Willis McGahee Jr..

[Kakdawg]

Has been a pleasant surprise this year. That dude has flashed a few times this year. I'm assuming he's already played too much to RS this year? Like what I've seen from him and a couple other young guys.

I'll be honest I'm hoping like hell we can get some of our young safeties some run now that we have gotten to the last four. Benning and Jones for example.


Holla

 

[BTF69]

Has been a pleasant surprise this year. That dude has flashed a few times this year. I'm assuming he's already played too much to RS this year? Like what I've seen from him and a couple other young guys.

I'll be honest I'm hoping like hell we can get some of our young safeties some run now that we have gotten to the last four. Benning and Jones for example.


Holla

I think we really need to get the idea of "redshirtting" out of our minds. Unless you are injured.

 

[TruHusker]

You have some guys on the team who have come back one more year to mature and prepare for the league. If a freshman is ready to play, play them, if not, don’t hurt them or the team. Then you have guys who have earned their spot but they are expected to give it up just so a freshman can get his nose wet? Then what do you do in a close game when one of those underclassmen are inserted into a game and they make a major mistake?

If they are ready play them, but if not, what is to be gained?

 

[CheeseRunza_rivals]

I think we really need to get the idea of "redshirtting" out of our minds. Unless you are injured.

Just get rid of redshirting all together. Give them 5 years of eligibility and call it good.

 

[Kakdawg]

I think we really need to get the idea of "redshirtting" out of our minds. Unless you are injured.

I don't mind redshirting guys who cant help you win right away. But if a guy can help you win I'd play him. So it's not really on my mind but I do understand the thought behind it.

A guy could play 10 plays a game as Freshman vs playing 45 a game as a 5th year. I almost think it's that simple

Now problem with that is guys can transfer out and you never get to that 5th year. OR if a guy is good enough to help you he's probably not gonna be pro by that time.

I think it's a way to build a roster IF your guys trust you and are truly bought in.


Holla

 

[BTF69]

I don't mind redshirting guys who cant help you win right away. But if a guy can help you win I'd play him. So it's not really on my mind but I do understand the thought behind it.

A guy could play 10 plays a game as Freshman vs playing 45 a game as a 5th year. I almost think it's that simple

Now problem with that is guys can transfer out and you never get to that 5th year. OR if a guy is good enough to help you he's probably not gonna be pro by that time.

I think it's a way to build a roster IF your guys trust you and are truly bought in.


Holla

That is the issue now, leaving. That is where the redshirt might only hurt the team that started with the guy.

 

[oldjar07]

I think we really need to get the idea of "redshirtting" out of our minds. Unless you are injured.

With transfer rules as they are, redshirting makes a lot less sense than it used to. I was big on redshirting at one point. But now it's get what you can out of a guy while you can.

 

[BTF69]

With transfer rules as they are, redshirting makes a lot less sense than it used to. I was big on redshirting at one point. But now it's get what you can out of a guy while you can.

Yeah, that is my thinking as well.

And if you are recruiting guys SO you can redshirt them, you are recruiting the wrong guys.

Your developmental guys are now guys at MAC schools.

 

[SLOHusker]

Just get rid of redshirting all together. Give them 5 years of eligibility and call it good.

100% agree. Just stop with all of the 4 games nonsense and endless medical redshirts. You have five consecutive years of eligibility starting the year you sign a LOI. If you transfer more than once you lose a year.

 

[V-Doub]

Yeah, that is my thinking as well.

And if you are recruiting guys SO you can redshirt them, you are recruiting the wrong guys.

Your developmental guys are now guys at MAC schools.

You can’t stash underclassmen via the redshirt anymore. (talented underclassmen) Coaches used have the power to hold a year eligibility over your head and convince you to stay. (redshirt) Now… player has all the power. Play me or I’ll be on your rival’s roster (or someone else’s roster) by next week, and kicking your *** next year.

You spend the time, effort and resources to recruit said player. Then you spend all the time, effort and resources to develop said player, during his redshirt year. Then he transfers after his RS freshman season and balls out for someone else. And he still has 4 full years of eligibility at his new school. To spend all that time effort and resources to make another team better is a catastrophic coaching error. That **** gets coaches fired.

 

[Zeke2005]

Has been a pleasant surprise this year. That dude has flashed a few times this year. I'm assuming he's already played too much to RS this year? Like what I've seen from him and a couple other young guys.

I'll be honest I'm hoping like hell we can get some of our young safeties some run now that we have gotten to the last four. Benning and Jones for example.


Holla

He needs to be playing more

 

[PvilleHuskerTim]

100% agree. Just stop with all of the 4 games nonsense and endless medical redshirts. You have five consecutive years of eligibility starting the year you sign a LOI. If you transfer more than once you lose a year.

Another option would be to revise the redshirt rule regarding number of games played in a season, or at least add more meaning to it. Establish a reasonable number of plays per game to determine whether a game counts toward a redshirt season. Getting in 1 play during a game so it counts for the 4 game rule seems dumb. That is not a meaningful amount of participation. Maybe the threshold is 10 or 15 plays per game?

 

[NorthWillRiseAgain]

Has been a pleasant surprise this year. That dude has flashed a few times this year. I'm assuming he's already played too much to RS this year? Like what I've seen from him and a couple other young guys.

I'll be honest I'm hoping like hell we can get some of our young safeties some run now that we have gotten to the last four. Benning and Jones for example.


Holla

he seems to have a natural knack for chopping that ball out of the qb's hand.

 

[The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy_Behind_The_Guy]

Just get rid of redshirting all together. Give them 5 years of eligibility and call it good.

Do what Wisconsin volleyball does. Some of their players have been there 8-10 years (a couple could be lifers and get documentaries made about them).

 

[oldjar07]

Another option would be to revise the redshirt rule regarding number of games played in a season, or at least add more meaning to it. Establish a reasonable number of plays per game to determine whether a game counts toward a redshirt season. Getting in 1 play during a game so it counts for the 4 game rule seems dumb. That is not a meaningful amount of participation. Maybe the threshold is 10 or 15 plays per game?

If a coach can't manage whether a guy on his roster plays in 4 games or not, then he's grossly incompetent. I think the redshirt rules are already generous as they are with 4 games; it used to be none.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

IV not Jr

 

[Baxter48_rivals204143]

What happened to prince can’t spell his complete name, is he hurt or just isn’t consistent with his playing?

 

[Scat_Back]

Benning needs to come in and be better than the most overrated senior on the team, Isaac Gifford.

 

[oldjar07]

Benning needs to come in and be better than the most overrated senior on the team, Isaac Gifford.

Gifford hasn't been having a good year so far, but I think overall he's a solid player. I honestly don't think the new guy is as good as Evan Cooper was and that's why we're seeing some struggles in the secondary.

 

[HuskerAlum92]

Ignore redshirts and play who is ready to play in the rotation and in the game situation. At the end of season, whoever appeared in 4 or fewer games “redshirted”.

 

[mgbreeze]

Benning needs to come in and be better than the most overrated senior on the team, Isaac Gifford.

Gifford is the living embodiment of Nebraska football - he was "close" to making a lot of plays.

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

Benning needs to come in and be better than the most overrated senior on the team, Isaac Gifford.

Won't happen. Remember when the DB coach Butler told us all that Gifford is one of the best players in the country?

 

[king_kong_]

Benning needs to come in and be better than the most overrated senior on the team, Isaac Gifford.

Most overrated senior would be a good poll

Lots to choose from

 

[Scat_Back]

Won't happen. Remember when the DB coach Butler told us all that Gifford is one of the best players in the country?

I was half way implying after Gifford graduates at least. We’ve seen seniority trump talent for playing time early on when Ceyair Wright was riding the bench.

 

[Baxter48_rivals204143]

Looks like Gifford gained weight and lost a step or two

 

[Baxter48_rivals204143]

Most overrated senior would be a good poll

Lots to choose from

That would be a good poll, do you separate offense and defense?

 

[MargotDeeper]

McGahee IV needs to take after his dad and run with the ball off tackle.

 

[Kakdawg]

Won't happen. Remember when the DB coach Butler told us all that Gifford is one of the best players in the country?

FWIW Coop told us the same thing. Look I think it's a case of a guy who works his *** off, he's a leader on and off the field, the epitome of a no nonsense team first guy. It's gotta be soooooo easy for a coach to fall in love with a guy like that. Unfortunately sometimes on the field against high level talent that stuff doesn't mean a hill of beans. Gotta make plays. Again I get the lobe fest coaches/fans/media have for the guy but you gotta do it on the field.



Holla

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

FWIW Coop told us the same thing. Look I think it's a case of a guy who works his *** off, he's a leader on and off the field, the epitome of a no nonsense team first guy. It's gotta be soooooo easy for a coach to fall in love with a guy like that. Unfortunately sometimes on the field against high level talent that stuff doesn't mean a hill of beans. Gotta make plays. Again I get the lobe fest coaches/fans/media have for the guy but you gotta do it on the field.



Holla

Maybe he looks like a million bucks against our receivers?

 

[dinglefritz]

Won't happen. Remember when the DB coach Butler told us all that Gifford is one of the best players in the country?

The TD pass where Gifford was left chasing that WR I blamed on Gifford. It sounds though like a safety was supposed to be there for Gifford to switch him off to. I usually hesitate to get too critical of individual defensive players because I don't know if somebody actually blew their job or they were made to look bad by somebody else's screwup. The run fit where Gifford allowed the QB to keep and pick up the first down was on him.

 

[oldjar07]

The TD pass where Gifford was left chasing that WR I blamed on Gifford. It sounds though like a safety was supposed to be there for Gifford to switch him off to. I usually hesitate to get too critical of individual defensive players because I don't know if somebody actually blew their job or they were made to look bad by somebody else's screwup. The run fit where Gifford allowed the QB to keep and pick up the first down was on him.

The guy he was chasing after is also just an insane athlete and would make just about any safety look bad. Gifford's fine, he deserves and is going to start the rest of the year. Hoping he can step it up the rest of the year and get back to where he left off after a great 2023 season. I think there's a much better chance of that happening than expecting a freshman to come in and immediately play at a high level.

 

[king_kong_]

That would be a good poll, do you separate offense and defense?

I wouldn't, but one could if one wanted to

 

[king_kong_]

We’ve seen seniority trump talent for playing time early on when Ceyair Wright was riding the bench.

and last year at QB, RB, WR

 

[leodisflowers]

Gifford hasn't been having a good year so far, but I think overall he's a solid player. I honestly don't think the new guy is as good as Evan Cooper was and that's why we're seeing some struggles in the secondary.

You must not be watching much of the games. Last year, he was pretty solid. This year he is costing us on both D and ST. Go re-watch the OSU game and just focus on him. He was absolutely awful. The entire Husker section at the game was focused on him and he was brutal the entire game. He needs to ride the pine.

 

[leodisflowers]

The TD pass where Gifford was left chasing that WR I blamed on Gifford. It sounds though like a safety was supposed to be there for Gifford to switch him off to. I usually hesitate to get too critical of individual defensive players because I don't know if somebody actually blew their job or they were made to look bad by somebody else's screwup. The run fit where Gifford allowed the QB to keep and pick up the first down was on him.

He whiffs a bunch tackling and is out of position all of the time. He made a lot of plays last year and played fast. He now looks like a shell of what he was last year.,

 

[inWV]

Gifford is the leading tackler on the team.

 

[oldjar07]

You must not be watching much of the games. Last year, he was pretty solid. This year he is costing us on both D and ST. Go re-watch the OSU game and just focus on him. He was absolutely awful. The entire Husker section at the game was focused on him and he was brutal the entire game. He needs to ride the pine.

I watched him, and yes, he made mistakes. He wasn't just solid, he was great last year. This year he's less solid. But he's still our best option, he's still very good in run support, and I support our players 100% even when they're not playing their best.

 

[dinglefritz]

Gifford is the leading tackler on the team.

Some of that is because our opponents are going after him. He's a good player but lacks the kind of size or extreme athleticism that some of the guys he's trying to tackle possess. OSU had a couple of guys who will be early NFL draft picks.

 

[leodisflowers]

Some of that is because our opponents are going after him. He's a good player but lacks the kind of size or extreme athleticism that some of the guys he's trying to tackle possess. OSU had a couple of guys who will be early NFL draft picks.

Yeah, OSU's back end looks way different than ours. We need that combo of size and speed and we do not have it back there.

 

[Kakdawg]

Maybe he looks like a million bucks against our receivers?

That's very possible. Watching our offense during the season one could easily assume that because a guy is doing well against us that he's a dude. Maybe it took going against better offenses and WRs to show that he's just ok and not as good as we thought.

I guess that could be what's happening. Idk...



Holla