Year 4 Expectations

Canadian Fan said:
I agree....I'm just fearful that our S&C program did no favours to Matt Farniok by adding too much weight at the expense of nimbleness.  With Benhart already challenged to move laterally very quickly due to his huge frame, S&C better not encumber him with any more weight that would further slow his already heavy feet.
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Farniok was ok here and there, but when it came to having to move his feet to get into position, he couldn't do that very well at any point in his career. 

 
southernoregonhusker said:
That glorified high school team went 9-4 in 2016.  2017 rolled around and the administration hired Bob Diaco.  The same Bob Diaco Frost beat this season.  The same Bob Diaco PURDUE kicked to the curb after one season.  Eliminating him alone should have improved Nebraska's defense by leaps and bounds.  Instead, Frost was hired and he stupidly got rid of a bunch of players.  One of which was a first team All Pac 12 linebacker last season.

Today, Nebraska's offense is a glorified high school unit as there are absolutely no playmakers on it.  None.  The two best playmakers have quit in subsequent years.  Wandale, McCaffrey and Martinez were the only three players anybody worried about on the offense and the former two are gone.  People expecting more than 4-5 wins are in for a rude awakening.  Again.  And those numbers are generous.  In what many consider the weakest division in college football.  This offense will be uglier than the 2009 one.  Yet, many Nebraska fans will be back in 2021 talking about 10 wins after what could easily be an 8-9 loss season making excuses for Frost and laughably still blaming Riley.  
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2016 was an easy schedule and we had a bit of momentum created by a front loaded easy schedule with the one outlier, a squeaked win against the weakest Oregon team in over a decade.

2017 was all on Bob Diaco?  He isn't good but he was far from the reason we stunk that year.  In 6 of our losses that year we scored 24 of fewer points.  One of those we put up 17 against power house Northern Illinois.  We capped our scoring explosion that year with a whopping 14 points against Iowa in a 56-14 beat down.  Sounds like a group of kids Scott should have really kept around...smh.  

I agree, losing Wandale hurts some but whether he was here in 2021 or not will not decide the direction of this program.  McCaffrey on the other hand really doesn't move the needle imo.  What exactly has he done?  What was he really going to do to change the program going forward?  

Yes, many Nebraska fans will remain optimistic because they can see the changes.  We are recruiting a different level of player on both sides of the ball.  From bigger, more athletic linemen & linebackers, taller receivers, and the best tight ends in the country.  We are starting to win in the trenches and showing flashes of what will come.  Nebraska will be a much better team in the future.

Those of us who are realistic know we won't be competing for championships in 2021 but there is no reason we can't take a significant step forward.      

 
southernoregonhusker said:
That glorified high school team went 9-4 in 2016.  2017 rolled around and the administration hired Bob Diaco.  The same Bob Diaco Frost beat this season.  The same Bob Diaco PURDUE kicked to the curb after one season.  Eliminating him alone should have improved Nebraska's defense by leaps and bounds.  Instead, Frost was hired and he stupidly got rid of a bunch of players.  One of which was a first team All Pac 12 linebacker last season.

Today, Nebraska's offense is a glorified high school unit as there are absolutely no playmakers on it.  None.  The two best playmakers have quit in subsequent years.  Wandale, McCaffrey and Martinez were the only three players anybody worried about on the offense and the former two are gone.  People expecting more than 4-5 wins are in for a rude awakening.  Again.  And those numbers are generous.  In what many consider the weakest division in college football.  This offense will be uglier than the 2009 one.  Yet, many Nebraska fans will be back in 2021 talking about 10 wins after what could easily be an 8-9 loss season making excuses for Frost and laughably still blaming Riley.  
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Nebraska's SP+ ranking in Riley's 9-4 season: 33

Nebraska's SP+ ranking this past season: 32

If you cut through the bologna, the 9-4 season was Riley inheriting a veteran team Pelini had been cooking for three years, and then winning a bunch of close games against an easy schedule early while getting killed by everyone with a pulse late in the year. I wish people here understood the difference between a good record and a good team and a bad record and a bad team. We'd all have a better time!

 
Hilltop said:
2016 was an easy schedule and we had a bit of momentum created by a front loaded easy schedule with the one outlier, a squeaked win against the weakest Oregon team in over a decade.

2017 was all on Bob Diaco?  He isn't good but he was far from the reason we stunk that year.  In 6 of our losses that year we scored 24 of fewer points.  One of those we put up 17 against power house Northern Illinois.  We capped our scoring explosion that year with a whopping 14 points against Iowa in a 56-14 beat down.  Sounds like a group of kids Scott should have really kept around...smh.  

I agree, losing Wandale hurts some but whether he was here in 2021 or not will not decide the direction of this program.  McCaffrey on the other hand really doesn't move the needle imo.  What exactly has he done?  What was he really going to do to change the program going forward?  

Yes, many Nebraska fans will remain optimistic because they can see the changes.  We are recruiting a different level of player on both sides of the ball.  From bigger, more athletic linemen & linebackers, taller receivers, and the best tight ends in the country.  We are starting to win in the trenches and showing flashes of what will come.  Nebraska will be a much better team in the future.

Those of us who are realistic know we won't be competing for championships in 2021 but there is no reason we can't take a significant step forward.      
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There wasn't any reason for that not to happen the last 2 years as well and the excuses and whining about why that didn't happen are ridiculous. 

 
KingBlank said:
There wasn't any reason for that not to happen the last 2 years as well and the excuses and whining about why that didn't happen are ridiculous. 
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Stumpy1 said:
And Frost's best year was because he had veteran players from Riley.  
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Other than the complete turnover of the roster, optional workouts during Riley's tenure, drastically increased strength of schedule, Covid, the addition of the transfer portal, and cancelled games, I would agree with you.  

Riley's average strength of schedule during his 3 years was 46th.  Bo's average strength of schedule over his last 3 years was 35th.  Scott's average is 30th with the last 2 years being 25th.  

Those not accepting the reasons are just not willing to look at the situation.  I have no problem with high expectations but I do know how much of an impact our fan base has on coaching decisions.  If a large enough portion of the fan base is complaining, pressure starts being applied to those in power to make a change.  I believe SF will have great success here and I think it would be a mistake to call for his head prior to him having a fair opportunity to perform.  As long as Covid continues to decline and they get a normal spring, fall, and season, that fair evaluation really starts this season imo.      

 
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