What happened to this "attacking defensive line" I heard about in the preseason? It basically looks like on every play our d-line is trying to block the o-linemen...not try to get into the backfield. It has been frustrating to watch. Something better be fixed or this defense is going to get eaten alive in conference play.
LOL...what games involving B1G teams leads you to this half-baked assertion?
1. Wisconsin's narrow escape from Northern Iowa?
2. Iowa's one point win over Northern Illinois?
3. Michigan getting hammered by Alabama?
4. Or maybe it was Michigan State's almost losing to Boise State (at home) that has you tossing and turning?
I know that as a Nebraska fan joining in the "we suck" chorus is the new black but get real.
Southern Miss ran for nearly 200 yards against Nebraska. Are you assuming the offensive lines, running backs, and quarterbacks in the Big 10 - specifically on Wisconsin, Ohio St, Michigan, and Michigan St - are worse than what Southern Miss has? Bell, Ball, Robinson, and Miller come to mind. Not to mention that Wisconsin has a proven track record of developing quality college o-linemen.
It was just something I noticed. Nebraska's d-line did not play good. They looked slow and and were getting pushed around.......by Southern Miss. I'm not sure if it's talent or scheme - I tend to lean towards a mixture of the two - but hopefully something changes and d-line play improves or our defense will struggle the rest of the year.
I already said this on another thread, but i'll go again. The spread offense, (So. Miss) is the hardest and most difficult defense to defend in all of football. Hence, why the NFL is accepting it more and more into the game. The only team that I saw this weekend stuff the dual threat quarterbacks/read options was Alabama. And, we know how much of a higher level they're on then everyone else in the country. Wisconsin and Michigan St. are perfect offenses for us to defend. Wisconsin, on Saturday played smashmouth for the entire game, and were averaging maybe 3 yards at most a carry vs Northern Iowa. Danny O'Brien was nothing to drool over. He was a pocket quarterback, which is what our defense thrives on. Examples, Jake Locker (Minus Holiday Bowl, didn't happen), Curt Cousins, James Vandenberg, Blaine Gabbert. All quality quarterbacks who had no luck of anything against us. That's why I believe Michigan State and Wisconsin are gimmes. Michigan and Ohio State are reasonable things to be scared about. But, Wisconsin and Michigan State looked like complete dog drool this weekend, and both were at home, So imagine wisky on the road. I think our defense was fine once they knew more about Southern Miss' offense. Which was the second half. They were driving down the field time and time again in the first, but the second half, 100 yards and 3 points, and almost all punts, sit down my friend and wait for UCLA. if we are still struggling after UCLA then there is obviously more room for discussion. But, we also had 11 TFL and 3 sacks, which isn't a bad game at all, against a team's offense that you don't know.
