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Husker Extra live chat: Brian Christopherson, 12.6.16
Talk all things Husker football with Brian Christopherson during his weekly chat, every Tuesday.
3rd & 7 37yd
3rd & 7 37yd
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@LarryG: I don't tell people to be excited about anything, excepting when they see their dog after a long day of work. But ... OK, I'd say because Nebraska only plays 13 or 14 of these a year. And because it's against an SEC team. And because it's not like Nebraska went 5-7 again, even though some are acting it. I get the displeasure about seeing your team lose by 30 to Iowa. It confused the situation plenty on how to discuss the season that was. But I also notice that people like to talk down bowl games like this, then they ultimately watch, and these games do shift the narrative one way or another because it's the last people will see of the team for eight months. Just think of yourself on May 21. You'll be wishing you could watch a Nebraska-Tennessee game about that time of year. OK, did I convince you?
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@BK: I wouldn't necessarily call them frontrunners. I'd say their odds increased, though. I think Nebraska and USC are in a real fight for Joseph Lewis. At the end of September it looked like the Trojans were going to be a mess. Now they're in the Rose Bowl, have momentum, and are 10 miles from Lewis. So ... let's not act like that's an easy fight for Nebraska. But it's one I still think they can win. Greg Johnson? I talked to a couple guys who know West Coast recruiting real well and they both agreed Williams helps NU, but that Johnson's recruitment is still wide open. Donte Williams is REALLY close with that Hawkins staff, but Williams has a different challenge than he does at Arizona. I'd say he's recruiting to a better program with more resources, but he also now has to convince West Coast guys to leave the West Coast. He sounds like the type of recruiter who can do it, but we should watch it play it out first before we make bold statements.
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@Fli7: I made of list of guys on a blog late last night. It's sleep-deprived writing, so I wouldn't say it's my best work, but there's about nine or 10 names there. Maybe a couple NU leans. A few jump balls. A few where I'd say they're behind as of today.
Recruiting: The Cali kids to watch closely
JournalStar.comNebraska's new assistant coach Donté Williams was already taking to the road to recruit on behalf of the Huskers on Monday. -
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Here's to hoping that the glitches that cut Sipple's chat 20 minutes short don't repeat today. What is wrong with the Heisman voters that they totally ignore a Longhorn running back who went for 2000 yds. on a losing team. I think that's more impressive because if they were that bad offensively the defense is focused on stopping him, ala Troy Davis at Iowa State 20 years ago. This is why I have such little respect for the apparent criteria of the current Heisman trophy candidacy. You must be an outstanding player on a team challenging for a national title...or popular with ESPN to get the publicity.
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@Robin: I almost respect a guy's personal season more when he puts up numbers like that when he's surrounded by crap. I am fortunate enough to have a vote -- I think there's about 18 or so that vote in this state -- and this year was a challenge. We're not supposed to share our top 3 so I won't, but I will say that there are sometimes guys who you could put anywhere between second and sixth that you have to leave out just because you don't have enough spaces. I thought it was odd two OU guys made the Top 5. I like what Dede Westbrook did, but it seems overkill to have two offensive dudes who took full advantage of a conference that plays little D. I'd like defensive guys to be considered more. I try to vote for one defensive guy a year if at all possible.
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@CDS923: Suh should have won that year. If the Texas game had come a week before, and he had one more showcase game after it, I think he would have. For whatever reason, some goobers submit their votes before the final games are played, which makes no sense to me.
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Mr. C: The one thing that bothered me most about this season was the lack of consistency (not that I wanted consistently bad). An overtime loss to a very good Wisconsin team, and some solid, if not huge home wins, balanced against blow outs by OSU (somewhat understandable) and Iowa (unbelievable). Any logic you can find?
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@SteveUofN1964: The best I can explain it, last year's team was a little better than the record showed. This year's team perhaps had a record more flattering than their level of play. I hate to say that, because Nebraska found a way to win those games and you can't take away those fourth-quarter finishes. But there were warning signs during the 7-0 stretch that this team had very limited margin for error. Eventually inconsistent line play, which NU had on offense for most of the season, will bite you in the butt. That's why I keep saying that while Nebraska does need to win recruiting battles on these skilled position game-changers, they just as much need to develop those guys in the trenches because the guys on the outside don't make much difference if you're getting manhandled between the hashes. I think in the Big Ten you almost need 8 or 9 O-linemen you feel pretty good about going into a season because you know the wear and tear will knock a few guys out. As we saw this year.
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@Pipeline: I think so. I actually think Michigan has the best chance of anyone to beat Alabama because that Wolverine defense would keep it close. I also think it's possible Alabama, while very good, isn't ready to lap everyone like some people seem to think. Not a great year in the SEC. I don't know that Bama was tested as it normally has been in the past. I like the playoff at four teams, honestly. Sure, Penn State has a beef. But there have been a lot better teams in college football past that have missed out on a championship opportunity than PSU, which lost a game by 39 points.
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@TO: Yes, he's gone. Sort of a strange deal www.tennessean.com
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@Robin: I think Jonathan Allen from Alabama deserved consideration but if Suh can't win it, I don't know if any D-lineman can win it. I'll tell you the wild card I thought long and hard about -- Curtis Samuel from Ohio State. Doesn't touch the ball that much, but look at the yards accumulated and how his presence on the field completely changes what a defense does. Also, he made the play of the game against Michigan that allowed Ohio State to go for the fourth-and-1.
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BC; we're down to Tommy's last game. During the 2nd half at Iowa, Hawks had the ball and were driving to add to their 16 point lead. The camera cut over to Tommy and I swear he was smiling and joking with a receiver in street clothes. Do you think Tommy had the "it" factor that turns recruits into winners or is that not a trait that you have seen in him this year?
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@SoSuhme99: I think it's a dangerous game to get into that, "Oh, he smiled during a loss" thing. That's what I'd say. You know people react to different scenarios or conversations differently. I saw him after the game and he wasn't laughing at all. I'd say Tommy didn't ever quite develop in the passing game quite as much as hoped. I'd also say NU's receivers frankly didn't make some plays on some balls I thought they could have in the losses as well. It wasn't just an Armstrong thing. He didn't let Iowa score touchdowns of more than 60 yards on back to back plays. If ever there were just a total team loss, that was it.
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BC, I'm not much of an NFL fan but I try to pay attention to how former Huskers are doing. I'm really impressed with Will Compton. Undrafted free agent to having a really good 4th season. The guy looks stacked, he looks like an NFL inside backer. Is a couple more years development what made him? Going way back to the 80's, I remember one criticism of Husker Power by NFL types being that Nebraska players coming out of college were maxed out, they weren't going to get any bigger or stronger. Going back to Compton's playing days to the first 2 years with this staff, are we not getting it done in the weight room?
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@JimNE: Tough one to answer Jim. It's one of those where the weight room stuff is so hidden, you don't really know what Nebraska is doing compared to other schools. I think the biggest difference is it's no longer a clear-cut advantage. It stopped being so about 20 years ago because every Power 5 school started putting a lot of resources into it. I will say that when I watched the Big Ten title game and looked at Wisconsin's linemen in the huddle, they did jump out to me as just massive dudes. But where it gets tough is ... Nebraska was also right there with Wisconsin. Right there.
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@BK: No, but I respect his longevity, his competitiveness and the way he handled criticism. It's quite a thing to be one of the Top 5 most recognized people in the state from age 19-23. I think we know what warts he has in his game. But I'll tip my hat that he generally showed up to talk -- good or bad. What holds him back is signature wins were hard to come by.
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HuskerDoginColo. well the Huskers get screwed again! Not in the "committees" top 25 & get to play the Vols in a virtual home game! Seems like the old Orange Bowl days! Tommy A wasn't himself in the Iowa game due to the hamstring! Didn't the coaching staff realize that! CU got screwed too, going to the Alamo Bowl! At least San Antone has the RiverWalk!
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@HuskerDoginColo.: Ryker wasn't himself either. Would have been tough for him to go as well. Could've thrown Darlington out there, I suppose, and while I would have sat up in my seat like everyone else to watch that, the real games don't usually play out like people's imaginations have them in scenarios like that.
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