Weekend off a break for Husker defense
digg it!
Facebook
del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Those who hoped for Nebraska to make major improvement on defense this season might be disappointed as the Huskers gear for the homestretch.
“We can do better,” NU junior linebacker Bo Ruud said. “But I wouldn’t say it’s a bad year.”
In fact, nose tackle Ola Dagunduro feels it has been a good season for Nebraska’s defense.
“I feel like we’ve gotten better (since last season),” Dagunduro said. “I know it might not seem like that statistically. (But) we’re pretty stellar.”
To be sure, Nebraska’s defense has been sturdy enough to help the Huskers capture the Big 12 North Division, which surely counts for something. The Blackshirts have indeed been stellar at times. But inconsistency is reflected in the unit’s No. 77 ranking in total defense. The Huskers have allowed 351.27 yards per game after giving up 332.17 to rank 26th last season.
Nebraska has been slightly stronger defending the run, but weaker against the pass.
“We’ve had our ups and downs,” Husker senior linebacker Stewart Bradley said. “Big plays definitely hurt us (last week against Texas A&M). That’s been the thing that’s hurt us recently. Eliminating those has been a focus.”
Nebraska, with a record of 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the conference, this week has been preparing for Colorado’s pro-style offense. The Huskers and Buffaloes (2-9, 2-5 Big 12) play Nov. 24 in Lincoln, giving NU this week to iron out problems that arose in last week’s 28-27 win at A&M, where the Aggies rolled up 171 yards on five third-and-long plays in the second half and 443 yards for the game.
Ruud thinks back to two other games in which Nebraska’s defense wasn’t at its best — Kansas (574 total yards) and Oklahoma State (496).
The Blackshirts also have flexed their muscle at times, for instance holding Kansas State to 22 rushing yards and keeping Texas out of the end zone for the entire second half.
Nebraska ranks 43rd nationally in rushing defense, allowing 123.4 yards per game, compared with 124.3 last year. The Huskers rank 95th in pass defense, allowing 227.9 yards, compared with 207.9 last season. NU isn’t among the top 30 in either sacks or tackles for loss this year after leading the nation in those categories in 2005.
Nebraska defenders spoke this week of reducing mental “busts.” Such breakdowns can be particularly costly in the Huskers’ defense, which emphasizes gap control — that is, defenders consistently remaining in their assigned gaps.
“When you play gap defense, everybody has to do their jobs,” Bradley said. “If they don’t, it looks bad. You can tell.”
Lack of gap control has been costly against spread offenses such as Oklahoma State’s. However, offenses for the most part have struggled to line up and simply blow the Blackshirts off the line of scrimmage.
“At the point of attack, we’re definitely a very strong defense,” Bradley said.
Colorado figures to test that notion with plenty of two-running back sets. The Buffaloes rank 24th nationally in rushing (173.6) and 117th in passing (117.36).
“These guys run the ‘wham’ play and counters and power (runs) — stuff we see every day in practice and are comfortable seeing,” Bradley said. “We’re excited to play a team that’s going to try to line up and play some old-school ball with us.”
Nebraska’s idle weekend should benefit a linebacker corps slowed much of the season by injuries. Assorted injuries at all three linebacker positions no doubt have affected the defense’s overall progress, as has a season-ending knee injury to starting cornerback Zackary Bowman suffered in preseason drills.
“The guys really need it,” Ruud said of the break. “You can feel your body starting to wear down.”
Nebraska players insist they’re focused on Colorado and not thinking ahead toward the Big 12 title game Dec. 2 in Kansas City, Mo.
“We can’t just blow by and say this is a victory,” Dagunduro said. “We have to treat Colorado like any other opponent. Study them, and then go play the best we can.”
Briefly
* Although there has been plenty of speculation that Bowman might skip next season to jump to the NFL, at least one person close to the player was unaware of such a scenario unfolding — his mother. “He’ll be back there to play next season and get his degree,” Zelma Bowman said Thursday.
* You probably won’t catch Callahan settling into an easy chair and channel-surfing through football games this weekend. “I’m going to watch a lot of Colorado,” he said. “This time really allows us to focus on preparation. We can take a longer look at the opponent. We’re not as rushed to get through a particular cut-up or phase or situation.”
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
Most Commented news