Frost says look out for Nebraska ... in 2019
CHICAGO – It’s back-to-the-future time for Nebraska, where the return of the prodigal son, Scott Frost, has led to a similar return to many of the themes that once defined the program’s run as one of the sport’s dominant figures.
But football has changed. Case in point: Nebraska true freshman quarterback Adrian Martinez enters fall camp weighing 218 pounds, up from the 200 he weighed on arrival last winter. The 218 pounds was Frost’s playing weight as a senior for the Cornhuskers.
“He’s got a chance to be really good,” Frost said of Martinez, who is entrenched in a battle for the starting job with redshirt freshman Tristan Gebbia. “Really good.”
Other things haven’t changed. With Frost’s return comes an uptick in internal and external expectations; Nebraska has confidence bordering on cockiness, and it all stems from the head coach.
“We’ll be competing for our side” — meaning the West Division of the Big Ten Conference — “in Year 2,” Frost said. “I don’t know if we’ll win it. Then it just goes up from there.”
The 2018 season will have its share of hiccups. Whether the Cornhuskers can land consistent quarterback play is a concern. The defensive backfield lacks depth and proven contributors. On paper, the pass rush is nearly nonexistent.
“If we play well, I think we’ll be dangerous,” Frost said. “If we don’t play well, we can get thumped again.”
Nebraska was thumped last year, broken down to a level not seen for Nebraska in half a century — partly due to a mistaken hire, Mike Riley, but also as a result of years of general mismanagement of the entire program.
Frost has preached some patience since the winter, preaching the need to give the staff time to flip a roster that desperately needs to be broken down and rebuilt. Confidence still reigns at Nebraska.
“I have some optimism because they had an awful culture,” he said. “They weren’t strong. They weren’t in shape. The schemes were bad last year and they still went into the fourth quarter tied with Wisconsin. They should’ve won two or three more games.
“But we’re nowhere near where we should be.”