Will the Sacks Keep Coming?
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August 11, 2009 by
A notable statistic from Nebraska's four-game winning streak to close the 2008 season was that they tallied nineteen sacks. At that pace, the Huskers would tally more than sixty over a thirteen or fourteen game season. That would put the Huskers on a pace to eclipse the 53 sacks they managed in 1999.
Of the nineteen sacks to end the season last year, twelve and a half came from returning players. Ndamukong Suh had five and a half, Pierre Allen had three, Rickey Thenarse had two and Matt May and Eric Hagg each had one. Among departing players, Zach Potter had two and a half, and Ty Steinkuhler and Shukree Barfield each had a pair. Extrapolate out the number of sacks lost to graduation over thirteen or fourteen games, and the Huskers would need to find another twenty-one to twenty-three sacks.
Two new starters on the defensive line could pick up a chunk of that. Barry Turner managed six sacks in a reserve role in 2005. It’s certainly conceivable that he could tally double digits as a starter. Jared Crick would seem likely to tally a few by virtue of a starting position and playing alongside Suh. Terrence Moore and Baker Steinkuhler could tally four or five as heavily-featured reserves. Josh Williams, Cameron Meredith, and any other defensive ends that emerge in reserve roles (newcomer Jason Ankrah perhaps?) could similarly chip in a few. Tally that up (and maybe add some additional contributions from linebackers or defensive backs) and you could get to the twenty or so additional sacks that would set the new team record.
If the sacks are coming as often as they did at the close of the 2008 season, the defense for the year will be noticeably better, if not dominant. They’d still need to find a way to increase the number of turnovers to threaten the 1999 team’s dominance though. But then any comparison you could make between the 2009 defense and the 1999 unit, would be a welcome one.
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darren Aug 11 09
I think it is a bit much to project the 2009 squad breaking the record. But, I do believe that NU will have a very effective front 4.
Call it the "Suh effect"... those defensive ends will see a lot more 1-on-1 situatin because of him. If they take advantage, the sack total will rise.
The same is true with the LB and S sacks. If an offense can't handle the NU front 4 with their 5 linemen (read: Suh), then it will be that much more simple for LBs to knife in and collect a sack.
caveman99 Aug 11 09
Going back to yesterday's article, I think Matt May could be one to pick up 5+ sacks as a blitz specialist like Demario Williams. Bo likes to blitz and we started to see that more and more towards the end of the season. I am guessing we see it at a more frequent pace earlier in the season this year and guys like May and Hagg get more sacks. I think Allen gets double digit numbers.
James Moore Aug 11 09
If they can get in the neighborhood of 40 sacks then this team EASILY wins the North. You've made quite a compelling case is to why the Blackshirts could match the production from last year's final stretch. If this defense comes anything close to making it worthwhile to have a serious conversation between the 1999 edition of Blackshirts and this bunch, then Coach Bo Pelini is truly one of the 10 best coaches in college football, period. . .