http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/ncaa/04/01/nebraska.suh.ap/index.html
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Ndamukong Suh is gone, but Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini believes he has enough guys to minimize the impact of losing arguably the greatest defensive lineman in program history.
"How do you replace Suh? The answer is, you don't," Pelini said. "If you went by that premise, any time you graduated a great player, you're going to take a step backward. You replace him with a good player and the other guys around him keep getting better and suddenly you fill the hole. You do it by committee."
Jared Crick, Suh's overshadowed sidekick last season, takes over as the main man on the defensive line. Baker Steinkuhler, the third tackle last season, is pegged to fill the Heisman Trophy finalist's spot on the depth chart.
Pelini said two or three other tackles probably will be in the rotation, with Terrence Moore and Thad Randle showing this spring that they are deserving of significant playing time.
"You see a guy leave, it opens up a door, and everybody is trying to rush through the door now," Pelini said.
Even with Suh off to the NFL, Pelini said the tackle position is the deepest it's been in years.
"No drop-off," Pelini said.
The Huskers also have to groom a replacement for defensive end Barry Turner. Cameron Meredith appears to be the front-runner to join returning starter Pierre Allen.
Crick said he and his linemates are taking a business-as-usual approach this spring.
"Suh was a great player for us," Crick said, "but when we take one person out, it doesn't matter as long as the other three are doing their jobs. The whole defensive line will keep its structure and integrity. We won't worry about losing one or two guys. It's about team."
Crick, however, knows he's in position to become the face of the defense after earning first-team All-Big 12 honors from the coaches.
"That's for you guys," he told reporters this week. "For myself, I'm worried about the defense and the d-line. I care about what happens to myself, but as long as we function as a unit and play well, that's all that matters."
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound junior from Cozad is the top returning tackler (73). He had 15 tackles for loss, including 9.5 sacks.
Like Suh, Pelini said, Crick can dominate a game. Pelini said Crick needs to resist the urge to overextend himself.
"If you say I'm going to go take over this game, or I want to single-handedly disrupt this offense, you're going to get in trouble," Pelini said. "Play within the scheme and let the opportunities come. Some games (he and Suh) did take over, some games they didn't. I don't think you think about that. You think about dominating the man over you."
Steinkuhler, a 6-6, 290-pound sophomore from Lincoln, played in 13 games last season and made 17 stops as the third tackle. He concentrated on strengthening his upper body over the winter and improved his squat lift to 500 pounds.
Pelini said Crick, Steinkuhler and others could end up being more productive because of improved depth.
Suh and Crick had their best performances the second half of the season, Pelini said, because they played themselves into shape by being on the field for most of the snaps.
"Hopefully our guys can excel earlier in the year because they're going to be more rested, because they won't be on the field as long," Pelini said. "We'll roll other guys in there and keep them fresh."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Ndamukong Suh is gone, but Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini believes he has enough guys to minimize the impact of losing arguably the greatest defensive lineman in program history.
"How do you replace Suh? The answer is, you don't," Pelini said. "If you went by that premise, any time you graduated a great player, you're going to take a step backward. You replace him with a good player and the other guys around him keep getting better and suddenly you fill the hole. You do it by committee."
Jared Crick, Suh's overshadowed sidekick last season, takes over as the main man on the defensive line. Baker Steinkuhler, the third tackle last season, is pegged to fill the Heisman Trophy finalist's spot on the depth chart.
Pelini said two or three other tackles probably will be in the rotation, with Terrence Moore and Thad Randle showing this spring that they are deserving of significant playing time.
"You see a guy leave, it opens up a door, and everybody is trying to rush through the door now," Pelini said.
Even with Suh off to the NFL, Pelini said the tackle position is the deepest it's been in years.
"No drop-off," Pelini said.
The Huskers also have to groom a replacement for defensive end Barry Turner. Cameron Meredith appears to be the front-runner to join returning starter Pierre Allen.
Crick said he and his linemates are taking a business-as-usual approach this spring.
"Suh was a great player for us," Crick said, "but when we take one person out, it doesn't matter as long as the other three are doing their jobs. The whole defensive line will keep its structure and integrity. We won't worry about losing one or two guys. It's about team."
Crick, however, knows he's in position to become the face of the defense after earning first-team All-Big 12 honors from the coaches.
"That's for you guys," he told reporters this week. "For myself, I'm worried about the defense and the d-line. I care about what happens to myself, but as long as we function as a unit and play well, that's all that matters."
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound junior from Cozad is the top returning tackler (73). He had 15 tackles for loss, including 9.5 sacks.
Like Suh, Pelini said, Crick can dominate a game. Pelini said Crick needs to resist the urge to overextend himself.
"If you say I'm going to go take over this game, or I want to single-handedly disrupt this offense, you're going to get in trouble," Pelini said. "Play within the scheme and let the opportunities come. Some games (he and Suh) did take over, some games they didn't. I don't think you think about that. You think about dominating the man over you."
Steinkuhler, a 6-6, 290-pound sophomore from Lincoln, played in 13 games last season and made 17 stops as the third tackle. He concentrated on strengthening his upper body over the winter and improved his squat lift to 500 pounds.
Pelini said Crick, Steinkuhler and others could end up being more productive because of improved depth.
Suh and Crick had their best performances the second half of the season, Pelini said, because they played themselves into shape by being on the field for most of the snaps.
"Hopefully our guys can excel earlier in the year because they're going to be more rested, because they won't be on the field as long," Pelini said. "We'll roll other guys in there and keep them fresh."
Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/ncaa/04/01/nebraska.suh.ap/index.html#ixzz0ju66tqlA
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