Is the D-line better than 2009?

[n.e.husker]

The D end battle will be huge in fall camp. We havent seen much out of Ankrah/Williams, but we are excited about Eric Martin and Jo Carter. Im excited about all this depth we can talk about.

[flatwaterfan]

My depth chart

 

RE Martin, Ankrah,Carter

DT Crick, Randle

DT Baker, Moore or Rome

RE Meredith, Williams,

 

We are much deeper. I call it a push though.

[carlfense]

Put me in the "no way in he11" category. The '09 defensive line was one of the most dominant DL units I have ever seen at any level. The 2011 defensive line will be good but I don't see any way that they will be better (or even close to as good as) that '09 line. Not even close in my very un-expert opinion.

[NUance]

Put me in the "no way in he11" category. The '09 defensive line was one of the most dominant DL units I have ever seen at any level. The 2011 defensive line will be good but I don't see any way that they will be better (or even close to as good as) that '09 line. Not even close in my very un-expert opinion.

Do you agree that we’re better at three of the four spots?

[307husker]

We may be 10-20% better at 3 of the spots but Suh was a category killer. Suh played like he was 3 D linemen in one. Realistically it functioned like it was a 5-6 man front with him in the lineup.

 

I do not believe that this line will be as good as 2009. I'd love to be wrong.

[NUance]

It’s a tough call. Hence the thread. Suh *always* attracted the double team. And generally fought through it. Crick won’t always attract that kind of attention. So that’ll sometimes free up a blocker to work the play. The thing is, Crick/Steinkuhler are strong enough to contain. And quick enough to pursue backside. I think the D-line will be better as a unit. But then, that’s a hard thing to compare even after the season is over. Let alone in July. The LBs and DBs play affects the D-line. And vice versa. So you can’t ever really compare apples/apples. :koolaid2:

[carlfense]

Put me in the "no way in he11" category. The '09 defensive line was one of the most dominant DL units I have ever seen at any level. The 2011 defensive line will be good but I don't see any way that they will be better (or even close to as good as) that '09 line. Not even close in my very un-expert opinion.

Do you agree that we’re better at three of the four spots?

No. I don't. While Camstache might be the best DE in the bunch, the combination of Pierre Allen/Camstache/Barry Turner was better than the combo of Camstache/MysteryDE.

 

Put it this way. I think every position on the defensive line in 2011 ranks about a 7-10. In 2009 every position on the defensive line ranked from 7-10 . . . except Suh who was more like a 15.

 

Edit: as 307Husker said, I'd love to be wrong.

[NUance]

Put me in the "no way in he11" category. The '09 defensive line was one of the most dominant DL units I have ever seen at any level. The 2011 defensive line will be good but I don't see any way that they will be better (or even close to as good as) that '09 line. Not even close in my very un-expert opinion.

Do you agree that we’re better at three of the four spots?

No. I don't. While Camstache might be the best DE in the bunch, the combination of Pierre Allen/Camstache/Barry Turner was better than the combo of Camstache/MysteryDE.

 

Put it this way. I think every position on the defensive line in 2011 ranks about a 7-10. In 2009 every position on the defensive line ranked from 7-10 . . . except Suh who was more like a 15.

 

Edit: as 307Husker said, I'd love to be wrong.

Maybe I been drinkin too much offseason (likely), but I think this year's D-line will make you eat crow.

[bshirt]

I'm still on the caveman bandwagon. I think his upside wayyyyy above Allen and it shows this year.

 

GBR!!

[NUance]

I'm still on the caveman bandwagon. I think his upside wayyyyy above Allen and it shows this year.

 

GBR!!

If ability has anything to do with speed and bone crunching hard hits, then yes.

 

[carlfense]

Put me in the "no way in he11" category. The '09 defensive line was one of the most dominant DL units I have ever seen at any level. The 2011 defensive line will be good but I don't see any way that they will be better (or even close to as good as) that '09 line. Not even close in my very un-expert opinion.

Do you agree that we’re better at three of the four spots?

No. I don't. While Camstache might be the best DE in the bunch, the combination of Pierre Allen/Camstache/Barry Turner was better than the combo of Camstache/MysteryDE.

 

Put it this way. I think every position on the defensive line in 2011 ranks about a 7-10. In 2009 every position on the defensive line ranked from 7-10 . . . except Suh who was more like a 15.

 

Edit: as 307Husker said, I'd love to be wrong.

Maybe I been drinkin too much offseason (likely), but I think this year's D-line will make you eat crow.

I hope you are right! That's the delicious kind of crow . . . when your team performs better than you expect.

[husker B-rent]

i would say that the potential is no doubt there but it will take alot to live up to that kind of hype. possible, yes. crick in my mind is much better than he is givin credit for and stein should really start clicking this season, he just has too much natural ability not to. the stache in my mind is probably the best d-end we have had in a few years, probably since 2006. and martin i could see getting close to 10 sacks this season if given the opportunity.

 

most of that is potential and if its liven up to then yes this line will be better but if not then it wont but thats ok because that 09 line was as close to perfection as i have seen.

[Blackshirt316]

It has the potential to be.. but your depth chart is a bit off

 

 

LDE: Camstache(Jr)/Ankrah(So)/Donovan Vestal

DT: Steinkuhler(Jr)/Terrence Moore(Jr)/Chase Rome(So)

DT: Crick(Sr)/Thad Randle(So)/Jay Guy(RFr.)

RDE: Josh Williams(Jr)/Joe Carter(Jr)/Eric Martin(Jr)

 

Carter and Williams will fight it out to be the every-down RDE and I think Carter ends up winning the fight by conference play.. Martin is the 3rd down pass-rush specialist (and maybe also a bit of a 3-4 Backer or 5-2 End if the situation arises)

 

 

When you've got enough depth to be able to not even question whether you can afford to red-shirt guys like Todd Peat and Kevin Williams... you've got something going right.

[flatwaterfan]

I'm still on the caveman bandwagon. I think his upside wayyyyy above Allen and it shows this year.

 

GBR!!

 

I have also joined the clan of the caveman.

 

I wonder if we will see a 5 man line at times as we are a bit thin at LB but deep at DT. I think Martin&Meredith can both stand up and cover if needed. The pair reminds me of the Travis Hill and Jeff Mills combination.

 

Martin Ankrah

Crick Rome Peete

Randle Moore Guy

Baker Jackson Williams

Meredith Williams

 

lb

David Fish

Compton Roach

[Paul in WI]

I'm still on the caveman bandwagon. I think his upside wayyyyy above Allen and it shows this year.

 

GBR!!

 

I have also joined the clan of the caveman.

 

I wonder if we will see a 5 man line at times as we are a bit thin at LB but deep at DT. I think Martin&Meredith can both stand up and cover if needed. The pair reminds me of the Travis Hill and Jeff Mills combination.

 

Martin Ankrah

Crick Rome Peete

Randle Moore Guy

Baker Jackson Williams

Meredith Williams

 

lb

David Fish

Compton Roach

Count me in the clan of the caveman too. I have a gut feeling that he is going to be one of the year's nice surprises in his new slot.

 

The depth on the line couldn't come at a better time with attacks like Wisconsin on the menu. From top to bottom, 2011 is better--and going into the Big Ten, I'd rather have the depth of quality like we have now than having a great 1st string without the depth behind them like 2009. We're going to be far less apt to get gassed in the 2nd half this year. Of course the biggest help to this year's line would be an offense that can chew 6 or 8 minutes off the clock. Wouldn't that do wonders for our defensive........ Just think: if we would have had any sort of consistent offense to keep the other team's offense off the field in the past two years, our points and yards allowed probably would have been phenomenal.