The Future of Football is Defense
13 comments so far
July 30, 2008 by
I'm sure by now, most college football maniacs have seen the video located on Rivals about the A-11 offense. If not, check them out now. It's something absolutely out of this world to see. You will be amazed by the agility and mental flexibility of the on-field athletes. You will be impressed by the ingenuity of the coaches. You will also not see it in the Big 12 anytime soon.
Everyone knows that fads are cyclical. Maybe the A-11 will be the next iteration of the spread or multiple offense in 20 years. What's going to be happening in the next 5 years is a decline of the insane offensive statistics much of the NCAA is seeing. Teams are going to start figuring out how to stop these offenses from opening up lanes, finding open spaces, and scoring enough points for a basketball game. A coach like Bo Pelini will revitalize the efforts of innovative defensive coaching by going back to what has always worked from the playground on: kill the man with the football.
What's the point of trying to tackle a running back or receiver if you can't catch him? That's what I said many of our players were thinking to themselves in 2007. It looked like so many were giving up because they just couldn't keep up with the guys blowing past them. Leaner and meaner is the way to go. If the players on our team have shed as many pounds as they claim, then our opponents should have something to fear in 2008. Speed means harder, faster hits and less time for running backs and receivers to react. Hopefully, we'll see quarterbacks panicking and hitting the ground.
It begins with revitalization. Tom Osborne obviously believes a re-energizing effort is happening. Can the Huskers stop Heisman hopefuls and Paystation quarterback numbers from embarrassing our defense again? Probably. Can they do enough to win? We may see the Huskers lose against a Chase Daniel led Missouri or a Graham Harrell led Texas Tech, but I'll bet those guys see one of their lowest stat totals of the season against Nebraska. Once the offenses out there stop winning games, defense will start winning championships again or continue - as in the LSU Tigers.
» Enjoy this article?
Send it to your friend or get Husker news by email!
Related Stories: Defense
Post a comment
Dwayne Jul 30 08
There's been discussion about this spread offense and the defense required to stop the spread which is a defense which is quicker and faster. This in turn may allow those teams that are bigger and stronger like NU was used to seeing in the 80's to maybe take control of a game against a speedy and smaller defense. It could. I'm not so sure however. NU fans witnessed that during that time when NU would crush conference opponents, get in the bowl game, and lose to a quicker and faster team. If force equals mass times accelleration, then I'd take someone that's bigger and fast any time. The size that some of these prospects today have is unbelievable and what is more unbelievable is that they rarely sacrifice speed and/or quickness.
Brad Jul 30 08
"I'll bet those guys see one of their lowest stat totals of the season against Nebraska." (Missouri and Texas Tech)
No offense, but Bo Pelini isn't exactly a genius at stopping spread offenses. In fact, he's struggled with them everywhere he's been despite going to Oklahoma and LSU, teams where the defenses and talent were in the top five before he ever arrived.
At Nebraska in 2003, Pelini's defense completely melted down against Missouri's spread. He also got flattened by two non-spread teams with mobile qb's, Texas and KSU. His offensive stats that year were built against the rest of the schedule, which was perhaps the crappiest we've ever faced (Penn State only won 2 games that year).
The problems with mobile qb's and spreads followed Pelini to Oklahoma and LSU. Arkansas players commented after upsetting LSU and running all over Pelini's ultra-talented defense that they saw on tape that he was weak against mobile qb's. Missouri stopped this same team cold in their bowl.
There's just no evidence to support the claim that Bo is some genius on the cutting edge of stopping the spreads.
saunders45 Jul 30 08
The Mizzou game wasn't exactly the defense's fault. They had a whopping 50 more yards of offense than us, and were gifted 3 TD's, all within the Red Zone.
Arkansas against mizzou is irrevelant, Arkansas had no, and McFadden wasn't exatly hustling. No reason to get hurt with the draft coming...
I'll point out that LSU also shutdown the mighty Tim Tebow, and held the Florida offense to a hair over 300 yards and scoreless in the 4th quarter.
saunders45 Jul 30 08
Arkansas had no 'coach'
Mike from OP Jul 30 08
Brad - you are right in stating that Bo's defenses have struggled against mobile QBs and spread defenses. I do think that he learns with each experience and while there will be some growing pains I think that he will find a way to stop teams. If nothing else he can look at what OK did to MO for some ideas. I do appreciate you bringing some reality to the expectations. Even if he comes up with some potentially effective def. schemes, he has to have the horses to execute.
All that said, I believe Bo's defenses will play with spirit and pride, he and his staff will not tolerate sloppy technique, and if they do all that they will find a way to slow teams down if not shut them down.
Bill in Iowa Jul 30 08
Pelini's defense is susceptible to making big plays and giving up big plays. He is not afraid to gamble and take risks. Sometimes they payoff, sometimes he gets burned. But I like that mentality. The spread is hard to defend, period. Especially with a mobile QB. I don't think we can expect some miricle scheme, except his famous blitz packages. Pressure on the QB will certainly help. More speed on the field will help. Forcing turnovers will help.
tom Jul 30 08
"Arkansas players commented after upsetting LSU and running all over Pelini's ultra-talented defense that they saw on tape that he was weak against mobile qb's."
Maybe he should have hit the weight room in the weeks before the game. Seriously, though - no matter which way you slice it, the players still have to play the game. You can't scheme your way to a win, but you can prepare your players for a fast, mobile quarterback by being faster and knowing what he's going to do before he does it.
donfl Jul 30 08
For those bloggers who are not old enough to remember, TO learned from playing Miami that no matter what scheme you have, the defense can shut it down with speed and attacking the ball. Nuff said, I believe this crew knows that and will teach our kids to attack. GBR
ze bop Jul 30 08
There ya go, I have said a few times over the last year that offensive and defensive down linemen as we now know them may become obsolete soon as offenses start using all players as potential 'skill' players(receivers/runners) and defenses basically don't have large guys down in sets, but roving all over the place to adapt to said offenses.
ze bop Jul 30 08
..Of course, this will require a few rule changes as to linemen--stances, receiving eligibility, etc.--but there could be a push for that.
bnahusker Jul 31 08
This post has been nagging at me for a day now.
Schemes? Hustle? Attitude? Speed?
These all help but they MUST learn to TACKLE.
I can't decide if last year’s unit should have been called "The Matador Defense" or "The Mexican Border Defense"! They need to learn to wrap up the ball carriers, or buy a ticket, like everyone else just watching the action. I have grown tired of defenders going for the "Sports Center" hit (Not just NU) and ignoring fundamentals. We will not see better results if all that improves are the intangibles. Execution of the basics needs to be the starting point. I haven't read anything about the status of the "Blackshirts" but I think if they are awarded, it should be based on game day performance, not practice results. At this point, I don’t believe that just being the starter is enough to “earn” the coveted practice jersey. I would go so far as to not issue any until the non-conference season has been completed.
I couldn’t be more behind the Huskers. They have my full support and forever will.
GBR!
Bob
Jason Jul 31 08
I remember reading somewhere that Pelini made the defense run the same scheme the entire first scrimmage this spring. When the players asked if the offense wouldn't catch on, he said solid fundamentals and effort are more important than scheme. (Or something like that.)
The defense dominated the offense and the players bought into the system.
Or at least, that's how I remember the opening chapter of the Book of Bo.
Either way, I agree with you bnahusker. I think we'll see better fundamentals this year.
tom Jul 31 08
Age old adage: you can't teach speed. Player development is important in a system like this. They're going after naturally gifted players who may not be the best tackler or blocker or whatever. Technique can be learned. I agree with bnahusker. They must learn to tackle. But they have to be TAUGHT to tackle. I guess we'll see if they pick up anything from this staff.