I'm wondering what everyone is thinking thus far, half-way through the season. We are a bit banged up, but we have decent depth at those hurting positions.
Here are my grades for each unit and the reasons for those grades (in no particular order). These grades are slightly higher that I thought they'd be, but with our 6-0 record, I had to give props to players and coaches alike where they were due.
OL - (B) Through 6 games, 1 starting left guard out for the season and a few ankle injuries later, the pipeline has helped the running game work and allowing an average of 0.67 sacks per game which is tied for 5th nationally. Though Nick Gates is out this week to start the second half of the season, it's clear he is a bulldozer. Aside from him, sometimes the opposing D-Line can have its way with our OL (with the help of a stacked box of linebackers). And they've done it with both schollies and walk-ons. On several possessions through the Oregon and Indiana games, there were 2-3 walk-ons on the line in Hahn, Utter and Conrad. They did their jobs because Coach Cav has done solid work developing those guys who weren't heavily recruited. I originally had them at a B- because the 2nd and 3rd quarters have been a little tough to watch at times, but I bumped them from a B- to B because of the physical work Mark Philip has done with them and the mental strength Cavanaugh has laid out getting these guys ready for the 4th Quarter. Rushing total yardage is at 1,323 right now. Total TOP average is 35 minutes, good for 13th nationally.
QB - (B+) Though he has thrown interceptions, the turnovers are down significantly from last season (knock on wood). I originally had TA at a B because of the perplexing INTs that he throws sometimes, but I bumped him up because of the way that Langs, Riley and TA all work together here with him. Tommy has had a better year so far because MR and DL have set him up to succeed. He has run the ball well and passed the ball as good as he is capable of in good mixes through the first 6 games. He is given an easy-to-medium difficulty of passes, and the coaches don't make him throw those difficult passes anymore. There's also the factor that our WRs know how to get open in space. This, to me, is a great formula for success this year. Having 71/282 carries puts TA at 329 yards and 5 TDs; add in Ozigbo and Newby's carries and that's 229/282 carries between the three of them. Those 3 guys have been the key in the run game to being 6-0.
WR - (A-) Since Westerkamp's back injury against Illinois and Alonzo Moore's nagging shoulder injury, Stanley Morgan has been able to elevate his game and gotten more attempts, just like everyone thought he would. He leads the team with 16/88 total receptions-- but only with 1 TD. Westy has 4TD on just 13/88 receptions. As if we didn't miss him already, it only proves how valuable Westerkamp's is to our passing game. Hopefully he can make it back for Wisconsin, or at least Ohio State. On a similar note, Moore has been great at being a deep threat, averaging 25.8 yards per his 12 receptions. And oddly enough, Brandon Reilly has yet to score a TD this season, even despite his deep-ball threat capabilities and 26 per reception. Our receivers also are great at drawing pass interference calls and that's credit to Keith Williams' mentoring. I've never seen Nebraska get more defensive PI calls as I have under his watch. The team is averaging 15.9 yards per reception and receiving yards are at 1400 even. That's a huge reason why we are No.12 nationally on 3rd down conversions (40-for-81).
RB - (B+) With our bell cow Ozigbo out with injury lately, Terrell Newby has picked up the slack and saved his best season for his last one. Each game, I find myself saying about one of Newby's runs, "That was the best run of his career." I know that it is not easy to understand why it didn't come until his senior season to come to the form we thought he would when he was recruited, but he has been a good back this year. He's also been given 81/282 carries for 429 yards and 4 TDs. Ozigbo holds 77/282 and 320 yards and also 4 TDs. It will be nice to see Ozigbo come back because Newby had to take almost all of the carries vs Indiana (TA looked slightly hobbled and couldn't run as well). Reggie Davis is a very smart coach and has equipped his guys with good skills and habits. It will be fun to see how Bryant and Wilbon--and even Ozigbo--progress as the years go on under Davis.
TE - (B) Tavita Thompson has done a good job coaching these guys. With Carter out with the elbow injury, TT has coached up his players. Though Sam Cotton let Tommy's pass at Indiana tip into the wrong hands, if you go back and watch any of the games, they block well, run good routes and make good moves. Cethan Carter is just as good, if not better than the lineman at blocking opposing LBs. Really hope he returns soon before the latter part of the season. Additionally, the tight ends have been quoted saying Thompson is great at teaching them not just about the position but the overall scheme of things. He's doing a good job in recruiting, too.
DL - (B) I can't be the only one who has noticed, but Parrella seems to be slowly instilling the Blackshirt mentality not just to the DL but the whole defense. As far as stats go, Nebraska is not at the top of the rankings in this unit's regards. However, the DL has done some good things. Kevin Maurice has been a highlight to watch and Ross Dzuris has done more than many thought he was capable of. He got double teamed a lot against Indiana. The guy has a good motor and I don't think we have seen his best game yet. Dzuris is sitting with the most sacks at 3.5 and 21 solo tackles, Freedom and Maurice both have 2.0 sacks and 11 and 13 total tackles a piece. The DL has a ways to go and a ways to go still, and I think Parrella is doing the best he can with what he's got right now. He has 4 verbal commits already for 2017 and 1 verbal for 2018. Overall though, the DL has been productive.
LB - (B-) Besides the safeties, the linebackers have done a good share of the tackling.
Banderas has 30 total tackles, D.Young has 31; MRI - 24; Newby - 11. We are No. 19 nationally in 3rd down defensive percentage (24 given up out of 77 attempted). Though No. 19 seems low for production, don't be alarmed because Wisconsin is No. 6 and only leads us by 4 less 3rd down conversions (20 given up - 76 attempted). Sometimes, our LBs don't make enough of the tackles or pass break ups over the middle which puts a lot of pressure on our safeties and corners/nickels. The position has not been horrible, but definitely not spectacular or up to Trent Bray's standards. Hoping for a little more swagger, (like the DBs and Safeties) in the second half of the season. I still think Bray continues to develop his unit, and he's got a stalk of young guns learning from the older guys. He's also one of our top recruiters. That's how a great system starts. B- right now.
S - (B+) The safeties have the most tackles on the team. Out of our Top 5 tacklers, 3 of them are safeties. Kieron Williams leads all tacklers at #1 with 43 total tackles (28 solo). Gerry sits at #2 in total tackles at 37 and Kalu at #5 with 29 tackles so far (23 solo). Whether or not you think that is good or bad that the safeties have so many tackles is up to your own interpretation of the scheme. At times, Gerry and Williams bite too far toward the line of scrimmage and big runs happen (See Gerry bite on an Oregon receiver early on, and Williams bite on the fake reverse rushing TD against Indiana) However, this scheme that relies more on players in the backfield has put us at No. 29 in total defense, giving up 344.5 yards/game. They've got something there. B+.
CB - (A) Starting from game 1 up to game 6, I don't think I have seen a more improved unit than our corners other than QB/Tommy Armstrong. Aaron Williams, Josh Kalu (as nickel) and Chris Jones have saved so many big plays not just from regular route defending, but they have made great tackles in space, too. Kieron Williams may be the leading tackler on the team (which is awesome), but Jones and Aaron Williams may be the smartest and most athletic. Jones has 15 total tackles and (14 solo) and A. Williams has 21 total tackles (10 solo). While 10 solo tackles in space is not great, not many opposing QBs have thrown to the receiver that AW guards. Yes, the zone they play right now allowed our opponents to move down the field sometimes, but they tighten the screws when it counts. The corners get the highest grade because of overall improvement from last season. Brian Stewart is earning his check right now. A.
K- (A-) Drew Brown has a good leg. ZD is a good holder. Brown leads the team with 41 total points. Just what a kicker and holder should do.
P/PR - (C+/B-) The lowest grade of the team goes to this overall unit. They have allowed 2 blocked kicks against Fresno State and Indiana, and the only reason why they are not a C or C- is because of Lightbourn's kicking in Oregon game and DPE's PR in the same game. Lightbourn, aside from his *silly* punt-fake run, has a boot and can flip the field pretty well. Bruce Read has done some good things, but he still has quite a ways to go to earn his large paycheck. Quite a ways. Even though opponents know about DPE's ability, he has to find a way to get him open in space.
K/KR- (A-/C+) Though Drew Brown has not had a great amount of touchbacks, he kicks it high enough to about the 5 yard line so that the returner only gets about 10-15 yard returns. This is the area that Read has coached pretty well through the first 6 games. Our KR unit has been hungry to get to the returner quickly and physically. Midway through, they look prepared. Kick returners have a lot of room to improve still.
Let me know your grades and/or thoughts!
Here are my grades for each unit and the reasons for those grades (in no particular order). These grades are slightly higher that I thought they'd be, but with our 6-0 record, I had to give props to players and coaches alike where they were due.
OL - (B) Through 6 games, 1 starting left guard out for the season and a few ankle injuries later, the pipeline has helped the running game work and allowing an average of 0.67 sacks per game which is tied for 5th nationally. Though Nick Gates is out this week to start the second half of the season, it's clear he is a bulldozer. Aside from him, sometimes the opposing D-Line can have its way with our OL (with the help of a stacked box of linebackers). And they've done it with both schollies and walk-ons. On several possessions through the Oregon and Indiana games, there were 2-3 walk-ons on the line in Hahn, Utter and Conrad. They did their jobs because Coach Cav has done solid work developing those guys who weren't heavily recruited. I originally had them at a B- because the 2nd and 3rd quarters have been a little tough to watch at times, but I bumped them from a B- to B because of the physical work Mark Philip has done with them and the mental strength Cavanaugh has laid out getting these guys ready for the 4th Quarter. Rushing total yardage is at 1,323 right now. Total TOP average is 35 minutes, good for 13th nationally.
QB - (B+) Though he has thrown interceptions, the turnovers are down significantly from last season (knock on wood). I originally had TA at a B because of the perplexing INTs that he throws sometimes, but I bumped him up because of the way that Langs, Riley and TA all work together here with him. Tommy has had a better year so far because MR and DL have set him up to succeed. He has run the ball well and passed the ball as good as he is capable of in good mixes through the first 6 games. He is given an easy-to-medium difficulty of passes, and the coaches don't make him throw those difficult passes anymore. There's also the factor that our WRs know how to get open in space. This, to me, is a great formula for success this year. Having 71/282 carries puts TA at 329 yards and 5 TDs; add in Ozigbo and Newby's carries and that's 229/282 carries between the three of them. Those 3 guys have been the key in the run game to being 6-0.
WR - (A-) Since Westerkamp's back injury against Illinois and Alonzo Moore's nagging shoulder injury, Stanley Morgan has been able to elevate his game and gotten more attempts, just like everyone thought he would. He leads the team with 16/88 total receptions-- but only with 1 TD. Westy has 4TD on just 13/88 receptions. As if we didn't miss him already, it only proves how valuable Westerkamp's is to our passing game. Hopefully he can make it back for Wisconsin, or at least Ohio State. On a similar note, Moore has been great at being a deep threat, averaging 25.8 yards per his 12 receptions. And oddly enough, Brandon Reilly has yet to score a TD this season, even despite his deep-ball threat capabilities and 26 per reception. Our receivers also are great at drawing pass interference calls and that's credit to Keith Williams' mentoring. I've never seen Nebraska get more defensive PI calls as I have under his watch. The team is averaging 15.9 yards per reception and receiving yards are at 1400 even. That's a huge reason why we are No.12 nationally on 3rd down conversions (40-for-81).
RB - (B+) With our bell cow Ozigbo out with injury lately, Terrell Newby has picked up the slack and saved his best season for his last one. Each game, I find myself saying about one of Newby's runs, "That was the best run of his career." I know that it is not easy to understand why it didn't come until his senior season to come to the form we thought he would when he was recruited, but he has been a good back this year. He's also been given 81/282 carries for 429 yards and 4 TDs. Ozigbo holds 77/282 and 320 yards and also 4 TDs. It will be nice to see Ozigbo come back because Newby had to take almost all of the carries vs Indiana (TA looked slightly hobbled and couldn't run as well). Reggie Davis is a very smart coach and has equipped his guys with good skills and habits. It will be fun to see how Bryant and Wilbon--and even Ozigbo--progress as the years go on under Davis.
TE - (B) Tavita Thompson has done a good job coaching these guys. With Carter out with the elbow injury, TT has coached up his players. Though Sam Cotton let Tommy's pass at Indiana tip into the wrong hands, if you go back and watch any of the games, they block well, run good routes and make good moves. Cethan Carter is just as good, if not better than the lineman at blocking opposing LBs. Really hope he returns soon before the latter part of the season. Additionally, the tight ends have been quoted saying Thompson is great at teaching them not just about the position but the overall scheme of things. He's doing a good job in recruiting, too.
DL - (B) I can't be the only one who has noticed, but Parrella seems to be slowly instilling the Blackshirt mentality not just to the DL but the whole defense. As far as stats go, Nebraska is not at the top of the rankings in this unit's regards. However, the DL has done some good things. Kevin Maurice has been a highlight to watch and Ross Dzuris has done more than many thought he was capable of. He got double teamed a lot against Indiana. The guy has a good motor and I don't think we have seen his best game yet. Dzuris is sitting with the most sacks at 3.5 and 21 solo tackles, Freedom and Maurice both have 2.0 sacks and 11 and 13 total tackles a piece. The DL has a ways to go and a ways to go still, and I think Parrella is doing the best he can with what he's got right now. He has 4 verbal commits already for 2017 and 1 verbal for 2018. Overall though, the DL has been productive.
LB - (B-) Besides the safeties, the linebackers have done a good share of the tackling.
Banderas has 30 total tackles, D.Young has 31; MRI - 24; Newby - 11. We are No. 19 nationally in 3rd down defensive percentage (24 given up out of 77 attempted). Though No. 19 seems low for production, don't be alarmed because Wisconsin is No. 6 and only leads us by 4 less 3rd down conversions (20 given up - 76 attempted). Sometimes, our LBs don't make enough of the tackles or pass break ups over the middle which puts a lot of pressure on our safeties and corners/nickels. The position has not been horrible, but definitely not spectacular or up to Trent Bray's standards. Hoping for a little more swagger, (like the DBs and Safeties) in the second half of the season. I still think Bray continues to develop his unit, and he's got a stalk of young guns learning from the older guys. He's also one of our top recruiters. That's how a great system starts. B- right now.
S - (B+) The safeties have the most tackles on the team. Out of our Top 5 tacklers, 3 of them are safeties. Kieron Williams leads all tacklers at #1 with 43 total tackles (28 solo). Gerry sits at #2 in total tackles at 37 and Kalu at #5 with 29 tackles so far (23 solo). Whether or not you think that is good or bad that the safeties have so many tackles is up to your own interpretation of the scheme. At times, Gerry and Williams bite too far toward the line of scrimmage and big runs happen (See Gerry bite on an Oregon receiver early on, and Williams bite on the fake reverse rushing TD against Indiana) However, this scheme that relies more on players in the backfield has put us at No. 29 in total defense, giving up 344.5 yards/game. They've got something there. B+.
CB - (A) Starting from game 1 up to game 6, I don't think I have seen a more improved unit than our corners other than QB/Tommy Armstrong. Aaron Williams, Josh Kalu (as nickel) and Chris Jones have saved so many big plays not just from regular route defending, but they have made great tackles in space, too. Kieron Williams may be the leading tackler on the team (which is awesome), but Jones and Aaron Williams may be the smartest and most athletic. Jones has 15 total tackles and (14 solo) and A. Williams has 21 total tackles (10 solo). While 10 solo tackles in space is not great, not many opposing QBs have thrown to the receiver that AW guards. Yes, the zone they play right now allowed our opponents to move down the field sometimes, but they tighten the screws when it counts. The corners get the highest grade because of overall improvement from last season. Brian Stewart is earning his check right now. A.
K- (A-) Drew Brown has a good leg. ZD is a good holder. Brown leads the team with 41 total points. Just what a kicker and holder should do.
P/PR - (C+/B-) The lowest grade of the team goes to this overall unit. They have allowed 2 blocked kicks against Fresno State and Indiana, and the only reason why they are not a C or C- is because of Lightbourn's kicking in Oregon game and DPE's PR in the same game. Lightbourn, aside from his *silly* punt-fake run, has a boot and can flip the field pretty well. Bruce Read has done some good things, but he still has quite a ways to go to earn his large paycheck. Quite a ways. Even though opponents know about DPE's ability, he has to find a way to get him open in space.
K/KR- (A-/C+) Though Drew Brown has not had a great amount of touchbacks, he kicks it high enough to about the 5 yard line so that the returner only gets about 10-15 yard returns. This is the area that Read has coached pretty well through the first 6 games. Our KR unit has been hungry to get to the returner quickly and physically. Midway through, they look prepared. Kick returners have a lot of room to improve still.
Let me know your grades and/or thoughts!
Last edited: