The problem with the “due for a down year” argument

[willycat]

I think so.

Barring injury, which is unpredictable, we have the following returning next season:

• QB: Trent Green (assuming medical RS), Johnson
• RB: Bowser, McGowan, Hull, Anderson, Porter (unknown)
• WR: Skowronek (see Green), Lees, RCB, JJ Jefferson, ARY (unknown)
• SB: Pugh
• OL: 4 of 5 starters including stud Slater, add new talent like Skoronski, etc.

Compare this team to the B1G West champions from last year, and it's not that huge of a drop-off in talent. Obviously we don't have a Thorson-caliber QB but I believe Green is serviceable and Johnson could be improved. I would argue that the OL could be even better than last year's team.

Your kidding right? Since Fitz apparently has written Johnson off, NU does not have a proven QB, or for that matter a stud RB. No receivers have shown true starting ability, the SB spot is non existent, while the OL is a work in progress. Luckily they have three very winnable non-conference games but then there is the Big Ten Portion. Where will those six wins come from?

 

[DaCat]

Your kidding right? Since Fitz apparently has written Johnson off, NU does not have a proven QB, or for that matter a stud RB. No receivers have shown true starting ability, the SB spot is non existent, while the OL is a work in progress. Luckily they have three very winnable non-conference games but then there is the Big Ten Portion. Where will those six wins come from?

Stop the whining! *slap slap* Man, get a hold of yourself. Act like you've been an NU fan before. You of all people should realize there is nothing easy about being an NU fan.

Since when was Johnson a "proven" QB? Maybe in the minds of fans like you and me, but he hasn't proven anything on the field this year.

A healthy Bowser isn't a "stud" RB?

Lees, Skowronek, etc. have all proved their playmaking ability.

The OL is going to be pretty good next year, led by 4-year starter Rashawn Slater, and returning 4 of 5 starters, with decent depth due to playing time for backups when some starters got injured. And we have probably one of the top linemen recruits in the country, Skoronski, coming in.

I say the nucleus is solid for next year. Just need a new OC.

 

[phatcat]

Because certain people want to come up with every excuse possible to support their narrative. Bottom line is we have played 1 great team, 3 good teams and 6 bad teams. Not a tough schedule at all.

As the river said, my sediments exactly