Deeper Matters: Defense heads towards 22-man goal

Nexus

All-American
In the weeks before the 2008 season, Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini mentioned to reporters one ideal of a well-rounded defense: Not just 11 competent starters, but 22 of them.
Two deep at every position. A full set of Blackshirt batteries. What Nebraska’s offense once enjoyed under Tom Osborne, as waves and waves and waves of offensive linemen, crack-backing split ends and tanks dressed as fullbacks scorched the opponent’s end zone.

Ask defensive coordinator Carl Pelini now, as he surveys his defense, whether NU’s finally reached that 22-man goal - and he, like his brother and other defensive colleagues, goes one better.

“More, honestly,” he said. “Yeah, I feel that way. We’re deep. There’s not a big difference now when our 2s on the field and our 1s are on the field. It’s hard to tell who the 2s are and who the 1s are right now.

“They’re both playing well. They’re both making mistakes. It’s still spring. But in terms of physicality of play and execution of stuff, we’re deep. We’re deep.”

Let’s still presume finding a quarterback is the key to whether NU earns a Big 12 title and BCS berth in 2010, or plateaus into a decent-but-unfulfilling campaign.

But story 1B is the source of this remarkable confidence - from Bo to Carl to the starters to the scrubs - that Nebraska’s defense can meet and surpass the Herculean effort put forth last season.

Depth. Eight or more guys on the defensive line. At least four linebackers. And possibly 10-14 guys in the secondary. Right now, NU has trio of free safeties - Dejon Gomes, Anthony West and Rickey Thenarse - with years of combined starting experience.

Not all of that depth is proven; NU has its share of youth. But the Brothers Pelini have been clever in building experience even in redshirt seasons.

Case in point: Defensive line, Carl Pelini said, is “the last position on the field you would want to play a true freshman.” At least in Nebraska’s scheme. So there wasn’t much of a chance that then-true freshmen Thad Randle (tackle) and Jason Ankrah (end) would play in 2009

“But they didn’t spend a lot of time on scout team last year,” Pelini said. “We kept them with us, purposefully, because we knew they were going to figure in this year. Even late in the season, when we knew they were redshirting, they were practicing with the 1s and 2s.”

Hence, a smoother spring transition. A Husker pipeline of a different kind.

True depth opens the door to variety and creativity.

In this competitive climate, Thenarse becomes a weapon to unleash on certain downs. Quicker guys like defensive end Josh Williams and Randle can offer pop in the pass rush. Not that Nebraska would do it, but massive defensive tackles like Jared Crick and Baker Steinkuhler afford NU the option of exploring a three-man line in 2010 or 2011, with Terrence Moore, Randle or current true freshman Jay Guy anchoring the middle.

The Peso, after all, isn't just a one-year fad to accomodate Eric Hagg. It's a place to house a smaller, quicker hybrid who serves as a Swiss Army Knife against an offense.

While it's true the Blackshirts found their groove last year with that dime defense - which primarily kept the same 11 guys on the field, with Steinkuhler and Cameron Meredith subbing along the defensive line - the first six games of the 2010 will be a hodge-podge of different styles and strengths.

Idaho blends pro-style and spread. Washington is West Coast Offense mixed with some open sets. Kansas State is whatever comes out of Bill Snyder's massive junk drawer that week. Texas is Texas, but expect the Longhorns to recommit to the running game.

So Nebraska needs to employ its share shapes, sizes and skills within the framework of the Peso/Nickel/Dime schemes. And 22 guys is a good start to "five times better."

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This is great to here! With all of the recruiting that was done on the defense's side, this has happened quickly. It will continue to happen as well with all of the success the Blackshirts will have. Hopefully the offense will get there as well...

 
Defensive line, Carl Pelini said, is “the last position on the field you would want to play a true freshman.” At least in Nebraska’s scheme. So there wasn’t much of a chance that then-true freshmen Thad Randle (tackle) and Jason Ankrah (end) would play in 2009

 

“But they didn’t spend a lot of time on scout team last year,” Pelini said. “We kept them with us, purposefully, because we knew they were going to figure in this year. Even late in the season, when we knew they were redshirting, they were practicing with the 1s and 2s.”

LOVE THIS. :bonez Defense wins championships.

 
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