Getting Defensive…Hopefully
Defense win Championships. We hear it all the time so it must be true, right? If that is the case, the Huskers might have their work cut out for them this year.
Let’s start with the strength of this D. There is some real talent on the back end of this squad. All sorts of players have started games at corner. Green, Bell, Baptiste, Mitchell, even Safety C. Copper. Now, maybe that is because we were unsettled back there last year, but I’ve always loved competition…I’ve loved athletic, confident Corners even more.
Whoever starts at the Safeties will pass the eyeball test. Stafford, Smith, H. Jackson all look great in pads. The biggest adjustment might be adapting to new coaching w/ Terry Joseph bringing his style into the backfield.
I’ve seen Coach Joseph teach and heard he really recruits well. He certainly is stepping into a room filled with players. It’s interesting that there are guys with tons of experience at Linebacker but it’s still a question mark.
We all know what Will Compton can do, A Whaley is a senior who is ready and S Fischer has played a bunch but can they be impact playmakers?
LaVonte David bailed us out so much last year. You can’t just replace an All-American w/ just anybody. Again, nobody wins the Big Ten w/out great Linebackers.
Finally, we have the big boys up front on the DL. Coach Kaz teaches aggressiveness, technique, and you have to love the way he goes about things. He is a good fball coach (even if he was a Hawkeye).
Does he have the studs to hold up to Wisconsin and Michigan State?
They play Big Boy Football. To me, it depends on the youngsters. Is it fair to ask your guys to play in this league in the DLine?
If this Defense can get takeaways, we have a chance. If young LBs and DLinemen develop, we could be good. If they don’t give up big plays, things will be fine. Lots of ifs.
