Originally Posted by BigRedChief (Post 6951234)

Burton will be your best LB by the end of the year. Next year defintely.

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho (Post 6951321)

Haven't heard much about Adam this practice season... know he's still not that far removed from his surgery.

If he's better than Darvin Ruise and Zaviar Gooden and Ebner by this time next year, I'll be very happy.

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho (Post 6951312)

Keith Williams is out for the season as well, not sure if you saw that. Smith was an important depth guy and insurance in case the JUCO LT didn't work out.

And, sorry, don't completely buy all of that about the offense. Whether Lee was hurt or not (and even if he was, they decided to keep playing him AND keep having him run the ball as much as he did/take as many hits as he did?). The offensive line was just average-good, returns most of the same guys (minus the best guy, Williams) and they're all upper-classmen (so their best growth likely is behind them). The fact that you had to move a TE (even a good one like McNeil) to WR doesn't bode well for that unit either.

And sorry, just don't buy that the defense will be as dominant/great without Suh. It still will be good, still be a top 15-20 unit, but you don't lose a player that outstanding and just collectively replace him.

Originally Posted by alanm (Post 6951379)

Don't know where you got your Keith Williams info but that's a big negatory. Here's a injury piece from Saturdays World Herald.
Pelini upbeat despite injuries
By Jon Nyatawa
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU « [URL="http://www.omaha.com/section/BIGRED"]Big Red Today[/URL

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</object>
LINCOLN — Two years ago, four serious injuries to potentially key contributors this early might have caused even the confident Bo Pelini to start fretting.
But now that Nebraska has developed suitable depth at nearly every position, the Husker football coach can discuss the team's replacement options with the conviction that his squad has enough talent to make up for the losses.
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Pelini on Saturday revealed the fourth major personnel loss of the preseason: Senior tight end Dreu Young will have back surgery next week and probably won't return for at least two months.
It's possible, Pelini said, that Young could be out all year.
“I don't know exactly what the timetable is,” Pelini said after practice. “He won't be available for a while. His status in coming back is a little bit up in the air.”
But Pelini said he still feels good about the position. Sophomores Ben Cotton and Kyler Reed received valuable playing time last year and seem capable of becoming dangerous weapons. Senior Mike McNeill could move back to tight end at some point, too.
“We have a number of options there,” Pelini said.
Pelini can say the same thing about the offensive line, which lost its most experienced member when Mike Smith broke a leg last week. Smith was a two-year starter at left tackle and seemed to be developing as a utility backup who could play any position on the line.
But redshirt freshman Jeremiah Sirles and junior college transfer Jermarcus Hardrick have emerged as candidates to start at left tackle. If both falter, Pelini said, either Marcel Jones or D.J. Jones could slide over from right tackle.
“That's one of the big differences that we have on the offensive line than in years past,” Pelini said. “We have more depth, so we have a little bit more flexibility in how we play our unit.”
That's also the case in the defensive backfield. The Huskers are now without veteran Anthony Blue after the junior tore an anterior cruciate ligament Tuesday. Blue, who played in 12 games as a true freshman, was likely vying for a reserve role in the secondary.
“It's really deep back there, so it's not a big issue,” Pelini said.
Same goes for the linebacker corps.
Sophomore Sean Fisher, a projected starter, broke a leg Tuesday and isn't expected to recover in time to play this fall.
But Pelini on Saturday reeled off the names of four players — sophomores Will Compton and Eric Martin, and juniors Lavonte David and Mathew May — who are contending for the two open spots at linebacker.
Like all of the injured Huskers, Fisher will be missed. But the Huskers plan to roll on.
“We have a lot of options,” Pelini said. “A lot of interchangeable parts.”
Contact the writer:
402-473-9585, [email protected]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED (Post 6951163)

This. It's pretty ridiculous. A team that hasn't found a starting QB and has no real playmakers at WR somehow feels like it's a clear walk to the Big 12 championship. That defense is one of the best in the country still I have no doubt in that but defense really doesn't win championships anymore IMO. It would if you can place a top 25 offense with it but to be so unbalanced just isn't good. If teams can find a way to score early on Nebraska they are in a lot of trouble with their style of play. They really can't comeback from a 2-3 TD deficit with the offense they throw on the field. That's why I'm really hoping we can see Mizzou put up a couple early TD's in Lincoln this year because if they get out to a lead I don't see them relinquishing it against a run first team like the Nubs. I can't wait for the season to get here.

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho (Post 6951418)

It's Rivals info. Several Nebraska fans on the main Rivals recruiting board talking about it. That message board is premium only, or I'd link it

LB looks thin (the unimpressive Will Compton, a JUCO and a walk-on comprise three of the four there).

I expect them to be good at corner and at safety (though safety is more about experience and positioning than athletic ability) and good on DL, though nowhere near as good as they were a year ago.

Originally Posted by alanm (Post 6951503)

If Williams had been injured it would of been all over the Lincoln and Omaha papers websites by now. But since it never happened Rivals is passing off false info. And charging premium to boot. :spock:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho (Post 6951512)

Perhaps the Nebraska media has learned its lesson after being smacked on the nose by the Great Pelini, and is waiting to get an official release before reporting the story?

Also, those guys have to confirm the story with the athletic department. The Rivals guys can post something on their message board based on what they've heard.

Originally Posted by billay (Post 6951448)

Niles Paul isn't a playmaker? Mike McNeil isn't either?

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED (Post 6951746)

ROFLROFLROFL uhhh no and no.

You have a weird definition of playmakers. We had 1 player have more receiving yards in one season last year than both of those players combined over the past three. Niles Paul's career 1,000 yards doesn't really scare anyone in the conference. If teams can score on your defense you will get beat. It's that simple. Mizzou has a tendency to score points so I think the game in Lincoln will be a lot more interesting than you think.

Originally Posted by KcMizzou (Post 6951751)

What's amusing is the fact that this thread was started by a KU fan dishing the dirt on Mizzou... yet all the back-and-forth is between Mizzou and Nebraska fans. And you know... they're actually talking about football. (Discussing how the season might play out)

I'm not sure this is what the instigator had in mind. :p

Originally Posted by billay (Post 6951768)

Yea man it's fun I always love the Nebraska/Mizzou smack. The thing is we can talk shit to eachother but if I ever met any of you guys i'd gladly buy you a beer.

Originally Posted by KcMizzou (Post 6951770)

Likewise.

I think Mizzou's got a better chance to win the North than you do, but "that's why they play the games."

I just thought it was funny that Wicked had nothing to do with the actual football conversation. That guy's posting has gone so far as to ruin his avatar for me. (which was his only redeeming quality... Lohan, when she was still hot.)