@devlin: Hmmm. Well, I never like to to tell people to think a certain way because I fashion myself as an impartial observer of all this. But I think a starting place of hope has to be based on the idea that Riley/Langsdorf are about to play a QB who probably better fits in the mold of how they want to run their offense. That doesn't guarantee anything, but I feel like we are going to get our first complete viewing of the way they like to play offense in 2017. Now, that QB better have an O-line to work with or it won't matter. I do think the depth on the O-line should be better, too, and if you're a glass half-full fan, you look at that unit and believe enough good recruiting has been done there that some very good days are ahead there.

@GoBigRed: Not after getting a commitment from Jaylin Bradley. I like that kid a lot. I like how hard he worked to turn a tough situation into a good one. He will probably want to put on a few lbs when he shows up, but when I watched him play against my alma mater North in the state title game, I walked away thinking it was one of the best individual performances I have seen in this state in a long time and that guy has to end up at Nebraska. Also, I think Tre Bryant and Ozigbo could provide a nice little 1-2 punch with the right playing. No one over there is Ameer, who covered up a lot of O-line warts. But Ameers are hard to find.

@Derek: No.

@Redrealist: I don't think it's right to blame Eichorst because NU's struggle to get back to the elite was taking place many years before he arrived. And I think people should know enough about the situation with the previous coach to understand why a move was warranted and that, frankly, both sides were ready for it. But the A.D. is always attached with his football hire, so how Riley and the program is viewed over the next year or two will match up with how Eichorst is viewed. That's just how it works and will always work, and I'm sure Eichorst understands that better than anybody.

@GoBigRed: I think they'll add one, yes. I have no idea what Lincoln East's Chris Walker will do. It's just guesswork. But it hard for any kid down the road to pass up a Husker offer (though Bubak did), even if Wyoming has been connected to him longer. And I think he's a really good player by the way. Just look at him in the picture attached to the article. That's how you want them to look. He won't change NU's recruiting rankings much if he commits, but folks should be really happy if he's in the fold.

@Brick: "Brick, my sweet Brick." Sorry, couldn't pass up an Anchorman quote opportunity. Start with Stanley Morgan and De'Mornay Pierson-El. The next guy I'd throw in there is Reimers. Then there's a bunch of guys to watch: Spielman, Keyan Williams, Conor Young. And my guess is one of the true freshman asserts himself in a way that makes him a key guy early. NU fans should be really happy that Keyshawn Jr. and McQuitty are here early, because the scholarship count there would be otherwise low in the spring. They still need to add at least a couple more in this class, too, so that will also change this conversation. If I were a WR recruit and glanced at Nebraska's depth chart, I would see opportunity and that would have me excited.

@Trashman: No arguments from me here. QB and O-line play. Get them both working well and you are going to win a whole lot of football games. And, yes, last night was a great example for the case you are making. I actually thought Alabama won the game in the trenches, but Clemson's QB play was so far superior it didn't matter. It's one of the reasons why, while I understand the squirming by Husker fans right now, I think this Husker season of mystery ahead could also be really exciting if a guy like Tanner Lee turns out to have the goods. Because that position, more than any other in sports probably, can change the whole look of everything. Now, the difference with Watson is he also is so quick on his feet, so he can cover up some mistakes by his O-line with his scrambling. That's where, in Nebraska's case, I think the line has to make just as big a jump because NU can't have more of a pure pocket guy living in third-and-8 all year with D-ends just pinning their ears back to come after him.

@TO: You may have read it here. And it's absolutely career. He played with some tremendous ballers, but still, those numbers are worth applause.

@JimNE: Somewhat, Jim. Why the hostility on this fine day?

@CliffHusker: Good question. I'd argue maybe a Chris Jones. I believe fully he's a Sunday corner. Stanley Morgan would be high on this list. Gates and Foster need to be, and I'd like to see them operate healthy for a full year. And, I hate to heap too much on him too early, but I expect Carlos Davis to be really, really good this year.

@CDS: Tough schedules, particularly 2018. But ... NU needs the type of guys who embrace that road. Wisconsin had a schedule this year everyone said was going to bury them. It didn't. You never quite know. One positive about the 2017 schedule for Nebraska: The B1G season begins with Rutgers and Illinois, so there's a chance to build up some wins (though the Illini have given Nebraska fits), heading to that Wisconsin-Ohio State back-to-back. The game at Oregon is going to be a tough one because you know the Ducks will be amped with their new staff and that is a loud place to play a game. But if you want to take a big-picture view of the program, that's a good game to see how some young guys and your new QB responds in a tough spot before you start keeping score in league play.

@GoBigRed: Those guys were great, but I know you're asking about style, not direct comparisons. I'm not going to pretend to be the expert on Bradley. I watched him play a few games. But what stuck out to me was his balance and his ability to not let defenders get clean shots at him. That's an impressive skill. He'll need some more weight, likely, and he'll need to dedicate himself to pass blocking, because this staff will demand that of him. I think it's been something that has held Ozigbo back at times. But NU fans should be excited about this commit. It's not a token in-state offer. I do believe he'd be more highly rated if he weren't in Bellevue. So does his coach, Michael Huffman, who knows a thing or two.

@TO: Barrett. Not a great, great thrower, but I feel like it's less of a fire drill when I'm watching him.

@Trashman: I'm sure in some respects it was. Maybe it's just what the doctor ordered. I know he wants to be one of the vocal leaders on this line in 2017. Sometimes it's not the worst thing to be humbled and see how much work you still have to put in. You hope that game, and all that Barnett put on film against that whole O-line, is something that drives guys over there. I'll also say, that guy Barnett broke Reggie White's record. NU linemen won't see a bigger freak than him the rest of their college playing days.

@CDS: Maybe, but that's also a lot to ask of Farniok. Still plenty of room for him to go, too. I don't want it to be taken the wrong way, I really, really like that crop of linemen they recruited last class. Wilson, Raridon, Farniok. But there will be growing pains with any second-year linemen. Heck, Gates, Foster and Farmer could speak of it. They're guys who just finished their third year and no doubt see a lot of things to work on.

@71husker: Donte Williams will land some good recruits, I'm quite sure. He's just got too many connections and is too good at the relationship part of it for that not to happen. That said, it is a different animal going from recruiting West Coast guys to West Coast schools and getting them to believe in you so much they'll come to the middle of the country. It's fair to expect results, but I'm glad you tempered your comment with how early it still is in the game for him. Not saying he won't get a couple in this class that are big, he just might, but when Williams was hired the analysts really specified how good of shape they thought NU would be in for the 2018 class because of the coach's connections. Perhaps, for example, with a guy like "Bookie," who thinks the world of Williams and is as good a corner as I've seen up close at a Nebraska camp. I believe your last part was about Greg Johnson? I don't know where he'll end up. One thing I will say that has hurt Nebraska in this class is that USC went from looking like a dumpster fire in late September, with people putting Helton on the hot seat, to Rose Bowl champs and a top 5 preseason pick. Now you've got guys like Joseph Lewis picking between NU, a school he really likes, and the team 10 miles down the road that has everyone around him all fired up.

@71husker: Agree it still has to show itself on the field. That's what I mean about the younger guys. I like everything I hear and saw about them in high school. But until you do it at this level, all that stuff is just talk and hope. So I understand anyone who says, "Yeah, OK, show me."

@BJD: Think it'll be Raridon/Decker.

@SiliconValleyHusker: Funny trend there, isn't it?

@Trashman: Don't mind this either. I think the whole, 'the coach needs a 5-year deal to recruit' thing is sort of bunk. Most kids or, for that matter, coaching competitors, aren't going to know the specifics of other coaches' contract situations to use it against them recruiting. Also, any savvy fan/recruit/parent of recruit knows a 5-year deal also doesn't mean jack squat as far as stability for a coach, since most power 5 coaches are always just one really bad year or two from being out the door. (Agreeing way too much with Trashman today. He's usually the guy I look to trading jabs with in here.)

@Cubbiesfan: Calvin's reasoning for his decision was certainly curious. I never like to second-guess 18-year-olds when making college choices, because it's their future, but everything he said would be reasons he actually would have wanted to pick Nebraska. Indeed, I'd keep on him if I were the Huskers. Perhaps that was what Williams was hinting at when he mentioned it's not signing day yet. Or perhaps NU will find another receiver or two that make it more of an "Oh well" type of thing. They'll add a couple receivers in this class before it's over that will get people excited, I think that's a safe bet.

@aaron: I know of the scuttlebutt but only know what you know right now. I guess what I'd say generally is, as frustrated as NU fans were about Saturday, nothing is cemented yet. It'll be a wild ride the next few weeks. I'd just be prepared for anything.

@CDS: I'm not saying it hasn't been used ever before, but if some coach really wants to go, 'You know Miles only has a four year deal and not a five,' I'd say good luck with making that pitch carry much meaning. I give most the kids and parents enough credit to know how volatile the business is to begin with that a guy could have a Ferentz deal through 2085 and still not necessarily be the coach there come 2018 if things go a certain way.

@GoBigRed: I think he's a guy you can find easy ways to get the ball, be it on the fly sweep or short passes, where you can let his athleticism take over without overwhelming him as a young guy. My ears perked up when Chris Jones mentioned him unsolicited. Chris isn't the type to just throw praise around for no reason, so he's impressed his peers, for sure.

@Zadi: Will research and get back to you :)