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Five Fall Camp Questions - Defense
The effort is consistently there...now it's time for better execution
by Samuel McKewon
August 05, 2009
You didn’t think we’d leave the defense out of 5 questions, did you? Of course not.
We proceed with what we like to call the “Pelini side” of the ball. Head coach Bo, and defensive coordinator Carl, instilled a work ethic in this bunch last year that paid off in the second halves and fourth quarters of games. Credit the effort-based system, plus the excellent work of strength coach James Dobson, for the improvement.
But there is still work to do, as evidenced by Bo Pelini’s own comments at Big 12 Media Days. Apparently, NU’s bunch isn’t yet in the same galaxy as where Pelini wants them to be.
Here’s five questions exploring how the Cornhuskers enter the Milky Way, so to speak. For five more in-depth questions, click here.
Now that the Huskers are working harder, can they begin to create more turnovers?
As we mentioned last week, NU is -43 in turnover margin in the last five years. That’s the second-worst total in major college conferences. While part of that is a careless offensive approach, the Huskers have struggled to strip, pick and punch the ball away from the opponent.
At some point, Pelini and Co. have to start looking at the back seven of the defense – that’s where most of the turnovers come from – and put guys who want to make plays, and not just prevent them, in the starting rotation.
Look for this fall camp to be about takeaways, aggressiveness and, for cornerbacks, looking back for the ball.
Can talent trump inexperience at linebacker?
The Huskers sure hope so. Nebraska is loaded with gifted redshirt freshmen and true freshmen at the LB spot. Problem is, none of them have played much college football. And while NU has some experienced guys like Colton Koehler, Blake Lawrence and Phillip Dillard, the pups (Alonzo Whaley, Will Compton, Sean Fisher, Micah Kreikemeier, Eric Martin and Chris Williams) bring more speed and agility to the table.
And Pelini likes to use his linebackers in zone blitzes, so speed and agility are particularly important on NU’s scheme.
So we’ll be watching linebackers coach Mike Ekeler closely this fall camp, just to see where he thinks the young are at, and how much they can contribute.
Is Jared Crick the right partner in crime?
Ndamukong Suh enjoyed a breakout 2008 season, but the unsung guy on the defensive line was Ty Steinkuhler, whose play against opposing guards and tackles forced those opponents to respect his skills as much as Suh’s. The result? Suh wasn’t double-teamed as much. Crick has to make hay on similar opportunities, or risk losing that starting spot to Baker Steinkuhler.
For what it’s worth, Crick was matched against NU’s Keith Williams in the Red/White Spring Game, and Williams won most of those trench skirmishes.
Is Barry Turner back to form?
If so, Nebraska could have one of the better pure pass rushers in the league. Turner has an impressive upfield burst, but a broken leg suffered last fall prevented Turner from moving as well laterally. Summer reports seem to indicate Turner’s totally back on track. His health would give Pelini flexibility in his blitz and coverage packages. Any time you can pressure the quarterback with just four guys, you’ve got a recipe for success.
Can the Huskers put a lid on big plays?
Nebraska’s defense was solid and effective about 75 percent of the time in 2008. But that other 25 percent was littered with long touchdown plays. In games vs. Missouri, Kansas, Texas Tech, Baylor Colorado and Virginia Tech, busts and inexplicable breakdowns – remember the Robert Griffin run on fourth-and-1 around the left end, untouched? – were the norm.
Not every big play is avoidable, but the Huskers need to communicate better and understand the defense they’re running – especially in the secondary. And if Nebraska has to sacrifice a little athleticism or experience among the defensive backs to get that done, then so be it.
Five Fall Camp Questions - Defense
The effort is consistently there...now it's time for better execution
by Samuel McKewon
August 05, 2009
You didn’t think we’d leave the defense out of 5 questions, did you? Of course not.
We proceed with what we like to call the “Pelini side” of the ball. Head coach Bo, and defensive coordinator Carl, instilled a work ethic in this bunch last year that paid off in the second halves and fourth quarters of games. Credit the effort-based system, plus the excellent work of strength coach James Dobson, for the improvement.
But there is still work to do, as evidenced by Bo Pelini’s own comments at Big 12 Media Days. Apparently, NU’s bunch isn’t yet in the same galaxy as where Pelini wants them to be.
Here’s five questions exploring how the Cornhuskers enter the Milky Way, so to speak. For five more in-depth questions, click here.
Now that the Huskers are working harder, can they begin to create more turnovers?
As we mentioned last week, NU is -43 in turnover margin in the last five years. That’s the second-worst total in major college conferences. While part of that is a careless offensive approach, the Huskers have struggled to strip, pick and punch the ball away from the opponent.
At some point, Pelini and Co. have to start looking at the back seven of the defense – that’s where most of the turnovers come from – and put guys who want to make plays, and not just prevent them, in the starting rotation.
Look for this fall camp to be about takeaways, aggressiveness and, for cornerbacks, looking back for the ball.
Can talent trump inexperience at linebacker?
The Huskers sure hope so. Nebraska is loaded with gifted redshirt freshmen and true freshmen at the LB spot. Problem is, none of them have played much college football. And while NU has some experienced guys like Colton Koehler, Blake Lawrence and Phillip Dillard, the pups (Alonzo Whaley, Will Compton, Sean Fisher, Micah Kreikemeier, Eric Martin and Chris Williams) bring more speed and agility to the table.
And Pelini likes to use his linebackers in zone blitzes, so speed and agility are particularly important on NU’s scheme.
So we’ll be watching linebackers coach Mike Ekeler closely this fall camp, just to see where he thinks the young are at, and how much they can contribute.
Is Jared Crick the right partner in crime?
Ndamukong Suh enjoyed a breakout 2008 season, but the unsung guy on the defensive line was Ty Steinkuhler, whose play against opposing guards and tackles forced those opponents to respect his skills as much as Suh’s. The result? Suh wasn’t double-teamed as much. Crick has to make hay on similar opportunities, or risk losing that starting spot to Baker Steinkuhler.
For what it’s worth, Crick was matched against NU’s Keith Williams in the Red/White Spring Game, and Williams won most of those trench skirmishes.
Is Barry Turner back to form?
If so, Nebraska could have one of the better pure pass rushers in the league. Turner has an impressive upfield burst, but a broken leg suffered last fall prevented Turner from moving as well laterally. Summer reports seem to indicate Turner’s totally back on track. His health would give Pelini flexibility in his blitz and coverage packages. Any time you can pressure the quarterback with just four guys, you’ve got a recipe for success.
Can the Huskers put a lid on big plays?
Nebraska’s defense was solid and effective about 75 percent of the time in 2008. But that other 25 percent was littered with long touchdown plays. In games vs. Missouri, Kansas, Texas Tech, Baylor Colorado and Virginia Tech, busts and inexplicable breakdowns – remember the Robert Griffin run on fourth-and-1 around the left end, untouched? – were the norm.
Not every big play is avoidable, but the Huskers need to communicate better and understand the defense they’re running – especially in the secondary. And if Nebraska has to sacrifice a little athleticism or experience among the defensive backs to get that done, then so be it.
