• last year
Transcript
00:00 Welcome to another week of the Docs Diagnosis. I'm Travis Justice. He's Dr. Rob Zadiska.
00:04 Huskers did not play this week because they had to buy, so we're going to do something different.
00:08 We're going to change the diagnosis up a little bit. We're going to look at the top five performers
00:12 through the midseason for Nebraska. You've come up with your top five, right?
00:15 Yeah, this is my top five. Opinion only. Feel free to disagree. If you want to throw in the comments,
00:21 talk about it on Twitter. I'm always up for it. But like I said, this is just my opinion
00:27 on what we're looking at here. Okay, number one.
00:30 We needed a game manager. We needed a guy to not turn the ball over and occasionally make a big play.
00:37 And that's what he's done. He's done a great job of it. I think it's the obvious one.
00:41 And by the way, I'm going to also add here, this is not necessarily in any particular order.
00:46 It's just the five guys that I think have been the major...
00:50 These have been the game changers for Nebraska, the stabilizing forces for Nebraska through this first half of the season.
00:58 And he's the biggest stabilizing force we've got on the team right now.
01:02 I think you may get some pushback from this one. Anthony Grant.
01:06 We need a guy who can run the ball, carry the ball, not turn it over.
01:12 You and I even talked about the fact on that play in the Minnesota game that he fumbled.
01:19 He still gained six or seven yards. The guy's a really good running back.
01:24 And I think we've got to have somebody who can shoulder the load when it comes to running the ball.
01:30 And right now, you don't want the quarterback to be that primary ball carrier.
01:35 And that's kind of what Nebraska's had.
01:37 I mean, even when you go back when Sims was the starting quarterback, he was your primary ball carrier.
01:42 We can't have that. We've got to have a guy who can step up, carry the load.
01:46 And I think Grant's a really good running back.
01:48 When he's not turning it over.
01:50 When he's not turning it over. How about Ben Scott?
01:52 And again, this kind of goes back to sort of that stabilizing focus.
01:56 When you look at the center position, when you look at that offensive line,
02:00 as much disruption as they've had on the offensive line, the tackle positions,
02:05 the guys coming back from suspension, the injuries,
02:09 they needed somebody to come in and stabilize that group at least a little bit.
02:15 And for a transfer to come in, he's done a great job of it.
02:19 And he's been probably, in my opinion, the most consistent performer on the offensive line that we've had this year.
02:27 Now, he's not those big explosive blocks you saw out of the center position from a guy like Cam Juergens.
02:35 But he's been stable and he's been consistent. And that's what they need right now.
02:40 Number four, Nash Hutmacher.
02:43 You know, and this is a guy that I was pretty critical of last year.
02:47 I don't know if he was getting the coaching he needed to realize his potential last year.
02:55 I think he's getting it now. I've seen a big uptick in his performance.
03:00 And again, in that defense, that 3-5 defense, you've got to have some guys that lock things down up front.
03:07 I think he's done a great job. I think Ty Robinson's been very consistent.
03:12 And the edge guys have had some big explosive plays, especially.
03:17 But you've got to have a guy in the middle chewing up blockers, making some plays, locking down the middle.
03:23 And Nash has done a very good job of that.
03:26 Finally, Isaac Gifford.
03:27 And again, this kind of goes back to the way you work that 3-5-5 defense.
03:32 And it's basically the nickel guy who's sort of that JoJo Doman type, sort of that hybrid safety linebacker position.
03:43 And that's a role that Gifford was expected to fill going into the season, and that's a role that he has filled.
03:50 He's done a great job of it. He's been making a few big plays.
03:54 But again, it's just been very consistently around the ball, making tackles, breaking up passes.
04:00 He's done a good job on the run plays, coming up, filling, getting some tackles for loss.
04:06 That's what you want out of that position.
04:08 Is he another JoJo Doman? No, but he could be as he continues to get coaching and continues to develop.
04:15 And he might be one of the more underrated athletes on the team.
04:19 His speed and strength are off the charts, and I think a little more experience from the guy is going to be a really amazing player.
04:26 So here's what you need to do.
04:27 Agree, disagree with Rob. Leave your comments in the comments section.
04:30 Also, hit that subscribe button to make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.
04:33 And tomorrow, we're going to take a look at the coaches that are overperforming maybe in this first half of the season and underperforming.
04:41 We're not going to say hot seat, but just underperforming so far in college football.
04:46 For Dr. Rob Zaduska, I'm Travis Justice. We'll see you tomorrow on the Docs Diagnosis presented by Centris Federal Credit Union.
04:51 Ready to embark on a new financial journey? Centris Federal Credit Union is here to help.
04:56 Centris is your trusted financial partner focused on what truly matters.
05:00 Giving back to our communities and ensuring their members' experience is top notch.
05:05 With 15 convenient locations, Centris' mobile and online banking, instant-issue debit cards, and local expertise, your new financial path is closer than you think.
05:14 Visit centrisfcu.org, stop by a Centris branch, or give them a call at 402-334-7000 to learn more about how they can help you achieve financial success.
05:24 Centris Federal Credit Union, federally insured by NCUA, an equal housing lender.
05:28 Your journey to financial freedom starts here. Centris Federal Credit Union, where you and your community come first.
05:35 (whooshing)