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Six "Ifs" for NU

It's funny how none of the national pundits say we actually WILL have a killer season, but they're ALL covering their butts by saying "It's sorta kinda maybe possible", just in case HCSF & Co. pull off another miracle undefeated second season, just so they can say "See, I predicted that!"
 

IMO what it means to me is how far and fast Nebraska has come on the national stage. Going to require serious results this season if national respect is going to continue growing.
 



BasilLongfellow said:
I don't know what that Joker is talking about, but I pick the Big Red to go undefeated and win the NC every year.

2019?


Looks like Champs to me!!!!


We've got a great team!
Click to expand...
25623
 




ESPN was probably considering our past performance and below roster when they compiled these 6 IFs, [3 deal with our defense];

Counting this recruiting class, Nebraska has 21 20 "247 Composite" four star athletes on the team out of ~146, including transfers and walkons:

2019 (#18) = 8 [Henrick, Ty Robinson, Benhart, W. Robinson, McCaffrey, Noa Pola-Gates, Darrion Daniels -transfer, Green]
2018 (#23) = 6 [Martinez, Jurgens, Washington, Jones, Wildeman, Tannor]
2017 (#23) = 1 [McQuitty] 5 others left team [Lindsey, Roberts, Gebbia, Johnson, Blades]
2016 (#26) = 4 [Jackson, Rairdon, Dismuke, Farniok] 1 other left team
2015 (#30) = 2 [Lee, Anderson] 2 others left team
21

QB = 2
RB = 2 1
OL = 3
CB = 1
ATH = 2
S = 3
WR = 1
W/SDE = 3
TE = 1
ILB = 1
DL= 2

Some of my IFs/needs:
All of our 4 stars need to step up and play at the level they were ranked at and be contributors if not starters.
Our 3 stars need to develop in Duvall's program [they all do] and learn their assignments in HCSF's system.
Duvall's program needs to produce like Epley's did.
We need some walk-ons to develop and produce like they used to.

I believe that HCSF will develop our team into a title contender but he needs to pull in more high rated athletes in the 4 and 5 star level. We haven't had a 5 star since Lucky in 2006. We need to recruit at the level of OSU, PSU, and Michigan and accomplish these needs and IFs.

Other top B1G teams: From 2016-2019 - these teams signed the below "247 Consensus" 4 & 5 star players:

B1G...5 Star/4 Star
OSU:.........13/61
PSU:...........5/46
Mich.......... 3/44
Iowa…........1/5

Clemson....10/38
 
Last edited:
Well, first off, NC is not gonna happen, clearly we all are more than aware of that. But I see NU being drastically better. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see NU represent the west this year. First, NU wasn’t as bad as the 4-8 record would seem to indicate. There were some just weird things that happened last year. Combined with first year in a system stuff, culture shock, 2nd HC in 3 years, 3rd DC in 3 years, and on and on. I could see NU as a 9-10 win type team this year. Maybe a couple things need to go our way to get there but hey, we’re due for some of that.
 




Bean said:
This article kind of makes you realize how much NU has to improve from last year:
Six ifs (and counting)
www.espn.com

How each top CFB contender can win the national title

How many questions does your team have to answer in 2019? That will go a long way to determining if it's a legit contender or not.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
Nebraska (+4000)

i

If ... the Scott Frost Second-Year Miracle Leap happens twice. Let's face it: In the game of "One of these things is not like the others," Nebraska is the standout on this list. The other 16 teams we're talking about in this piece averaged 10.8 wins between them in 2018. Nebraska went 4-8. And while the Huskers certainly showed upside and improved late in the year, so did division mate Minnesota, which finished with a better record (7-6) and S&P+ ranking (45th vs. 49th) and returns more of last year's production than NU.

So really, the only reasons for Nebraska being given even semi-friendly title odds are (a) it's Nebraska (we always leap to proclaim a blue blood "BACK!!"), and (b) Scott Frost pulled off a second-year leap at UCF. That's not a lot to go on, but hey, anything's possible. Even if this isn't all that possible.

If we're treating NU as a legit contender, though, the Huskers get the ifs treatment all the same.


If ... Adrian Martinez pulls a McKenzie Milton-style sophomore leap. Milton went from intriguing to amazing in Frost's second year. Martinez, with his 65% completion rate and 6.7 yards per non-sack carry, certainly qualifies as intriguing, but the bar gets awfully high, awfully quickly if you're comparing yourself to Milton.

If ... new go-tos emerge in the skill corps. The Cornhuskers will attempt to take a huge step forward without a 1,000-yard rusher (Devine Ozigbo) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Stanley Morgan Jr.).

If ... the run defense goes from outright atrocious to good. NU was 102nd in rushing marginal efficiency allowed last year.

If ... a pass rush emerges. 112th in sack rate.

If ... the secondary improves dramatically despite losing last year's top three tacklers. You know what? We'll stop at six ifs, but I think you get the idea here. Barring another second-year miracle, this is not a national title contender.
Click to expand...
Excellent post. I think it's likely that Martinez and "go-to" skill corp players step up and become exciting elements of the 2019 Huskers. If Martinez stays healthy, the sky's the limit for the offense. IMPO, the defense still lacks the talent to make a lot of progress and will be the Achilles heel for this years team. Specifically, the defensive line has a lot of bodies, but nothing elite stands out. There still are no dangerous pass rushers at OLB and without a strong pass rush, the secondary will continue to struggle. This years version will need to rely on an outstanding offense to continue to compensate for a porous defense.
 
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