:I know everyone is dismayed about the ****** play Nebraska displayed on Saturday. And if the team continues stuff like being unable to muster a snap, or muffs punts, or blow blocking assignments, then they could certainly lose again.
But Colorado will rival Indiana for the least talented Power 5 team the Huskers face the rest of the season. Their two deep is riddled with inexperience and lightly recruited players. Here are the player who could start for the Huskers, and some observations about other players on their 2-deep.
The Dudes who could start for the Huskers:
- WR Laviska Shenault - this is obvious. He's an elite talent.
- WR KD Nixon - talented speedster who would be a great compliment on the outside.
Colorado's receiving corp has been built for the Pac 12 and its deeper and more talented than Nebraska's receiving corp.
- C Tim Lynott- Experience linemen who didn't play at center for CU last season. He is an upgrade over any player Nebraska trots out at that position.
- RT William Sherman - He is CU's most athletic Offensive linemen. I don't think he is THAT much better than Farniok, but I do believe he would allow Nebraska to move Farniok inside. I wouldn't be surprised if CU moves him to LT over Hambright. Sherman is better at Pass Pro.
The rest of the CU offensive line is marginally talented. Their new starting Left Tackle, Arlington Hambright, is an Oklahoma State Grad Transfer with 5 career starts at Okie Light. He was used an abused on Friday night people can be upset with Nebraska's o-line play, but Hambright would never play ahead of Jaimes or Farniok.
DE Mustafa Johnson - This is iffy. I think he would fit nicely into a deep Nebraska Defensive line. I will include him here because I believe the Davis Twins and Stille will all start at times this season depending on opponent.
ILB Nate Landman- Dude has 10 year NFL starter written all over him. He's a tackling machine. Tucker's defense will ask him to cover more in this scheme and he struggled in coverage on Friday. But he's a great player and is definitely better than any LB at Nebraska.
Honorable Mention:
CB Delbrick Abrams - CU's only good CB has nice length and experience. He would be a solid #3 for the Huskers.
RB Alex Fontenot- If Mills is Nebraska's starting running back, then I will take Fontenot in a heartbeat. I love this kid. If Mo Washington is the starter, then I will take Mo everyday of the week including Sunday.
P Alex Kinney- I would take this dude over any punter at Nebraska.
The Skinny on the CU depth chart - (The Rest)
Offensive Line Depth Chart -
Hambright is terrible. He was a JUCO transfer at Okie State and they demoted him after Game 5. I'm sure Derrion Daniels is laughing at the notion of playing vs. Hambright.
The rest of the CU second string Offensive Line is made up of nothing but RS freshmen and transfers. The Offensive Tackle behind Hambright, Frank Fillip, was a 3-Star academic freak who had offers from all the Ivy League schools and Notre Dame, until the Irish rescinded the offer because he's not athletic enough.
TEs- This is their least talented position on the depth chart, but its also the position with the MOST heart. Brady Russell and transfer Jaden Harris are versatile with good hands. THey are both better blockers than pass catchers. They will make plays if given opportunities, but they will ONLY get open if the defense is sleeping or the OC emphasizes deception.
DL - This unit is the one of the worst in all of Power 5 football. Colorado folks who read this will call me a homer for the following sentence: But the current CU D-line is NOT as good as South Alabama's Defensive line. I was making that claim prior to the South Alabama Game. In fact, Northern Illinois and Illinois will all have more talent up front. CU's d-line will battle Maryland's d-line for the worst unit the Huskers face the rest of the season. I find it ironic or more than a coincidence that the new CU D-line coach came from Maryland.
- NT Starting Jalen Sami would be the 4th string for the Huskers. He is a former 2-star greyshirt who chose CU over an offer from Northern Colorado and Weber State.
LB- Landman is very talented. Wells and Van Diest are talented, but do not fit into Mel Tucker's scheme. They are not fast enough to play from sideline to sideline. This will be CU's downfall in 2019.
DBs- The CU defensive backfield was shredded by a Colorado State team replacing its top 3 receivers and QB. When looking at their personnel its not surprising. Had the CU QB not made some dumb decisions, the game would've gone down to the wire.
CB - I mentioned Abrams. He's a good player with nice length, but he's their only quality Corner. The rest of that unit is made up of poorly recruited dudes with virtually NO experience. The other starting CB Mekhi Blackmon was abused all game vs. CSU. His back up is a true freshman 5.5 three star. Neither of these two corners would be in the top 4 at Nebraska. The back up to Abrams is a former 2-star who chose CU over Wyoming.
S- Mikail Onu is a transfer from SMU where he started 15 career games. He had a good game vs CSU, mostly due to some dumb decisions by the CSU QB. He is a smart player who will make Martinez pay if Adrian forces things into double or triple coverage. His safety counterpart, Aaron Maddox wouldn't see the 4 deep at Nerbaska. Onu would be a rotation guy at Nebraska.
QB - Montez has a great arm and he will be making start # 30 vs Nebraska on Saturday.
His mechanics break down from time to time, namely the footwork. He has a dynamic arm, especially in the vertical passing game. The new scheme for CU is contingent upon the running game. Colorado State's run defense was god awful. It will be important for the Huskers to stop the run and force Montez into 3rd and long situations. He struggles when pressure is ratcheted up.
But Colorado will rival Indiana for the least talented Power 5 team the Huskers face the rest of the season. Their two deep is riddled with inexperience and lightly recruited players. Here are the player who could start for the Huskers, and some observations about other players on their 2-deep.
The Dudes who could start for the Huskers:
- WR Laviska Shenault - this is obvious. He's an elite talent.
- WR KD Nixon - talented speedster who would be a great compliment on the outside.
Colorado's receiving corp has been built for the Pac 12 and its deeper and more talented than Nebraska's receiving corp.
- C Tim Lynott- Experience linemen who didn't play at center for CU last season. He is an upgrade over any player Nebraska trots out at that position.
- RT William Sherman - He is CU's most athletic Offensive linemen. I don't think he is THAT much better than Farniok, but I do believe he would allow Nebraska to move Farniok inside. I wouldn't be surprised if CU moves him to LT over Hambright. Sherman is better at Pass Pro.
The rest of the CU offensive line is marginally talented. Their new starting Left Tackle, Arlington Hambright, is an Oklahoma State Grad Transfer with 5 career starts at Okie Light. He was used an abused on Friday night people can be upset with Nebraska's o-line play, but Hambright would never play ahead of Jaimes or Farniok.
DE Mustafa Johnson - This is iffy. I think he would fit nicely into a deep Nebraska Defensive line. I will include him here because I believe the Davis Twins and Stille will all start at times this season depending on opponent.
ILB Nate Landman- Dude has 10 year NFL starter written all over him. He's a tackling machine. Tucker's defense will ask him to cover more in this scheme and he struggled in coverage on Friday. But he's a great player and is definitely better than any LB at Nebraska.
Honorable Mention:
CB Delbrick Abrams - CU's only good CB has nice length and experience. He would be a solid #3 for the Huskers.
RB Alex Fontenot- If Mills is Nebraska's starting running back, then I will take Fontenot in a heartbeat. I love this kid. If Mo Washington is the starter, then I will take Mo everyday of the week including Sunday.
P Alex Kinney- I would take this dude over any punter at Nebraska.
The Skinny on the CU depth chart - (The Rest)
Offensive Line Depth Chart -
Hambright is terrible. He was a JUCO transfer at Okie State and they demoted him after Game 5. I'm sure Derrion Daniels is laughing at the notion of playing vs. Hambright.
The rest of the CU second string Offensive Line is made up of nothing but RS freshmen and transfers. The Offensive Tackle behind Hambright, Frank Fillip, was a 3-Star academic freak who had offers from all the Ivy League schools and Notre Dame, until the Irish rescinded the offer because he's not athletic enough.
TEs- This is their least talented position on the depth chart, but its also the position with the MOST heart. Brady Russell and transfer Jaden Harris are versatile with good hands. THey are both better blockers than pass catchers. They will make plays if given opportunities, but they will ONLY get open if the defense is sleeping or the OC emphasizes deception.
DL - This unit is the one of the worst in all of Power 5 football. Colorado folks who read this will call me a homer for the following sentence: But the current CU D-line is NOT as good as South Alabama's Defensive line. I was making that claim prior to the South Alabama Game. In fact, Northern Illinois and Illinois will all have more talent up front. CU's d-line will battle Maryland's d-line for the worst unit the Huskers face the rest of the season. I find it ironic or more than a coincidence that the new CU D-line coach came from Maryland.
- NT Starting Jalen Sami would be the 4th string for the Huskers. He is a former 2-star greyshirt who chose CU over an offer from Northern Colorado and Weber State.
LB- Landman is very talented. Wells and Van Diest are talented, but do not fit into Mel Tucker's scheme. They are not fast enough to play from sideline to sideline. This will be CU's downfall in 2019.
DBs- The CU defensive backfield was shredded by a Colorado State team replacing its top 3 receivers and QB. When looking at their personnel its not surprising. Had the CU QB not made some dumb decisions, the game would've gone down to the wire.
CB - I mentioned Abrams. He's a good player with nice length, but he's their only quality Corner. The rest of that unit is made up of poorly recruited dudes with virtually NO experience. The other starting CB Mekhi Blackmon was abused all game vs. CSU. His back up is a true freshman 5.5 three star. Neither of these two corners would be in the top 4 at Nebraska. The back up to Abrams is a former 2-star who chose CU over Wyoming.
S- Mikail Onu is a transfer from SMU where he started 15 career games. He had a good game vs CSU, mostly due to some dumb decisions by the CSU QB. He is a smart player who will make Martinez pay if Adrian forces things into double or triple coverage. His safety counterpart, Aaron Maddox wouldn't see the 4 deep at Nerbaska. Onu would be a rotation guy at Nebraska.
QB - Montez has a great arm and he will be making start # 30 vs Nebraska on Saturday.
His mechanics break down from time to time, namely the footwork. He has a dynamic arm, especially in the vertical passing game. The new scheme for CU is contingent upon the running game. Colorado State's run defense was god awful. It will be important for the Huskers to stop the run and force Montez into 3rd and long situations. He struggles when pressure is ratcheted up.
