Much is to be said of the Huskers defense, or lack there of this year. The Huskers defense, as many have said, is one of the worst statistically in recent Husker memory, and may be one of the worst ever. That’s not to say that things cannot be turned around, because they can.
For this to happen, it has to start with the defensive line. The reason so many Husker defenses have been great is because of dominant interior lineman. Look back in recent memory: Suh, Vanden Bosch, Wistrom, and Peters come straight to mind.
Nebraska was so good because the defensive line would wreak havoc in the oppositions backfield. In the running game, they created such a push that it would force the opposing running backs to reroute their path. They would then run into the waiting arms of a fellow “Blackshirt.”
In the passing game, they would wreak havoc by causing the opposing quarterback to get rid of the ball well before he wanted to. This caused many bad throws, and turned into numerous interceptions.
The Huskers defense definitely has not helped themselves out this year, committing numerous penalties. The recent loss of Jared Crick is going to hurt the defense, but it will not be end of the season. Chase Rome, Baker Steinkuhler, and Thad Randle will need to step up and fill the role.
For the Huskers to compete the rest of this season, these boys are going to have to get into opposing backfields more than they have so far. Michigan State nearly put up double digit sacks against Ohio State. Nebraska recorded, if I remember correctly, one sack the entire game.
That is not going to cut it in the B1G 10. The defensive front push will be key the rest of the season. If they can start forcing opposing offenses out of their groove, the season really is not going to be as well as we had hoped.
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So many things wrong with this. Vanden Bosch and Wistrom…. NOT interior Dlinemen…..
One of the worst Husker Ds ever? really? This is just a really poor statement.
Paul I think research would be a good thing for you to learn how to do.
I apologize. I mean defensive linemen not interior defensive linemen. Forgive my mistake there.
As for the worst d’s ever, I said statistically. If the season were to end today, at 27.7 points per game, that ranks in the bottom 5 since Devansu took over. At 327 yards per game given up, that would also be in the bottom 5.
Talent wise, they are by far no means the worst. It’s a young group who has a iot to learn, and who came in with big expectations. Maybe a little overrated, yes. But I believe Pelini when he talks about the system. In watching the games, it is not a unit, but rather one player who is out of position that lets the big plays happen.
The defense will improve this year, there is no doubt about that. However, they probably will not live up to the expectations put upon them at the beginning of the season though.
I agree there needs to be a lot of improvement in the defense overall. The line is the first place to start. Considering the personnel is not that different than last year we need to understand what has changed. It is not the move to the Big 10. Most of these statistics were against out of conference foes. This defense would not do well in the Big 12 either. It must be reasoned that there has been some change in the coaching of the defense. nothing else makes sense. I know we lost some coaches this last year, that has to be it.