Mgoblog.com is doing a preview of the Big10 West.
http://mgoblog.com/content/2016-b1g-west-preview#more
Their comments on Nebraska seem pretty even handed.
Nebraska
After firing perpetually 9-4 Bo Pelini, Nebraska hired Mike Riley away from Oregon State – who he’d built into a pretty good program despite falling off a little bit at the end. His first season in Lincoln was mostly a disaster: they lost six regular season games by just a score in different excruciating fashions and somehow were defeated by Purdue, 55-45. The final record was 6-7; the Huskers did upset Michigan State at home (one of few games in which the stars aligned for them, not against them) and won over UCLA in the bowl game after showing a newfound ability to run the ball. On the aggregate, it was a very disappointing year.
Perhaps the bowl game foreshadows a 2016 offense that takes advantage of QB Tommy Armstrong’s skills. Last season, he was frequently tasked with throwing the ball downfield, which led to a low completion percentage, a high yards per completion number, and 16 interceptions. Armstrong runs the ball well – against UCLA, he had 10 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown – so Riley might be forced out of his comfort zone to accommodate a run-heavy offense with a dual-threat quarterback. Seemingly by default, Armstrong is one of the better quarterbacks in the Big Ten and could be in for a better-than-expected senior season.
He still has a solid receiving corps. Jordan Westerkamp has had his share of insane catches in Lincoln and is on track to re-write some career receiving records at Nebraska; Brandon Reilly, Alonzo Moore, Stanley Morgan, and De’Mornay Pierson-El provide plenty of depth at the position. They’d be a good group in a pass-heavy offense, but Armstrong’s decision-making makes passing risky for the Huskers. Terrell Newby is a good scatback for what Riley likes to do and Devine Ozigbo would work well as a full-time I-back as a powerful option. The offensive line breaks in three new starters.
Defensively, there are questions. The Huskers had a pass defense prone to conceding big plays a year ago, and with the level of inexperience on the defensive line, there will be a lot of pressure on the secondary to perform better. Nebraska loses Maliek Collins and Vincent Valentine from the DT position; Freedom Akinmoladun is the main candidate to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks to give that secondary some relief. Third-year starter Nate Gerry is the headliner of that secondary (and not only the Huskers’ 2015 interceptions leader, but their leading tackler too); corners Joshua Kalu and Chris Jones need to perform better.
Nebraska has an intriguing non-conference game against Oregon and has a Big Ten schedule that features road trips to Madison, Columbus, and Iowa City, but it feels like they’re the strongest candidate in the league to regress to the mean in close games, which would indicate that the Huskers could surprise this season and win the West.
Your thoughts?
Go Blue!
http://mgoblog.com/content/2016-b1g-west-preview#more
Their comments on Nebraska seem pretty even handed.
Nebraska
After firing perpetually 9-4 Bo Pelini, Nebraska hired Mike Riley away from Oregon State – who he’d built into a pretty good program despite falling off a little bit at the end. His first season in Lincoln was mostly a disaster: they lost six regular season games by just a score in different excruciating fashions and somehow were defeated by Purdue, 55-45. The final record was 6-7; the Huskers did upset Michigan State at home (one of few games in which the stars aligned for them, not against them) and won over UCLA in the bowl game after showing a newfound ability to run the ball. On the aggregate, it was a very disappointing year.
Perhaps the bowl game foreshadows a 2016 offense that takes advantage of QB Tommy Armstrong’s skills. Last season, he was frequently tasked with throwing the ball downfield, which led to a low completion percentage, a high yards per completion number, and 16 interceptions. Armstrong runs the ball well – against UCLA, he had 10 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown – so Riley might be forced out of his comfort zone to accommodate a run-heavy offense with a dual-threat quarterback. Seemingly by default, Armstrong is one of the better quarterbacks in the Big Ten and could be in for a better-than-expected senior season.
He still has a solid receiving corps. Jordan Westerkamp has had his share of insane catches in Lincoln and is on track to re-write some career receiving records at Nebraska; Brandon Reilly, Alonzo Moore, Stanley Morgan, and De’Mornay Pierson-El provide plenty of depth at the position. They’d be a good group in a pass-heavy offense, but Armstrong’s decision-making makes passing risky for the Huskers. Terrell Newby is a good scatback for what Riley likes to do and Devine Ozigbo would work well as a full-time I-back as a powerful option. The offensive line breaks in three new starters.
Defensively, there are questions. The Huskers had a pass defense prone to conceding big plays a year ago, and with the level of inexperience on the defensive line, there will be a lot of pressure on the secondary to perform better. Nebraska loses Maliek Collins and Vincent Valentine from the DT position; Freedom Akinmoladun is the main candidate to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks to give that secondary some relief. Third-year starter Nate Gerry is the headliner of that secondary (and not only the Huskers’ 2015 interceptions leader, but their leading tackler too); corners Joshua Kalu and Chris Jones need to perform better.
Nebraska has an intriguing non-conference game against Oregon and has a Big Ten schedule that features road trips to Madison, Columbus, and Iowa City, but it feels like they’re the strongest candidate in the league to regress to the mean in close games, which would indicate that the Huskers could surprise this season and win the West.
Your thoughts?
Go Blue!
