Thursday, July 7, 2011

The Big 10 effect on Nebraska's defense should be very little

Talk of the prospects for the 2011 Nebraska football season and its move to the Big Ten Conference has been centered on the offense as it pertains to first-year coordinator Tim Beck coupled with a hopeful return to health and form of quarterback Taylor Martinez.

While the Huskers have built stout defensive units under head coach Bo Pelini, the Blackshirts face potential adjustments on that side of the ball as well. The Big 12 offenses were spread oriented and while the Big 10 had gradually moved away from the “three yards and a cloud of dust” approach, it is generally believed that Nebraska’s new conference will feature offenses with more of a “Black and Blue” mentality that highlighted a downhill running game.

Since Pelini became the Huskers head coach, he has recruited faster players but how will the Nebraska defense hold up against the Big 10’s bruising running teams?

Just remember how soft they were up the middle last year when Texas and Washington ran quarterbacks Garrett Gilbert and Jake Locker up the middle. Yes the Huskers have big linebackers but also have a smaller defensive line.

However, speed kills on both sides of the ball. Look at the Huskers defense under Tom Osborne until Nebraska started to recruit speed. Look how the slower offensive line in the 80's-90's fared against quicker teams. Size does not equate to wins.

I think you will see teams move to a Nebraska style offense that involves more zone read and elements of spread with a quicker tempo. Teams will need this to keep up with what I hope will be a high octane high scoring offense, provided Martinez stays healthy. This will translate into going away from a three yards and a cloud of dust mentality that many seem to think is the Big Ten. In my mind, Nebraska’s new opponents are not near as “bruising” as portrayed. No knock, but they are not all power with no finesse or speed. They have some good dual threat teams that are similar to what the Huskers have faced.


Lastly, even though teams had good yardage totals on the ground against Nebraka, it were ninth in scoring defense. The only stats that matter are the W-L.

Against the spread-oriented teams, Nebrasa oten played in the Peso defense that was a 4-2-5 alignment. Yes, you probably will see Nebraska line eight defenders near the line of scrimmage with man coverage on the corner and a safety over the top. However, Pelini seems to have a scheme for every offense Nebraska will face, and I don't see them doing well against the Blackshirts. Nebraska has running teams before, but they haven’t faced a Pelini defense before. Advantage Nebraska.

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