One story in a Wine Country Husker series, looking at position breakdowns for the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the 2012 season. Today, we look at defensive back:
Looking back: Considering that the Husker secondary dealt with losses to graduation such as Prince Amukamara, Dejon Gomes and Eric Hagg along with Alfonzo Dennard missing the first three games due to a hamstring injury, the unit actually held up pretty well all things considered.
Nebraska ranked No. 41 in scoring defense (22.8 points per game), No. 38 in total yards (350.7), No. 9 in pass completion percentage against (52.9), No. 34 in pass efficiency defense and No. 19 in passing yards allowed. However, the most alarming numbers were the fact that the Huskers intercepted just 10 passes, recorded 21 sacks (No. 84) and 56 tackles for loss (No. 112).
In general, Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini prefers to rely on the front four to get pressure. That approach was fine when Ndamukong Suh was dominating up front but often times last season opposing quarterbacks had way too much time to throw.
Therefore the question becomes, is it the chicken or the egg? Did Nebraska’s secondary struggle at times because of its own faults or was it the lack of pass rush? An argument can be made for both.
Junior-to-be cornerback Andrew Green endured the definition of baptism by fire as team’s routinely tested him. Green struggled early in the season but got better as the year progressed.
Looking ahead: Losing Dennard and, and to a lesser extent, starting free safety Austin Cassidy are tough blows. After his ejection for in the second half of the team’s 30-13 Capital One Bowl loss to South Carolina, the Huskers got a glimpse of life after Dennard and frankly it was hard on the eyes. Dennard and South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey were involved in an altercation that led to both players being ejected.
One would think that with Green’s continued improvement, he will hold down one cornerback spot. The question becomes who settles in at opposite Green? Ciante Evans could be a possibility. He was primarily the dime back in the second half of the season. Stanley Jean-Baptiste is a converted wide receiver and could also be a possibility. However, look out for junior college transfer Mohammed Seisay. One would assume Seisay will play a key role immediately whether it is as a starting cornerback or the nickel/dime package. JUCO transfers normally don’t come to a program unless they are slated to make an immediate impact.
The safety position is a mixed bag in terms of experience. You have two proven players in P.J. Smith and Daimion Stafford. The latter led the team in pass breakups with 10 and is a player that has all-Big Ten potential. Courtney Osborne could fit into the picture. He started in 2010 but injuries limited his season to just five games in 2011. Of the unproven safeties on the roster, sophomores Corey Cooper and Harvey Jackson are the most likely to make an impact.
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