2007 Secondary Should Be Improved
8 comments so far
June 20, 2007 by
Barring injuries (or off-the field problems) a player will nearly always get better with experience. That bodes well for Nebraska’s secondary in 2007 as three of four starters return in safety Tierre Green and cornerbacks Cortney Grixby and Andre Jones,. Actually, you might call it four starters if cornerback Zackary Bowman returns as expected.
Add to the mix highly touted (and early arriving) cornerback Andre Murillo and you have a very good two-deep at cornerback. Early arrival and highly-touted junior college safety Larry Asante appears likely to win the other safety job. His main competition is Rickey Thenarse, one of the top rated recruits from the class of 2006. Brian Wilson, a last-minute 2005 recruit, appears likely to get time at safety as well. Add to that group 2006 recruit Anthony West coming off his first set of spring practices and walk-on’s like Ben Eisenhart and the Huskers appear to have the deepest secondary they’ve had since Callahan arrived.
That’s not even to mention the five high school defensive back recruits set to arrive in the fall or Major Culbert, who’s been practicing at I-back since December. That may seem like an especially deep group when you take all those players into account, but with five of the top eight two-deep players set to graduate after 2007 the Huskers may need every last one of them.
This is the year for seniors like Bowman, Jones, Green, Wilson and Grixby to really make their mark. While it’s never a good time to be rebuilding a defensive line, the linebackers and secondary should provide good support. If the line does come together, it could mean the Huskers field a defense even better than the one that delivered them the Big 12 North championship in 2006. Despite the chorus of critics from a year ago, the secondary should not be the weak link on the team in 2007.
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Tyler Hughes Jun 20 07
I hope you're right. I think you're forcusing on quantity rather than quality. To me, quantity doesn't = depth. Bowman's return would raise the bar a great deal, but I still don't think much of Grixby. Jones is better than average, but not a shut-down corner. He can't even shut-down his mouth.
From what I saw in the Spring Game, Murillo and Asante are probably are strongest backs. I think Thenarse will push for playing time. Green is very average. Anything you get from Eisenhart or Wilson is a plus.
This group still gives me the heebie-jeebies with the receivers in the Big 12, I believe our foes will to pass to the sidelines when a 3rd down is needed and get it more often than not. Why do you think it'll be any different than last year?
James Moore Jun 20 07
Think that Tyler is spot on with his conclusion. I wouldn't change a word. What worries me even more is if the D-Line can't get a strong push (They should though, they really should) then the secondary will be vulnerable again.
alex Jun 20 07
i agree with tyler in that our secondary is still suspect. nonetheless, one would do well to note that it was our oft-praised offense, and not the secondary, that cost us games down the stetch.
paul thompson's career day aside, the offense had plenty of chances against OU and came away with next to nothing. against a very solid auburn team, all but 3 points were courtesy of being spotted the ball inside the red zone.
all told, in those last two games the defense held up its end of the bargain. i'm not sure the same can be said of zac taylor and co.
Mark Dann Jun 20 07
Tyler is right on the $$. I don't think I would change a word either. I think the younger players coming in like Murillo and Asante will and should compete for top spot.
The best player plays. I am with you on Grixby.
The guy is short to say the least for a corner/secondary and how ever good you may be you are S.O.L when up against a 6+' receiver as we have seen over and over and over.
Steve Jun 20 07
By no means does Nebraska have an all-time great secondary, but I think it's doubtful it will be quite the Achilles heel that many thought it was a year ago. As Alex points out, they seemed to get better as the year went along (Malcolm Kelly's performance in the Big 12 title game, the exception).
In fact, it's easy to excuse much of what we saw. When the Husker CB's got torched it was usually by really good wide receivers. USC had arguably the best starting tandem in the country. Limas Sweed of Texas was an all-conference player and Malcolm Kelly was 2nd team all-conference. The rush defense was horrible against KU and OSU which always puts your secondary behind the 8-ball (think play action). The secondary was good enough in every other game (and I'd include Auburn there).
With the benefit of experience comes anticipation and that will make the returners better, plus the new (and returning) bodies and NU hasn't had so many real options in quite a while. The days of Pat Ricketts at corner are over.
Tyler Jun 21 07
Grixby does bring highlight reel exposure and poster shots. Unfortunately its generally when he is getting jobbed.
His pre-game routine of playing Mighty Mouse and jumping on top of the huddle though, got a ton of airtime at the end of last year and I think will probably be on every ABC broadcast this year as well. I'll give the kid a little credit. At least he's leaving his mark.
BRAD Jul 06 07
Are we talking about the same Grixby?!?!?! This guy is a bum!!! Highlight reel exposure?!?!?! Maybe if he is on the opposite side of the highlight: ie. getting burnt or getting out-jumped by any 6ft wideout. Lets take our blinders off for a second and realize that this secondary is garbage!!! Give me any defensive back in the Solich era over any one of Callahan's scrubs!!!!!
Eric Jul 07 07
Grixby got MANHANDLED last year by every wideout he faced. Bench the kid and start someone 5'5" plus+ for crips sake! That guy cant cover the leftovers!!