2012 AP Preview

[Red_Alert]

A couple of days old, but WTF.

Scout.com: AP Preview: Nebraska

Pelini said. "Our players came out of (2011) knowing that we're going to be challenged week in and week out. You've got to be ready to go each and every Saturday, or things aren't going to go your way."

The Huskers were 36th of 120 FBS teams for penalties per game, with numerous drives imploding because of false starts and holding calls. They were 67th in turnover margin.

In a 48-17 loss to Wisconsin, the Huskers were penalized nine times for 80 yards and Martinez threw three interceptions on four possessions. In the 28-25 loss to Northwestern, the Huskers lost fumbles at the Wildcats' 6 and 19. In the 41-14 loss at Michigan, the Wolverines converted two of three fumbles into touchdowns, and a holding call wiped out a long run and forced a punt as Nebraska was trying to come back from a 17-10 deficit.

In the 30-13 Capital One Bowl loss to South Carolina, Nebraska was up 13-9 and driving for another score when Ameer Abdullah fumbled at the Gamecocks 7. Martinez was intercepted at the South Carolina 26 on the next series, leading to the

I personally think the primary reason for a lot of that sloppy play was because NU was getting pushed around physically on both sides of the ball. Of their 3 worst losses, they were hanging the first half when they were fresh. The second half was where they wore down and lost focus/discipline. The Ohio St game was the only game that NU didn't compete in the first half, but caught a break when Miller went downand tOSU offense went dormant. The players have bulked up so there should be improvement in durability. Question is, is that durability enough to overcome being outscored on average 21-3 in the second half of those 3 ugly losses?

To even get to the point where you're just hanging with those teams physically makes for a better game, but doesn't ensure a win. Close games come down to one or two plays/the bounce of the ball etc...

I'm sticking with no more than 3 conference losses with even 2 being a realistic expectation. The Michigan/Nebraska winner using the tiebreaker for entrance into the CCG.

I'm of course putting a lot of faith in the rhetoric from players and coaches regarding how much their focus has improved.

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

It was the strip made by David that turned the OSU game around.

We had already found the answer for Miller at that point. Even if he had not gotten injured, the Huskers had taken control of the game and would have won.

 

[Red_Alert]

It was the strip made by David that turned the OSU game around.

We had already found the answer for Miller at that point. Even if he had not gotten injured, the Huskers had taken control of the game and would have won.

K.

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

LOL 2 thee thought of a freshman taking the momentum back in memorial stadium

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

Here's a preview for ye...........


HUSKERZ FER CHAMPZ

 

[Red_Alert]

LOL 2 thee thought of a freshman taking the momentum back in memorial stadium

K.

You focus on debate side of the miraculous comeback vs tOSU.

I'll focus on whether NU can avoid the embarrassing losses this season, and whether or not NU can not only avoid them but also potentially win a couple of them.

Fair?

 

[iruletheskool]

We woulda won if Brax stayed in.. FACT

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

K.

You focus on debate side of the miraculous comeback vs tOSU.

I'll focus on whether NU can avoid the embarrassing losses this season, and whether or not NU can not only avoid them but also potentially win a couple of them.

Fair?

Sir, you and I can focus as hard as we want on anything we want..........and it will not change the outcome of this upcoming season.

This is a fact now. This is a factual statement en sech.

 

[Red_Alert]

We woulda won if Brax stayed in.. FACT

K.

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

All I'm sayin is........it's disrespeckful to guys like Lavonte who were Seniors last year and worked their asses off in that 2nd half to shut down Braxton Miller and turn the momentum in ourn favor.........for us to say they got lucky to win that game en all that.

Miller rushed fer 5 yards in the 2nd half before leaving the game with a twisted ankle......

He rushed for 86 yards in the 1st half....

 

[Red_Alert]

Sir, you and I can focus as hard as we want on anything we want..........and it will not change the outcome of this upcoming season.

This is a fact now. This is a factual statement en sech.

Legit

However, the media and fans (for the most part) were and are not criticizing anything other than what the players and coaches are 'themselves' now saying they're going to improve upon this season.

In fact, the current statements from players and coaches adds credibility that the criticism was in fact made by those with the ability to analyze and make proper judgement of the product put on the field week in and week out.

Instead of being defensive about the questions, Pelini needs to appreciate that he wouldn't have near the paycheck he's getting without the media giving the NU program coverage, and the fans who are buying the tickets, hats, t-shirts, et al.

Pelini needs to suck it up and stop attacking those that have reasonable expectations for the storied program that is Nebraska Football.

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

Legit

However, the media and fans (for the most part) were and are not criticizing anything other than what the players and coaches are 'themselves' now saying they're going to improve upon this season.

In fact, the current statements from players and coaches adds credibility that the criticism was in fact made by those with the ability to analyze and make proper judgement of the product put on the field week in and week out.

Instead of being defensive about the questions, Pelini needs to appreciate that he wouldn't have near the paycheck he's getting without the media giving the NU program coverage, and the fans who are buying the tickets, hats, t-shirts, et al.

Pelini needs to suck it up and stop attacking those that have reasonable expectations for the storied program that is Nebraska Football.

Absolutely

 

[Red_Alert]

All I'm sayin is........it's disrespeckful to guys like Lavonte who were Seniors last year and worked their asses off in that 2nd half to shut down Braxton Miller and turn the momentum in ourn favor.........for us to say they got lucky to win that game en all that.

Miller rushed fer 5 yards in the 2nd half before leaving the game with a twisted ankle......

He rushed for 86 yards in the 1st half....

K.

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

K.

K.

K.

Good to see we can come to an agreement 3 times in one thread

 

[Red_Alert]

Good to see we can come to an agreement 3 times in one thread

I just don't have the desire to discuss the 'what ifs' of that game. I'll concede them to y'all to avoid pissin' in yourn "greatest NU comeback of all time" cheerios.

Us old schoolers are used to 3 loss seasons. We're not used to 3 humiliating loss seasons tho.

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

Well, I may only be 27 years old but I remember games back as far as 23 years ago.........and what I do recall is that right before Nebraska became a powerhouse in the early to mid 90's, we actually got the tar beat out of us any time we played someone decent.

Mainly the years 89-91..........losses to Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma.............were embarrassing losses indeed......

And then something changed all of a sudden around the 92 season and we just got more physical......and we were more experienced, more weathered (with the exception of the QB position)........and as Tommie Frazier grew older, so did the Huskers. And eventually it turned into something great.

I see similarities with the way things are setting up now. Obviously we're comparing apples to oranges and all that, but I do see similarities.

 

[Red_Alert]

Well, I may only be 27 years old but I remember games back as far as 23 years ago.........and what I do recall is that right before Nebraska became a powerhouse in the early to mid 90's, we actually got the tar beat out of us any time we played someone decent.

Mainly the years 89-91..........losses to Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma.............were embarrassing losses indeed......

And then something changed all of a sudden around the 92 season and we just got more physical......and we were more experienced, more weathered (with the exception of the QB position)........and as Tommie Frazier grew older, so did the Huskers. And eventually it turned into something great.

I see similarities with the way things are setting up now. Obviously we're comparing apples to oranges and all that, but I do see similarities.

I've said a few times I feel like I'm back in the early 90's era again.

One way or the other the program is at a turning point. Get left behind as a third tier program (Top 16-25 or also receiving votes), solidify itself as a second tier program (Top 6-15), or a first tier program (Top 1-5).

Your 1990 correlation is the most accurate. Remembering that season (being a mere 4 years old) is truly fucking remarkable.

9-2 regluar season
Loss to Colorado (12-27)
Loss @ Oklahoma (10-45)
Lost to Ga Tech (21-45) Citrus Bowl

Ave mar loss = (14-39)

2011

Loss @ Wisconsin (17-48)
Loss to N'western (25-28)
Loss @ Michigan (17-45)
Loss to S. Carolina (13-30) Capital One Bowl

Ave mar loss = (18-37)

Similar to the early 90's, there's re-tooling going on in the program. Whether it yields similar fruition as it did from 93-99 remains to be seen. I'm looking forward to finding out. The suspense is killing me.

For now I'm hanging my hopes on being one more year out and Tommy Armstrong leading Nebraska to the promise land in 2013, 14 and 15.

A double digit winning season (with any losses not being so absolute), will be worthy of excitement going into next year.

If they do what they say they're going to do regarding discipline/focus etc..It's obtainable.

 

[Jack_John_Mark]

I grew up in a family that takes Husker Football so seriously that I was almost forced into it.

I have 4 uncles that are diehard Husker fans and we used to have them over to watch games downstairs in our Husker shrine. We had a big wood stove down there until the '92 season when we got rid of it, and I remember dad lighting that thing up every damn time. Got hotter than shit down there, but I loved it.

There are a lot of things I don't remember from my childhood, but I remember most Husker games because they were simply such a big deal to us.

Also still remember when my uncle somehow scored Derek Brown's practice jersey when he was a Freshman..........it was #27 then......he changed to #21 right before the season started. Not many people probably know that since he always wore #21 during games.

 

[Driaz]

I was always a Calvin Jones fan more than Derek Brown.....I always bitched that Jones didn't get more carries.....awww, the good old bad days of early 90's pre-absolute-fucking dominating mid 90's.......

 

[Exorbitant]

Legit

However, the media and fans (for the most part) were and are not criticizing anything other than what the players and coaches are 'themselves' now saying they're going to improve upon this season.

In fact, the current statements from players and coaches adds credibility that the criticism was in fact made by those with the ability to analyze and make proper judgement of the product put on the field week in and week out.

Instead of being defensive about the questions, Pelini needs to appreciate that he wouldn't have near the paycheck he's getting without the media giving the NU program coverage, and the fans who are buying the tickets, hats, t-shirts, et al.

Pelini needs to suck it up and stop attacking those that have reasonable expectations for the storied program that is Nebraska Football.

BINGO