Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
LJS: Suh, Steinkuhler ready for larger roles
Like they will on the football field, Ty Steinkuhler and Ndamukong Suh appear side-by-side in this year’s Nebraska media guide.
Their mug shots look somewhat intimidating. Their bios? Not so much.
That’s no knock against their abilities as defensive linemen. They’re simply sophomores — Steinkuhler a redshirted one, Suh a true one — who haven’t built up much game experience. Steinkuhler had five tackles last season, and Suh missed all but two games after aggravating a knee injury in September.
If things go according to plan, though, their bios in next year’s guide should be a bit longer.
Starting players? Not this season. Seniors Barry Cryer and Ola Dagunduro, top backups a year ago, will fulfill those duties at defensive tackle and nose tackle, respectively.
The roles for Steinkuhler and Suh, though, figure to be every bit as important. Remember those nation-leading 50 sacks last season? In addition to Adam Carriker and Jay Moore, you can thank a viable four-man rotation at the tackle positions. Fresh bodies throughout the game helped create that push up the middle.
Now that two of those bodies — Cryer and Dagunduro — have moved into starting roles, can Steinkuhler and Suh take their spots and provide that same depth?
Defensive line coach John Blake says yes, with no hesitation.
“We’ve got four guys rolling right now,” Blake said.
He said Suh is “really good, really improving,” and that Steinkuhler, who was moved to defensive tackle from defensive end in the spring, is “doing extremely well. Tough, good heart, good genes.”
Steinkuhler, a Lincoln Southwest graduate, is the son of former Husker standout Dean Steinkuhler, winner of the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award in 1983.
Steinkuhler redshirted in 2004 and played in eight games last season. Suh played in Nebraska’s first two games last season as a true freshman before having knee surgery. He had his meniscus removed and missed the rest of the season.
“It was a bad thing that happened, but it’s just something you have to work through,” Suh said. “It happens for a reason, and obviously, it wasn’t my time to come out and play last year. (I needed to) rest, recuperate and come out strong for (this) season.”
Which, Suh said, he has.
“I’m feeling good right now,” he said. “I’m feeling real good.”
Suh (6-foot-4, 315 pounds) is working with the second units at nose tackle, behind Dagunduro. Steinkuhler (6-3, 280) is behind Cryer at defensive tackle. Blake is hopeful a third player, junior college transfer Brandon Johnson, can factor in as well, although Johnson (6-3, 315) just arrived in Lincoln on Wednesday and has some catching up to do.
“Time will tell,” Blake said. “A lot of work. A lot of mental work. But a junior college kid is mature, kind of like Ola was last year.”
The 6-2, 300-pound Dagunduro had 22 tackles, including two sacks and two other tackles for loss, as a backup to LeKevin Smith last season.
“Ola’s had an awesome camp,” said Carriker, Nebraska’s senior “base” defensive end. “He’s been blowing up our centers. Our centers won’t like to hear that, but it’s true.”
As for the backups, Carriker said he doesn’t expect much of a drop-off, although he said there’s always room for improvement.
“Suh’s a beast,” Carriker said. “He’s just got to work every day in practice, get his mental (game) down. He’s got the talent, the speed and the strength.
“(Steinkuhler), going in there at 280 … you don’t know what to expect from a guy in spring ball, then in fall camp, he’s done real well. You can tell he likes the three (technique), and that’s where he wants to play, and he’s very good at it.”
Steinkuhler declined interview requests. Suh said both he and Steinkuhler made huge strides during spring football.
“I got the system down, and I’m understanding it a lot easier,” Suh said, “so I’m just going out full-go, because everything’s just a reaction, second-nature.”
Suh said he’s become stronger all around, particularly in his legs, since his surgery. He credited strength coach Dave Kennedy and his strenuous summer workouts.
“In the winter, I was kind of weak,” he said, “then I came back in the spring, got some good workouts, and also with Coach K pushing us and running us (in the summer), working out every day was the best thing.
“Some of the days, you were just like, ‘Man, why did I get up this morning and go out and do this?’ But in the long run, it helps you.”
Like they will on the football field, Ty Steinkuhler and Ndamukong Suh appear side-by-side in this year’s Nebraska media guide.
Their mug shots look somewhat intimidating. Their bios? Not so much.
That’s no knock against their abilities as defensive linemen. They’re simply sophomores — Steinkuhler a redshirted one, Suh a true one — who haven’t built up much game experience. Steinkuhler had five tackles last season, and Suh missed all but two games after aggravating a knee injury in September.
If things go according to plan, though, their bios in next year’s guide should be a bit longer.
Starting players? Not this season. Seniors Barry Cryer and Ola Dagunduro, top backups a year ago, will fulfill those duties at defensive tackle and nose tackle, respectively.
The roles for Steinkuhler and Suh, though, figure to be every bit as important. Remember those nation-leading 50 sacks last season? In addition to Adam Carriker and Jay Moore, you can thank a viable four-man rotation at the tackle positions. Fresh bodies throughout the game helped create that push up the middle.
Now that two of those bodies — Cryer and Dagunduro — have moved into starting roles, can Steinkuhler and Suh take their spots and provide that same depth?
Defensive line coach John Blake says yes, with no hesitation.
“We’ve got four guys rolling right now,” Blake said.
He said Suh is “really good, really improving,” and that Steinkuhler, who was moved to defensive tackle from defensive end in the spring, is “doing extremely well. Tough, good heart, good genes.”
Steinkuhler, a Lincoln Southwest graduate, is the son of former Husker standout Dean Steinkuhler, winner of the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award in 1983.
Steinkuhler redshirted in 2004 and played in eight games last season. Suh played in Nebraska’s first two games last season as a true freshman before having knee surgery. He had his meniscus removed and missed the rest of the season.
“It was a bad thing that happened, but it’s just something you have to work through,” Suh said. “It happens for a reason, and obviously, it wasn’t my time to come out and play last year. (I needed to) rest, recuperate and come out strong for (this) season.”
Which, Suh said, he has.
“I’m feeling good right now,” he said. “I’m feeling real good.”
Suh (6-foot-4, 315 pounds) is working with the second units at nose tackle, behind Dagunduro. Steinkuhler (6-3, 280) is behind Cryer at defensive tackle. Blake is hopeful a third player, junior college transfer Brandon Johnson, can factor in as well, although Johnson (6-3, 315) just arrived in Lincoln on Wednesday and has some catching up to do.
“Time will tell,” Blake said. “A lot of work. A lot of mental work. But a junior college kid is mature, kind of like Ola was last year.”
The 6-2, 300-pound Dagunduro had 22 tackles, including two sacks and two other tackles for loss, as a backup to LeKevin Smith last season.
“Ola’s had an awesome camp,” said Carriker, Nebraska’s senior “base” defensive end. “He’s been blowing up our centers. Our centers won’t like to hear that, but it’s true.”
As for the backups, Carriker said he doesn’t expect much of a drop-off, although he said there’s always room for improvement.
“Suh’s a beast,” Carriker said. “He’s just got to work every day in practice, get his mental (game) down. He’s got the talent, the speed and the strength.
“(Steinkuhler), going in there at 280 … you don’t know what to expect from a guy in spring ball, then in fall camp, he’s done real well. You can tell he likes the three (technique), and that’s where he wants to play, and he’s very good at it.”
Steinkuhler declined interview requests. Suh said both he and Steinkuhler made huge strides during spring football.
“I got the system down, and I’m understanding it a lot easier,” Suh said, “so I’m just going out full-go, because everything’s just a reaction, second-nature.”
Suh said he’s become stronger all around, particularly in his legs, since his surgery. He credited strength coach Dave Kennedy and his strenuous summer workouts.
“In the winter, I was kind of weak,” he said, “then I came back in the spring, got some good workouts, and also with Coach K pushing us and running us (in the summer), working out every day was the best thing.
“Some of the days, you were just like, ‘Man, why did I get up this morning and go out and do this?’ But in the long run, it helps you.”
