Is the West still achievable?

[NikkiSixx_rivals269993]

mathematically yes, realistically, no.

there is so much that needs to be fixed..

i sit here and wonder if there was an easy fix to all this, and I can only think of two things, of which neither is likely to happen.

There must be a change of mindset, individually and then collectively by either changing the QB, or changing the current QB's mindset.

If you really don't have an option for changing the QB, (not sure this is true), then you hire Tony Robbins or other sports psychologist to sit down with Martinez and fix what is going on between his ears and the rest of the team.

Personally, I really think all the heisman talk and pressure has actually hurt his game, and somewhere in his psyche, he doesn't want all that attention or doesn't believe he deserves it, or something of this nature. Something isn't congruent, as it looks a lot like self sabotage, and something we all have done at one point or another when we associate good and bad things to the same outcome.

What will likely happen is each area will try to focus on fixing little details, but the team will not really live up to their potential, which is sad, because they have the potential to be quite good, across the board.

I see us somewhere between 6-8 wins and a bowl game. If we were to manage 8-4, that wouldn't be so bad considering last year's record.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

mathematically yes, realistically, no.

there is so much that needs to be fixed..

i sit here and wonder if there was an easy fix to all this, and I can only think of two things, of which neither is likely to happen.

There must be a change of mindset, individually and then collectively by either changing the QB, or changing the current QB's mindset.

If you really don't have an option for changing the QB, (not sure this is true), then you hire Tony Robbins or other sports psychologist to sit down with Martinez and fix what is going on between his ears and the rest of the team.

Personally, I really think all the heisman talk and pressure has actually hurt his game, and somewhere in his psyche, he doesn't want all that attention or doesn't believe he deserves it, or something of this nature. Something isn't congruent, as it looks a lot like self sabotage, and something we all have done at one point or another when we associate good and bad things to the same outcome.

What will likely happen is each area will try to focus on fixing little details, but the team will not really live up to their potential, which is sad, because they have the potential to be quite good, across the board.

I see us somewhere between 6-8 wins and a bowl game. If we were to manage 8-4, that wouldn't be so bad considering last year's record.

If we go 8-4 that should be viewed as a major step forward. It would also land us in a much better bowl game. I have zero desire to see us in the pinstripe bowl, although that is obviously preferable to no bowl.

Realistically I see us going 7-5 or 6-6. A lot depends on the team’s psychology right now after last week’s humiliation.

 

[Ewooc]

This is pathetic! If you think Minnesota can lose 6 if 8 you are blind. Minnesota let Purdue back in game when leading by 21 in 4th. Also Minnesota reporters just revealed Purdue took the bait in that gophers offense coordinator didn't use any of his plays during non conference. Good luck to Nebraska beating Minnesota at home.

Also Wisconsin isn't that good. Minn and northwestern Wildcats showed recipe for beating them. Focus on their run game & dare their QB to throw. Theyr QB had 86 yard passing against NW

Did you watch the gopher games. 28-21 vs SDSU 38-35 Fresno St 35-32 GA Southern. 38-31 Purdue ( who mind you had their starting RB and QB go out in the the 1st quarter) MN is bad. They are the worst looking 4-0 team in the country. Unless they were play the ultimate game of possum they will be lucky to win 4 more games. I would be surprised if MN is the fav in that Neb game. If they are in will be -3 at most. Although MN is 4-0 and Neb is 3-2. They both look equally horrible.

 

[Lincoln100]

You haven’t been paying attention; the “talent” on this team consists of nothing more than large balls of soft immobile flesh that are incapable of tackling, blocking, or running. How could they possibly win the West?

 

[bshirt73]

Did you watch the gopher games. 28-21 vs SDSU 38-35 Fresno St 35-32 GA Southern. 38-31 Purdue ( who mind you had their starting RB and QB go out in the the 1st quarter) MN is bad. They are the worst looking 4-0 team in the country. Unless they were play the ultimate game of possum they will be lucky to win 4 more games. I would be surprised if MN is the fav in that Neb game. If they are in will be -3 at most. Although MN is 4-0 and Neb is 3-2. They both look equally horrible.

Yep, it could go either way. But as marginal as Minnesota is it would seem extremely unlikely they have as many problems as we do.

1. An OLine that can't block anybody
2. Fumbles bouncing around everywhere
3. penalties that never stop or even slow down
4. center snaps that fly around everywhere
5. possibly the worst kicking/punting game in the nation

Haha....oh enough. It's just a rough damn business now. But like last year maybe we'll see some big improvement? HCSF knows what he's doing.....but he's got his hands full trying to instantly turn over our previous fluffy Beaver mindset.

 

[ssmill777]

This feels like one of those season defining games. We bounce back and get the win, I could see a turnaround. Maybe winning 5 of the next 7. If we lose, I could see the wheels come off similar to 2017. Another season like that could be devastating for players, recruits, coaches and fans. All anyone wants to see is progress over MR, another 4-8 season or 5-7 season would not be it.

Whole-heartedly agree. Frost has been quoted several times this yr about how much better this team is than last yr, yet it doesn't look or feel much better. For one, we had a weaker non-conference schedule. But as you break it down, it doesn't hold true for me: AM2 is definitely worse (something is off with him - like hesitant, inaccurate, not seeing open receivers), Mills is not Ozigbo, no one who has stepped up to fill Morgan's shoes, OL is weak, center snaps miserable, turnovers abound, defense has improved a little but are not world-beaters by any means, and don't get me started on special teams, LOL! Coaching hasn't impressed either - like why not use the TE's (6'8", 6'7") just being wasted. If they do get a pass, it's at their feet. I see 5-7 or 6-6 best case scenario. "We are who we are".

 

[DudznSudz]

Yeah, I don't see us winning the West and quite frankly, I don't want us to. I want us to get to 7-5 or 8-4, land a top 20 recruiting class again, and go to a solid bowl game that we actually have a good shot at winning.

This team is inconsistent and just not "there" yet. In fact, we are probably about 2 years away from that. Martinez needs to be a senior, our offensive line needs to develop better, and we need way more weapons on offense (ever notice how every pass seems to go to JD Spielman? Yeah, that isn't a good sign.) Our D is definitely on the right path and they worry me a lot less, though they too will benefit from another year or two of building depth and experience.

I have no desire for us to sneak into Indy and get our asses handed to us brutally all over again by a clearly playoff-bound Ohio State. I think that just gives us an even worse look.

 

[SWIowahawks_rivals44758]

Is it me or does it seem that AM’s first reads just aren’t open this year? Is it because there is film on Frost’s offense with Martinez at the helm? Is Martinez hesitating even just slightly?

I don’t feel like I’ve seen Nebraska do what they did so successfully against Iowa and have really quick hitters on the edge. I feel like those quick passes really took Iowa’s DL out of the game last year and that probably would have been a good approach against the OSU defense.

 

[bshirt73]

Whole-heartedly agree. Frost has been quoted several times this yr about how much better this team is than last yr, yet it doesn't look or feel much better. For one, we had a weaker non-conference schedule. But as you break it down, it doesn't hold true for me: AM2 is definitely worse (something is off with him - like hesitant, inaccurate, not seeing open receivers), Mills is not Ozigbo, no one who has stepped up to fill Morgan's shoes, OL is weak, center snaps miserable, turnovers abound, defense has improved a little but are not world-beaters by any means, and don't get me started on special teams, LOL! Coaching hasn't impressed either - like why not use the TE's (6'8", 6'7") just being wasted. If they do get a pass, it's at their feet. I see 5-7 or 6-6 best case scenario. "We are who we are".

Add to that more penalties that you can shake a stick with.

My blind guess is that HCSF (who is a very, very sharp dude) is grasping that what worked so well in the AAC doesn't quite work so well in the Big10. More than ever, I'll bet he knows so well that we "must" be able to run the ball.

Heh.....even "if" I'm right, it's not something you can get done in five minutes. Maybe we'll just have to hang tough for awhile. Maybe a lot longer than we want.....but Pedeyshine & Clownahan threw away the pipeline and so it's now been long, long gone. I bet it's a tough call for SF.... we'll see......

 

[CatColumbia]

We'll go as far as our O-line and AMart takes us.. I wouldn't hold our breath on that. What is intriguing though is Wisconsin will enter our game having played both OSU and Iowa. Hopefully they'll be beat up and injured when they play us.. That's about the only shot we have to beat them.

 

[CatColumbia]

mathematically yes, realistically, no.

there is so much that needs to be fixed..

i sit here and wonder if there was an easy fix to all this, and I can only think of two things, of which neither is likely to happen.

There must be a change of mindset, individually and then collectively by either changing the QB, or changing the current QB's mindset.

If you really don't have an option for changing the QB, (not sure this is true), then you hire Tony Robbins or other sports psychologist to sit down with Martinez and fix what is going on between his ears and the rest of the team.

Personally, I really think all the heisman talk and pressure has actually hurt his game, and somewhere in his psyche, he doesn't want all that attention or doesn't believe he deserves it, or something of this nature. Something isn't congruent, as it looks a lot like self sabotage, and something we all have done at one point or another when we associate good and bad things to the same outcome.

What will likely happen is each area will try to focus on fixing little details, but the team will not really live up to their potential, which is sad, because they have the potential to be quite good, across the board.

I see us somewhere between 6-8 wins and a bowl game. If we were to manage 8-4, that wouldn't be so bad considering last year's record.

I agree that the Heisman hype hurt him but he needs to put this behind him. No way in hell will he finish in the final 10 in the ballot this year. I can think of at least 8 quarterbacks that can throw/run better than him. Verduzco and Frost need to put him in a winnnig situation and ditch the mumbo jumbo mechanics stuff.. And Jurguens needs to stop snapping so damn high. That's beyond ridiculous.

 

[Ewooc]

Add to that more penalties that you can shake a stick with.

My blind guess is that HCSF (who is a very, very sharp dude) is grasping that what worked so well in the AAC doesn't quite work so well in the Big10. More than ever, I'll bet he knows so well that we "must" be able to run the ball.

Heh.....even "if" I'm right, it's not something you can get done in five minutes. Maybe we'll just have to hang tough for awhile. Maybe a lot longer than we want.....but Pedeyshine & Clownahan threw away the pipeline and so it's now been long, long gone. I bet it's a tough call for SF.... we'll see......

He keeps saying things like we know this work we just have to stay on the path. The problem is, no he nor anyone knows if "this" works. Every Conf, every team, every situation, every player is different. He is dealing with a whole different level of not only opposing player talent but opposing coaching talent compared to the AAC maybe even the PAC12. The BIG is a completely different beast. I think he is going to have to adjust and re figure his approach and scheme in the BIG. He is a very smart guy, I would bet he figures it out. It just is going to take longer than any of us were thinking. I bet we will know what we have in Frost come year 4 or 5.

 

[leodisflowers]

Is it me or does it seem that AM’s first reads just aren’t open this year? Is it because there is film on Frost’s offense with Martinez at the helm? Is Martinez hesitating even just slightly?

I don’t feel like I’ve seen Nebraska do what they did so successfully against Iowa and have really quick hitters on the edge. I feel like those quick passes really took Iowa’s DL out of the game last year and that probably would have been a good approach against the OSU defense.

Part of the problem, imo, is that his first read a lot seems to be JD. Teams key on JD and so yes it is not there and he is hesitating after that. I agree with you that against teams with stout D's like Wisky, NW and Iowa those quick hitters will help slow down the D line.

 

[ssmill777]

Is it me or does it seem that AM’s first reads just aren’t open this year? Is it because there is film on Frost’s offense with Martinez at the helm? Is Martinez hesitating even just slightly?

I don’t feel like I’ve seen Nebraska do what they did so successfully against Iowa and have really quick hitters on the edge. I feel like those quick passes really took Iowa’s DL out of the game last year and that probably would have been a good approach against the OSU defense.

Martinez has basically 2 reads for WR's - Spielman and Robinson. If they're not open - he either takes off, gets sacked, or throws it away. Not sure he ever looks anywhere else (or has time).

 

[ssmill777]

Any answer other than, "yes, it's still achievable" is stupid, however likely that may be

This week will give us clarity on the rest of the year.

 

[dinglefritz]

Nebraska needs to NOT make it to the championship game.

Best case would probably be to tie for the West crown and lose the tie breaker....well unless Fields and that DE break their legs. THEN I would maybe want a rematch.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

Best case would probably be to tie for the West crown and lose the tie breaker....well unless Fields and that DE break their legs. THEN I would maybe want a rematch.

I want to win the West even if it is unlikely. Football is a funny bird... Ohio State might lay a turd against PSU or Michigan. Who knows? What if we win the West and end up facing Penn State? I think we would still lose, but our odds would be better

 

[dinglefritz]

I want to win the West even if it is unlikely. Football is a funny bird... Ohio State might lay a turd against PSU or Michigan. Who knows? What if we win the West and end up facing Penn State? I think we would still lose, but our odds would be better

IF we can somehow manage to only lose say to Wisconsin or Iowa, then IF they would lose 2 other games, we could tie for the title with a total of 3 regular season losses but lose the tie breaker. That likely gets you a top 20 finish and a nice bowl game. Win the west and get drubbed again by OSU and you still have at least 3 losses and probably drop out of the top 20. I'll take it either way I guess. First job is to beat NW.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

IF we can somehow manage to only lose say to Wisconsin or Iowa, then IF they would lose 2 other games, we could tie for the title with a total of 3 regular season losses but lose the tie breaker. That likely gets you a top 20 finish and a nice bowl game. Win the west and get drubbed again by OSU and you still have at least 3 losses and probably drop out of the top 20. I'll take it either way I guess. First job is to beat NW.

Yep. Northwestern is on deck.

 

[Myteamcanbeatupyourteam]

Yep. Northwestern is on deck.

After watching NW against Wisconsin, it looks like NW is gonna pull another NW. Look totally horrible at the beginning of the year, then the B1G starts and they become a different team.

 

[bshirt73]

After watching NW against Wisconsin, it looks like NW is gonna pull another NW. Look totally horrible at the beginning of the year, then the B1G starts and they become a different team.

I wish you hadn't said that. But it is the truth.....

 

[HawkeyeinOmaha_rivals]

You haven’t been paying attention; the “talent” on this team consists of nothing more than large balls of soft immobile flesh that are incapable of tackling, blocking, or running. How could they possibly win the West?

Tell us how you really feel.

 

[BigRedBeliever]

If we put in the I formation and run the "double wing" consistently as well as throw the deep ball when the defenses creep up, we run the table. Yes, I'm serious.

 

[Full Measures]

Did you watch the gopher games. 28-21 vs SDSU 38-35 Fresno St 35-32 GA Southern. 38-31 Purdue ( who mind you had their starting RB and QB go out in the the 1st quarter) MN is bad. They are the worst looking 4-0 team in the country. Unless they were play the ultimate game of possum they will be lucky to win 4 more games. I would be surprised if MN is the fav in that Neb game. If they are in will be -3 at most. Although MN is 4-0 and Neb is 3-2. They both look equally horrible.

This seems a bit shortsighted. As a fan, I’ll try to do my best to give a balanced response. Their offense is putting up an average of 35 pts per game during the most recent 10 game stretch with a RS Soph QB who is playing really well and is 8-2 as a starter over that period. They are giving points away on special teams with a defense that hasn’t played great. They have been ok at best in the trenches. The running game has been disappointing. I view them as a 4-0 team that could be playing much better barring some catastrophic errors which have totally changed the perception of their past 3 games. The passing game is going as good as I can remember right now. I still think it’s only a matter of time until the running game gels. If they can get the ground game going and play a little cleaner on D this week even against a struggling IL team, it will be a good sign for them.

N is pretty much what I expected so far with the assumption AMart wont play at a Heisman Finalist level every game.