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BIG ERN

BIG ERN

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5. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Picking the fifth and final team for this article was a difficult choice. Alabama loses stars and All-Americans at every level of its defense. Sparty up in East Lansing loses a three-time captain at quarterback (Kirk Cousins) and its top three wideouts and tight end. Houston loses its coach and sixth-year gunslinger.

However, although Nebraska's attrition numbers are not as large as those of some of its aforementioned peers, it is the caliber of the players the Huskers are losing, in addition to the departure of a key assistant, that launches them ahead of the rest.

Bo Pelini has had two nine-win and two 10-win seasons in his four seasons as Nebraska's coach, and that would be more than satisfactory in many locales on the college football map. But not in Lincoln. Losing three of five games down the stretch -- and suffering blowout defeats by Wisconsin, Michigan and South Carolina -- simply isn't acceptable in the state where Cornhuskers football dominates conversation.

One of the continuing points of consternation in Lincoln is when the "blackshirts" will return on defense, and the fact that the Cornhuskers' three biggest playmakers on that side of the ball in 2011 will all be playing on Sundays next season means that won't be happening any time soon.

The departures of Jared Crick, Lavonte David and Alfonzo Dennard mean that Nebraska will be losing a key playmaker at every level of its defense heading into 2012, and Carl Pelini's leaving to take the Florida Atlantic Owls head-coaching job doesn't help, either.

As a result, the Cornhuskers' offense will have to be much more productive in 2012. Although nearly all of the wide receivers and running backs return, the challenge for offensive coordinator Tim Beck will be trying to find balance in an offense that ranked 104th in passing a season ago. Taylor Martinez must make like Tim Tebow this offseason and work on refining a delivery that limits a passing game and burdens a run game by not scaring away safeties from the line of scrimmage.

The good news for the Huskers is that Wisconsin and Michigan will travel to Memorial Stadium in 2012. The challenging news for Pelini is that nine or even 10 wins will not be good enough to satisfy the devoted hometown faithful's expectations in Year 5 of his regime.

---ESPN Insider

 
We will see how things go, but I don't see the defense getting any worse than it was this year. Or at least I HOPE not. I'm to the point where I hardly remember Cosgrove's defenses anymore, so my standards are still pretty high. But I think with the right guys stepping into those spots, our defense SHOULD improve. I'll give my reasoning:

1. The defensive line SHOULD be the strength of the defense next year, with lots of depth and up-and-comers on the roster.

-expected impact players: Steinkuhler, Meredith, and Martin on 3rd downs.

-up-and-coming guys: Rome, Guy, Ankrah, Randle, Carter, and Peat Jr.

2. There is no reason for the secondary to take a step back whatsoever. They should be improved. Yes, we lose Dennard, but we also lose Cassidy and Thorell, and the fact that these guys will never see the field again should immediately make us better. Look for Seisay to step in for Dennard and PJ Smith to take over for Cassidy. Either that or Stafford will take Cassidy's role, and Smith or Osborne will step in at the other S position.

3. The LBs may lose by far the best playmaker on the field, but there will be a lot more depth in 2012. Compton seems to have the makings of a good leader, and Alonzo Whaley came on later in the season in 2011. We will probably need production from 2 of the following guys to make the group successful: Santos, Anderson, Rose, Afalava, and Brown. Anybody that wants playing time at LB has plenty of space to step into it with some quality play during practice.

As a group, the success of the defense depends on the D-Line IMO. We need our big men to be a force and get pressure on the QBs for the first time since Suh left.

 
Referring Tmart to Timmy Teblows passing game is horrible, give us a top 50 passing team and were good. We need some Gronk or Sproles type of action. Make it an easy pass play and rely on the players to make it happen.

 
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lets see, Dennard didn't play for half the season and wasn't 100% when he did, Crick was out for half the season, so we have to replaced one really good player- doesn't seem too bad

 
Blaze1up said:
Referring Tmart to Timmy Teblows passing game is horrible, give us a top 50 passing team and were good. We need some Gronk or Sproles type of action. Make it an easy pass play and rely on the players to make it happen.
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Would have to agree with the Sproles and Gronk style playing. Make it even closer to home and run a significant number of pass plays like Cally had to Lucky. It appears we have the backs to make it happen. If the O line has issues blocking, get the little RB screens and let them make their moves in a more "open" field.

Regardless, we have a ton of "potential" on both sides. These guys all need to step up big time.

Crick was truly injured all year until the pec finally tore. Fonzie missed half the season and probably wasn't 100% (physically/mentaly) until game 10. David is a HUGE loss. Easily the worst IMO. The D line should be better. Coach K should help tremendously. The secondary loses Fonzie, but we also lose some other guys as well. Mo, Green at the CB's, Stafford and PJ or a freed Osbourne round out the safeties. Cooper comes in a recreates Super D (or SJB) from 2003 and the D looks like years better.

 
The DL should be a year wiser and deeper, particularly at DT. I'm looking forward to seeing the off season development of Baker, Rome, Peat, Williams and hopefully Guy. It was just asking too much of our DL to completely adjust from spread Offenses to power offenses in successive seasons. I hope like heck Ankrah becomes more formidable, and maybe McMullen will contribute this season.

At LB, losing David will hurt, especially early on. I see the reason for better upside BECAUSE we'll have quite a few more bodies that can run and are versatile. From Anderson, Santos, Rose, Afalava and even Cooper are guys that will give us depth and more importantly athleticism. Not to mention Compton seems to get it now, and I can't rule out Whaley or Roach. There may be assignment and run fit issues early on, but we don't have to rely on Fisher(Great kid and student, who I don't think will be right again from his injury) or Martin(As he seems to have found his niche at DE). I always feel it is better to have several guys that are athletic vs one guy who is ultra athletic and everyone else is just OK. So this is where my 'kool aid' comes from.

Secondary, let's hope a year of baptism by fire helps Green(optimistic), Ciante and Stafford(must play more disciplined). If Smoove is as good as advertised, we'll be solid at CB. I feel default we'll be at least more athletic...there's still Blatchford though.

Maybe I'm overly optimistic, but this is how it see it defensively

 
HuskerShark said:
We will see how things go, but I don't see the defense getting any worse than it was this year. Or at least I HOPE not. I'm to the point where I hardly remember Cosgrove's defenses anymore, so my standards are still pretty high. But I think with the right guys stepping into those spots, our defense SHOULD improve. I'll give my reasoning:

1. The defensive line SHOULD be the strength of the defense next year, with lots of depth and up-and-comers on the roster.

-expected impact players: Steinkuhler, Meredith, and Martin on 3rd downs.

-up-and-coming guys: Rome, Guy, Ankrah, Randle, Carter, and Peat Jr.

2. There is no reason for the secondary to take a step back whatsoever. They should be improved. Yes, we lose Dennard, but we also lose Cassidy and Thorell, and the fact that these guys will never see the field again should immediately make us better. Look for Seisay to step in for Dennard and PJ Smith to take over for Cassidy. Either that or Stafford will take Cassidy's role, and Smith or Osborne will step in at the other S position.

3. The LBs may lose by far the best playmaker on the field, but there will be a lot more depth in 2012. Compton seems to have the makings of a good leader, and Alonzo Whaley came on later in the season in 2011. We will probably need production from 2 of the following guys to make the group successful: Santos, Anderson, Rose, Afalava, and Brown. Anybody that wants playing time at LB has plenty of space to step into it with some quality play during practice.

As a group, the success of the defense depends on the D-Line IMO. We need our big men to be a force and get pressure on the QBs for the first time since Suh left.
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100% on the money.

We really didn't have Crick all year & Fonzy was healthy for less than half the year. David was superb and a great, great player but nevertheless he's the only player we lose. "One" great player. Couldn't possibly agree more that losing Cassidy & Thorell is the ultimate in addition by subtraction.

Lastly, fully agree that the bottom line is that the Dline makes or breaks our defense this year. Lots of young talent...we'll see.

 
2. There is no reason for the secondary to take a step back whatsoever. They should be improved. Yes, we lose Dennard, but
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3. The LBs may lose by far the best playmaker on the field, but
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No buts!

I'm not saying guys can't step up, but I don't know if I would forecast it. I think we got to hope for some extreme turnaround on the DL play.

 
I am in the same boat as most of you. I don't think we will take a step back this upcoming season, because we lose so few people. We have a lot of young talent waiting to see the field, and they are better than some mediocre players who saw a lot of PT last year.

 
We're only going to improve on defense in 2012. We basically have the same crew back minus David. Now that's a big minus, but with almost the entire unit (and addition by subtraction with thorell and cassidy) having another year under their belt, we should be stronger overall as a defense.

I think we could do big things this year if we just improve our consistency.

 
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