Phil Steele - #1 Oklahoma.... #5 Nebraska
by Jon Johnston on May 27, 2010 7:00 AM CDT
in Nebraska Husker Football
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PrintYesterday, Pat Forde tweeted Phil Steele's Top Ten, and Steele has Nebraska listed at #5:
Phil's Top 10: 1. Oklahoma; 2. Ohio State; 3. Alabama; 4. TCU; 5. Nebraska; 6. Boise State; 7. Florida; 8. USC; 9. Miami; 10. Oregon.
Call me cautiously optimistic, as I am this time of year. I'm putting together the last stages of the Nebraska Yearbook - Cornhusker Kickoff 2010 - and through the process, I talk to a lot of other people about their teams and about Nebraska. Most are skeptical because of Nebraska's offensive performance last season.
To be perfectly honest, I can't blame them. Most acknowledge that under Bo Pelini, the Huskers have become a defensive juggernaut, but until we show offensive improvement on the field, opposing fans aren't going to be sold on the high rankings. I wonder how many Husker fans see the team as a top five team, despite what the preseason magazines are saying.
Obviously, Steele is picking us to get to the Big 12 title game, which isn't that big a shock considering the state of the Big 12 North. As it looks right now, only Missouri has a really good shot at contending with us for the North. He's also picking Oklahoma as the other team that'll make it to the title game, and then he has Oklahoma beating us for the title, but probably winning a BCS bowl game.
Oklahoma brings nine starters back on offense, including Landry Jones, the quarterback who took over after Sam Bradford was injured. 2009 was a rough season for the Sooners, Steele has Jones listed as his third team All-Big 12 quarterback after Texas A&M's Jerrod Johnson and Missouri's Blaine Gabbert. He also has DeMarco Murray and Ryan Broyles on his All-Big 12first team (Broyles as a wide receiver and punt returner).
Oklahoma only returns four starters on defense, losing Gerald McCoy, amongst a host of others. Like Pelini, Stoops can be trusted to reload his defense. Steele has three Sooners on his first team All-Big 12 defense, defensive end Jeremy Beal, defensive tackle Adrian Taylor, and linebacker Travis Lewis.
The Sooners don't have as far to climb with regards to proving their offensive firepower. Last season they were 24th nationally in total offense, 11th in passing, and 77th in rushing. (For comparison, Nebraska was 99th, 101st, and 62nd, respectively).
How much can Nebraska improve offensively next season? (After writing the opponent previews for the yearbook, I can tell you that the Huskers will be facing a number of teams that are pretty darned good offensively, but nearly all of them except Texas will have big question marks on defense.) It should be obvious that Steele expects us to improve to maybe a little bit above average, that the 2010 season will once again be defined by great defense and an offense that will score enough to earn us a high rank, but not high enough to win a championship.
Question is - do you agree with that assessment?
BTW, you can preorder Cornhusker Kickoff 2010, but it won't be available until about mid-July. I like what we've got this season, and I trust if you're a Husker fan you'll like it as well.
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Disagree.
Like you said once before…what is both great, and annoying about Nebraska fans, is their extreme optimism regardless of how much ignorance they may be showing.
I do think we have a top 15 team for sure, but given the trouble we had last year on offense…I don’t think one can make that leap just yet. I mean, we lost to Iowa State for crying out loud. I don’t want to have to explain that to people, and would rather we proved our worth by winning our way to the top 5.
I’d put us at a solid #12 pre-season. Win the North, and you’re probably sitting at a top 5 ranking. Win the Big 12, and you’re maybe playing for the title game depending on your overall record.
"Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game;
In the deed the glory"
GO BIG RED!
Name 5 Better Teams?
Steele’s assessment is right on. There aren’t 5 better teams in the country. In fact, outside of Boise State, there may not be a more complete team. Nebraska returns more starters in skilled positions than anyone in the country – that includes a defense that has the talent to be better than the #1 ranking scoring defense in the country. Now that’s a scary thought. Since defense wins championships (NU held opponents to under 10 points a game last season) you don’t need to score a lot of points to win games with the Blackshirts. Even so, NU will be much improved on the offensive side. Returning are key performers at all offesive positions (QB, RB, Receiver). And in college, one year of experience makes a world of difference. Add on top of that one of the country’s best special teams players (punter / place kicker Alex H.) – NU doesn’t have a glaring weakness. If NU can shore up a few cracks in their armour, then watch out. This team will be on its way to a BCS game and with a little luck, perhaps even the National Champtionship.
Depends on your perspective...
The team that nearly upset Texas and blew out Arizona is probably a Top Five team.
I’m not so sure about the team that lost to Texas Tech and Iowa State in Lincoln.
Is either one the real Nebraska…or is it something in between?
I know what you're saying...
But everything is pure speculation. IF the ball bounces our way a few times…sure, we could be right there. But last year is a perfect example of what happens when it doesn’t.
Plus, I wouldn’t be putting my eggs in the “Zac Lee” basket yet. He had a good bowl game, but sitting out all spring does very little to assure me that we have a QB that will lead this team. He still has much to prove.
And I’m not so sure about the one year making a huge difference thing either. Sam Keller didn’t quite make the jump people thought he would. Like I said, we just have to wait and see what happens on the field, right? I’m sure the coaches would prefer to earn their way up, rather than being placed there as a target from day one.
"Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game;
In the deed the glory"
GO BIG RED!
by Brian Speers on May 28, 2010 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions
The offense's bowl performance must have won over Steele...
thinking the D should still be very good, w/o Suh. Methinks all will hinge on the Oline. If that is good to very good, 5th isn’t such a reach.
And its just nice to be talked about nationally.
Granted, most of it is venom, a la RMN, but still, Neb is in the national consensus again.
Right on about the O-line
I have to think, and want to believe, that w/ Sirles, Coffey, Ash, Hardrick, and Qvale all adding depth, and last year’s guys being healthy that the line will show a marked improvement. I’m VERY excited and optimistic about this year. GO BIG RED!!
I'm your huckleberry.
I agree with Mr Corn on one thing, and that is the fact that we have to earn that higher ranking. Our team needs to stay hungry all year and our offense needs to understand that it’s got a long way to go before proving it worthy of being top 5 at the end of the year.
But we can do it if we stay hungry and grow each week and each game! Go Huskers! Go Big Red!
Miami @ 9?
Hmmm. I don’t know. They better get some D this year then. Plus, I just hate them and always will.
I'm your huckleberry.
Phil Steele is drinking Holiday Bowl Kool-Aid by the kiloliter
Have we all forgotten 106 total yards and five (F – I – V – E) first downs in the Big XII Championship game?
I’m as loyal to my Cornhuskers as they come, but that doesn’t mean stupid. The body of work from 2009 was impressive defensively and woeful to abysmal offensively. How that equates to a top 10 ranking to start the year is beyond me.
Do I think we COULD rise that high? Yes, but this is my problem with pre-season rankings of any kind: they aren’t worth the recycled paper they’re printed on. There are essentially two ways of doing pre-season polls: reprint the final poll from the previous season, or just start throwing darts so people will read your magazine for the sheer shock value.
"...when the devil says to you: do not drink, answer him: I will drink, and right freely, just because you tell me not to."
— Martin Luther
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