiting: Highly rated DL Jordan Elliott set for Nebraska visit - Omaha.com: Big Red Today Blog

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Huskers fall short in furious rally, as Canes survive in OT : Latest Husker News

Huskers fall short in furious rally, as Canes survive in OT : Latest Husker News

Nebraska has key game today!

Nebraska has played Miami in four national championship games over the last several years but this year both are unranked.

This game may be affected by the weather as there is a chance of rain and lightning.

The keys to this game are:

1. Tommy Armstrong! As goes Armstrong so goes Nebraska ie the second quarter vs. BYU. Armstrong has to play well for Nebraska to win. Armstrong is strong and improved as a player. He was recruited out high school as a linebacker by Texas and Oklahoma St. wanted him as a safety. Nebraska liked him as a quarterback and that is one of the main reasons he ended up here. He's tough shown by a couple blocks he has put on this year. He's the guy.
2. Our pass defense has to be improved. We showed weaknesses against BYU and even last week vs. South Alabama. I think the coaches will have worked with them to finish the play this week. Banker said this is getting turned around to make an interception and also ripping at the ball if they catch it. The secondary will give up some yards and a couple of touchdowns but will be improved.
3. Nebraska has to run the ball today. They have to average five yards a carry for NU to win. They should be able to do so against the Miami defense.
4. I believe Nebraska has the better coaches as Al Golden is on the hot seat at Miami. Others on the hot seat are Mike London of Virginia, Norm Chow of Hawaii, Kirk Ferentz of Iowa, Kyle Flood of Rutgers, and Mike Macintyre of Colorado.
5. A big plus will be that Miami has the home field. Always a huge plus in this series.

Prediction time:

Nebraska will go for two with less than a minute to play and Andy Janovich catches the two pointer for Nebraska to win: Nebraska 32 Miami 31.

Holdrege goes to 4-0- last night with a win over Milford 21-7. Holdrege continues to play well this year. 

I heard one talk show this week say that statistics show there are more quarterbacks that get hurt while passing in the pocket than running. The point was that its ok if Armstrong runs and not hold him back.

The second interesting point was that 40% of the four and five star quarterbacks and running backs recruited end up transferring to another college.
GO BIG RED!


Friday, September 11, 2015

Nebraska gets first win tomorrow!

Nebraska lost a heart breaker last weekend losing on a Hail Mary pass on the last play of the game. Usually a team improves quite a bit between the first and second games. So both teams will play better this week. We have a couple of key plays back in Michael Rose-Ivey and Jonathon Rose. This will help.

Nebraska's bright spots were their tackling last week and the receivers played well with no real dropped passes I can remember. I was disappointed in the offensive line and our running game. I think we have some ok backs but we have to open some holes for them.

How good is BYU? They are underdogs at home this week vs. No. 22 Boise St. I am a little surprised by BYU not being favored. Their freshman quarterback is really good so I don't think they will lose a lot with Hill out for the season.

Which leads to me think maybe NU isn't as good as we hoped. At least right now they aren't so please prove me wrong. I really like this staff and I think they will be good teachers and make us better.

So how will we do tomorrow? We will win.

Nebraska 35 South Alabama 17


Sunday, September 06, 2015

Nebraska loses opener.

Well shoot, I can't believe a Hail Mary pass beat us. I mean they had a tru freshman quarterback in Tanner Magnum who was playing as well as Taysom Hill. You didn't really notice Hill was out, out for the season we found out later. We weren't positioned properly but the effort was there to break up the Hail Mary.

I felt subdued somewhat and disappointed quite a bit but I felt like Nebraska has some real potential if we can continue to improve, which I think we will with this staff.

Tommy Armstrong played real well at times and not so good at times. How he played was related to how Nebraska played. Armstrong struggled especially in the second quarter and Nebraska suffered. Much of the reason Armstrong was struggling was because pass protection was breaking down quickly. The offensive line was getting beat much of the second quarter.

I would give the following grades to the following positions:
QUARTERBACK  B
RUNNING BACK C+
WIDE RECEIVERS A
OFFENSIVE LINE C-
SPECIAL TEAMS C-
DEFENSIVE LINE C+
LINEBACKERS B-
SECONDARY C+

The secondary was impressive at times but there were assignments missed quite often and sometimes a player just got beat.

Injuries were numerous. We will have to see what they all are this week. It will be good to meet South Alabama this week. We need a victory!

Nebraska entrepreneur helps commuter scooter roll

Nebraska entrepreneur helps commuter scooter roll

Steven M. Sipple: After loss on Hail Mary, NU deserves grace : Latest Husker News

Steven M. Sipple: After loss on Hail Mary, NU deserves grace : Latest Husker News

Former Husker Carriker still has NFL dreams : Latest Husker News

Former Husker Carriker still has NFL dreams : Latest Husker News

Report: Former Husker Zack Bowman cut by Dolphins, brought back on same day - Omaha.com: Big Red Today Blog

Report: Former Husker Zack Bowman cut by Dolphins, brought back on same day - Omaha.com: Big Red Today Blog

Recruiting: Nebraska loses 2016 QB Terry Wilson to Oregon - Omaha.com: Big Red Today - Husker Football News, Schedules And Videos

Recruiting: Nebraska loses 2016 QB Terry Wilson to Oregon - Omaha.com: Big Red Today - Husker Football News, Schedules And Videos

'We were our biggest enemy'; Mistakes, Hail Mary doom Mike Riley's Husker debut - Omaha.com: Big Red Today - Husker Football News, Schedules And Videos

'We were our biggest enemy'; Mistakes, Hail Mary doom Mike Riley's Husker debut - Omaha.com: Big Red Today - Husker Football News, Schedules And Videos

Big Ten Announces Conference Schedule

Big Ten Announces Conference Schedule

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade Come Back to Nebraska

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade Come Back to Nebraska

Huskers Complete 3-2 Comeback Win vs. No. 11 Oregon

Huskers Complete 3-2 Comeback Win vs. No. 11 Oregon

Advice Paved Jennings’ Road to the Very Top

Advice Paved Jennings’ Road to the Very Top

Edwards Twins Claim NPF Title with Chicago Bandits

Edwards Twins Claim NPF Title with Chicago Bandits

Tuesday, September 01, 2015

Nebraska in a close one!

The excitement of the fall weather, hunting coming up and Nebraska football is upon us. This is the best time of the year. State Fair. Deer hunting. High school football. The end of mowing coming up soon. New shows on TV. Harvest. Baseball playoffs. Pheasant and duck hunting. Lots to look forward to.

This weekend Nebraska plays a tough opponent and will try to keep the opening game winning streak going of 29 games.

It won't be easy. BYU comes to town and they have a mobile quarterback who can throw. He's really good. Taysom Hill leads BYU as captain and quarterback. They are coached by Bronco Medenhall. Cool names.

Hill was hurt last year but before that he had a 141.7 quarterback rating. Amazing. In 2013 he threw for almost 3000 yards. He can also run. Nebraska has had trouble with this in the past.

Nebraska has a new staff and a new system. Coach Mike Riley is a nice coach and informative when he speaks. You feel like you can learn from him. He seems younger than his age.

The new system causes a rough transition for most teams but Riley is adapting to the team's strengths and working around that. That will help. Many criticized Callahan when he came because he changed the system more than adapting. Most people forget that Callahan had a high powered defense before he left it was just that the defense was awful.

So on offense we will see more huddling than in the past but we will see some of the same plays with Tommy Armstrong leading the way. He will direct the offense. We will see more passing than in the past.

On defense its less thinking and just go after the ball. The secondary will have more pressure on them as they will be one on one a lot of the time. They will get beat at times so be ready for that. The other team will get some big pass plays I believe.

There are suspensions on both teams. Michael Rose-Ivey may be one player not on the field on Saturday. We will see. We are thin at linebacker so this could be a factor. The biggest factor is losing De'Mornay Pierson-El. Huge loss early in the season.

Ok so what happens this Saturday. Hill has two receivers that are 6'6" and they will cause NU so major problems. Watch for Mitch Matthews and Nick Kurtz. Matthrews gets the headlines but Kurtz will probably hurt NU the most.

Beware this will be a close one. BYU has some weapons. They are capable of an upset.

Nebraska 31 BYU 28