[Husker] Somewhat Predictions

[Nick Chevance]

On Jan 28, 2008 7:26 AM, j j <jjj112665 at yahoo.com> wrote:
... and the defense will return a lot of young talented guys who
should be HIGHLY motivated to rise from last years showing.

> Bob Beach <baseballguy at neb.rr.com> wrote: On 27 Jan 2008 at 21:40, Steven Johnson wrote:
>

>       While I respect your opinion I am not sure I agree.  In order to come
> to your conclusions first of all Pelini and crew are going to have to turn
> everything magically around.

I guess I'll put my $0.02 worth in here (when did the cent sign
disappear from keyboards, by the way???).

First, I'm not on the doom and gloom side, but I'm not a sunshine
pumper, either.  I think I have an opinion like everyone else, but
what I'd like to know is a bit more about why some folks think we'll
have a good year this next year, and why others don't.  Forget
individual games.  I don't think you can predict the outcomes of any
individual games this year until we see a bit more on the field.
VaTech will be tough.  Are they the same team as last year?  I have no
idea.  I'm just trying to figure out our team.

My point here is to raise the evil, many-headed dragon of talent on
the team.  I hate to do this, but here goes.  As we have seen in the
last few years, despite the opinion of some that the talent level at
Nebraska has been below what we the fans think it should be (and you
know who you are out there), we've been treated to an interesting show
in the NFL, where somehow these less than talented kids somehow become
star players.  Now, granted, and before someone can point it out to me
again, performance in the NFL doesn't necessarily match to performance
levels in college.  But it does seem to indicate there is something
going on, and from what I've heard on sports talk shows from former
Huskers now in the NFL is that it would appear to be not as much
talent as conditioning, and scheme, X's and O's, coaching.

So, assuming now that our scheming, coaching, etc. on defense will be
different this year (we'd all be shocked if it wasn't), do we actually
have enough talent to make a difference.  I must admit I haven't gone
over our roster of returning players (and I'm honest enough to say
that I really don't have any idea what I'd be looking at anyway!) but
I just don't think we've been playing with Division II talent over the
last couple of years.  I think there are areas where we need help with
some talent, but I just don't see us at the bottom of the barrel
either.

So, I'll stick my neck out and say, yes, I think with the talent we
have (and with what we know will be coming in), coaching will make a
difference this year.  Will it be enough to win all of our games?  No,
not even close - remember, no sunshine pumping here.  Will it be
enough to at least prevent the blow-outs we had last year?  I think
so.  Will it be enough to be in most games at the end, in a position
to win?  I hope so.  We won't win them all, but we'll be competitive.
And it won't have anything to do with magic.  It will have a lot to do
with attitude.

Just my opinion here, but I think the coaching staff lost last year's
team right at the USC game.  The statements from the staff after the
Mizzou game firmed it up for me.  They didn't have any answers, and
weren't planning on coming up with any ideas either.  The team had
talent enough to be competitive, but didn't play up to their
potential, and weren't given any motivation (despite the help from
Bob's mother-in-law and Aunt) to do more than play, not compete.  I
think "compete" will the be watchword for this year.  And I think this
staff can do at least that, and it will make a difference.  I'll
withhold any opinions on individual games until I "see" what we might
look like this spring (except to say that even with last year's talent
and coaching, we should beat the first three teams this year - can you
say pushovers???).

Nick
-- 
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the
impurities in our air & water."
D. Quayle