Progress made if you look for it...

[timnsun]

First time back in memorial stadium after more than a decade, and here are my thoughts...

Coaching needs to improve. Hated starting 2nd and 13 half a dozen times because of the stupid pass out to the receiver on the edge. After the first 3 failed attempts, don’t do it again.

Defensive performance was hot and cold, but don’t see improvement a whole lot on the defensive side. If changes were made there I wouldn’t be broken up about it.

That being said, to end the season, we played competitively with Wisconsin, looking better than we had much of the season, blew out Maryland like we should have, and had chances agains Iowa as well. We have got to learn how to finish games. Coaches need to step up.

But Iowa was ranked all season, lost to Michigan by a TD, Penn State by 5, and Wisconsin by 2. They are the only team (so far) to beat Minnesota. They are a solid, well coached team that we almost beat yesterday. We had 3 penalties against us, we won the turnover battle... There is progress and we are getting closer to turning things around.

Some are saying no progress has been made, and I get it, in many ways that makes sense. But those who are saying this are ignoring some evidence that suggests otherwise. We should be more improved, I totally agree, but we are getting there, in my opinion.

 

[jlb321_rivals110621]

i disagree

we finished lower in our division compared to last year despite more home games and had an easier cross over schedule .. an interim goal that we should be progressing toward is winning the division or least moving up in the division .. we didn't

our point differential versus power 5 opponents was worse than last year

I agree you can point to improvement in some areas but I think these improvements were offset by regression in other areas

lets say going into the season a meager/realistic goal would be to finish in the top half of the division or at least top 4. We finished further from that goal in year 2 versus year 1

 

[egaRdeR]

First time back in memorial stadium after more than a decade, and here are my thoughts...

Coaching needs to improve. Hated starting 2nd and 13 half a dozen times because of the stupid pass out to the receiver on the edge. After the first 3 failed attempts, don’t do it again.

Defensive performance was hot and cold, but don’t see improvement a whole lot on the defensive side. If changes were made there I wouldn’t be broken up about it.

That being said, to end the season, we played competitively with Wisconsin, looking better than we had much of the season, blew out Maryland like we should have, and had chances agains Iowa as well. We have got to learn how to finish games. Coaches need to step up.

But Iowa was ranked all season, lost to Michigan by a TD, Penn State by 5, and Wisconsin by 2. They are the only team (so far) to beat Minnesota. They are a solid, well coached team that we almost beat yesterday. We had 3 penalties against us, we won the turnover battle... There is progress and we are getting closer to turning things around.

Some are saying no progress has been made, and I get it, in many ways that makes sense. But those who are saying this are ignoring some evidence that suggests otherwise. We should be more improved, I totally agree, but we are getting there, in my opinion.

Agree on all of this. But I know some emotional charged posts will follow telling you how wrong you are and we are the worst team ever. And Frost is the worst coach ever.

 

[GeorgeFlippin]

5 wins, but there were 4 more out there for the taking, and the team couldn't do it. Not saying they should have won those 4 games, but Nebraska certainly had their chances. Better coaching and a few more play makers on both sides of the ball might have accomplished more wins, I hope things can trend up next season.

 

[Redscarlet]

I didn’t see any improvement in the offensive department over last season none what so ever in fact we regressed...

Only thing where we improved, but not enough is physicality...

 

[Myteamcanbeatupyourteam]

You're right. 5-7 is an improvement over 4-8.

 

[jlb321_rivals110621]

meaningful goals - win the division, win the conference
not expecting to achieve these in year 2 but

we were further away from these goals in year 2 than we were in year 1
not sure how we are measuring improvement

 

[Fed-Up]

in year 2 with this offensive "genius" as coach, at the end of this very tediously frustrating year.....we should not have to search out progress.

IMO: the offensive line and Mills have made the most improvement over the course of this year; AM has digressed and is unwatchable; special teams are horrible; everyone else ....nothing.

 

[jlb321_rivals110621]

You're right. 5-7 is an improvement over 4-8.

again if you are simply measuring improvement based on wins while coaching Nebraska then Riley> Frost

even if you sum Riley's worst 2 years he has more wins than Frost - we have regressed under Frost vs Riley

 

[egaRdeR]

i disagree

we finished lower in our division compared to last year despite more home games and had an easier cross over schedule .. an interim goal that we should be progressing toward is winning the division or least moving up in the division .. we didn't

our point differential versus power 5 opponents was worse than last year

I agree you can point to improvement in some areas but think these improvements were offset by regression in other areas

lets say going into the season a meager/realistic goal would be to finish in the top half of the division or at least top 4. We finished further from that goal in year 2 versus year 1

Penalties were an area of huge improvement. From 78th last year to 18th this year.

 

[Harry Caray]

One area we did seem to improve this season is penalties. We went from one of the most penalized teams last year, to one of the fewest penalized teams this year. So that is a positive.

Our run blocking seemed to improve throughout the year, which is impressive considering we had no threat of a downfield pass game or mobile QB this year.

 

[Sodakred]

We were ranked in Top 25 at beginning of season. While obviously early season polls are just good guesses, it is hard to argue that this team came even close to those expectations. I understand coaches need to have contracts longer than a couple years to help recruiting, but adding two years onto the existing five looks like a really dumb move. Anyone really see a winning record in the next two or three years? As for Frost being the last hope of the program, I’m sure no one expected much when a similarly downtrodden NU hired a little known Wyoming coach. How did that work out? Unlike the current monotone voice, Devaney did not tolerate slackers.

 

[jlb321_rivals110621]

Penalties were an area of huge improvement. From 78th last year to 18th this year.

I do not disagree that you can find individual areas of improvement - but those improvement did not translate into being more competitive in the conference - we didn't take advantage of that improvement

it like losing badly in a game but touting the play of your left guard

we are talking about individual aspects of improvement which you can find - despite this the TEAM did not improve

 

[cubsker_rivals142943]

Secondary play got better. We need to tackle better at safety and then we need to figure out a defense for the last two minutes of games. Finding 1 guy who could actually rush the edge would help there.

 

[Husker4real_rivals373787]

Like last year, they got better toward the end of the season. So it is fair to say there was progress within the season.

However, I don't think any of us thought NU would be so shaky out of the gate. Many (most?) of us thought we'd pick up from where we left off last year - with a dynamic offense firing on all cylinders, led by a 2nd year, Heisman trophy candidate QB. An offense that could carry a defense that might struggle, but would certainly be better the second year in the system.

Instead, we got an offense and a QB that regressed terribly, and was never reliable. The defense was laughable for much of the season; and when they did play 'decent', they continually failed to get key stops.

I doubt anyone expected NU special teams to be the abomination that it was. Hat's off to the walk-on kickers who were the lone bright spot in a unit that was a stone-cold embarrassment all season.

 

[dinglefritz]

Secondary play got better. We need to tackle better at safety and then we need to figure out a defense for the last two minutes of games. Finding 1 guy who could actually rush the edge would help there.

playing safeties who don't have injured shoulders will help our tackling immensely. Hopefully we get healthy and some young guys step up back theer and give us depth. I don't think losing Alex Davis's experience at OLB is going to hurt us. He was just too slow to start at OLB

 

[9and4_rivals188421]

Priorities:

1. Learn to f***ing close out a game.
2. Find some difference-makers at WR (keep JD and find a couple more pieces).
3. Shore up special teams.
4. Improved LB play.
5. More consistent QB play.
6. Establish DL depth.
7. Establish RB depth.

Turn that record around to 7-5 or better, and establish forward momentum in the new decade. May the 2020s be the 1960s, without the two-year delay in excelling — we've already entered the on-ramp, now it's time to merge into the high-speed traffic.

 

[NYC-Husker]

How sad that one would actually have to look for progress in the second year of a coaching tenure.

Real, tangible and obvious progress should have been made, but was not.

Not sure if it's on Frost or Verduzco, or what the issue is, but the QB play regressed from last year. WR play was laughably worse, LB play was still horribly undisciplined, and the defense gave up key scoring drives literally every time it mattered except against Northwestern (and in that game, we were gifted with a generous no call) with the game on the line.

Another garbage season.

 

[timnsun]

Good points in this thread... I’m not saying we are an improved team compared to the end of last year, I am just looking for some building blocks moving forward. I feel like if the coaching improves we will be much improved overall. Just some things that I liked by the end of the season... and also, a reminder to some that Iowa is not a garbage team and better than some want to give them credit for.

 

[jlb321_rivals110621]

get to 7-5 next year and wipe the slate clean going forward

 

[Sodakred]

get to 7-5 next year and wipe the slate clean going forward

We better be no worse than 6-1 going into the last five games.

 

[dand84]

Nothing wrong with how you look at it @timnsun, we all have our own opinions on it. You can look at the season and see it was full of close calls. You can also look at the season and see that the reason they were close calls generally falls on the coach. I was all in on Frost before, during the first season, even most of this season.

We went 4-2 in the first half and 1-5 in the 2nd half this year. I'm not even that concerned with position coaching, to be honest. Where Frost has lost me is on his leadership (or lack thereof). I don't think he is a poor leader, I think he is a bad leader. His first thought is to blame someone else. Since coming to the program and up to and including his last press conference, he is blaming everything on the last staff and their players. Not his players, mind you. To him, there are two groups of players: the old ones and his new ones.

I'm interested in the 2020 excuse making that Frost and the staff will have as talking points since blame the other guy just ran out yesterday. Frost is signalling to all of us that he doesn't know what is going on or how to fix it. He just needs better players. Well guess what Frosty, every coach wants better players.

 

[timnsun]

Nothing wrong with how you look at it @timnsun, we all have our own opinions on it. You can look at the season and see it was full of close calls. You can also look at the season and see that the reason they were close calls generally falls on the coach. I was all in on Frost before, during the first season, even most of this season.

We went 4-2 in the first half and 1-5 in the 2nd half this year. I'm not even that concerned with position coaching, to be honest. Where Frost has lost me is on his leadership (or lack thereof). I don't think he is a poor leader, I think he is a bad leader. His first thought is to blame someone else. Since coming to the program and up to and including his last press conference, he is blaming everything on the last staff and their players. Not his players, mind you. To him, there are two groups of players: the old ones and his new ones.

I'm interested in the 2020 excuse making that Frost and the staff will have as talking points since blame the other guy just ran out yesterday.

Good points. I hope he learns coach speak with the best of them. The gunslinging say what comes to mind no matter who it affects is a bad look and will backfire if he doesn’t clean it up. Maybe it already did this year.

 

[MOhusker12]

again if you are simply measuring improvement based on wins while coaching Nebraska then Riley> Frost

even if you sum Riley's worst 2 years he has more wins than Frost - we have regressed under Frost vs Riley

Rewatch the 2017 season and you may want to reconsider Riley being better than Frost.

 

[Dream25]

First time back in memorial stadium after more than a decade, and here are my thoughts...

Coaching needs to improve. Hated starting 2nd and 13 half a dozen times because of the stupid pass out to the receiver on the edge. After the first 3 failed attempts, don’t do it again.

Defensive performance was hot and cold, but don’t see improvement a whole lot on the defensive side. If changes were made there I wouldn’t be broken up about it.

That being said, to end the season, we played competitively with Wisconsin, looking better than we had much of the season, blew out Maryland like we should have, and had chances agains Iowa as well. We have got to learn how to finish games. Coaches need to step up.

But Iowa was ranked all season, lost to Michigan by a TD, Penn State by 5, and Wisconsin by 2. They are the only team (so far) to beat Minnesota. They are a solid, well coached team that we almost beat yesterday. We had 3 penalties against us, we won the turnover battle... There is progress and we are getting closer to turning things around.

Some are saying no progress has been made, and I get it, in many ways that makes sense. But those who are saying this are ignoring some evidence that suggests otherwise. We should be more improved, I totally agree, but we are getting there, in my opinion.

3 penalties, haha technically correct I guess..

 

[timnsun]

3 penalties, haha technically correct I guess..

Haha tell me where I’m wrong... as someone else pointed out we went from ranked in the 90s in penalties committed to 18th.

If you don’t have anything of substance to contribute...

Nice try haha.

 

[jlb321_rivals110621]

Rewatch the 2017 season and you may want to reconsider Riley being better than Frost.

2017 3 conf wins - 5th in division
2018 3 conf wins - 5th in division
2019 3 conf wins - 6th in division

 

[timnsun]

2017 3 conf wins - 5th in division
2018 3 conf wins - 5th in division
2019 3 conf wins - 6th in division

Yes, I know that wins/losses show Riley was better. But this team plays its butt off mostly. Riley’s 2017 team most certainly didn’t.

But technically, you are right.

 

[PeliniTheCrutch_rivals294365]

Why would someone want to look for it? There should be major improvement in year two that everyone in the world can see. Hell, check out the 2nd year improvement of Pelini, Callahan, and even Riley’s teams.

 

[jlb321_rivals110621]

Yes, I know that wins/losses show Riley was better. But this team plays its butt off mostly. Riley’s 2017 team most certainly didn’t.

But technically, you are right.

I don’t disagree. Those numbers are in response to the claim that 4 wins to 5 wins represents progress when really we just managed to beat a sunbelt team. Absolute #s seem to be used when they fit the agenda but are rejected when they don’t.

I’m sure I’m guilty of this as well.

 

[timnsun]

Why would someone want to look for it? There should be major improvement in year two that everyone in the world can see. Hell, check out the 2nd year improvement of Pelini, Callahan, and even Riley’s teams.

Cuz I bleed red. Sorry, shoulda probably bitched like the rest of you.

My bad.

 

[PeliniTheCrutch_rivals294365]

Cuz I bleed red. Sorry, shoulda probably bitched like the rest of you.

My bad.

I agree.

 

[Sporty]

Riley had Diacco forced upon him and the defense never responded to him. That was the worst part of the 2017 season. In addition it was obvious before the season was half over that the coaching staff all were on the way out. We should have been much better in year 2 of a new staff than that season. The question is were we??

 

[huskerssalts]

First time back in memorial stadium after more than a decade, and here are my thoughts...

Coaching needs to improve. Hated starting 2nd and 13 half a dozen times because of the stupid pass out to the receiver on the edge. After the first 3 failed attempts, don’t do it again.

Defensive performance was hot and cold, but don’t see improvement a whole lot on the defensive side. If changes were made there I wouldn’t be broken up about it.

That being said, to end the season, we played competitively with Wisconsin, looking better than we had much of the season, blew out Maryland like we should have, and had chances agains Iowa as well. We have got to learn how to finish games. Coaches need to step up.

But Iowa was ranked all season, lost to Michigan by a TD, Penn State by 5, and Wisconsin by 2. They are the only team (so far) to beat Minnesota. They are a solid, well coached team that we almost beat yesterday. We had 3 penalties against us, we won the turnover battle... There is progress and we are getting closer to turning things around.

Some are saying no progress has been made, and I get it, in many ways that makes sense. But those who are saying this are ignoring some evidence that suggests otherwise. We should be more improved, I totally agree, but we are getting there, in my opinion.

agreed, we definitely made progress the last several games. The fact that we went nose to nose with Iowa and Wisconsin (for the most part) shows that in itself. We got better on not committing so many stupid penalties and we got better on the turnover part of things too. We also seen an Oline that couldn’t block anyone get better and start giving our QB/s time. The progress is there...it’s just a matter of seeing it and getting past all the close loses that gut shotted us and pissed us off.

 

[jlb321_rivals110621]

What is this narrative being spewed about going toe-toe with Wisconsin?

We lost by more than 2 touchdowns AT HOME - we didn’t cover the spread - and at no time past the 5 minute mark in the second quarter was it ever a one score game.

 

[huskerssalts]

What is this narrative being spewed about going toe-toe with Wisconsin?

We lost by more than 2 touchdowns AT HOME - we didn’t cover the spread - and at no time past the 5 minute mark in the second quarter was it ever a one score game.

Ok...so in your opinion we didn’t. Myself I felt we did for the most part (like I mentioned above). You and I, like ALWAYS, see things differently.

 

[WoodRiverJennings]

Agree on all of this. But I know some emotional charged posts will follow telling you how wrong you are and we are the worst team ever. And Frost is the worst coach ever.

Isn't Frost the worst coach since Jennings? Stats say yes. Hope he can do a 180 and get this team headed in the right direction. Next season can't get here fast enough.

 

[jlb321_rivals110621]

Ok...so in your opinion we didn’t. Myself I felt we did for the most part (like I mentioned above). You and I, like ALWAYS, see things differently.

A 2-10 S Alabama played us closer than we played Wisconsin. That was a one score game going into the 4th quarter

 

[timnsun]

A 1-11 S Alabama played us closer than we played Wisconsin. That was a one score game going into the 4th quarter

Obviously you aren’t looking hard enough for the positives... or you aren’t looking in the same places I am.

 

[Nebraska_Reality]

5 wins, but there were 4 more out there for the taking, and the team couldn't do it. Not saying they should have won those 4 games, but Nebraska certainly had their chances. Better coaching and a few more play makers on both sides of the ball might have accomplished more wins, I hope things can trend up next season.

On another thread I produced a list of several other schools that also had games for the taking, but failed to do so.

In short, I don't think that means very much.