Will NU’s Front Four be Special?
It's hard to recall many defenses that have been outstanding without a good front four. Teams that can create pressure on a quarterback without blitzing have a clear numbers advantage in coverage. As long as that front is also sound in their run responsibilities, then the recipe is there to dominate defensively. The Huskes return three starters and some key reserves on the defensive line. Depth will be particularly important given the need to stay fresh in games and the long grind of a tough schedule. What should be expected of this unit?
Barring injury, college players tend to get better with age. Of course, those first two words loom large. A lot was expected of Jared Crick in 2011, but then he missed eight games with a torn muscle. You can hardly say who will get injured in advance, so you have to put that aside for now.
Defensive tackle Baker Steinkuhler and defensive end Cameran Meredith were honorable mention All-Big Ten last season and both players started every game. They combined for 98 tackles, 11 for loss, with 13 quarterback hurries, 7 sacks, 2 pass breakups, an interception, and a forced fumble. The other defensive end spot was manned for 11 games by the starting tandem of Jason Ankrah and Eric Martin. They combined for another 40 tackles, 7 for loss, 5 quarterback hurries, 3.5 sacks, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery. Two games were started by the departed Josh Williams. Joseph Carter will probably be the other second-string end. He appeared in ten games last year and made nine tackles as the top third-stringer at end. A trio of scholarship sophomores will be available at end when the need arises to go deeper. Chase Rome and Thaddeus Randle will probably battle for the starting spot next to Steinkuhler. Rome started two games and had thirteen tackles, a sack, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Randle appeared in just six games tallying eight tackles and a sack. The fourth defensive tackle will need to emerge from the ranks of inexperienced newcomers as Justin Jackson is likely to compete at center.
Sophomore Jay Guy might have the edge to be the fourth defensive tackle, though Todd Peat Jr. will be coming off of his redshirt season. Both were four star recruits. Also coming off of a redshirt will be Kevin Williams. Collectively, that should mean the Huskers will have enough depth to redshirt all of the defensive linemen brought in with the 2012 recruiting class and still have a three deep of scholarship talent along the line going into the season. History says some field promotions will be made due to injury.
Meredith might have the best chance to emerge as a playmaker given that he was the most productive lineman a year ago. Steinkuhler was not far behind either and this might be the year he shows why he was a five-star recruit out of high school. Martin made a lot out of his opportunities a year ago as a newcomer to the position, he could grow leaps and bounds in the coming year. Chase Rome was just a freshman a year ago, which is why he's probably nowhere near his ceiling yet. Carter had barely been on campus before being thrown in the mix as well, so he should be able to be much more effective. Randle battled injury, or else he might have played a lot more. Ankrah has the talent to make Meredith and Martin really compete for starting spots.
Add into that the arrival of a starmaker in defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski and the ingredients are there not just for some big improvement from a year ago, but for a defensive line that could become the Big Ten's best. If that happens, then concerns about linebacking and secondary play become a lot less pressing. Will Compton would be a huge beneficiary of an improved line, as would Daimion Stafford, both of whom were the top tacklers behind Lavonte David a year ago. It's not just them, every player in the back seven would look better.
If the Huskers are playing in the Big Ten Championship game in December, it will likely be because the defensive line took them there. Defensive wins championships and it's generally line play that makes for a great defense. The personnel is there to make that happen.
Kansas City, MO
2/22/2012
At this very moment, I was in the process of writing an article titled “In Need of a Defensive Line”. I will continue with this theme tomorrow from another angle, let’s make it D-Line week! One thing, the injury to Crick had a larger impact on the season than most people realize. It’s very important to get good numbers out of your front four because it keeps games from getting out of hand like we saw in some blowouts last year.
2/22/2012
Although we had a good psh up front, our end contain and or when the pocket broke down the D line was not up to the task. Speed on the edge is imporatant but also knowing when to stay home.
2/22/2012
I love Nebraska and the Blackshirts. I love that the young Steinkuhler came to his father’s school. But he has been more of a legacy admit than a star talent. I wish him only the best, but I fear that unless he improves A LOT he will merely be a good, but not great, D-Lineman.
2/22/2012
Chase Rome played good for his age. His motor is good, as is his speed. He will be very good. Stien needs to progress and should be better this year. With Randal and Peat and Williams the DT spot is really loaded. The end position was average last year. If they show the kind of improvment that jr’s show from 1 year to sr year. we will have a great line.
2/22/2012
sounds like we have some quality, if unproven, depth up and down the line and some pretty gamn good starters with the ability to become great, i.e. meredith and stein. and now we have coach k come in with a pretty good track record of turning out d-line talent at iowa. a dominant front four makes the defense great ala 2009. sounds like bo and co have made d-line a big priority, let’s hope it pays off with some shots at the big ten title and a shot at a natty soon.
2/22/2012
I believe the Defensive line does hold the key to the success of the defense and the team this next year. So, far I have not been impressed with Meredith or Steinkukler. They are average players. We have seen them play for two years, and very little push or ability to make plays. So, the future must be in future young players. I hope Eric Martin will step up. But, I’m wondering if the problem isn’t the scheme. Many times I noticed they were not even trying to rush the passer, especially very mobile Quarterbacks. I believe that is a flawed scheme. With mobile QB’s you must get to them before they get to you. Meaning hit them before they get going! Until the scheme changes, our D-line’s will be mediocre. Suh, is a once in quarter century player, that is the only reason that scheme worked. Plus you need locked down cornerbacks to make that scheme work.
The scheme is hold your ground and lane and let the play come to you! That is a scheme that results in big days for mobile Quarterbacks!
2/22/2012
Good point on outside contain. Last year was embarassing. Time and again big plays seemed available around the end. Northwestern was bad.
2/22/2012
I really enjoyed the article, love reading about Cornhusker football! And just as enjoyable were to comments! Intelligent remarks and not a bunch of negative, hateful garbage. I enjoy reading and sharing CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.
I personally didn’t like the way the defense performed for most of the season, the two exceptions being Penn St and Michigan St. I don’t think the main problem was the players as much as D-line coaching. I am so glad coach Pelini has brought in coach Kaz. I really look forward to the Spring game to get a peek at what is developing there on the line.
GBR!
2/22/2012
Just wanted to say great article. I agree !00% A great Dline, makes the rest of the defense that much better. A great Oline does the same for the offense. Lets hope coach K can teach Barney a thing or two.
2/23/2012
I’ve said since day 1 that Steinkuhler is an OT. He was a 5* rated OT - not a DL for Pete’s sake. But yet, our brilliant coaches saw something else. Don’t know what it was but even Stevie Wonder could tell you that Steinkuhler is no DT. Not even close. He has the WORST speed and instincts I’ve seen out of a DL in years. Absolutely got wrenching to see him chase a QB or get juked out of his jock strap from a simple move by the QB. Sad to watch bec. he would have been an all world OT.
More proof that Bo is not the genius coach everyone thinks he is. Even Don Knotts would look good coaching defense with LSU and OU’s talent.
2/23/2012
typo: “gut wrenching”
2/23/2012
Jay Guy was a 3-star DT, not a 4-star. Your article makes us sound like we might be good next year, trust me, our D-line is going to BLOW! Our entire D is going to be awful! We’ll be lucky to make it to .500 in conference next year.
2/23/2012
Big Daddy, I think it is a little overboard to say that our entire D is going to be awful, much less blow. Yes, we did lose the big three in Dennard, David, and Crick, but if you re-watch the games, there are so many little things that can be tweaked about our returning starters games and I have the utmost confidence in Bo and the entire defensive staff will squash the issues.
Steinkuhler was very good at generating a push into the backfield, we were spoiled by Suh, as most defensive tackles will not put up crazy stat lines like him. If you notice the film, Stein was blowing up his guy bull rushing into the backfield very often, while also playing the majority of the game (many missed holding calls against him, though that may be the bias in me talking). We had young, unproven talent behind him in Chase Rome, who has tons of potential, especially with another year in the weight room. Both Rome and Steinkuhler came into their own at the end of the season, and with the added depth to give them rest, should become more effective. Baker is a team first guy, and many plays were missed by other players that Baker Created. I put most of the pressure on Steinkuhler as the most important part of our defense next year.
The major problem was that after he generated the push, the quarterback escaped. Cameron Meredith has a great motor with average agility and speed, as does most of the defensive line. Ankrah just doesn’t have the killer instinct of “playing angry” down yet. Eric Martin oozes potential, and was still getting use to playing the position. Gotta love the fire and energy he brings, along with the raw athleticism and strength. I hope Coach K can get in his ear this spring.
We also have Bo Pelini, who is maturing as a coach and understanding the role better. This was our first year of adjusting to the Big Ten defensively, which should take time considering it involves a different sort of athlete and personnel changes. There is no tenseness between him and Carl anymore as to who is solely in control of the defense. Pelini is really “The Man” now. He will spend ample time with this defense over the course of the offseason. Add in a returning two year starter at quarterback, and an improved offense that was in it’s first year under a new offensive coordinator, and you have a recipe for an exciting season and team next year.
Saying we are going to blow really doesn’t make much sense.
2/24/2012
Connor Ritzdorf - I don’t know what you’re smoking or which games you were watching ..... or maybe you were confusing Steinkuhler’s play against DirectionalDakotU with Michigan or OSU….. I don’t know bec. other than some good play against those crappy teams, Steinkuhler got ABUSED. Go back and watch the WI, UM, OSU, NW and Fresno games. Then come back and tell us how “Stein was blowing up his guy bull rushing into the backfield very often”
2/24/2012
Oh and 1 mroe thing Connor Ritzdorf - how many times did NU and Stein stop ANYONE on 3rd/4th and short especially when they HAD to?
I’ve got news for you: NU’s DL has been WEAK in all but 1 of Bo’s 4 years (with Suh obviously). We have NOT been able to stop ANYONE on short yardage. How’s this visual of Garret Gilbert running THROUGH our DL work for you? Had he done that to ANY team other than NU?
2/27/2012
Hey Steve Hanway, can you confirm what one poster said about Steinkuhler coming in as a 5 star Offensive lineman? We sucked in that department last year and there was a little talk about moving him to the O line which I agreed with. He clearly is not a dominating D line player unless he reallysteps it up this year, his last as a Husker. We need lots of help on both lines this year with little or no star power coming back on either line. Yes, lots of potential, things might be looking good if you look at them a certain way, but it’s hard to bank on potential. I’m hoping for the best but being realistic too. Might be a building year on both lines. We really need to focus on that to get to championship form and it looks like we have to a large extent with our recruiting. So that’s a good thing for the future. Would have been good to get A Peat for the O line, I’m anxious to see what the other Peat can do for our D line. We also have greg McMullin coming in as a freshman that looks to be a good one on the D line. That wasn’t mentioned in your article and I wish it was, the guys we have waiting in the wings. We also have a load of young highly starred O lines guys who have barely got their feet wet waiting in the wings too. So maybe the future looks bright on both of our lines…but maybe not this season. I’d be surprised if either of the lines played great, and I do love pleasant surprises, but they have been few and far between these last couple of years, with the exception of the first half of Taylor Martinez’s freshman year.
Thanks