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Husker Extra live chat: Brian Christopherson, 12.13.16
Chat Husker football with Brian Christopherson during his weekly chat, every Tuesday.
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@SoSuhme99: It's not disdain. I like some of Bill Murray's work. But we all have different opinions on what constitutes funny. I like dry humor. I just find myself more often than not trying to force myself to think his stuff is funny than actually think it. But I liked "Kingpin," and I respect that he has ad-libbed some of his most memorable movie stuff, so leave me alone :) By the way I was only responding to a question that asked me to give an opinion I knew would be unpopular. So obviously I know Bill Murray is loved and and am not going to dare get in the way of the people's adoration.
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@Kevin: I'm not going to sit here and say it's a good look, but I also never want to dog on a kid when he's going through his college decision, because it's his and not mine. I'm not saying you are dogging on him, either. I wish him well and hope he finds a good landing spot because he really is a good football talent. From just a football perspective, I'm sure Nebraska would love to have him getting ready for his second year in the program right now and trying to be one of the lead receivers with Stanley Morgan in 2017.
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It looks possible that the 17 class could be top 20. But that would take beating out elite programs, so I’m worried a 25+ ranking is possible. I say it’s critical that this class, this staff’s 2nd full cycle, not be out of top 25 for NU to be trending toward championships. Agree?
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@KinMN: yes, I've always said a good goal for Nebraska that I believe is reachable (though not easy) is to get between 15-20 in the rankings. Can they still do that? Yes. The whole sky did not fall to the ground because of one decommit. But I do understand a little of the angst right now since there hasn't been a commit in three months. There are a lot of guys who are swimming around that Nebraska hook but if NU comes up second or third on most of them that won't do you any good. Thomas Graham would be a big one Friday that I think would put some positivity back in the air and really make the Donte WIlliams hire look super immediately. Not sure how it's going to go there but I think the Huskers have a solid chance.
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@GAHusker: Sounds like he had a setback with it either from or after playing in the Iowa game. Hamstring injuries are pains in the a-- for guys. Doesn't take much to set off an injury like that again. It always feels like it takes about 3 or 4 weeks of good rest after one to have a shot at being full strength again. I'm not saying he won't play, but even with the layoff, the timetable to getting to 100 percent is still pretty tight. You'd like him to at least take a few snaps before they get on the plane Christmas. So this week is important in his healing.
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@TO: I like it. I don't think it'd be any great harm, though a few veterans who get bumped on the depth chart might not like it. Honestly, in most cases, there'd probably just be a handful of guys coaches would want to throw out there in a game like that. But it'd sure have people's attention if J.D. Spielman were suddenly running a fly sweep on Dec. 30, wouldn't it? Or if a certain QB were allowed to play without burning anything. Sign me up. It'd be too enjoyable and beneficial for all though so it will never happen.
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@Regg: I don't know what they are yet, but I know coaches think that's a pretty good crop. It wasn't really about thinking a guy like Boe Wilson couldn't go out and play and do OK. It was more about getting five games into the season and having to make a hard-and-fast call on if you are going to fully commit to this young guy or let him keep learning behind the scenes. Honestly, it takes most linemen until at least their third year in the program to really make a big push, so as high of a ceiling as a guy may have, playing as a true freshman against Big Ten D-linemen is really jumping into the fire.
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@Displayname: There's a lot of guys that have Nebraska in their top group, but it's hard to know if that means a commitment is coming. I think the weekend visit by Gavin Holmes puts them in a good position with a wide receiver whose recruitment has blown up in recent weeks. An OT pickup would be huge. I keep coming back to the big man Chuck Filiaga. He's visited a lot of big-time programs but the fact NU got the last official visit can't hurt. Thomas Graham, I think, is a coin flip. Joseph Lewis, I dunno. USC or Nebraska. USC is 10 miles away and going to the Rose Bowl, which makes that fight harder. His teammate Greg Johnson -- another maybe. Lot of maybes. You could run off several guys like that out west. Another guy I really like is DT Damion Daniels from Bishop Dunne in Dallas. I've always thought NU was the leader there.
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@SoSuhme99: Don't think so. NFL media needs to realize NFL jobs aren't necessarily better. Look at Harbaugh's salary. At his alma mater. I don't think he gives that up after two years. I also think he's the type who will want to settle a score or two with Ohio State before he considers looking around.
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@SoSuhme99: I think it's one of the toughest positions to nail down difference makers at. I don't know why that is, but that's always been my feel. I think Guy Thomas is a good D-end recruit. They need to hold him down. And I think young guys like Alex Davis, Collin Miller, Neal and Stille have some physical tools but they need to be on the fast track. I won't sugarcoat the Porcher loss. I thought it was a big setback. He really came on this year. Kind of off-the-radar guy before the fall, definitely not that now. They're looking at the right guys, but yes, they do have to find a way to close on them. Keep in mind Parrella hasn't been here a full year either. Ideally, you build about a 2 or 3 year relationship with some of these guys. He hasn't had that kind of time.
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Our recivers were billed as Best in big ten! Week in & week out they failed to show as seniors & leaders!! It seemed each week Moore,Reilley or Westerkamp was gonna be held out of game with non contact injuries or tackled & got up hurt .....really disappointing season! We need tuffer more physical players at reciver positions!!
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@DonB: I am not going to call out toughness. They had some injury setbacks that, in some cases, were more flukey than anything. That Westerkamp injury, for example. You saw how he landed. I thought he might be done for the year when it happened. I also think in a couple big games, notably Wisconsin and Ohio State, they will be the first to say they needed to make a few more plays. Some of that is on the QB, but there were plays on the WRs too. I'd like to ask the question to some of them how they felt this year was for them compared with the preseason expectations. Because I think they would give some honest answers. I admit I thought they'd put up some bigger numbers, but that's on everybody. A 51 percent passing completion percentage for the season won't get it done in this offense.
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@DonB: Yeah, it would help perception for a few weeks. It doesn't crush everything if he goes elsewhere because frankly NU really jumped back onto the short list late it seems. But there's no question he's a talent. My sense is there's going to be a lot of big ups and downs these last 7 or 8 weeks, with plenty of overreaction by some mixed in between. My advice is to watch it like a baseball season. Don't live pitch to pitch, but let it play out and then form some bigger conclusions that final week.
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@Lredeugene: I think Riley's offense against UCLA wasn't some big picture change, it was just something they thought could work against that D-line. And after they got going, they figured they might as well just stick with it. Honestly, some of this depends on who plays QB. Tennessee's defense has had trouble stopping all of it of late, so I think you have to go into it thinking you can be balanced. But ideally, NU can ground and pound and keep that clock rolling and Tennessee's best weapons (which are on offense) off the field.
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BC, I think we're headed for a 2007-esque season with this staff. Many point to that juggernaut 2018 schedule. Interesting enough, 4 of the 7 losses by that 2007 team were ranked, 3 of them ranked in the top 7. With a coaching change on the horizon,would hate to see a missed recruiting cycle. How concerned should we be about the dry spell and Poacher's decommitment?
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@JimNE: Some bold predictions there I wouldn't just nod my head to. The two schedules ahead are challenging, yes. It's also possible Nebraska is a better football team next year. Depends on O-line and QB play. They should be better equipped with depth up front but until they prove it, I understand the skepticism.
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Good point about so called silent recruits, BC. But that got me thinking about the ballyhooed so called silent recruit from last year that apparently got away. Since all our targets from last year have presumably signed somewhere by now and it wouldn't be an NCAA violation to name him has anyone at the football office let it slip?
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@KKinIL: I think this staff ultimately likes close to that 50-50 balance. That's been there track record for a long time. I don't really think it's going to be some amazing overhaul that all of us will recognize, other than the QB will run it less and the tailbacks will run it more. That's just my guess.
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@PTHUSKER: I'd say we have to wait another week or so before we set off all the sirens in town. Riley is shrewd enough to not necessarily lay out exactly what's going on there this early in preparations even if he had a good read on who might be playing there.
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BC....in response to last week and the "stud QB" comments. I certainly know these types of guys aren't simply "growing on trees". But NU has typically been able to find a guy like that every 10yrs or so. Tagge to Gill. Gill to Frazier. Then a shorter, amazing period to Frost and Crouch. So 16 years later I don't know that it's fair to act as if fans are being over zealous in their hopes and wants for another great one. They really should have expectations and fairly assume that another will arrive at a blue blood like NU in a somewhat timely manner. I'm also a bit surprised by your regular rebuttals/comments that fans seem to assume the backup has to be better. When play at any particular position continues to be sub par, it doesn't necessarily mean they think the next guy is amazing. But more or less that he deserves a chance to play in some form or another. Granted, how the games played out and depth didn't lend itself to many reasonable opportunities this season. Just sometimes I feel you group NU fans into a "crazed frenzy" over certain ideals. Whether that's from twitter, Facebook or other forms of social media....I don't know. As you know, a lot of things from those outlets are posted simply to stir controversy. Some may argue that seeing the backup or a redshirt player consistently take snaps in practice with all backups may not be a fair representation of gameplay if handed more opportunities with the 1's. Some may completely agree with you. Point being, NU fans are by and large very patient, reasonable and intelligent. To in essence.....tag them into a stereotype of "everyone loves the backup" is an unfair vantage point quite often IMO.
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@Trash: Some fans assume the backup is better. Not all. Maybe not you. Some. It's that way in most places. I only reminded people throughout this year that Armstrong was the best option available. That includes over POB, who was fourth on the depth chart until AJ Bush transferred. That's not a knock on O'Brien, who may be ready to make his run this offseason. He was a true freshman. I don't have a problem also with people hoping the next guy is a better guy. I only say to not assume that. And I think there are a lot of patient fans who take that wait-and-see approach as well. I compliment this fan base all the time on being savvy. There are a few knuckleheads, but it's that way everywhere. And I also think this staff has high hopes for the potential of the QBs in the system, particularly what a guy like Tanner Lee might do after a year of studying it behind the scenes. I don't dismiss the idea that he could be really good and find guys Armstrong didn't. I only stress that I don't know that until we see it when it counts.
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how accurate is porchers statement "stay close to home." when he took a visit to maryland. why waste anothers schools time then? with the possibilty of a early signing period. do you see more transfering much like in the college hoops? if they move the signing period up.
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Yes, I think our receivers were among the best in the Big10 but having said that they didn't live up to the pre-season hype but I don't blame that on them totally, I think it had more to do with having a QB that couldn't get them the ball. The Iowa game was a glaring example, TA missed two open receivers downfield that probably would have been TD's. TA's mechanics would show improvement at the beginning of each season then he would go back to old bad habits against good competition, make bad decisions, throw picks and miss open receivers. I felt sorry for all of them and I think their (Morgan) frustration finally piqued in the Iowa game. Can't wait to see what POB and Lee can do.
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Not to switch gears here, but lets not get down on the Husker basketball team. It's going to be a tough stretch down the way. They are playing against very outstanding teams. Sure it would be great to be in the top 10, or the top 20, or even the top 30. BUT WE'RE NOT!
So lets face reality. Obviously, we're at our current playing level for several reasons: Nevertheless, we're a competitive team, but need help in filling key positions. But the thrust for the time being is to accentuate the positive and give these kids lots of credit for fighting "tooth and nail" with their overall play. I like their aggressiveness, rebounding, and overall assertiveness despite their win/loss record. And they don't give up.
AS LONG AS OUR GUYS KEEP FIGHTING HARD, I'LL STICK WITH THEM WHILE PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE SHIP TO BE RIGHTED. IT WILL HAPPEN! -
@Casualobserver: Fans like you deserve that big payoff. It'll happen one day. You'll be marking Nebraska on the first line of your bracket after a win with tears in your eyes. I'll feel good for a lot of people who sat through a lot of disappointments when that happens. I like the athleticism Miles is getting. Really need another outside shooter or two. Even a guy like Gallegos, as streaky as he was, made defenses pay attention to him out there and opened things up.
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