Preview 2019: Nebraska. 5 Things You Need To Know, Season Prediction
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Preview 2019: Previewing and looking ahead to the Nebraska Cornhuskers season with what you need to know.
– Contact/Follow@ColFootballNews& @PeteFiutak
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Recruiting Class Analysis | Schedule Analysis
– Nebraska Previews 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2018 Record: 4-8 overall, 2-6 in Big Ten
Head Coach: Scott Frost, 2nd year, 4-8
5. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEBRASKA OFFENSE
– The thing was a whole lot of fun, but bad turnovers, worse penalties, and growing pains were too much of a problem over the 0-6 start. But the offense finished second in the Big Ten averaging 456 yards per game, and it settled into a good groove over the second half of the season. And now get ready for the Nebraska attack to be more consistent, more dangerous, and occasionally unstoppable.
– It’s all up to Adrian Martinez. He’s the signature star, the right fit for the attack, and the possible Heisman-caliber playmaker who’ll have to produce through slightly outsized expectations. Thrown out there as a true freshman, he completed 65% of his passes for 2,617 yards and 17 scores with eight picks, and he finished second on the team with 629 yards and eight scores.
That’s all cool, but he also took a whole lot of shots. Sophomore Noah Vedral came in from UCF and knows what he’s doing if something happens to the franchise. But …
– It would be nice if the running backs could handle more of the work and keep Martinez from having to run 140 times. Georgia Tech transfer Dedrick Mills was a fantastic get for the program as an instant fill-in for 1,082-yard, 12 touchdown back Devine Ozigbo.
Sophomore Maurice Washington is a speedy option who averaged close to six yards per carry, but he’s got a whole slew of off-the-field issues to deal with. With Washington a massive question mark, the pressure is on true freshman Rahmir Johnson from New Jersey to slide into the mix out of the box.
– Leading receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. is done, but JD Spielman is a good No. 1 target coming off a 66-catch, eight touchdown season, and 6-4, 260-pound TE Jack Stoll has all-star talent as a safety valve.
The backs will catch, and plenty of good young players – including Wan’Dale Robinson and James Nance – along with a few JUCO transfers should be ready to be a part of the attack right away. However, if Spielman isn’t amazing, this could be a weak link until the right rotation is found.
– The skills guys are going to be good … can anyone block? The front five had a few too many penalty issues early on, and it allowed a ton of sacks and tackles for loss, but it started to improve. It’s a Big Ten-looking O line that’s set on the right side and gets back Brenden Jaimes at left tackle. It’s still a developing group that needs a few of the younger options to make a push in fall camp, but expect an improvement.
