(09-15-2019 11:19 AM)JoeNovak Wrote:  

(09-15-2019 10:55 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Agreed. You could tell Nebraska brought it's A game.

My season hopes are first to go undefeated and to a NY6 bowl. That gets erased after 1 loss(Utah). The next hope is to get into the top 25. That gets erased with the 2nd loss(early on anyways). Then I hope to win the MACC. Those first two are rarely gonna happen and thats all these losses mean to me. I still think this team will win the MAC.

I put a lot of stock in these power 5 games because if we ever want to go power 5 we need to consistently beat power 5 teams. That’s how you take it to the next level. Winning MAC championships are important, but nobody here can tell me the past 2 Sun Belt conference champions. People remember if you knock off good power 5 teams.

I honestly don't believe thats in the cards for NIU. Too much inadequacy in too many areas for NIU to get to a P5 conference. For now any way. Im just trying to enjoy what we have now....who knows what the college football landscape may be in 10 years?

I will try to put the best spin on our butt-kicking as possible.

Total yards: NIU 350 Neb. 535 and total first down: NIU 20 Neb. 22. 185 yards in total offense differential is not close, but it’s not a 36-point differential. That point difference is largely the result of giving Neb. way too many short fields. Neb. had TD drives of 21, 42, 48, 50, 83 and 87 yards. Therefore, we gave up 28 points on 161 yards! Two of the short fields we handed to Neb. with the failed fake punt and on-sides kick, and 2 were from blocked punts. I am a huge Hammock fan, but with our D being so depleted with injuries (and Williams being out the first half with the Utah targeting call that Hammock agreed with) handing Neb. 2 short fields made no sense.

Only getting 6 points (10 if you count Harbs breaking the plane, which he did) off 350 yards is bad, but is explained by our drives starting at our 10 (twice), 12, 17, 20, 22 (twice), 25 (5 times), 35 and 49 yard lines. We definitely did a lousy job with field position.

These stats are from here: https://www.espn.com/college-football/ga.../401112240

Looking forward, I agree the bye week is perfect timing, from both a mental and physical standpoint. I am hoping the O line is coached up and gels as the season progresses; our rushing game is horrible and Bowers is going to get hurt sooner or later. This will not happen overnight, but it is something the coaches need to do everything possible to fix. We need to get our defensive starters back. It is clear Neb. saw something with our punt blocking and took advantage of it. We better get that fixed as other teams will be trying the same thing, as someone already noted.

I definitely want to beat Vanderbilt and I know we can. However, if we have players that are not healthy the extra week before MAC play starts will be important, although neither I nor anyone else here that I have heard knows how significant the injuries are. Pugh is a great player, but just can’t stay healthy. I’m not suggesting we hold out players for the Vanderbilt game, as I haven’t for any other game. However, we need to be healthy for MAC play; really, at this point the MAC championship is what we are playing for.

(09-15-2019 08:21 PM)NILAW Wrote:  I will try to put the best spin on our butt-kicking as possible.

Total yards: NIU 350 Neb. 535 and total first down: NIU 20 Neb. 22. 185 yards in total offense differential is not close, but it’s not a 36-point differential. That point difference is largely the result of giving Neb. way too many short fields. Neb. had TD drives of 21, 42, 48, 50, 83 and 87 yards. Therefore, we gave up 28 points on 161 yards! Two of the short fields we handed to Neb. with the failed fake punt and on-sides kick, and 2 were from blocked punts. I am a huge Hammock fan, but with our D being so depleted with injuries (and Williams being out the first half with the Utah targeting call that Hammock agreed with) handing Neb. 2 short fields made no sense.

Only getting 6 points (10 if you count Harbs breaking the plane, which he did) off 350 yards is bad, but is explained by our drives starting at our 10 (twice), 12, 17, 20, 22 (twice), 25 (5 times), 35 and 49 yard lines. We definitely did a lousy job with field position.

These stats are from here: https://www.espn.com/college-football/ga.../401112240

Looking forward, I agree the bye week is perfect timing, from both a mental and physical standpoint. I am hoping the O line is coached up and gels as the season progresses; our rushing game is horrible and Bowers is going to get hurt sooner or later. This will not happen overnight, but it is something the coaches need to do everything possible to fix. We need to get our defensive starters back. It is clear Neb. saw something with our punt blocking and took advantage of it. We better get that fixed as other teams will be trying the same thing, as someone already noted.

I definitely want to beat Vanderbilt and I know we can. However, if we have players that are not healthy the extra week before MAC play starts will be important, although neither I nor anyone else here that I have heard knows how significant the injuries are. Pugh is a great player, but just can’t stay healthy. I’m not suggesting we hold out players for the Vanderbilt game, as I haven’t for any other game. However, we need to be healthy for MAC play; really, at this point the MAC championship is what we are playing for.

Good post. National ranking is no longer in the cards, but lets get this moving in the right direction and maybe next year we can be prominent again

Huskies really seem lost. There is no facet of the team you really feel like is something you can lean on and depend on. Not many playmakers anywhere to be found. Was really confused by some of the coaching decisions. This always looked like a rebuilding year from the final snap of the UAB game and that is what it is. I have faith in Hammock going forward though, he is the right guy at the right time in my opinion

(09-14-2019 10:42 PM)VegasHuskie Wrote:  I don't think anyone can argue that this was one of the more difficult games we've had to suffer through in quite some time. Outside of some of Carey's follies in the bowl games, I can't remember a game where we looked so overmatched since the Arkansas game a few years back. I'm probably forgetting a few bad ones - but this is right up there.

I have high hopes for Coach Ham, and a couple rough looking games haven't soured me on what I think he'll accomplish - but ugh.

I wanted Canada - the college ready coach with high profile experience. I think we would have seen far better results thus far this season. We didn't go that route, and I do like the high ceiling that I think exists under Coach Ham's tenure. There will be growing pains, however.

I was one of Coach Carey's biggest detractors, and I'll never change my opinion of his reign of ineptitude in DeKalb. I will say, however, Coach Carey's coaching style and game plans were effective keeping our Huskies competitive against teams with superior athleticism.

Out of conference: Very bad
In conference: Remains to be seen

Let's hope for the best!

The Arkansas game is a really good comparison.

(09-16-2019 07:37 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Huskies really seem lost. There is no facet of the team you really feel like is something you can lean on and depend on. Not many playmakers anywhere to be found. Was really confused by some of the coaching decisions. This always looked like a rebuilding year from the final snap of the UAB game and that is what it is. I have faith in Hammock going forward though, he is the right guy at the right time in my opinion

MD in 2020 is awesome. Love the spirit.

I really think Hammock is the right guy moving forward. But that means he's got a lot of work ahead of him. He really needs to grow from this beating and change how he gameplans against teams of this caliber. As for Carey, I respect the guy and appreciate the wins. But it's been great for fans to see an offense with more than 6 plays and an ability to adjust.