When do you think you will field a championship level team?
- Thread starter SpartanJD
- Start date
Hard to tell. It has been so long since we were more than just another "good" team. Dominance is a hard thing to achieve. But I think a lot of Husker fans think our current recruiting is above what it has been in years, so there is cautious hope for the future. We just need that one "break out" year to get us back to being a powerful team. Many kept hoping that Pelini would eventually have one of those years. But it never happened. I think Riley, if current recruiting keeps up, will have one of those years very soon. Heck, if our defensive line holds up it could be this year.
Well a championship level team and a dominant team are two entirely different things.
We all think the glory days "may" return. It seems at least a little likely that our future success is more spotty. Say, we end our B1G championship drought this year playing decent ball and getting a punchers chance in against OSU in a title game as they rebuild, but we may not necessarily be dominant in the coming years if the young QB's don't mature. So it might be a few years again before we have a championship team.
Don't confuse with this possibility, with "most likely". Its simply a scenario that could play out.
We all think the glory days "may" return. It seems at least a little likely that our future success is more spotty. Say, we end our B1G championship drought this year playing decent ball and getting a punchers chance in against OSU in a title game as they rebuild, but we may not necessarily be dominant in the coming years if the young QB's don't mature. So it might be a few years again before we have a championship team.
Don't confuse with this possibility, with "most likely". Its simply a scenario that could play out.
If I had to guess, we're probably 3 seasons away from a "real" championship run.
*unless* Tanner Lee puts on a hell of a senior campaign next year. We could be legit.
*unless* Tanner Lee puts on a hell of a senior campaign next year. We could be legit.
TBH, we're really not sure. We'd like to think that our current staff is recruiting at a high level. So, the future looks bright. We ended the season on a high note, but the season itself was so full of up and downs. We question the staff on it's ability to game manage. On flip side, we were competitive in almost every game. With the players buying into the new culture, the staff learning the roster, recruiting has garnered some high profile commitments and is in on quite a few others. How do you feel about your team? We beat you last year when you were ranked #6. I'm upbeat about the future. We certainly should do better than last year. Looking forward to the upcoming season!
Actually you were championship level last year and we found a way to beat you. We should be at least 10% better this year and again the next. If we reverse the turnover issues, we can beat anybody on any given day and a good chance of it the year after. Three years out can be a final four team ( hopefully goes to 8), with upsets anything can happen; but if we can keep staff; success will amplify.
If championship means win the west, then this year. If it means make the playoff, maybe 3. A lot would have to go right.
True but you were 6-7.
Consistency has been an issue it seems for NU. Especially your QB.
Most would agree with that even though winning a divisional title these days is harder than winning any of those eight team conferences from back in the day.
Even harder than winning the old 10 team SEC title b/c they would play just six or seven conference games.
Big Ten was always the toughest
We need to just step back and appreciate the recruiting that's going on! If Parrella and Cav can land a few more studs, this thing could really take off. I think we'll be back to an elite program (top10) within 2 years.
Drop the microphone.
John Cook is the premier coach at Nebraska and has been since Osborne retired.
You will know we are getting close when we have 1st Team All Americans and numerous high level draft picks.
They could be good this year but to me championship level means you make the playoff. I have no idea when that might be.
There is B1G championship level, and then there is national championship level. At NU, we better have our eyes set on national championship level. In other words, landing in the playoffs periodically. Personally, I think we are still light years away from consistently finishing at that that level. We're currently on the slow road to progress. This is better than the previous regime, but still will be a slow build at best.
You trolling Spartan? You've had a good run lately, and Dantonio is a stud, but everything is cyclical. Enjoy it as you could be back to the Smith years in the blink of an eye.
2003 Smith 8–5 5–3 T-4th L Alamo
2004 Smith 5–7 4–4 T-5th
2005 Smith 5–6 2–6 9th
2006 Smith 4–8 1–7 T-10th
Mark Dantonio (Big Ten) (2007–present)
2007 Dantonio 7–6 3–5 T-7th L Champs Sports
2008 Dantonio 9–4 6–2 3rd L Capital One 24 24
2009 Dantonio 6–7 4–4 T-6th L Alamo
2010 Dantonio/Treadwell 11–2 7–1 T-1st L Capital One 14 14
2011 Dantonio 11–3 7–1 1st Legends W Outback 10 11
2012 Dantonio 7–6 3–5 4th Legends W Buffalo Wild Wings
2013 Dantonio 13–1 8–0 1st Legends W Rose† 3 3
2014 Dantonio 11–2 7–1 2nd East W Cotton† 5 5
2015 Dantonio 12–2 7–1 T-1st East L CFP Semifinal at Cotton† 6 6
2003 Smith 8–5 5–3 T-4th L Alamo
2004 Smith 5–7 4–4 T-5th
2005 Smith 5–6 2–6 9th
2006 Smith 4–8 1–7 T-10th
Mark Dantonio (Big Ten) (2007–present)
2007 Dantonio 7–6 3–5 T-7th L Champs Sports
2008 Dantonio 9–4 6–2 3rd L Capital One 24 24
2009 Dantonio 6–7 4–4 T-6th L Alamo
2010 Dantonio/Treadwell 11–2 7–1 T-1st L Capital One 14 14
2011 Dantonio 11–3 7–1 1st Legends W Outback 10 11
2012 Dantonio 7–6 3–5 4th Legends W Buffalo Wild Wings
2013 Dantonio 13–1 8–0 1st Legends W Rose† 3 3
2014 Dantonio 11–2 7–1 2nd East W Cotton† 5 5
2015 Dantonio 12–2 7–1 T-1st East L CFP Semifinal at Cotton† 6 6
I watched this game on BTN last night. It is amazing how an offseason can make you forget just how good and then amazingly bad TA can be (emphasis on the bad). His INTs were terrible, consistently throwing off his back foot, and then he makes a couple great runs and throws and it is like he is a different player. I know this has been said 1,000 times on this site, but if TA doesn't stop throwing YOLO balls or passes directly to the middle LB, we will be in for a long season. Lets hope TA really learned to use his safety valves.
There are very few schools that can consistently compete for a national title year in and year out. Honestly, I doubt we'll ever reach that level again but there are very few schools that will. We need to set ourselves up for a run every three ish years when the talent on our roster and the schedule line up. In the years that we're not necessarily championship quality though we can't be 6-7.
There's too much turnover in college football for any school except for the elite of the elite recruiting wise (bama, Ohio state, Florida state) to be championship contenders virtually every year. For us, we need to continue to improve recruiting so that we have the talent so that in the year we get the breaks, we are able to take advantage of them. I mean take Michigan state for example. Were you really national championship level last year? Probably not, but you caught Ohio state on a bad day, snuck by Iowa and got in the playoff. Then you're playing with house money. We all know how that turned out but once you get in, you've at least got a chance.
There's too much turnover in college football for any school except for the elite of the elite recruiting wise (bama, Ohio state, Florida state) to be championship contenders virtually every year. For us, we need to continue to improve recruiting so that we have the talent so that in the year we get the breaks, we are able to take advantage of them. I mean take Michigan state for example. Were you really national championship level last year? Probably not, but you caught Ohio state on a bad day, snuck by Iowa and got in the playoff. Then you're playing with house money. We all know how that turned out but once you get in, you've at least got a chance.
I don't have a crystal ball. The way I read the OP, it's a matter of one good year. Well, Iowa had a good year last year. I suppose any given year COULD be a good year for us. WILL have a good year is a different story.
The way I read the OP, "when" is a year, not a given set of circumstances. We're not at a point where this year, next year, any given year is GUARANTEED to be a good year.
The way I read the OP, "when" is a year, not a given set of circumstances. We're not at a point where this year, next year, any given year is GUARANTEED to be a good year.
I actually very much welcome fans of the other teams asking respectful questions on our forums (I didn't think you were trolling at all).
To answer your question though, I don't know. We'll be better this year than we were last year. In my mind, that means 8-4. And we should be that or better going forward unless there is a really off year. But, to win the B1G, that means beating you guys, Michigan, or Ohio State (and maybe Penn State if they ever get on their feet again). I feel like you guys always offer a solid game, but you beat us, we beat you, it goes back and forth pretty evenly and it will kind of depend on the year. That is where we are as a program right now.
To consistently beat Michigan or Ohio State, though, we have to be REALLY good. I don't think we're going to be at that level for...yeah I would say most of the posters are right, we're about 3 years away from having a team that is dominant enough to win the B1G against the best of the East. And that is only if everyone develops well and reaches their full potential.
If you think about it, by then, the Davis twins should be seniors and beasts, our LB's and DB's from the last recruiting cycle should all be seasoned vets, and our O-line and receivers should be incredible behind either Gebbia or Obrien, who hopefully pan out as great quarterbacks.
We'll be laying hurt on people then. It's a pretty steady climb from here to there, though.
This is a good question, and I've thought about it for a few years. IMO, the answer is long and complex. I think there a few steps that must be taken before a championship discussion is even viable.
1. Fill up roster holes at key positions such as LB, DE, and Offensive tackle. Bo Pelini really let those spots dry up. People often point to Pelini's inability to recruit difference makers. I'd argue his biggest issue was the lack of players signed at those spots. A Big Ten team should always have a 10 to 12 scholarship linebackers on their roster in any given season. That's just a no brainer. And you should certainly have at least 4 to 6 scholarship OT's and 4-6 scholarship DE's per season. When Mike Riley took over Spring practice for Nebraska in 2015 he had 3 scholarship Offensive tackles, only one had ever played. DE included 2 walk ons and 2 young scholarship players coming off injuries with no experience. There were 3 scholarship linebackers. Mike Rose-Ivey was coming off an ACL tear. Marcus Newby had never seen the field. Banderas was the only guy who had played in 2014.
2. Improve the athleticsm on defense. This kind of goes hand in hand with the Linebacker and DE numbers. If you're forced to play walk ons with 4.9 speed as your primary Edge rushers, you're going to lose the ability to compete with elite skill talent. The secondary especially needs to be full of athletes. They've added 4-Star Avery Anderson, 4-Star Eric Lee, 4-Star Lamar Jackson, 4-Star Marquel Dismuke, Colorado Player of the Year JoJo Domann, Georgia All Stater Aaron Williams - who started last season. These types of hauls need to be replicated every year. The additions at linebacker have been equally impressive the last 2 cycles.
3. Create competition at QB. Coveted scholarship QB's need to be targeted every single season. If Plan A falls through, then move on to Plan B immediately. If a guy transfers down the road, then so be it.
4. Continue attracting high level skill talent. Nebraska has been doing fine in this department for a while now just because of the N on the side of the helmet.
If they can maintain improvement on the first 3 categories, I believe Nebraska can consistently make the Big Ten West their own little playground. With additional consistency and 10 win minimums, I believe Nebraska can attract top 15 recruiting classes and win the Big Ten.
Starting this year we should be able to field a division championship level team (mostly because Ohio St, Michigan and Michigan St are not in our division). Which puts us in a good position to win the conference obviously, but to field a team to win the BIG without being double-digit dogs will probably be another 2-3 years.
To field a National Championship level team? I would say 3 years at the earliest, 5 years at the most (hopefully).
To field a National Championship level team? I would say 3 years at the earliest, 5 years at the most (hopefully).
This was a really good analysis. I think you're spot on; the positions that Pelini kind of ignored or just didn't have good recruiting on are getting beefed up way better now, and we have coaches that seem to be getting many of the guys they want to teach and build up.
Yeah and a word on that, if we are being consistent (Mike Riley is recruiting and coaching well, and calling good games with his assistants), I think Nebraska should be a perennial contender for the West and fairly regularly show up in the championship game. This should mirror how we were in the Big 8 and Big 12.
Now, that means most years being able to beat Iowa and Wisconsin, it means having things go our way more often than not, and it means good recruiting and good coaching. I should think that success for us means going to the B1G Championship 2-3 times every 5 years, and actually winning it 1-2 times every 5 years. If we can do that ,and be a regular top 20 team again, I'll be happy.
I think everyone mentioning that the 90's days of steamrolling pretty much everyone we played are completely over with; the Big Ten is, in my opinion, a fairly competitive conference (and we are in the weaker side of it, by far), and there is just too much parity on the field now. By the way, one day soon, 'bama and tOSU are going to have their dynasties crumble. These things always go in cycles. Right now, we're trending up. That's as good as can be expected right now.
Its a much better plan than Bill Callahan throwing a lot of JUCO band aids on the wounds. Because that quick fix for 2005 or 6, created a lot of issues in 2007 and '08.
2016 and 2018 will be the biggest years for Riley. I think '16 needs to demonstrate some success to buy some time for a rebuilding 2017 team with a tough schedule. 2018 will have an experienced team full of Riley's players. That season will likely provide a good template for the future under Mike Riley.
Sorry but I hope you're older than you are younger
We still don't really know what type of coach Mike Riley is. We know he's a great man. We know he's honest. We know he wants to win but we still don't know if he can win. This year he has to show more than last year. I believe the 2016 has a ton of talent on it. More than I believe the 2016 MSU has. But I thought the 2015 had a lot more talent then their record showed (some disagree)
I believe if Riley doesn't win 9 to 10 games this year, he's never going to win championships here. A ton of people are in awe of his recruiting but I am still not sure. Coach Williams is amazing, coach Bray is very good, & Danny can land top QB's but outside of that, I am not sure if the other guys can close. We know that Bray & Williams cant do it alone and we cant live off of 3 stars every where else and expect to win the B1G let alone a NC. So until other staff members really start recruiting well and Riley starts having the huskers look great on the field, I am not sure we can have a "championship level" team under him. But I hope we can.
I believe if Riley doesn't win 9 to 10 games this year, he's never going to win championships here. A ton of people are in awe of his recruiting but I am still not sure. Coach Williams is amazing, coach Bray is very good, & Danny can land top QB's but outside of that, I am not sure if the other guys can close. We know that Bray & Williams cant do it alone and we cant live off of 3 stars every where else and expect to win the B1G let alone a NC. So until other staff members really start recruiting well and Riley starts having the huskers look great on the field, I am not sure we can have a "championship level" team under him. But I hope we can.
A number of line recruits under Cav have been 4 stars. A number of recruits on either side of the ball on the lines stands to pick up 4* before this year is over.
KW is certainly killing it, but we can't pretend that this is basically soley his and Bray's show. We're really putting forth a solid showing across all position groups.
Yeah, I'm really on the fence as well. I see great recruiting going on (I mean, compared to Pelini's very secretive and seemingly scattershot approach), and I see the team trending up. What haunts me though, is Riley's record at Oregon State (I know, not the same program, unfair comparison), and years of the program being in the crapper when it comes to consistency.
However, being a fan means I am hoping that the positive signs we are all seeing are the beginnings of a real sea change.
We will be competing for championships when we field a championship level defense. We wil field a championship level defense whe we have a great defensive coordinator. Now maybe banker morphs into that guy and certainly bring in more talent makes a difference. I argue however that talent on defense is less important than coaching. You can point out all the walkon's playing and holes in the roster you want to justify last year. This while Dantonio is playing in the final four starting three true freshmen in his secondary
I agree with your points about 2016. The team, the experience, and the talent is definitely good enough to win 10 games vs. this schedule.
As for the other coaches recruiting, not sure where you basing this info. Parella is the only coach without much of a proven recruiting record, and he's already secured commits from 2 Defensive linemen with 30 combined Power 5 offers between the 2 of them.
I tell you what... You give me Bama's defensive personnel from last season, and I will run Banker's scheme. In turn, you can have Nebraska's personnel from 2015 and Nick Saban.
If you think Saban's defense would be better I have some Beach Front property to sell you on Mt. Baker.
I agree. This team has the talent on paper to be really, really good. But as I mentioned in a post above, I watched the 2015 game vs. MSU last night on BTN, and it sobered me a little from the off season kool-aid. TA was TA. And he almost lost that game for Nebraska several times with terrible decision making. If TA doesn't figure it out, then we are hosed. A talented team cannot overcome constant turnovers.
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