Recruiting is all about the future... which is set up by the past. Happy with the Riley / Langsdorf combo for now, but was red-shirting POB a mistake?
Granted, there was encouraging off-field QB news during the season (Tanner Lee given a second year, Gebbia's commitment). But headed into this season Langsdorf not only knew that he had a stubborn non-pro-style QB in Armstrong and a serviceable guy in Fyfe, but that his offense was going to be unimaginative at best... and that kind of inconsistent play was not going to attract top offensive high school talent.
Playing POB over Fyfe would have shown OL recruits - skilled at pass blocking and catching the ball - that Nebraska was already moving into a new offensive direction. Plus it shows these coaches would give talented offensive recruits early opportunities to play.
All one has to do is look at USC's Helton. He came close to being fired, but he had the guts to switch from a serviceable QB (Max Browne) to a wunderkind Sam Darnold who saved the season, and now both are the new messiahs of So Cal.
Assuming that Lee, POB, or Gebbia are capable of leading an offensive charge, Nebraska will be a much better recruiting force for skills players and pass-blocking OL targets next year.
Granted, there was encouraging off-field QB news during the season (Tanner Lee given a second year, Gebbia's commitment). But headed into this season Langsdorf not only knew that he had a stubborn non-pro-style QB in Armstrong and a serviceable guy in Fyfe, but that his offense was going to be unimaginative at best... and that kind of inconsistent play was not going to attract top offensive high school talent.
Playing POB over Fyfe would have shown OL recruits - skilled at pass blocking and catching the ball - that Nebraska was already moving into a new offensive direction. Plus it shows these coaches would give talented offensive recruits early opportunities to play.
All one has to do is look at USC's Helton. He came close to being fired, but he had the guts to switch from a serviceable QB (Max Browne) to a wunderkind Sam Darnold who saved the season, and now both are the new messiahs of So Cal.
Assuming that Lee, POB, or Gebbia are capable of leading an offensive charge, Nebraska will be a much better recruiting force for skills players and pass-blocking OL targets next year.
