STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Wednesday, December 27, 2006 6:00 pm
DALLAS — Auburn defensive end Quentin Groves considers himself to be a good pass rusher, and Nebraska players won’t argue the point.
A great pass rusher? Well, perhaps not yet.
Opponents legitimately fear great pass rushers, Groves said Thursday, noting former NFL great Reggie White’s prowess.
“Once you mentioned the name Reggie White to a tackle, he’d back up and cringe a little bit,” Groves said. “I want to be the same way.”
He seems to be getting there.
A 6-foot-4, 250-pound junior, Groves ranks second in the Southeastern Conference and 16th nationally with 9½ sacks as 10th-ranked Auburn prepares to play No. 22 Nebraska on Monday in the Cotton Bowl.
Groves is tied for second on Auburn’s career chart with 23 sacks.
“As a coach, you love game-changers,” said Tigers defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. “I call it overcoming coaching, and Quentin overcomes coaching a lot. He makes big plays.”
Groves forced two fumbles with sacks on back-to-back drives Nov. 18 against rival Alabama, spearheading Auburn’s 22-15 triumph. He had three sacks in the second half of the Tigers’ 27-17 victory against Florida on Oct. 14. He said he felt the Gator offensive tackles essentially had no chance against him.
“Late in that game, on third down, he affected the quarterback every time,” Muschamp said.
Nebraska obviously is well aware of Groves, the marquee player on an Auburn defense that is seventh nationally in points allowed (13.9 per game) and 24th in yards allowed (297.5).
Husker players say Groves possesses the quickness and athleticism of an outside linebacker. In fact, in many defenses he would play outside linebacker.
Auburn, however, emphasizes speed on defense, so you often see linebackers playing along the line and safeties playing linebacker.
“Our coaches describe him as a high-motor guy — he’s always running,” Nebraska tight end Matt Herian said of Groves. “No matter where the play goes, he’s running to the ball, always giving his best effort on every play.
“It’s a combination of speed, quickness and power off the ball. He’s not a ‘sit-and-read’ guy. He’s going to come after you.”
Groves tends to create matchup problems because he might line up over a guard on one play, a tight end the next.
“He can cover a tight end or cover a running back, and he can rush the passer,” said the 35-year-old Muschamp, a former Miami Dolphins defensive coach whose scheme is designed to apply constant pressure.
“Muschamp has a great football mind,” Groves said. “He’s always thinking of new ways to blitz the quarterback and new ways to disguise coverage.”
So, let the Cotton Bowl chess match commence.
Nebraska’s offense has some tricks of its own. To be sure, the Huskers’ multiple formations, shifts and personnel groupings will challenge Auburn defenders mentally, Muschamp said.
“They do a good job of giving you a lot of window dressing, as I call it, to get your players confused and get them a little unsettled,” said Muschamp, noting Auburn’s offense employs similar tactics. “Which formation do they end up in? That’s what we need to worry about.”
Auburn’s tendency to take chances on defense at times has led to big plays by opposing offenses.
“When you’re a pressure team, you know what you’re willing to give up,” Muschamp said.
Auburn’s speed and athleticism on defense is comparable to Oklahoma’s, Herian said. The Sooners held the Huskers to 84 rushing yards, forced five turnovers and constantly harassed quarterback Zac Taylor in a 21-7 triumph Dec. 2 in the Big 12 Championship Game.
“They stopped the run — they got Nebraska in a one-dimensional offense,” Muschamp said. “They were able to get Nebraska in third-and-7s, and you should win a lot of those downs on defense.”
Especially with Groves shaking loose and swooping into the backfield with regularity.
No question, Groves is good. He wants to be great.
“I think I have to get better at my fundamentals,” he said. “I mean, I’m relying a lot on my speed, a lot on my power rush. I’m not using a lot of swim moves or spin moves.”
However, he is doing his share of talking on the field.
“I talk a lot of smack because I feel like if you get into your opponent’s head, he’s messed up for the whole game,” Groves said. “It’s all in fun. After the game, I’m going to come up and shake his hand, because I know he was just doing his job, just like I’m trying to do my job.”