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Nebraska Isn't Back Yet
Hello. My name is Mike DeArmond. And first off, understand that I never wanted to be meeting you like this. In the blogosphere.
Vlogs? Short for video logs, that has been another thing. As some of you well know. Particularly the ones who upon viewing my sometimes twisted perception of all things college football and basketball, are not shy about declaring that I simply must be drunk.
Let me say (burp), that I have not been drinking. Whether you believe that or not.
Anyway, back to the point. I never wanted to write a blog. For one reason. I always figured that if something was important enough to be mentioned in a blog, then it was important enough to be mentioned in a story that would be printed in The Kansas City Star.
Perhaps this blog will wind up there as well. Perhaps not.
Anyway, my bosses here at The Star have prevailed upon me - and the rest of the college writers - to join the blogosphere. And these days in journalism, when the boss prevails . . . well, the boss prevails.
So I will give it my best shot. From time to time, I will hit you with a factoid, a taste of what is coming in a future story. And some opinion, sometimes knowing that my opinion may really bring out the Jayhawk or the Cornhusker or the Sooner in you.
Go ahead, say that my opinion is no more valid than yours. You are correct. No more valid. No less valid, either. Just an opinion.
Here’s one: those people picking Nebraska to win the Big 12 North are abso-tooting-lutely nuts.
This would include the venerable Phil Steele of Phil Steele’s (Venerable) College Football Preview fame.
I wrote about Steele’s prediction of Missouri finishing fifth in the Big 12 North earlier in the summer. I neglected to mention that Phil also picked Kansas to finish fourth.
See, every time I - as the Missouri beat writer - drop a Kansas reference into a story I get tons of email from equal parts Missouri and Kansas fans, most of them reminding me of how much they despise each other.
Well, now Cornflake fans can fill up by email at mdearmond@kcstar.com.
The only reason I can see anyone picking Nebraska to win the North over either Kansas or Missouri this fall is they think Tom Osborne is recruiting and coaching the Cornhuskers instead of recruiting and being the athletic director and boss to Bo Pelini.
I can see a logical person - like myself - picking Kansas as the favorite. Todd Reesing is the most proven quarterback in the Big 12 North by a long shot.
KU also has one of the two best receivers in the league in Dezmon Briscoe and a real gamer at wide out in Kerry Meier.
Sure, KU’s offensive line appears suspect. And all those linebackers have to be replaced. But you can see picking Kansas to win the North.
I think Missouri - the Big 12 North’s representative in the league title game the past two seasons - is a solid No. 2 pick.
Yes, the Tigers lost a ton on offense in Chase Daniel and Chase Coffman and Jeremy Maclin and Colin Brown and William Moore, etc., etc., etc.
Yes, the Tigers are replacing Daniel with a little tested if greatly hyped Blaine Gabbert at quarterback.
And a Missouri defense that so disappointed last year has to rely on a lot of new players coming through this fall.
But do you think the MU coaches forgot how to recruit after Daniel and Coffman and Maclin and the rest signed on?
Here’s where I shake my head in wonder at anyone picking Nebraska over Missouri but over Kansas as well.
The Cornhuskers have an inexperienced quarterback, lost just as much as Missouri on offense, don’t have a running back of the caliber of MU’s Derrick Washington. Shouting The Blackshirts Are Back! seems based more on t he hope that Bo Pelini is a defensive genius rather than a first-year college head coach that was simply better than Bill Callahan.
(An aside. Remember Nebraska fans, you can leave your thoughts here or email them to mdearmond@kcstar.com).
Surfing the internet last week I ran upon this contention put forward by Alex Ferguson at Bleacherreport.com.
“Didn’t Bo Pelini do well in his first year at Nebraska? Expect them to be a contender for the Big XII North title this year. The blackshirts are back!!”
Notice the double exclamation points.
Bleacherreport.com lists this statement in Alex’s bio:
“I'm Alex, I'm from London, and I have a job as a journalist. About insurance. If there’s anything that can drive the person truly mad, its years of writing about insurance.”
Here, really, is the main thing that leads me to believe Nebraska will NOT win the Big 12 North and could finished behind either Kansas or Missouri.
The schedule.
Kansas plays arguably the top two teams in the Big 12, hosting Oklahoma and playing at Texas. The Border War game with Missouri is again in Kansas City, where the Jayhawks and Tigers have split the last two games. KU should be favored to win the rest of its league games, including Nebraska in Lawrence on Nov. 14.
Missouri’s toughest league road game will be at Oklahoma State. The Tigers play host to Texas, and play Kansas in KC. The Tigers should (I contend) be favored to win the rest of the games, including Oct. 8 in the league home opener against Nebraska. Often ignored fact: Missouri has beaten Nebraska three straight times in Columbia by an average of 23 points a game.
Nebraska plays host to Oklahoma, but running around in front of the home folk doesn’t mean much against the Sooners. A Nebraska team that isn’t Oklahoma plays AT Missouri and Kansas.
There now. I feel better. I’ve finished my first real blog. I don’t feel nearly as dirty as I thought I would.
Posted in
I just had to read this again after watching how the season has unfolded so far. Mizzou and KU both have zero chance of winning the division and it has come down to NU or KSU with Colorado holding a slim hope. Looks like Phil Steele was much closer than you were, Mike.
Also, the Blackshirts are back.
Since Derrick Washington is so awesome, you'd think he'd be on the Doak Walker preseason watch list. But he is NOT. Guess who is? Roy Helu Jr., that running back from Nebraska...the one that's not the same caliber as Washington. Good call on that one.
First, if Blaine Gabbert had gone to Nebraska, Husker fans would be drooling about how awesome their offense was going to be with him at the helm. And rightfully so -- he's the most talented quarterback we've ever had here.
That said, he's no Chase Daniel YET. And Jones is no Chase Coffman YET. If Denario can come back to his pre-injury form, that's someone to get excited about. But he isn't a Maclin and never will be.
Nebraska did NOT lose just as much as Missouri on offense because they didn't have near the talent to lose we had. Chase vs. Ganz. Maclin vs. Swift. Coffman vs ??? Peterson? If you really they their guys are as good as ours, you are delusional.
Truth is I really don't think you think that, either. But it was expedient for your argument that anybody picking NU is nutty. Objectively, that simply isn't true, as the Big 12 media has demonstrated. Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, even Colorado -- we all have question marks.
Fact is we DID lose more talent than anybody else but we also have great talent to reload with. Kansas lost 3 of their top 4 tacklers from over the last few seasons and their offensive line is a complete project. But they have skill players coming back on offense and Stuckey is a stud on defense. Nebraska has one of the better OL's and certainly the best DL in the north. That's where a lot of games are won or lost.
I'm picking Missouri because of our talent, best OL, and schedule. But nobody is nuts to pick Nebraska or Kansas. Your suggesting otherwise, and the expediency in which you trash some of the best players in Tiger history, tarnishes the credibility of your judgments.
First things first, If your tigers were soooo good where is there big 12 title.... Still waiting! Second where is there national championship trophy? Dont worry still waiting.... Oh and why did The best QB in Mizzou history not get Drafted? Waiting again....
Heres why you cant answer those questions, Because no matter what MU does they cant win Big games. Never have and Most likely no matter who runs that team, wont.
They were supposed to go all the way last year and did a decent job of it, that is till they had to play teams from the south division. You can win the north all u want but until you can close the deal you really are an irrelevant team. Even K state has won a big 12 title ove the last ten years. MU cant seem to pull that rabbit out of the hat yet.
All that talemt and when it mattered most they couldnt produce. So save all the Nebraska bashing until your school comes anywhere close to the accomplishments we have amassed here in Nebraska.
As far as KU goes, they are a lackluster team. They also cant not close the deal. Las tyear showed that they were indeed a fluke in 07. There schedule was soft in 07 and when they had to play good competition they fell apart. Reesing is a good QB but he is not enuf to save them. And having one decent reciever isnt going to win you a division. Yes they have a beast at linebacker but he can only tackle when he is near the ball so he is not the saving grace they hoped for either.
I wish them luck tho and hope they make the north competitive and we all enjoy this season.
Your comparison of the two teams is irrelevant. Does winning national titles and Big XII Championships prove nebraska will be good this year? Do you know the new starters at nebraska are better than the new starters at Mizzou?
Chances are, Mizzou has better current players than nebraska. That's based solely on recent performance. Your championship players are either in the league, home or jail. Not on this year's team.
IF anything, Mizzou should get the lean to be a favorite over nebraska in the North.
because this is the easiest score that MD & the Star have had in a looonnng time!!
MD, you didn't want to do this blog because while you are a Mizzou fan through & through, you didn't want to embarrass the fans wearing red. But duty calls. Your profession & employer come first. So here it is now, you've got them globbing up stick bait like the flatheads sucking the bottom of the Missouri, Platte, Big Blue, Little Nemaha, Elkhorn, etc, etc.
Of course you knew it was going to be easy as did your bosses. Raise 1 questions about a red teams ability or probability and BAM!! They take the bait! The hits on the site just keep coming. Mission Accomplished!
They're soooo predictable!
Hey when Mizzou can stop jaggin off long enuf to win a big game, Talk shit. Until then tuck your head in shame and do something constructive. Or just watch espnu and relive Mizzou getting thrashed in every big game. Helps me,lol
How is it a score when the blogger and his employer look incompetent at best? You think the Omaha World Herald or Lincoln Journal Star would allow some random hack with no respectable credibility shoot off some incoherent ramblings about Missouri? Not likely. The only reason there were so many hits on this site is because folks heard the rumors of people finding the worst sports blogger ever...and they had to see it to believe it. If this asshat and the Star want more hits, keep posting these comedic write ups with absolutely no merit.
Missouri is not only replacing most of its starting offense and defense, it is also replacing both its offensive and defensive coordinators. That is HUGE and you have to factor in a learning curve for an already young team.
Kansas lost 3 of its top 4 defenders from a defense that gave up almost 30 points per game last season and has a questionable offensive line. Kansas also plays at Texas, Oklahoma and at Texas Tech. A lot of teams would go 0-3 there.
I appreciate the fact that you are playing the homer for your location, but I'm afraid that Phil Steele has applied a little more time and few more stats to his prediction. Good Luck this season. As a Husker, I'm hoping that you will need it. :-)
"Missouri is not only replacing most of its starting offense and defense, it is also replacing both its offensive and defensive coordinators. That is HUGE and you have to factor in a learning curve for an already young team."
They hired within. So the new coaches know the system through and through. I will say that Yost (the new OC) will be better and less predictable than Christensen was.
Not as HUGE as you seem to make it. MANY Mizzou faithful are much happier with these guys as the coordinators than the prior two.
Came across an interesting fact on Tim Griffin's BIG XII Blog:
Derrick Washington, Missouri
No. of 100+ Yard Games: 3
Career High: 139
Roy Helu Jr., Nebraska
No. of 100+ Yard Games: 3
Career High: 166
Quentin Castille, Nebraska
No. of 100+ Yard Games: 2
Career High: 125
"The Cornhuskers...don’t have a running back of the caliber of MU’s Derrick Washington."
- Mike DeArmond
FAIL.
Who were the 100 yard games against for each player?
Washington played the final eight or nine games of the season with a leg injury that required surgery at the end of the season. Not bad for a one-legged running back.
Helu only started 2 games in 2008 and Quentin Castille started just 1. And not to mention that Helu was hampered by injury at the start and end of the year. Not bad for backups.
The only thing I can glean from your "Mlog" - Myopic Log - is that you are either a Husker Hater, don't have the first clue to Nebraska football, or just like chasing butterflies in left field while play is going on elsewhere.
You said Reesing was by far the most proven QB, well yeah, but depending on which point of view one takes that is. I saw an awful lot of "proven" from Todd when his eyes get real wide when pressured, and even moreso when he's being sacked. He proved that he is human, that's it.
You also stated that NU doesn't have a RB the caliber of Washington of MU, OK....remember to write a retraction on this part after the MU v. NU game if you would please. Fair is fair afterall.
I think quite a lot of people will be surprised by just how good the Huskers actually are this year, to include yourself - maybe not though with your Myopia resurfacing out of remission(if it ever was). And by seasons end, will you be as outspoken about NU's performance this year, as you were about it before the first kickoff to start off the season?
And what if NU(Heaven forbid right?) beats Va.Tech, and also Heaven forbids MU, KU, and gulp!, OU?...are you going to be just as generous with the props for NU then as well, or are you going to do the old journalistic two step to get out of the quagmire you insist on putting yourself in?
I'm not going to say NU is going to win all 3, but I too can claim logic and reason and say whatever I darn well please for my choices without so much as proof for making such claims. As far as those 3 games themselves however, don't be surprised by how well NU puts their pride and tradition on their sleeves when they suit up for those contests.
I can't wait for your Mr. Logic - Part Deaux
by 14+ points. Hopefully, you will be able to show yourself after that game.
Zac Lee Played Division II Football... THESE ARE STATS FROM CC OF SANFRANCISCO, YES THE SAME SCHOOL AS MO PURIFY......
Zach threw for 2,116 yards 20 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions. He completed 63.8% of his passes and had a quarterback rating of 173.6.
So for all who think he has no experience you are sadly mistaken.
Zac Lee did not play D-II, he played at a junior college. Jucos are where players go for 2 years to either improve their academics to get into a D-I school or to enhance their profile to get more interest from D-I schools. D-II is smaller 4 year colleges like UNO or Northwest Missouri State which usually don't have the same caliber of players as jucos or D-I.
It matters not what level you call it. Stats count and if u have not paid any attention, A lot of the players that come from Juco schools have amazing talent and play hard games. So Zacs stats still count and he is going to take us where we want to go. So sit back and watch
prediction/goal of '09 for a JC player?
Sometimes it works. Other times, not so well. Big difference between JC & D1 FB.
WoW Your comments created some of the best Nebraska reading I've read in awhile! Thanks Guys!
Bo and Co. are going to be kicking some North Div @ss! I wonder what Quarter they'll pull Reesing so he doesn't get hurt too bad?? 2nd or 3rd?? LOL
Go Big Red!
And as far as KU and Mizzou go, they are not the same teams without key personel. Kansas fell apart after the 07 season they sucked something awful. Need I remind you that they killed us by forty points in 07 and we beat them with the same team by ten in 08. So what team do you think is going to show up when they have lost even more players as of last season. Mizzou was great the last two seasons but couldnt Keep it up when it came to winning the Big ones. Sure run the table in the north but Go limp when the south shows up, Guess thats what gives you so much confidence.
Its not just about winning your division its about winning the conference which Neither Ku or Mizzou has been able to do. So Get your facts together before embarrasing yourself in a blog. You should have stood up more feverishly to your bosses.
Just in case your huskers don't beat MU, you lean on the South Division to beat us in the big game. What's that say about yourself?
First let me start by saying that i love the fact that so many people are doubting The Nation. More crow for you to choke on next year. Anyway, Look we have had a bad few years. Everybody knows that, But if you didnt watch last season or just dont want to admit what you saw let me remind you. Pelini took a 5-7 team and took them to a 9-4 record in a matter of months. 2: It was the same team, not a bunch of seasoned vets who just had a bad coach. It was a team that literally gave up and barely survived that year. That says a lot about the abilities we had that were unrealized. And what a coach can do when the players believe in the system and them selves.
You can say we are not back but with what i saw last year it was a team that won those games not just a QB and a couple of recievers. They were inspired and dedicated to the cause, and even in defeat pulled together and made one hell of an effort. We had an awesome off season and recruiting was very well put together. I look forward to winning the north and putting the big 12 back on top. Yes the south has dominated and the North has failed to make a dent as of late but that is all going to change.
Zach Lee has been in the system for several years now, Just like Ganz was and you saw how he responded when he got his chance. We also have some pretty damn good players coming back so just wait. You can down the Big Red all you want but we are goin to show and prove that the North is ours again. See you in September.
I'm not buying Nebraska just yet. I hate to say this, being a Mizzou alum and fan, but Kansas has the strongest team this year. I guess I don't buy Nebraska just yet because each of the last couple of years, when they were ranked in the mid Top 25, they've not played up to their potential and fell well out of the Top 25. I'm not sold on their QB play.
I can't say much for MU because we don't know what we have yet with Gabbert. I think Nebraska has some good defensive players, but I just remember MU ripping apart that D last year. Now, granted, that was Maclin, Coffman and Daniel. But, besides Suh, I don't see anyone really making a name for himself. I may be wrong. I hoping for an 8-4 record for MU this year, with a win over either Kansas or Nebraska and I'm not counting quite yet the game against Illinois. But, I haven't been really impressed in the past with Kansas either. It just seems like there's a bunch of ho-hum teams at the top of the North, that won't beat Oklahoma or Texas, and may not beat Oklahoma St. or Texas Tech for that matter. They'll just beat up on themselves and then get thrashed in the title game. I may be wrong.
I guess, until I see a team from Nebraska that just thumps everyone, like in the past, has a Heisman QB and gives Texas and Oklahoma a run for their money, I just can't buy the Kool-Aid. And I think Pelini is a good coach, and I can see the direction he's leading them to. But, I just don't think they're going to reach the level of Tom Osbourne's teams.
I still think it's going to take one or two more recruiting classes to get to winning the Big XII title game for Nebraska. But, they use to come into KC and just own the big time recruits. Now they have to compete with KU and Mizzou, and MU has just about closed the doors in the state. KU is building on their successes and getting the better recruits in Kansas. K-State, with Snyder back, is working the recruiting in Kansas again. I think the days of Nebraska destroying MU and maybe Kansas, are over. KSU, its going to probably take someone besides Snyder to right that ship. Colorado is another team I'm not buying the Kool-Aid with either and Iowa State is Iowa State. Enough said.
But, being the MU fan that I am, I think MU is going to be the wrench in Nebraska and KU's season. I just have this sneaking suspicion that Gabbert could pull a Bradford and sneak up on people when they least expect it.
But, I digress, I just want a bowl win.
Guys, I love being a Husker fan, I love that in the worst decade out of the last five to be a Husker fan it's still incredibly difficult to keep us from filling up every big xii north stadium for road games, I love that tickets for the NU-VT game are trading at almost the same level as OSU-USC tickets. I love us.
But stop taking the bait from guys like this. We are still, regardless of on-field failures over the past seven seasons, the only game in town for people who write about big xii north football. And in this case, you have a writer, taking issue with a SMALL majority of writers who pick Nebraska to beat Kansas for the North Division title, which apparently is a big deal. I mean at least save it for columns calling us hicks, or telling 35 year old jokes or you know Lawrence Phillips/Christian Peter references, real venom. The only thing really irritating in the column is the preening, "look at me, I'm soooo very, very baaadddd" way he kept dropping in his e-mail address. Sir, if you are that desperate for attention, surely Bravo has a reality show ripe for your audition tape.
Before engaging other big xii north fans, think about it. How much would you hate a team's fans if they beat Nebraska 25 straight times or 29 times or 18 times or 36 times? It's impossible to calculate. So you know, be empathetic. We have five National Championships, all of them undefeated, all of them in post-integration college football. Between the five of them, they have 1/2 of one that took five downs to get. (And those five downs...get under TWO of the fan base's skins.) So lighten up, they don't have anything we want. If we're still competing with them, we got a lot of work to do.
Worst decade Nebraska has had had since the 50s, and worst one they'll have for another 50 years, and yet....
2000-2008
Nebraska 74-40
Kansas State 65-48
Missouri 62-49
Colorado 55-58
Kansas 52-56
Iowa State 46-62
Really does make me feel like our time is done, and the guard has been changed and all that. I don't think we can do worse then this. We fired two coaches, had one team completely quit, played an entire season with JOE DAILEY at QB...I think we've done all we can do for our big xii north friends. Not to mention all of the shiny new things built over those years built by Husker fans filling largely unattended football stadiums.
And for the rest of you, those that can't stand the Big Red and their fans...The last four non-Nebraska Big XII title games, the North has lost 212-44, that's 53-11 per game to you and me. Maybe you should start wishing that Nebraska was back, so that we could start having a real two division conference again.
That was a very good post, however...
You said "And in this case, you have a writer, taking issue with a SMALL majority of writers who pick Nebraska to beat Kansas for the North Division title..."
Actually...
Here's a look at the Big XII media balloting, with the number of first-place votes in parentheses, followed by the point totals.
North Division
1. Nebraska (17) 172
2. Kansas (12) 164
3. Missouri (3) 124
4. Colorado 100
5. Kansas State 81
6. Iowa State 33
South Division
1. Texas (17) 174
1. Oklahoma (15) 174
3. Oklahoma State 130
4. Texas Tech 89
5. Baylor 75
6. Texas A&M 33
I have been a Husker fan for more than 55 years, and I've seen ups and downs. Being a fan does not mean that you have to be blind or unrealistic. I reluctantly agree with the blogger that we are probably not back yet.
Why?
On offense, we lost our only experienced quarterback, our best two linemen, and our top three receivers. That's a lot to replace. Some of the replacements may be as good, but it's unlikely that all will be.
On defense, we lost our second and third best defensive linemen. Don't forget that it was Potter who tipped those two interceptions to Suh that created all the hype about him. I'm not convinced that Turner can replace him nor that anybody we have can replace Steinkuhler immediately.
We may take a step back this year to 7-5, losing to Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, Texas Tech, Missouri and Kansas.
If so, I won't be discouraged. Even Devaney and Osborne had their ups and downs before reaching the brass ring.
Pelini is the right guy, and eventually we'll be back, but maybe not just yet.
Logic has taken a major hit today. Blogging shouldn't have been the thing to make you feel dirty. Rather, the complete lack of any argument for your point should have been the thing that made you feel unclean. You didn't get the memo that blogging doesn't mean you can throw journalistic integrity out of the window. You've been listening to your bosses too much and what they probably have to say about those "dirty bloggers" out there. You see, bloggers are going to replace you (sports writers) one day because of stuff like this (see Tim Griffin).
who does his fair share of research, but we should take it from a drunk newspaper columnist that can't even make a smart decision regarding getting on the internet after boozing???
Mike, do us a favor, you dissheveled fata**. Get to Price Chopper, put your application in for produce boy, and then tender you resignation from the Star immediately. If indeed you are still employed by the Star.
Let me explain it to you. Nebraska DID NOT lose more than Missouri on offense, and they most certainly didn't lose as much on defense. How you can make the comment on us losing as much on offense is simply mind-boggling.
Here's why Missouri lost a lot more on offense than did Nebraska. There is a lot greater disparity between C. Daniel and B. Gabbert than there is between J. Ganz and Z. Lee. Understand? Missouri is replacing a 3-year starter and Heisman runner-up, while Nebraska is replacing a one-year starter that wasn't all that fleet of foot or strong-armed to begin with. He had spent 4 years in the system...period. But in terms of physical ability, Zac Lee is much more of an athlete than Ganz, and has a much stronger arm.
There is a much greater disparity between J. Maclin and J. Perry than there is between N. Swift and N. Paul. Paul is actually much faster than Swift was. There is a substantial disparity between C. Coffman and A. Jones. And BTW, we still have our big-play TE.
You lost arguably your 3 best players EVER at their respective positions. And you're replacing them with little more than dog meat. We lost a good reeceiver with average speed, a serviceable QB, and a walkon wideout. Start making sense.
Do you really think J. Perry or D. Alexander are going to get the separation on defensive backs that Maclin got? Do you think A. Jones is going to roast safeties and LBs like Coffman did? And after looking like crap in the Missouri spring game against a vanilla defense, do you really think Blaine Gabbert is going to just step in and replace Daniel? If you're answering in the affirmative...it's probably time for another Big Gulp-sized glass of Hennessey.
Oh, and never mind the fact that Ziggy Hood, by far your best defensive lineman, is gone, as are 2 of his starting brethren on the D-Line. You have 1 starter back, who was average at best last year. Teams are going to run on that defense all day long. Just watch...it's gonna happen.
Your LB crew is the only redeeming quality of a defense that finished in the 100s in total defense. You lost Moore, who although he was injured, he was still a leader for your DBs. Losing Bridges may be a blessing actually, but your defense is taking a step back.
What's funny is that you write for Missouri, and you're too stupid (or drunk) to realize that your offense is going to take a substantial step back.
Compare that to Nebraska, who has a QB in place that has been in the system for 2 years, is faster and has a better arm than Ganz, and has an entire year of experience playing QB against the best JUCOs in the nation. Say what you will, but that IS more than Gabbert has in terms of experience, as well as more time in our offense. And, as opposed to Gabbert, who stunk it up in your spring game, he had a very productive spring game.
Marlon Lucky is finally gone, and we replace him with 2 better running backs in Helu and Castille. You may have seen Castille scorch a Top 10 defense (Clemson) in our bowl game. Both have better vision and aggressiveness than Lucky ever had.
On defense, NU brings back 3 starters from last year's front 4 (vs 1 for MU). Vs Missouri, we are young at LB, but our athleticism takes a big step forward at that position vs last year.
In the defensive backfield, we bring back 3 positions with starting experience. Our defense is going to take a pretty big step forward simply because they will be in their 2nd year in a new system.
Now...get your head out of your a** and stop wasting people's time. Cripes, you're a sports journalist. Start acting like you actually understand this game called football.
"Oh, and never mind the fact that Ziggy Hood, by far your best defensive lineman, is gone, as are 2 of his starting brethren on the D-Line. You have 1 starter back, who was average at best last year. Teams are going to run on that defense all day long. Just watch...it's gonna happen. "
...this is one of the worst evaluations to determine who has the edge in the Big XII North I've seen in quite some time (probably ever). Your logic is absurd at best. You claim NU won't win because they "have an inexperienced quarterback, lost just as much as Missouri on offense, don’t have a running back of the caliber of MU’s Derrick Washington". Ok...does Mizzou have an experienced QB? No. Did NU lose the best offensive weapons in school history? No. Does NU have A running back as good as Washington? No. They have two. Then you go on to say that the schedule is the main reason you believe NU will not win the North. If anything, that goes to NU's favor because the Huskers only play one Big XII South power while KU and MU play two. So NU plays at MU and KU...so? What's your point? You say, "Often ignored fact: Missouri has beaten Nebraska three straight times in Columbia by an average of 23 points a game." Umm SO? Nebraska beating Missouri for decades didn't help them in 2003 did it? It's a new season and previous glories don't mean a damn thing in 2009. Really, why CAN'T Nebraska win the North? Their chances are just as good, if not better then any team in the division. In my opinion, the logical pick to win the North is Nebraska, with Kansas a close second. Sorry to say it, but the Tigers are on the way down, while the Huskers are coming up. NU has out-recriuted every North team and has the most talent...now they finally have a coach to develop that talent. The Huskers are going to be the favorites in the North for years to come. But personally, I don't care who wins the North cuz my Longhorns or, as much as I hate to say it, the Sooners will win the Big XII Championship with little fight from whoever the North sends to Dallas. But as an unbiased outsider, the safe pick to win the North is Nebraska. Just my opinion though.
HOOK 'EM!!!
Wow, and I thought the ESPN writer Tim Griffin was bias.
Anyways, on to the matter at hand,
do you really think playing in Lawrence is going to make that much of a difference, a stadium that is in no way feared, especially by the Huskers?
Reesing was sacked 5 times last year, and that was without our original starting DE Barry Turner, Jared Crick is a man-beast ready to step in for Ty that will be able to take alot of pressure off of Suh.
Speaking of Suh, wasn't it Kansas that gave Suh (a defensive tackle) an offensive touchdown? ouch...
Yeah Zac is in-experienced, however he has plenty of time to get his feet wet, he has a completely better arm than Ganz did...and Ganz by the way was really not a good QB, anybody with one eye open could have seen that. If it hadn't been for Ganz paying his dues, Lee may have been the starter last season.
The receiving core will be much better than expected, Niles Paul, and Menilik Holt have proven to be Aces. Curenski Gullliyen will be solid, and Anthony Bell will make an immediate impact. Oh, and Mike McNeil is the best kept secret in the Big XII.
Briscoe will have a tough time this season with Anthony Blue covering him, who didn't play last season because of a pre-season injury who will be the best CB that NU has had in a long time.
You should do a little more research before you go saying NU doesn't have a running back...we have two of em'.
Helu ran for a 7.2 yard average, and Castille ran for a 9.8 average last season against KU, so does that mean Kansas has NO defense then?
The defense will continue to get better as they did all throughout last season as they figure out Bo's defensive schemes. NU had the best defense in the final 4 games in the Big XII, and also had the best defensive game in all the bowl games, holding arguably the nations best running back combo. with Clemson to just 4 yards rushing, an average of .2 yards per carry. With the secondary being completely healthy thus far in the pre-season, NU looks to not only give up nothing on the ground, but nothing in the air either.
So come on, wake up, go get yourself a cup of Folgers, and realize what you just wrote was absurd. This isn't 2007 anymore, KU is on its way back to mediocrity, especially after Reesing is gone, which might call for black roses in Lawrence as you lay to rest your football program once again.
"do you really think playing in Lawrence is going to make that much of a difference, a stadium that is in no way feared, especially by the Huskers?"-bigdawg1345
I do seem to remember the same Todd Reesing, Dezmon Briscoe, Kerry Meier, and Jake Sharp (that you will see again this year) dropping 76 points on the VAUNTED BLACKSHIRT defense the last time they came to Lawrence...must have just been the water?
I think they outscored the combined point totals of the basketball wins of the jayhawk v. corncobb games that season.
It had nothing to do with the water. But It may have had something to do with Kevin Cosgrove wearing the title of defensive coordinator at Nebraska in '07. Ya think? Maybe?
Wasn't last year enough evidence how much difference Pelini made on defense in his first year? We were in your backfield all day long, repeatedly hitting Reesing and sacking him 5 times. Would have been 6 (and one less TD for KU), had Eric Haag wrapped up on Reesing when he hit him. Instead Reesing spings around after Haag doesn't wrap his arms around him, and throws a TD to a wide-open Kerry Meier. Gee, I wonder if that TD had anything to do with our defensive backs stopping on the play when they saw Haag hit Reesing.
Sucks, but it wasn't the only TD we gave you that day. We also fumbled a punt inside our own 20 that led to another KU TD. This game should have ended up a near-blowout...and we give you those cheap TDs. Grrrr...
to sound like a tigger with all the excuses.
The fact is the Huskers haven't played well in Lawrence or Columbia lately/2 & 3 trips. Maybe Bo will make all the difference tho. Maybe the great Husker fans will be able to buy up lots of empty seats in the stadiums also. Maybe.
Apparently the 2007 Husker D is playing at Kansas this season instead of the 2009 Husker D. Are you that stupid? Nebraska had the worst defense in the Big XII (and in school history) and ranked 112th nationally in 2007. That same defense, with a few new players, went on to finish 2nd in the Big XII in total D and 55th nationally in 2008. Most believe they will be better in 2009. Why is this? Bo Pelini is one of the best defensive minds in football and learned from some of the the best in Bob Stoops, Pete Carroll and Monte Kiffin. Why do idiots think previous games mean a single thing for the up-coming season? WHY?!?!?! Am I the only one who get this? 2007 DOES NOT MEAN A SINGLE THING IN 2009!!!!
P.S. I do seem to remember the same Todd Reesing, Dezmon Briscoe, Kerry Meier, and Jake Sharp (that you will see again this year) LOSE TO NEBRASKA IN 2008.
You see? It doesn't matter! Different year can yield different results.
Your post = FAIL
Mike,
I had a good laugh with this blog. I am sure with the last two year flash, you Mizzou fans think this will go on and on. Get real. Your Missouri team had its chance the last two years to do some damage in a down year for the Big 12 north. A win and a tie. Big deal. Where did you rate nationally? You had your best shot ever last year and even your nose candy qb couldn't make the national grade. Everything in life is cyclical. You are headed down the curve buddy.
Vegas has your team's over under at 6 1/2 wins. NU and KU @ 8.
Odds to win the Big 12 title, NU and KU 5-1, Missouri 20-1. TWENTY TO ONE! Whew take a little wind out buddy?
Odds to win National Championship, Missouri 100-1,
KU 100-1, NU 50-1.
Sorry dude the flash is over........BTW Vegas doesnt maintain the most gorgeous casino's, and cheap food by putting out lines that arent real.....bye
Mike, I can't blame you for the bias, because everyone does it. However, to say that NU lost as much as mizzou in terms of offense is a bit of a stretch. Nebraska lost its leading receivers sure, but mizzou lost 2 heisman candidates and a Mackey award winner. By the way, mizzou lost 7 starters to the draft, not including Chase Daniel. To say that Nu does not have RB of the caliber of Derrick Washington is absurd. Yes Roy Helu only had 800 rushing yards last year, but you clearly overlooked the fact that he did that in 125 carries, averaging 6.4 yards, which happens to be higher than Washingtons's 5.9. Look a little deeper next time you're researching.
And yes, Nebraska will lose to OU next year at home. No doubt. No doubt either that KU will lose to them or Texas either. The way I see, the north comes down to the winner of KU-NU.
p.s. its spelled DEZMON Briscoe. Come on, I'm an NU fan and I knew that.
Moose. You da man. You get my editor's award on catching the incorrect spelling. Seriously, thanks.
I would consider myself unbiased being a KU and NU fan (although completely biased against Mizzou and all they claim to stand for). First off, I buy the fact that Kansas will contend and possibly win the north. BUT I don't think Mizzou will beat Nebraska OR Kansas. Have they lost the ability to recruit? Not necessarily, but they only had this ability for 1 or 2 classes (Pinkel factor). As 'the Chases' go, so goes the Missouri offense. And they are long gone. Second, Kansas will lose to Texas and OU (for certain). And Nebraska at least stands somewhat of a chance against OU, being a home game. To sum up...the game between Kansas and Nebraska will mean everything. The winner of that wins the north (unless of course Mizzou pulls one out of their butts and beats KU).
You have a very logical argument. However, I see the North being a toss-up between KU and NU and Mizzou finishing 3rd. Nebraska will have a stout D-line and somewhat suspect linebackers and secondary. Zac Lee doesn't have any D-I starting experience but has been around for 2 years and spent a year at a juco before that. I think you are wrong saying NU doesn't have a RB. Roy Helu will be as good as Washington and NU also has Quentin Castille who ran all over Clemson in the Gator Bowl.
As for MU and KU, you forgot to mention that Mizzou lost both coordinators. That will have a huge negative effect. Mizzou will lose to Texas, OK State, and Kansas. Mangino is a good coach but KU will lose to Oklahoma and Texas. Nebraska will lose to Oklahoma. If you consider the games between MU, KU and NU toss-ups, then it should come down who wins between KU and NU for the North crown with MU in 3rd.
Their offensive line is going to be horrific. Reesing will be behind the worst offensive line in the entire Big 12 in 2009. Their defense won't be any better than last season.
Mizzou is being disrespected. The players know it. The coaches know it. They will use this to their advantage.
The huskers will give everyone a show this season. We are a complete team this season and we will show everyone that we are indeed worthy of the North title. Zac Lee has experience in big games as a starter as a Freshman at a premier D2 school. STATS AS FOLLOWS: As a freshman, Zach threw for 2,116 yards 20 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions. He completed 63.8% of his passes and had a quarterback rating of 173.6.
Not to mention 2 backs that accounted for a ton of Offense last season and one who hurdled atleast 5 defenders on the way to over 800 yrds.
Our recieving core is going to b fast and strong. Dbs are going to b involved and our takeaways are going to be there as well,
The D line is going to be savage and the fast fresh LB core is going to cause all kinds of headaches so get ready cuz we are comming. Back? Not completly but in the drivers seat most def. So hang on North division you are in for it...
You may be overstating this a bit. But Reesing could well experience a senior year much like Chase Daniel did. When you're the center of the bullseye, sometimes you take an arrow or two.
pick your nose on national TV.
Coach Watson's WCO/Spread-Option would hardly be called a "running game." Yes, NU should have their best running game since the turn of the century. They finally have the horses up front on the OL, and maybe the best 1-2 back combo in the league; if they can gel early, Wats will take every North Division team to the limit.
But, Wats can only do that if Zac Lee, performs as he expects. And Zac will deliver. He's a gamer, and cut from his Dad's mold. Castille was complaining (in fun) that NU's QB was not supposed to be faster than their RB's. Zac Lee will make NU fans forget about Zac Taylor and Joe Ganz as he heads up Wats best offense at NU.
Our TE's (McNeil, Reed, Cotton) other than Gresham (OU), are going to prove to be one of the best groups in the Big 12, giving our WR's enough slack early on to get their timing down with Zac.
NU has some big time talent at WR with a freshman sensation, Antonio Bell, along with some seasoned vets like Chris Brooks that showed up big time in the Spring Game. Meno Holt and Niles Paul are big and physical and are ready to step in and produce, while the guys with speed to kill, Mendoza and Gilleylen are young waiting to burn some folks. Khiry Cooper, a freshman is also a big time talent, but a little behind as he played on the baseball team.
You pretty much nail the defensive front four, they should be special with some good backups to fill in.
LB play should finally start to resemble somewhat Bo expects it to finally become. Matt May is special talent, and will be one of the fastest LB's in the league. Sean Fisher is also a special talent and should show up big time this year. Compton should contend for the starting role by mid-season, but NU has so many good athletes at LB now, it is a matter of time for this to become a strength. Eric Hagg will be name you will remember, as he will play nickel and dime both and he is an all-Big 12 talent.
Safety play is still the big concern. Asante should play his best and third year. Thenarse has the talent but still must show he has the mental part down. There's talent coming behind him, watch out for P.J. Smith to climb to the #1 slot at here FS.
Prince Amukamara could well become our first lock-down corner for some time. Anthony West coming back should do well if he can hold off Anthony Blue who was phenomenal until he was injured; if he is back like new, NU will have its two best CB's in a decade.
Alex Henery is an All-American and will win the close games for NU this year, and help win games where it is hard to get into the end zone, but the offense will still score.
Given that MU lost both of their key coordinators, Pinkle is in a pickle...and will do well to secure third place in the North IMO. Gabbert has talent, but is the kind of QB that NU and Bo loves to play against, as he gets rattled and makes bad mistakes.
After this year NU will be the NU that KU, KSU and MU always hated, as they come up short year after year, moreover, on the wrong end in win/loss column when playing NU.
GO BIG RED!!!
1. Mr. DeArmand - just because it's a blog and not an article doesn't mean you shouldn't put any thought into it at all. It means that you are free from editorial control and can write whatever you want. I suppose it is your own standards that judge whether you want to think about what goes in your blog before you type. But remember when you blog, you don't have an editor to clean up your little messes.
2. Missouri? Really? they lose a 3 year letterman and Heisman runner up and expect to replace him with Blaine Gabbert, whose greatest accomplishment so far is being the shining star of Bill Callahan's eye? Think about that. Bill Callahan thought he could be great. Ask Harrison Beck how that works out for a QB.
3. Not to burst everyone's bubble, but QB is not all that essential a position in Shawn Watson's system. During his 7 years at CU as a co-ordinator, they finished 1st in the North 4 years, with a 3rd and two 4ths thrown in. His QB's during those years? Brace yourselves. . . Mike Moscheti, Craig Ochs, Bobby Pesavento, Robert Hodge, and Joel Klatt. Not a single All-Big 12 performer there, boys. In fact, during taht seven year stretch, only three times was a CU quarterback named All Big 12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK! What they did have during that time was 8 all big 12 linemen, and 2 all big 12 Tight Ends. Again, just making the point that QB in this system isn't all that important, unlike Missouri's spread offense. See, a little analysis to back up a Husker Rant never hurts.
4. As for KU, you lose your entire linebacking corps (the strength of your defense last year) and you're young in the secondary and haven't settled on anyone but Stuckey on any position and you changed around your defensive system to run a 4-2-5. And that's supposed to scare people? Admittedly, your offense should be great with Reesing, Sharp and Meier and Briscoe. But complete teams win division championships in this league, and I'd say NU is teh more complete team.
6. Of course that's just one viewpoint. LET'S KICK IT OFF THIS WEEKEND AND START FINDING OUT!
Nothing wrong with debating that Mizzou or KU could win the North. Their recent success and talent parity suggest that is reasonable. As an NU fan, I am optimistic but realize we are far from bulletproof and not back to the elite OU level yet. However, I believe we will there in the not too distant future, but until we do others are certainly entitled to their opinion otherwise.
I think most realistic NU fans expect that we can split those two key road games at KU and MU, given that each team has a few warts of their own. We could just as easily win both or lose both, they figure to be close. I think you will see NU and it's fan base approach the season with a quiet confidence and optimism, but the overt chest thumping is hardly necessary or the norm.
I hope NU destroys Gabbert....if we sack him more than 5 times in that game or he somehow comes up hurt or in tears, the season will be a success. I'm sorry, I just can't stand Mizzou/Pinkel/Daniel/and now Gabbert after the . . . he pulled with recruitment.