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Dave Feit: Reasons for Optimism About the 2023 Huskers
There are many reasons to believe Nebraska will be vastly improved this season. I'm not predicting a 15-0, bring-that-trophy-back-to-Lincoln season, but one that contains more wins than losses.
I see a number of reasons to be optimistic about this season. This is easily the most hopeful I’ve been at the start of a season since 2019.
I also see some things that temper my enthusiasm, but that’s a different story.
These are the things most likely to translate into wins:
Matt Rhule's situational practices and attention to detail.
Let's flashback to a defining moment of the offseason: April 15, 2023. A week before the Spring Game, Rhule ended a scrimmage with a simulated scenario that has plagued NU for years:
Down four points, it's 3rd and goal from 9, with mere seconds to go in the game.
Win or lose. Do or die.
How many times has Nebraska faltered in these moments?
The defense gets a stop on fourth down to win the game ... but wait! There's a flag! A defender threw a punch after the play.
With a second chance, the offense scores the ultimate groin kick win. They run off the field victorious as the entire defense - and coaches - run gassers.
While this particular scenario sounds like some Sickos Committee fan fiction from the 2021 season, it is one of many reasons NU is 7-25 in one score games since 2018.
How do you fix it? By simulating high leverage moments in practice. Instilling a sense of situational awareness to avoid the "deer in headlights" look, or making boneheaded mistakes. I suspect Rhule isn't going to play somebody he doesn't trust at crunch time.
Rhule’s attention to detail - in pretty much every aspect of the program - should be worth at least one win this fall.
NU could have its best specialists in a long time.
Punter Brian Buschini had a good season in 2022. He averaged 44 yards per punt last year, with 24% of his kicks travelling over 50 yards. He ranked 7th in the Big Ten, which is decent, until you consider that he played the majority of the season on bad ankles (he told the World-Herald he sprained his ankle three different times during the 2022 season). Now healthy, Buschini might be NU’s best bet for All-Conference honors.
The camp chatter about the place kickers isn't as positive as I would like, but I don't foresee a repeat of 2019 when six (6!) different Huskers attempted a field goal.
Placekicker Timmy Bleekrode was 9-12 in 2022 with a long of 46 yards. He got off to a shaky start (1-3) but finished strong (8-9).
Meanwhile, anybody who watched true freshman Tristan Alvano make five field goals in the 2022 Class A championship - including a championship winning walk-off from 45 yards - knows he will be ready to contribute.
The loss of Gretna's Brendan Franke as the kickoff specialist leaves a hole, but the two placekickers and Buschini should be able to handle things.
I don't know who will return punts and kicks for Nebraska - or what it will look like under special teams coordinator Ed Foley - but can it be worse than what Nebraska has done in recent years?
There are a lot of players on the roster with high ceilings.
Think of this section as Husker Roster Mad Libs:
"If (Husker player) can (stay healthy / avoid turnovers / get on the field / etc.) there's a good chance he could (lead the team / set a record / earn all-conference honors)."
Let's try one:
If Thomas Fidone can stay healthy, there's a good chance he could be one of the most explosive and productive tight ends at Nebraska in a long time.
Got the idea? Let's do another:
If Jeff Sims can avoid the turnover issues from Georgia Tech (and stay healthy) he could be the best quarterback in the Big Ten West - if not the entire conference.
We could do this with a bunch of Huskers. Guys who are recovering from injuries (Gabe Ervin Jr., Buschini, Luke Reimer, etc.). Newcomers (Cameron Lenhardt, Billy Kemp, Malachi Coleman). Returners at new positions (Nash Hutmacher, Isaac Gifford, Janiran Bonner). Career backup players with a new opportunity (Jimari Butler, Heinrich Haarberg, John Bullock, etc.)
Will all of these players make big contributions? Probably not. But there is a wide gap between their floor and their ceiling.
The offensive line play should be much better than 2022.
As I recently wrote, I remain bulling on the offensive line. It would not surprise me if they become one of the better units on the team.
The schedule is manageable for Nebraska to win more than it loses.
The opener at Minnesota will be tough, but the Huskers will have an element of surprise on the Gophers.
Is it a hot take to say that out of NU's three nonconference opponents the one that concerns me the most is Northern Illinois (not Colorado or Louisiana Tech)?
The Huskies are the only one of the three to post a winning season after 2020. They definitely don't have a first-year head coach who ran off the majority of their players.
Michigan, and the short-week road trip to Illinois could be rough, but Northwestern and Purdue (with a new head coach and without Aidan O'Connell) are excellent opportunities for NU to get back on track.
In this glass-half-full scenario, Nebraska would need one win against Michigan State, Maryland, Wisconsin or Iowa to make a bowl game.
If some of the other things we've discussed have come to fruition, then Nebraska could be a contender for the final West Division title – assuming that some of the things we’ll discuss here do not have a negative impact.
