Pondering the Niles Paul Paradox

Timely article, I was rewatching the game and had the very same thoughts.  He reminds me of a fantastic NL hitter in baseball who blunders on defense like a Matt Halladay. 

Limiting his role could get him to concentrate better, however I’d like to see several more games to see if this is the same ole Paul or he just had a few miscues against an inferior opponent.

GBR!

Niles doesn’t get this figured out, he’ll be nothing but a Maurice Purify at the next level.  He has EVERY tool necessary, but has a 4 years history littered with mental mistakes on and off the field.  I’m pulling for him, but as the “leader” of the receiving corp this correction is overdue.  I find the less is more thought intriguing and perhaps just the right thing.

I said before the first game that I saw Brandon Kinnie becoming the go-to guy at receiver, and I think we saw that Saturday.  Niles definitely makes a huge contribution to our team though. He is still a guy we need to contribute big-time at receiver, but his value comes mostly on special teams.  He is a very good kick returner and that ability could get him to the next level.

Yeah this is a conundrum for sure. If you were Bo, would you have pulled him from the game after his bone head drop and fumble thus giving a younger and maybe more eager player a chance? Or, do you leave him in the game to make a nice grab on a floater thrown by Green? Personally, I would have made a real point by pulling him. We were in no real danger of losing anyway.

A different thought but somewhat related, didn’t McNiell miss a pass too? If I remember right, he had one that he let go through his fingers. I only mention that because some of the media is saying that Martinez wasn’t as accurate as Green or Lee. Part of the equation is the receivers. T-Mart was putting some real zip on the ball and it appeared that the receivers weren’t quite use to it coming at them with that velocity.

I say give Niles all he can stand and then some, show me where he lost one game single handedly, the guy is an athlete and the coaches trust him. He will make this team better wait and see.

McNeil needs to get the ball. Take off the pressure. Niles will be one of three, not one of one. Kinnie , McNeil and Paul hard to defend.

Paul is a serious contributor who just needs a lesson in HOW to carry the ball.  He carries it like a drunken sailor with a bottle of rum.

All good points. I don’t envy a single receiver on this team. The way the offense is run, the RBs (and apparently T-Mobile) set up the receivers to make big plays so they have to be able to execute the little things, plain and simple, in order to make the big plays. I can’t imagine the pressure that they must have on em. Even so, it goes back to the fundementals, catching the ball and putting it away.

I like the idea of one guy doing it all. Think of how Texas used Shipley. If we can get teams worried about Paul, might they lose track of McNiell and let him drift into the open, remember Mizzou last year?

Or, whould it be more intimidating if we had three consistent receivers, Paul, McNeill, and Kinnie who had an even amount of catches across the board?

As much as the fan base loves to hate Niles and hates to love him…we’ll miss him dearly when he’s gone.

Sure, he makes boneheaded plays with alarming frequency.  But if this deep into his senior season, that hasn’t been cured, it’s not going to get figured out in the next few weeks.  So don’t waste time trying to solve the puzzle that is Niles’ pysche…it’s like looking for logic in the cockles of a woman’s heart—a fool’s errand.

Just sit back and enjoy the spectacular fireworks that are sure to come…and could possibly set the crowd on fire.

Darren, if I remember correctly there were (8) meltdowns in the Iowa State game and as far as the Texas Tech game nobody showed up, I can see where mistakes spread like wildfire once it starts but to have your best athletes on the field instead of sitting seems to me the best way to work it out IMO. GBR

While Niles can’t be blamed for losing the Iowa State game last year, he can be blamed for not winning it. You will recall his long catch last year where he made a nifty move to avoid a defender only to literally toss the ball out of his hands and give it back to ISU before cross the goal line. That play was a microchosm of his career.

I still say get the ball in his hands whenever you can. What ISU, TT, and now WKU have in common is that they weren’t really big games. As long as he still brings it for the Texases, Missouris, and bowl games (which he has for the most part), he will still be one of my favorite players.

I’m sure some of you watched the press conference after the game.  Niles Paul is a bright, confident, likeable human being.  He’s a natural leader who brings undeniable talent to the game.  Sure, there are other weapons on the team but we need him out there to provide the same explosiveness on the edges that we now apparently have in the backfield.  GBR

Paul needs to worry a little less about being cool, and focus more on being a complete receiver.  I’m noticing that with more of the players, swagger is one thing, cockiness is another.  Rex Burkehead is the perfect example of the perfect Husker, hardworking, humble, and focused on the team, not himself.  Paul could learn from his example.

I’m a little tired of hearing about Paul frankly.  He has been so hyped since high school and while he has been decent and shown flashes, he has not come close to earning any recognition in my book with the off the field incidents and bonehead plays on the field.  He seems to almost get a free pass, other players get benched for inconsistency, drops, off the field arrests but not Niles.  Not sure why that is, it isn’t like he’s the second coming of Irving Fryar.

I think Paul could benefit from getting pulled for a series to talk about his blunders. It would remind him he’s human. Look at the impact it had on Phil Dillard last season.  While I do believe that mistakes were abundant on Saturday, if Paul is going to be the team leader and all-star he could be, he needs to start leading by example and show some focus.  I agree that his time is running out at NU, and that we shouldn’t expect a miraculous leap now.

Niles Paul is no conundrum or mystery at all.  He is among hundreds of his generation with “enormous potential” who are under motivated, self absorbed, and ultimately, washouts.  The Callahan era was filled with these guys (some of whom are now warming the bench rather than the O-line).  I agree with those who are looking ahead to others.  Paul gets to figure it out himself from here on out.  He is big boy (underline boy) now.  And, if Bo Belini is the guy I think he is, he’s moving to the Kinnies and others who bring better days to Nebraska.  Niles Paul doesn’t have the personal fortitutde to be the best in Nebraska football and chews up far too much interest for his “latent talent.”  Geeeesh! already.

WA Husker
Couldn’t have put it better myself! No need to post anything else!

I remember a few years ago in the gator bowl win against Clemson.  The team came out of halftime fired up and pumped and ready to go.  The offense takes the field and scores a touchdown on a Ganz to Swift pass.  The defense takes field and forces a sack and a three-and-out.  The punt return team takes the field and Niles Paul fumbles the ball, nearly erasing whatever momentum Nebraska had up to that point.

This has been going on since he got here.  If he can’t fix these mistakes, he’s going to be the reason the team has a good season instead of a special one.

Niles Paul Sucks.

Common now, he doesn’t suck. I will agree that he is inconsistent. And, he really needs to put that ball away. I do think he runs great routes and can usually gain some good yards after catches, allbeit that he sometimes risks losing yards the way he occasionally curls back after his catch, i.e. the Holiday Bowl and last week. It times like that when you wanna scream, “Just tuck it and get up field!”

Pelini should kick him off the team.  He’s leodis flowers nuts.  You people are crazy.  Paul is a talented kid and we don’t beat Texas or win the Big 12 without him.  Worry about our defense.  We’ve got an NFL QB that Callahan didn’t think was worthy of a scholarship coming back home this weekend.  Blackshirts will be tested.  Hope they’re up to it.

You know what Eric YOU SUCK! Nig Niles is the shiz.

Hey!!!  You don’t say that!!!

What concerns me is he had another pass thrown to him in the flat that he didnt catch…  then while being upset, the defender picked it up and ran towards the end-zone (deja vu - Texas Tech).  Luckily, this time it was a forward pass but only by a few yards.  My feeling is Niles is more concern with posing and not on the little things.  I can understand being frustrated on mistakes but dont compound them by pounding your fists on the ground versus covering up the ball.

One more thing…  Niles did throw a great block in on Rex’s run…  And he is a beast on returns…  If he could just clean up those occassional mental lapses would be nice.  Then again, I often cant remember where my car keys are so I am nobody to talk

Niles paul is not a biblical figure, my best friend is not a god. He’s had his fair share of mistakes. he’s created past failures he is in no way shape or form perfect but also in no way shape or form does he deserve to be treated by the huskernation with so much disrespect and so little respect. He’s a mere mortal man. he has his strengths and his weakness like all of us. this man laces up that chin-strap and puts his all into what he does, he gives it everything he has every practice every game, he prepares harder than anyone I know. He will never be satisfied with anything less than bringing huskernation a championship. He is trying his hardest to do just that. yes he fumbles a couple times a season that’s his only mistake. but when he has a couple mistakes and a whole lot of success you guys shine the spotlight on his mistakes. then when he has a game dominated by success you guys yell its about time. huskernation don’t do that to that man he lays his body and his life on the line for you guys. Most of yall call him overrated yet yall fail to realize you guys the ones who are rating him are holding him to ridiculous expectations. He has been you guys #1 receiver for one full season and he has already surpassed some of your beloved huskers. he is on pace to surpass tracey wistrom, guy ingles, your wide out king irving fryar. He’s going to shatter fryars record with ease but yet yall still don’t give him his respect. He only needs 400 yards to be the 5th best wideout to ever step foot in lincoln stats wise and get this if he repeats and have a season like last season when he had 800 yards he will be #3 on that very same list with only nate swift and johnny rodgers ahead of him. A runningback and a wideout that were starters a lot longer than niles. huskernation this guy is for real you guys better wake up and have his back. so what he has 2 incidents involving alcohol I’m pretty sure all of yall have made bad decisions also. Stop crucifying him as if he committed murder I’m sick of it. I have know him since we were 4th grade kids and he actually is the coolest, smartest, most hard working human being I’ve know that faced so much adversity at all stages in his life. now that I think about it I think I’ve did a hell of a job in choosing a bestfriend. Everything yall say he can’t do he can do and he has Done. you guys are so stuck in your ways that yall fail to realized you have the #1 reciever in the nation playing for your beloved team that most of you worship. For the past 4yrs he has been working extremely hard to please you guys and all your ridicolus expectations. Everytime he lives up and exceeds an expectation you guys kill him with hate. He has been placing that red and white jersey on his body with the number 24 on it for the last past 4 college football seasons not for the name on the back but for the name on the front. It sickens me physically and mentally everytime I see him do so much to only be belittled and hurt. Writing this letter made me shed a few tears and if you think I am an emotional soft person check which part of omaha I come from first. and if you think I’m a no one who has never accomplished anything do a background check on me. All who have stood behind niles paul I appreciate you guys a lot and all who haven’t shame on all .The media needs to shed light on his positives and push his past negatives in the dark. I’m speaking about you omaha world herald and you channel 7 news. I tell niles quote # 1063 from my sports quote book all the time “as an athlete u nor can any other living organism undo the past,let it go by forgiving past hurt…by accepting the help of the present, so that you can have future joy”. Niles paul is and has always been huskernations best wideout to ever put on a jersey.

unknown,
Wow.
Thanks, for the depth of your viewpoint. Really, the commitment players have to make, all the way around, can’t ever be underestimated. While Nebraska’s fishbowl isn’t the only “fishbowl,” I think it’s unique enough, not just for the relative size of its fan base, but the way we can make subjective evaluations that can easily veer toward the personal. If most criticism was just a bunch of over the top “he sucks,” from fools just wanting to pop off anonymously, it’d be easier to not take it seriously and consider the source. We Nebraska fans however, can get into peoples heads. Sometimes that’s good. Sometimes people are begging for that, so here is comes.
In this case, as you point out as a friend of the player, it’s unnecessary.
Blood, passion, depth of perspective and commitment, these things can be easy to lose sight of, just because so many teams with so many players, are doing the same things. Things that are obviously not easy (or, we’d be doing it).

Tell me I was wrong after this Idaho performance. Paul SUCKS.

he had 4 recs of the 18 pass attempts for 31 yds that’s 30% plus of the total passing yds. He lost a fumble who cares it was direct snap & a sloppy game & I know for a fact he will correct it case close. The running game was on today and they weren’t throwing the ball enough to give him much opportunity to make a play with the ball. so he did it without da rock with your impressive blocking a lost art known 2 WRs he played average with the rock but impressive without it he didn’t hide bcuz he was not gettin da rock instead my bestfriend blocked his ass off.  do yall realize he didn’t fumble the snap? It was wildcat and he was reading it and it felt like the runningback was trying to take it when niles was suppose to keep it. It happened in the exchange. I’m a huskerfan but a fan of my friend first. The alabama game was on espn today and I was Arguing with some husker fans On who’s better niles paul. Or julio jones? The arguements r outragous its funni. Just be Cuz julio jones is on tV!  Dey think if he was a husker dey wud be better theyy don’t understand niles beat him in every statistical category last season. I wanna bang my head against this wall its retarded man huskernation dnt understand dey hav gold in there hand n dey wanna pawn him off for less

Facebook: greg mcdougle-burns I’m not scared to standup for the truth feel free to get out debated email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Flexing in the end zone? Really?  Act like you’ve been there before! Burkhead walked over, and handed the ball to the ref. Learn a lesson from the youngster! Act like you’re expected to make a big play from time to time. Act like you’re expected to catch a pass. Act like you can hold on to the ball. But, don’t act like you play like a superstar every game! 
You’re homegrown, and represent us as fans. Practice modesty. Be humble. Please. If you can do this consistently, I will be on your side,

Now can we bench this turd Niles Paul?  6 drops…2 in the endzone.  Cry and moan about pass interference, he dropped TWO that hit him square in the hands.  Niles Paul is garbage with speed….does the name Isaiah Fluellen ring a bell?

Right on Mark. What a joke. Then he hugs Coach Brown after the game?

The “Niles Paul Paradox” is one of the greatest headlines I’ve ever seen to describe him. It is simply crazy how inconsistent he can be. One moment he’s the best player on the field (and that could be NU vs Auburn) and nobody would doubt it. The next he could be the worst and again nobody would doubt it. He fumbles the ball a lot (maybe it runs in the Green/Paul family), but his speed and strength are unreal. He may very well break the receiver benching record at the combine while running a sub 4.40 40 yard dash. Believe it - I’d say it’s a 50/50 possibility at this point. The athleticism, the ability to make that “wow” catch, Niles has it. The mistakes, Niles makes them in spades.

Honestly, I believe Niles will have a 10 year NFL career and see playing time as a starting and 2nd string slot receiver during all 10. He’ll continue to make mistakes, and I’m guessing his teams will limit his touches so he can concentrate on a couple or few each game. His blocking ability might make him a new type of super-speedy WR/TE hybrid never seen before but he will see the field regardless.

Niles Paul is getting cut from the Redskins.  Heard it today.  Niles Paul sucks.