Raymond and DBs

[n.e.husker]

Raymond has been a full-time assistant for just two seasons, coaching Utah State's defensive backs since 2009. But he was at LSU as an intern while Pelini was there as a defensive coordinator.

 

And Raymond certainly made an impression.

 

"If Coach Bo trusts Coach Corey, then we automatically are going to trust him too," Cassidy said.

 

Raymond played cornerback at LSU, then another six years in the NFL.

 

That experience has helped make him a great technician of the position in the eyes of Husker defensive coordinator Carl Pelini.

 

"He really, really works hard and studies that hard and speaks the language of our players very well," Carl Pelini said of Raymond. "I think they're going to thrive very well under his leadership."

 

Raymond isn't exactly going to find the cupboard bare at Nebraska, either. Returning are two safeties who started to shine at the end of 2010 -- Cassidy and Courtney Osborne. And when it comes to Dennard? Bo Pelini thinks the senior is capable of being "as good of a cornerback as there is in the country."

 

Then there are guys like Ciante Evans and Antonio Bell, who have shown promise and figure to be a couple of the leading contenders at the corner spot opposite Dennard.

 

http://huskerextra.com/sports/football/article_3fcf13ae-656d-5b09-96c9-02fd7040fd3b.html

[huskerjack23]

Is the media not allowed to talk to the new coaches?

[NUance]

What will be a more common sight in 2011: four DBs or five DBs on the field? The Pelinis aren't getting caught up in that discussion right now.

"The bottom line is you have to come up with your base (defense) first -- your 11 best," Carl Pelini said.

The rest? Who's the nickel back? Who's the dime back? That comes later.

"It's just kind of like putting a puzzle together," Carl Pelini said. "But it will probably be late in the spring before we figure out exactly what that puzzle is going to look like in the end."

 

Seems like we're still a LOT deeper at CB and DB than LB. I'd be surprised if our base schemes are much different from last year. Replacing Hagg is going to be key though.