Nebraska Cornhuskers 2018 College Football Today Preview

The Coach Scott Frost Era Has Begun

The Scott Frost era has begun in Nebraska after he led UCF to an undefeated season and a so-called tie with Alabama for the National Championship. Undoubtedly, UCF would have lost a few games in the SEC that year, so a 'national championship' to me is invalid and they need to work on moving to a power 5 conference if they want to boast a REAL title. Taking nothing away from Coach Frost's accomplishments with UCF football, but he surely had much more to work with than he does this year in Husker land. Their is no Tommy Frazier, Mike Rozier or Eric Crouch that is going to emerge from this unit, as all we have seen come out of Nebraska this off-season is trash talk against the likes of Michigan and Coach Harbaugh. The land of 10 boldly stated that Scott Frost, not Jim Harbaugh was the real QB whisperer of the Big 10. This article goes on to state that: if you were a highly rated QB, who would you be committing to play for--Frost or Harbaugh? Frost is not the real QB whisperer of the Big Ten. I believe this was a ploy by the Nebraska press in coagulation with the Huskers to land a big time QB, by using negative re-enforcement in the big time QB recruits' heads. Because as you will see, Coach Frost might have played for and coached with some of the best in the game, but his resume simply is not that of Coach Jim Harbaugh's just yet. Honestly, he is not even the best QB to put in a Nebraska uniform or wear the same number of Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch (as seen below). Are the two comparable? Yes. Did Scott Frost have the same weaponry that Crouch had? Maybe not. All in all, it's about wins and losses, and what he was able to do at UCF was flat-out remarkable, but can he bring that same tenacity and style of play to Nebraska Football in the coming years? I am not seeing it this season, as it appears he is going to have to prepare either a walk-on QB or a freshmen starter. Now, if you can put the entire picture together you will see why Nebraska media has come after the legendary Coach Harbaugh to obtain a big time QB in the class of 2019. They did however land Luke McCaffery, whom I heard through my resources in Colorado is best athlete in that amazingly talented football family. So that being said, the future is very bright in Husker land with Coach Frost at the helm of this historic program. ​

Heisman Trophy Winner Eric Crouch highlight's

Coach Trout Preview @ Memorial Stadium Go Huskers!  

Eric Crouch was Jordan, Frost was Kobe

We Think Bipartisan 

Nebraska had 28 Top 10 finishes from 1963 to 2001 and ran the triple-option/power offense that the legendary Tom Osbourne was able to win 3 of the 5 national titles that have been brought back to Lincoln. Growing up, I (Merf Trout), modeled my game after legendary Heisman Trophy winner (and arguably the best college QB of ALL-TIME) Eric Crouch. I watched this style of offense, which is now seen more ran with the Iowa Hawkeyes and their smack-you-in-the-mouth mentality, make them one of the best college football teams to ever take the field. When it was time to throw the ball, not to many had the footwork that Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch exhibited, as they would use various forms of "play action" to leave receivers wide open downfield for touchdowns. This offense was one of the most diverse power football schemes we have ever witnessed, and it had plenty of elite athletes to deploy such a strategy. Scott Frost ran pretty much the same offense when with the Huskers, as seen above next to Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch. Frost was selected in the 3rd round of the NFL draft by the N.Y Jets, where he played special teams and safety. He ended his career in Tampa Bay in 2003 and was coached by some of the best to ever play the game. This list includes, Bill Walsh (Stanford), Tom Osbourne, Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, and the Bucs' John Gruden and Mike Tomlin. Frost also worked under Chip Kelly in Oregon as the WR coach and Coach Mark Helfrich, as he is partly responsible for instilling toughness in the Oregon receiving corp that enhanced Oregon's powerful running game. In 2014, Frost was a finalist for the Broyles Award, as he was now coaching the likes of Marcus Mariota and the high scoring Oregon offense, as the O-Coordinator and QB Coach. 

QB Jim Harbaugh 

• 44-19-1 as head coach of the 49ers 
• 86-38 as a college football coach 
• 177 NFL games played
• 140 NFL games started 
•  4,000 passing attempts with a 60% completion ratio.
• 26,288 yards passing with 129 touchdowns

QB Scott Frost 

• Historic turnaround at UCF - 12-0 National Champs*(0-12 when he got to UCF)
• 31-16-1 as a starting college quarterback. 
• 3,147 yards passing in his career 
• 20 career passing TD's and 30 career rushing TD's
• Played special teams and safety in NFL from 1998-2003, after initially being drafted by the Jets with the 68th overall pic. 

What to expect out of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2018

Freshmen 4-star QB Adrian Martinez and 4-star (JR) QB Tristan Gebbia have been competing for the starting job, and both could be used this season as they both possess unique skill sets. All in all, I do believe that Martinez is the better fit for the "speed and more speed" spread-option style attack that Coach Frost uses.  4-star TE Cameron Jurgens out of Beatrice, NE will provide a big target and can operate as a H-Back with his diverse skill set. Watching the spring game below, Adrian Martinez could surprise the Big 10 in his first season, as he operates the spread style attack very well and has a very fluent throwing motion. With Coach Frost's "QB Whisperer" knowledge, this offense could surprise opponents this season, and it will be up to the Nebraska defensive unit to step up to the challenge and play with more physicality and discipline. Nebraska has been in the Big Ten for 7 seasons now and have made it to the Big 10 championship once, only to get smoked by 39 points. We have no idea what Frost has in store for the long term, as we know very little about how he maintains a program, or if he can handle the pressure of being a "home town boy" for the Husker faithful. Coach Frost is going to try and beat Big 10 defenses with "speed and more speed" as that is what his style of offense requires. But can this style of play hold up in one of the most physical conferences in all of collegiate football? The Huskers of old made it a statement to play fast, but with unmatched physicality in all phases of the game, even at the QB position. Senior All-Conference Guards Tanner Farmer and Jerald Foster return, along with four other starters from last season on the offensive line. This should provide the new developing QB's with some confidence when facing some of the best pass rushing defenses in all of collegiate football. New JuCo transfers that will be added to the already talented receiving corp in (SR) Stanley Morgan Jr. and (SO) JD Spielman, as they obviously possess electric speed that Coach Frost covets in his Oregon Ducks style attack. New players including speed rush end Caleb Tannor, who we believe can be an instant impact player for the Husker Defense are featured below. As you will see--in my opinion--Nebraska could shock some people this season in Big Ten play and nationally if Tre Bryant can stay healthy. 

The "Black-Shirt" defense (110th nationally)

I believe with Coach Frost's distinguished football mind, the Huskers will rebound and score early and often with the new additions to the offensive unit. The big question is going to be can the "black-shirt" defense return to national prominence, or at least be better than 110th in the nation, according to SB Nation. This is quite uncommon in Husker land, as their defenses have been ranked 8th or better from 1993-2003 and the last 14 seasons just have not been the same for the black-shirts. Bo Pellini had the Husker defense ranked number one in 2009 and then the steady decline began, as in his final three seasons his defenses ranked an average of 50th nationally. Last season their defensive ranking fell to 110th. This must improve drastically if they have any chance of competing in Big Ten play and returning to national prominence. The Nebraska defense was 128th in rushing success rate and 122nd in passing success rate, along with being the least disruptive defense in the nation, at 130th!  They will have an experienced defense, which could not be a good sign for the Huskers, as they return most of last year's starters. They have added JuCo transfers and star-studded freshmen in4-star safety Cameron Jones, speed pass rusher Tate Wildeman and ILB Will Honas. Nebraska will rely heavily on their 2018 recruiting class and former UCF defensive coordinator Erik Chinander's concepts that were ranked 74th in the nation, but were able to help produce the historic rebuilding of the UCF program. Nebraska needs help in many areas and their special teams will have to step up this season and be reliable in the close contests that the Big Ten is known for producing. If they can find a way through the first three games at 3-0, it will open up a chance to upset Michigan and only then, can we claim that Coach Frost is moving towards the best QB coach in the Big Ten. 

Nebraska Football 2018 Prediction 

Coach Frost and staff took UCF from 0-12 to 12-0 in two short seasons using their vast knowledge of the game, along with molding them into a cohesive unit. I expect the same turnaround this year and Nebraska to win more games then they did last season. We predict that they will finish 7-5 or 6-6 with the tough schedule they are facing. But we are not counting them out as a 'dark horse' in Big Ten play, if one of the Huskers new QB's can claim stake to the position. If the defense can move up into the Top 50 again and special teams can hold their own, Nebraska will finyujd themselves in prime position to move into Big Ten title talks and a birth to the BCS Playoffs. 

Author

Merf Trout