Ladies and gentlemen, the tenure of Scott Frost as head
coach at Nebraska has been horrendous.
When the golden haired former Husker National Championship quarterback,
a greater majority thought, including me, that he would turn around the Big Red
woes in short order. In evaluation of the past results, thing have gotten
worse. Frost is 12-20 at NU, losers of several close games without a signature
win. Add in the excessive penalties,
incompetent special teams, attention to detail and flawed execution and you see
signs of fire over by the dumpster. At
this point, this has the markings of a colossal failure, but an inside look
would seem to indicate that the future may be brighter than it appears. Frost will field his most veteran and
complete team; a bigger, faster and stronger team that has some strong on the
field leadership with a stout defensive unit leading the way. But, that sunshine and lollipops aside, for
this ascension to occur, many aspects of team improvement will need to emerge.
In review, there is not one position group that should not be improved in 2021
versus the performance of a year ago.
Some position groups are poised for significant improvement. So, while
the schedule is among the toughest in the land, this is the best team Frost has
had and if they win the ones they are supposed to, and beat somebody as a dog,
the ‘Huskers will be bowling, and more, again. So, let’s have a look at the Big
Red for 2021
OFFENSE
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| QB Adrian Martinez Photo: Cornnation.com |
Despite Adrian Martinez having 21 starts at the vital position of quarterback, performance at the position has been average at best. Martinez displayed some very impressive skills performing at a very high level as a true freshman, but his play, partially due to coaching, scheme, turnovers and/or injury, has regressed significantly during his career. In fact, Nebraska has benched him several times, but none of the replacements have been able to seize the opportunity. For 2021, the job belongs squarely to Martinez, who appears mentally and physically ready for the challenge. Without question, Martinez has the physical tools, but the mental aspect of the game, most notably protecting the football, must be improved. The weapons at Martinez’s disposal are seemingly improved, so there is really no excuse for the quarterback play to not be significantly improved. We appreciate Martinez’s skills and mentality, so we expect significant improvement, but for Nebraska to challenge for the division, it will have to really be material. Logan Smothers and Henrich Haarberg are battling for the backup job.
The receiving room, while lacking overall in experience, appears stronger by emerging growth and a new face. That new face is Somari Toure, who is collected 1495 last season at Montana, is a veteran player who has assumed some leadership since his arrival in Lincoln. Toure can really be a difference maker for the Big Red. Omar Manning, at 6’4” 225, was a JUCO All American and has the skillset to become an honors candidate if he can jump to the next level, and he has shown signs of being on the verge of doing just that. Xavier Betts had some moments are a freshman last year, but he has yet to play to his outstanding ability. We think he will continue to emerge. Oliver Martin, Levi Flack and Wyatt Liewer all have experience and can make plays. Will Nixon and Alante Brown are players who have turned heads of the coaching staff and will likely become significant contributors this fall. True freshman Latrell Neville is big and fast, and he is certainly one to watch, particularly into the future. Kamonte Grimes and Shawn Hardy are getting looks. While young, this unit has high level emerging talent and should help Martinez regain some old form.
The tight end position was a weapon for Frost at UCF, and while Nebraska has been incorporating more action for the tight end room, with the talent on hand, Nebraska could have among the best group of tight ends in the country and we expect increase activity as a central piece of the offense in Lincoln. Austin Allen, at 6’8” is a very talented piece for the Husker offense, and we think he excels potentially with over 30 catches. Travis Vokolek is also very talented and he will also play an integral role, perhaps in line for 20 catches himself. Chris Hickman, who has deceptive speed, is also a potential weapon. Freshman Thomas Fridone, a freshman phenom set to have significant playing time, injured a knee and is expected to miss most of the season.
While few outside the program appear to share the thought,
Scott Frost and offensive line coach Greg Austion have to be thrilled at the
emergence of the Big Red offensive line, a long time staple of excellence
within the program. This unit is the most talented and deep group the Huskers
have fielded in quite some time. Strong
offensive lines are usually a centerpiece of success, and speaking of the
center position. Cam Jurgens seems poised for a breakout year, perhaps
challenging for national honors. Trent Hixon, who has experience and is very
versatile being able to play many line positions, will back up for now. Coaches
say Matt Sichterman is coming alive at right guard. Ethan Piper appears settled
in a left guard. Piper is an intelligent, mature versatile player and is
expected to play well. Brock Bando will provide depth. At the tackle position, Bryce
Benhart performed well on eight starts a year ago, and while Turner Cochran started
only the final game, his ability may put him in contention for conference
honors if he emerges as expected. Brant
Banks, Nouredin Nouilli and Ezra Miller provide more than adequate depth at
tackle, and we want to keep an eye on true freshman Teddy Prochazka who is a
future star. As we noted last year, if Nebraska is to emerge as conference
champion contender, the Big Red will need to be able to run the ball when they
have to, just not when the want to. We think this unit gives the Big Red that
opportunity.
Nebraska has the talent on hand to field an explosive
offense, but the Big Red must correct three things that have held this unit
back in recent seasons. The first is protecting the football, which is the most
important thing a football team can do.
Nebraska has lost the turnover battle for seemingly decades, and this
has simply got to change. It is a
mindset, one with attention to detail, which leads us to the other two issues;
penalties and execution. Penalties,
often at the most inopportune times, have been drive killers for the Huskers,
and they have generally speaking not been good enough to overcome them. This is
discipline. Nebraska has great
difficulty in executing plays. Various things,; lined up in the wrong position,
running the wrong routes, misfired throws, missed blocks and many other
seemingly simple thing. Nebraska must raise the bar on discipline and attention
to detail. But we thin they can, and will. Perhaps it is the new and emerging
leadership on the field we see, with rising accountability. We think Martinez
and company can average 32 points per game, far exceeding the 23 unacceptable
points per game scored in 2020.
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| Cam Taylor-Britt Photo-Hudl |
With Nebraska not expected to do much by the national media,
it should be noted that the Huskers have a strength in their defensive unit.
Ten starters return; a veteran group with emerging players, where the overall
level of play is expected to rise, and it was decent a year ago. Eric Chinander
has built a stout unit, a unit where several players with opportunities to move
on, super seniors, are returning hoping for something special. Let’s begin up
front. Nebraska plays a 3-4, where it is vitally important to be strong up
front. At the nose is Damion Daniels. Snacks, at 6’3” 335, is a mountain of a
man. At one end spot is senior Ben Stillle, who is an All B1G player. DE Ty
Robinson, a redshirt freshman, is young but has shown plenty of signs of
becoming a superstar. There is quality depth here as well. Jordan Riley is
making some big noise in fall camp, so watch him. DT Deontre Thomas, a really
good player, DE Tate Wilderman and DE Casey Rogers are all quality players.
An area needing improvement is the linebacking core. Transferring in from is Northern Iowa is
scholar honors candidate Chris Kolarevic, who is in stone as a starter at
inside linebacker. Nick Henrich, who was ready anyway, jumps in for injured
Will Honas, jumps in inside as well. Luke Reimer is guy who coaches will have a
hard time keeping off the field. Garrett Snodgrass is ready, and Grant Tagge,
Jackson Hannah are emerging. On the outside, JoJo Domann is an All B1G player
with NFL potential and he is a unit leader. Garrett Nelson, whose motor is
unrivaled, will play extensively. Caleb Tannor has ten starts, and he looks to
split with Nelson, but an increase in production is needed in rushing the passer. Pheldarius Payne has made some big plays in
situational playing time, and his contribution is expected to grow. Blaise
Gunnerson, Javin Wright and Jackson Hannah are quality backups in the
linebacking room.
The secondary is a team strength, perhaps among the nations
top back in units. The unit is led by corner Cam Taylor-Britt, who is generally
though of as Nebraska’s highest rated overall player. Taylor-Britt has been
stellar on the field, a special teams contributor and team leader who returned
to handle the unfinished business. The battle for the other corner spot is
epic, with some really good football players fighting for the starting spot.
Coming off an injury is Braxton Clark, who has shown previous flashes, and at
6’4” 210, he is a prototype corner.
Quentin Newsome, at 6’2” 180, is a very good player who has been biding
his time to shine. Newsome will play plenty; somewhere. Ohio State transfer
Tyreke Johnson, a five star recruit, is making noise since arriving for fall
camp. Nadab Joseph is physically gifted, only a sophomore, and a player whose
is emerging. Marques Buford, Tamon Lynum, Koby Brentz and Malik Williams are
backups. Deontai Williams returns at strong
safety, and he is an honors candidate. Marquel Disnuke, another quality player
with 13 starts, is back at free safety.
Myles Farmer is an emerging star to keep an eye on. Issac Gifford is
getting plenty of attention in fall camp, so he will find the field. At free
safety, Noa Pola Gates is ready to rock!
While we expect Nebraska to field one of the top defenses within the conference, two areas that need improvement are rushing the passer and creating turnovers. A big play resulting in a turnover by Deontai Williams against Penn State perhaps broke the back of the Nittany Lions, so the importance of creating turnovers cannot be understated. The best secondary's in the game falter when opposing quarterbacks have extended tome to throw. Nebraska needs to double its 2020 sack number, and the talent is on hand to get that done. Overall, we expect the Blackshirts to field the best unit they have in many seasons. The strength in this unit gives Nebraska a chance in most every game.
Nebraska saw some improvement on special teams a year ago, but they had nowhere to go but up. At punter, William Pryzstup was solid with a 41.2 average, but the coaches will look at Australian Daniel Cerni. Connor Culp was All B1G at placekicker last fall, and he returns. Alante Brown and Rahmir Johnson were fair handling kickoffs, but the blocking was not stellar. Cam Taylor-Britt averaged 13.2 yards per return, which is real good, but he only had six. Continued improvement within the special teams is needed, and there appear to be several younger players who should be aiming to make their mark on this unit.
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| Trev Alberts Athletic Director Photo/SI |
Up front, Cam Jurgens, Bryce Benhart and Turner Cochran are
potential All B1G performers. Samori
Toure may also get consideration if he can duplicate his performance at
Montana. DE’s Ben Stille and JoJo Domann are All B1G players. SS Deontai
Williams is a candidate for honors, and CB Cam Taylor-Britt is a All B1G with
an opportunity for All America consideration.
K Connor Culp is All B1G.
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| Samori Toure WR Photo/OWH |
The schedule Nebraska will face in 2021 is among the most
difficult in the nation. A big question is how healthy Nebraska, and in particular
quarterback Adrian Martinez, will be as they navigate through it. An increased
ability to run the football, even when they have to, should help Martinez to
reduce hits to absorb. There is an
increased quality of depth, particularly on the lines of scrimmage and in the
secondary. In a game originally scheduled to be played in Ireland has been
moved back to the states, so in week zero Nebraska will open in Champaign at
Illinois. Brett Bielema has taken over for the Illini, so it would seem it
would take some time for things to come together there, so Nebraska starts with
a win. However, the closer this game is, the more concerned Husker fans will be.
Nebraska moved a game to fit in week two, bringing in Fordham for what amount to
a glorified scrimmage. Buffalo then comes to Lincoln, and the Bulls were a
strong football team a year ago. But their outstanding coach oved on, and
several key players left the program, so Nebraska should win easily. So, Nebraska
is 3-0 heading down to Norman for a rekindling of the famed Nebraska-Oklahoma
rivalry on the 50 year anniversary of the “Game of Century” in 1971. While Oklahoma is a top five team 50 years later,
Nebraska is clearly not. The goal here
would be to stay close with the talented Sooners. For those thinking upset, it
would seem the Big Red would need some turnovers along with strong play at the
lines of scrimmage. Possible, but highly unlikely. Then, at 3-1, Nebraska travels to Michigan
State, who is in the throws of a transition period. The Big Re win there comfortably.
Northwestern comes to Lincoln, and games with the Wildcats and Huskers in Lincoln
have historically been close, and we expect the same in 2021. But the Big Red
win it. Then Nebraska hosts the Michigan Wolverines, a top 25 team who are decent,
but this is a critical game for Nebraska if they really want to make some
noise. It is a coin flip, and it will depend we think on how banged up Nebraska
is. With the game in Lincoln, we will give to the Huskers, but very close. Then, possibly at 6-1, Nebraska travels to
Minnesota. This game is critical for the West division, and Minnesota, another
top 25 team who has had their way with the Huskers, will be tough to beat on
the road. We will go with Minnesota. Perhaps you can flip the Michigan and Minnesota
outcomes, but either way, we think Nebraska goes into the bye week at 6-2. Nebraska then hosts Purdue and powerful Ohio State. So, at 7-3 the Big Red get another bye week. Now, the
division is on the line, and Nebraska has no room for error. Nebraska goes to
Wisconsin, a team the Huskers have lost some close games to in recent seasons.
It will be very tough, but if Nebraska has it going, the Big Red can win it. Show
me. Then a confident and good Iowa team, who has owned Nebraska, comes to Lincoln
to close the season. The Huskers are so overdue here it is almost sound money!
Assuming great health, we could say Nebraska goes 8-4, but likely they are banged
up and drop one we count as a win. So, 7-5 seems like a realistic record for
Nebraska. GBR!
*Reports have surfaced that Nebraska held supervised
training outside of COVID protocol with the knowledge of staff members.
Potentially, this could have a negative impact on the state of the program, and
the future of coach Scott Frost. It is impossible to project the impact of
these accusations on the team performance.
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