RedDenver
New member
I can see your views here. I just view those same events less pessimistically (or less critically or whatever). I agree the Huskers looked unmotivated against Minnesota but not Iowa and definitely not Wyoming. I'm torn between whether the team was unprepared against MSU, or it was more that all 5 TO's involved freshmen. The schemes looked good on both sides of the ball against an eventual top 5 team. And definitely half-assed the second half against UCLA. Not sure what exactly to attribute that to.There were two clear games where it looked like the team didn't care (Minnesota and Iowa, maybe even Wyoming). There was another game where they clearly weren't mentally ready (I'm sorry but you can't turn the ball over like what happened against MSU and say they were prepared.). And finally there was one where they decided one half was enough effort (UCLA).That's a good point, but didn't the other teams in the B1G also struggle with Minnesota last year? SDSU and Wyoming were quite clearly the young defense struggling - the offense looked fine. Previous years against Iowa St., Fresno St., Wisconsin twice, and even Texas Tech and others, NU was clearly under prepared or lacking motivation or something.If it were only a Northwestern problem, I'd be happy to write it off too, but group Northwestern with Minnesota and Wyoming last year, or even the first half of the SDSU game, Iowa St, Fresno St and the rest, and it's a sign of the team not preparing for games that should never be in question.
Having we gotten better in that area the last 2 seasons? I think so, but do you? I guess the real question is whether we'll be better this coming season, and there's no way to know until we play some games.
So no, I wouldn't say there was improvement. I'd say it's been about the same. Which is a downer to be sure. I'm really looking forward to what kind of leadership Armstrong can bring though.
So my view is only one game where we were unmotivated (Minn), one a combination of preparation and youth (MSU), and one bewildering half (UCLA). MSU was reall good, UCLA was good, and Minn was decent, so not too bad compared to the previous years IMO. Maybe it's just a mirage, but I believe the team (coaches and players) is getting better at preparation and motivation.