Still looking for the link but just saw an article a while back about teams that have done better after losing Heisman winners. Why is it you think there will be so much drop off? Our likely starters all have plenty of game time. That means last year we still had good D even when Suh did step off the field. He and the other seniors we lost were great but not the whole team. So sit down and have a glass with me. :koolaid2:
edit: 1st link I'll keep going
2010 compared to 94
That link didn't work but here's a working version:
http://bigrednetwork.com/archives/2010/03/how_2010_resembles_1994.html
The reason I don't think this season is particularly like 1994 is that the 2009 Nebraska team was one of the most one sided teams I have ever seen. The defense was amazing . . . one of the best I have ever seen play college football. The offense was atrocious . . . one of the worst I have ever seen at Nebraska. (granted, Bo did shut down the offense and go into bunker mode.) The 1994 and 1995 Nebraska teams were relatively balanced in that both the offense and the defense were well above average. In my opinion, the offense in 1995 was dominant enough that it took some of the pressure off of the defense. Can the 2010 Nebraska offense improve and take some pressure off the defense? Certainly. I hope that's the case.
Anyways, here is my breakdown.
2010 cornerbacks > 2009 cornerbacks. Same players back but with more depth and experience. (+1)
2010 safeties < or = 2009 safeties. Have to replace both starting safeties. There is talent on the roster but it hasn't proven anything yet. I'd venture a guess that by the end of the season the 2010 safeties will be roughly as good as the 2009 safeties . . . but it will take some time to develop that consistency. (wash)
2010 linebackers < 2009 linebackers. I'm basing this entirely on the loss of Dillard because he was often the only linebacker on the field. Dillard was absolutely clutch. He made sideline to sideline plays against the run and even broke up some deep balls to receivers. Dillard was the best linebacker on the roster and it wasn't particularly close. Compton, Fisher, and May showed flashes of potential over the last few seasons but have not been overly impressive. Throw in the unproven wildcards of David and Martin who look the part but haven't played the position yet. There is potential to be good here . . . but it's unproven. (-1)
2010 defensive ends = 2009 defensive ends. We lose Barry Turner but Pierre Allen is back along with a host of other contributors. I think between some combination of Meredith (if he stays at DE) and Ankrah there won't be any dropoff here. (wash)
2010 defensive tackles << 2009 defensive tackles. Don't crucify me for this and keep in mind that I'd love to be wrong. HOWEVER . . . Suh was probably the best defensive linemen I have ever seen play college football. He was consistently double teamed and STILL led the team in tackles. That's incredible. Teams literally formed their gameplans to neutralize Suh and he was still absolutely dominant. I think Crick has the potential to be good, but it would be absolutely incredible if he was "Suh good." Crick will probably be double teamed on most plays and I'm not sure he can absorb the double teams and STILL make the plays like Suh did. Yes . . . Crick will occupy two blockers and therefore open things up for the other DT . . . but Suh could occupy two blockers and STILL make the tackle. That's unbelievable. We have a lot of depth at the position with Crick, Steinkuhler, Moore, Randle, etc. but there will only be two on the field at a time. I don't see any combination of the above (Crick & Moore, Crick & Steinkuhler, Crick & Randle) that will exceed the production of Crick & Suh. Just my opinion. (-2, at least)
So to tie it all together I expect an equal or slightly improved secondary and defensive ends . . . and a slight dropoff at linebacker and a big dropoff at defensive tackle. Therefore with my rudimentary point system (that I just invented) I'd put it at about a -2 overall. Note that I totally just pulled this out of my nether region and it has no statistical basis . . . or basis in fact at all. Just my opinion.