The Nebraska defense suffered a major hit when starting OLB David Santos and starting SS LeRoy Alexander both have left the team. No reason was given by new HC Mike Riley. Santos's departure really hurts Nebraska, who was very thin at the position to begin with. Nebraska now has only three players with any experience at all at the LB position.
Santos loss hurts. 5 of 8 LB's are freshman of some sort, and there are probably only 4 that are physically ready to play. DB is a very deep position on the roster and I have to imagine theyd try and lean on nickel packages as much as possible. Alexander is a very good player, but he was suspended all of last year for the same reason he's no longer on the team. And it was no given he'd be a starter. In fact, he was 2nd team all spring.
The positive approach for a team like Nebraska is the front end of the schedule. BYU, South Alabama, Miami, Southern Miss and Illinois will give the team time to mature and find its identity. The Corn Men should be 5-0 before hosting Wisconsin. Then we will see what kind of team Nebraska really has.
Been a lurker for awhile now, but want to try to get more involved and offer some insight on CFB when I can.
Have to say I completely disagree with you on your outlook for Nebraska BigdaddyQH. Nebraska's inability to get over the nine win hump and win big games had almost everything to do with Pelini and his staff, and very little to do with the talent on the roster. While there are some glaring holes in terms of depth on the team (LB, DT, and DE), Nebraska is very good in terms of talent on the two deep. I would be very surprised if this team doesnt end up 10-2 or better in the regular season.
Have to say I completely disagree with you on your outlook for Nebraska BigdaddyQH. Nebraska's inability to get over the nine win hump and win big games had almost everything to do with Pelini and his staff, and very little to do with the talent on the roster. While there are some glaring holes in terms of depth on the team (LB, DT, and DE), Nebraska is very good in terms of talent on the two deep. I would be very surprised if this team doesnt end up 10-2 or better in the regular season.
I agree. I have the Huskers down for around a 9-3 season give or take. We'll know how mentallty tough they are after their trip to Miami. But Miami has been underachievers for a long time now. And Golden is on the hotseat. So I give Nebraska a fighting chance in that game. The success of the Huskers will probably more or less depend on if they can stay healthy during that long stretch with no bye weeks until right before Thanksgiving.
The bye week setup is bad. By then some of those depth issues could have peeked their little heads. The top two pivotal divisonal games (Minnesota and Wisconsin) are both in October, which I think helps. If they can get those two, losing to Michigan State becomes more forgiving. They close out with Rutgers and Iowa. I don't expect NU to win the conference, but I give them a decent chance to win the division. Really, to me it's a two horse race. Minnesota just doesn't have the schedule/skill players this year.
