D-Line

[Warrior10]

Don't care to see this turn into another sky is falling can't get to the QB thread, even though it pry will. Just wondering who you guys think our starters/majority minutes getters should be. Going off last night this is what I prefer:

DE: McMullen...didn't seem to get as many snaps. But I saw more from him than Ankrah and Moss. He got some good pressure on the QB, and played the run game well.

DT: Vince Val....wow. I know his performance will be overlooked. He was what we had heard he could be. He was double teamed MOST of the game. He was the first DT since Suh that I have seen drive that double team back...and the first to toss a lineman since then too. He collapsed the pocket, we just couldn't corral Smith. He will be a force.

DT: Not sure....don't remember seeing a whole lot from Randle, Curry, Collins, Maurice. I saw a couple flashes from Collins and Maurice, but just don't remember them that much. Guess, imo, no one separated themselves here.

DE: Gregory. People have to remember this is his first game in over a year! (Something I got reminded of last night). He showed speed and athleticism that you see in the SEC DE's. He will be a force. I saw him step out, jam a slot receiver and guard him great on a slant route across the entire field.

Also a note. When we get Afalava back I think we will see him as a 3rd down pass rushing DE.

These thoughts are without re-watching game. I'll pry try to get it watched early this week and maybe my thoughts will alter.

 

[husker_rob]

I remember seeing Randle a couple times in on tackles (need to re-watch).

Valentine looks like a giant out there, someone who should be able to clog the middle like we need. I was also impressed with him, although there were times he looked gassed, so Pelini's comments about conditioning came to mind. I was very impressed with him overall -- a LOT of promise there for a very young guy.

Gregory. Wow. His motor doesn't stop, does it? He could be special.

 

[The Dude]

Definitely room for improvement. There's promise with Valentine, McMullen, and Gregory, no doubt. I think (hope) they'll mesh throughout the year.

I'd like to see the starting front four be those three plus Collins by mid-season.

 

[Enhance]

I think the issue has more to do with what the players are doing rather than who is out there making the play. Reason I say that is we had experience last year and that didn't help. We have talent this year and we had a no-way-around-it awful game. I'm confident they'll learn from this game and get better, but I'm losing a lot of confidence in how this scheme works when there's no Suh anchoring the line. Without the anchor, we can't stop the run and we can't get to the QB.

Truthfully not attempting to derail the thread. I think we have some very good players here, but they're not performing. That reflects right back on the scheme and the coaches.