[Husker] Looking Ahead - Random Thoughts

[Aaron Wolfson]

Well, that doesn't really relate to the D-line. Firstly, I didn't hear that
Watson comment, and secondly, learning QB has way more pitfalls than
learning DL.

I think that on this list we have one of the more realistic takes that I've
seen among Husker communities. I don't believe that negativity should be
dismissed or distrusted, but I do think that negativity should come with a
positive spin.

We all agree that the offense sucked this year, but at least we've tried to
figure out why and come up with potential solutions. So I don't see the same
"abhorrence" that you do toward criticism, but we probably run in slightly
different circles. My friends and I are actually rather harsh toward the
Huskers, in my opinion, because we know what potential this program has. If
you notice, that's also how most coaches are.

As far as high expectations, that's on each individual fan. Watson's going
to say what he's going to say, and he's not doing it because he cares what
the fans are going to think. He's got an eye toward the players he's trying
to coach up. If a lot of fans want to take everything the coaches say at
face value, and then get all pissy when it doesn't go down that way, that's
their problem. I personally tend to have a very optimistic outlook (like I
do for everything, really), but I am also able to recognize with hindsight
when my outlook gets inflated. Sure, I thought Zac Lee would be awesome
after the we won the Sun Belt, but I realize now what the pitfalls were in
my thinking at that time.


Aaron


On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 2:29 PM, Jon Johnston <cornnation at gmail.com> wrote:

> Yeah, that whole "set their expectations high" thing worked out really well
> for Zac Lee, didn't it?
>
> During the last offseason, what we got was "better than Joe Ganz" from
> Shawn Watson and from the media. Do you think that if they'd have given us
> some more honest assessments we'd have felt different about how the year
> turned out?
>
> And what I mean, specifically, is this - Instead of telling us Lee would be
> better than Joe Ganz, how 'bout "As a first year starter, he's going to have
> a lot of learning to do". I don't recall much of this coming from Watson.
>
> I know Nebraska and Husker fans have this abhorrence to saying anything
> that might be even construed as negative about the Huskers, but this high
> expectations stuff does more harm than good.
>
> Comments?
>
> Jon Johnston
>
>
> On Dec 15, 2009, at 1:15 PM, Aaron Wolfson wrote:
>
> > Good points, Steve. As I've said previously, I think the dropoff on the
> > D-line will be smaller than we expect, due to the depth that has been
> built.
> > Just like this year, everyone who comes into the game on the line should
> > command attention, making it tough to double-team a guy like Crick. Then
> > when you factor in the returners in the secondary and the young LBs who
> > should improve in the offseason (and also add Martin to the rotation), I
> > think the Pelinis could turn out to be right.
> >
> > Also, I am sure they are trying to motivate next year's guys by setting
> > their expectations high.
> >
> >
> > Aaron
> >
> >
> > On Sun, Dec 13, 2009 at 6:41 PM, Steve Stone <sstone1931 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >> 1. Coach Bo and Coach Carl have said next year's defense will be
> >> better. Hard as it is, I have to believe them, but it will be a
> >> different defense because Suh will be marauding NFL offenses next
> >> season. It's difficult to believe another Suh's waiting in the wings,
> >> but at the very least this year's underclassmen will have had a year's
> >> experience under their belts as well as a newly-minted tradition to
> >> uphold.
> >>
> >> 2. Other than Suh, perhaps the graduating senior we'll miss most will
> >> be Matt O'Hanlon.
> >>
> >> 3. Eric Martin, Dontrayvous Robinson, and Rex Burkhead arrived only
> >> last August and will experience Winter Conditioning, the Spring Game,
> >> and the summer players-only practices sessions for the first time.
> >> They all ought to be scary-good by next August.
> >>
> >> 4. Every time I think of it, I curse the fact that Callahan and Co.
> >> wasted Amukamara's and Hagg's redshirt season. By rights they ought to
> >> be juniors next season, not seniors.
> >>
> >> 5. I hope the absence of freshmen Jeremiah Sirles and Brent Qvale from
> >> the O-line this season due to injury turns out to be a very well
> >> disguised blessing.
> >>
> >> 6. Wish there were some way to get solid information on individual
> >> performances on the scout team.
> >>
> >> Steve Stone
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> husker site list
> >> husker at tssi.com
> >> http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/husker
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > husker site list
> > husker at tssi.com
> > http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/husker
>
>