The Bone Yard

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Skerz said...

This isn't an open and shut case or as easy an argument as anyone wants to make it.

DT is one the hardest positions to recruit or project in all of college football. As with OL, the guys that end up playing FBS AQ level football at these positions were typically the biggest and baddest bullies on the field in High School. Pretty much all of them were dominant at whatever level of High School football they played.

The ones that really get noticed are the ones that go to camps and compete in the Nike, Sparq, and other types of events around the country. People get to see how these guys interact with other big guys of their physical nature and these are the guys that get the stars and high ratings. But even then, the drills that are done at these camps don't really tell even half the story, and we see a number of busts at this position from highly rated players.

What about a Terrence Cody who was a little known 3* JUCO DT that Alabama pulled out of the woodworks of Mississippi that they turned into a 2 time All-American DT? This is a kid that has struggled mightily with weight problems his entire life. Only Saban and his staff have been able to keep his weight, and his spectacular play, under control.

What about Jerel Worthy? The All Big 10 DT from Michigan State last year that became a 2nd round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers? We tried to recruit him, and he was merely a low end 3 star kid out of high school.

Since Bo has been here, we have recruited solid talent to the position. Before this years class we had recruited 9 guys in 5 years. 10 including Baker Steinkuhler:

Baker Steinkuhler - 5 * (NE) Quentin Toailoa - 3* (CA) Cole Pensick - 3* (NE - moved to OL) Thad Randle - 3* (TX) Jay Guy - 3* (CA) Chase Rome - 4* (MO) Todd Peat - 4* (AZ) Kevin Williams - 3* (OH) Aaron Curry - 3* (TX) Vincent Valentine - 3* (IL)

Is 10 guys over 5 years enough at this all-important position? These were all talented kids coming out of High School. Not a bad offer in any of them.

We can make all the excuses we want, but we are in a bad position at DT rolling into next year. We are possibly looking at 2 RS Fr playing siginificant minutes at this position and zero upper-classmen that look as if they can compete for All Big 10 honors, much less 2nd team.

Our own DL coach said we needed 2 JUCO DTs that could come in and contribute THIS YEAR. He even said it wasn't for depth reasons, but to contribute. His own words, not mine. And this was all of about a week ago.

If a coach on the staff is making a comment like this, and we don't land 2 JUCO DTs that can come in and produce, where does that put us at this all-important position? If you aren't scared about DT next year, then I want some of what you are drinking.

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TheUnknownFan said...

Well, I don't get "scared" about any of this stuff. It's entertainment. How do you get "scared" over entertainment?

Look, DT probably won't be stellar next year, but DE and LB should be solid by mid season. I'll venture that the back 4 will be good, whoever they are.

Part of the problem for the front 7 this year, is that we weren't particularly good at any of the 3 positions. Martin was good at one DE. Compton was adequate at LB. We know the story at DT.

If the other levels of the defense are improved, especially DE and LB, then they will lend great support to the interior line. It's a unified, multi-level effort. You'd like to be strong at every level, but if one area is weak and you are strong elsewhere, you can cover those weaknesses with solid play at other levels.

I'm reminded of the supposed Armageddon we were in for when Tyler Moore left the team. The OL was going to be a disaster according to the doom sayers. Well, we may not have been great, but the OL wasn't near the problem many had speculated it would be.

I'd say wait through spring, when we know the recruiting score and have evaluated who we have going into 2013. No need to hit the panic button right now, as popular as that notion seems to be.

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Skerz said...

Tyler Moore leaving was a big deal. Did you see our backup at Right Tackle in the bowl game against Georgia? Much less our starter at LT?

Scared may be a wrong word, but concerned should certainly fit the bill at DT. As much as Nebraska football is entertainment, it is also a passion of mine and as I'm sure it is as well for many other posters on here. Otherwise, why the hell would we be here?

As you stated, if you aren't at least strong in one of your levels of the front 7 then you'll have problems. You also need a 'stud' at each position of the front 7. Who exactly will those studs be? At best, we are starting 5 new players in our front 7. At worst we are replacing all 7.

If we had proven, solid, veteran players at DE and LB it would make the concerns at DT more palatable. Unfortunately, our front 7 was the pure weakness of our defense this year and we lose 5 starters from that area of our team.

I can't even remember the last time we replaced 5 starters in our front 7. Not only that, we are depending upon a 1st year JUCO transfer, a JUCO transfer coming off an injury, and 5 RS Fr who have never played a down to make significant contributions to that front 7 next year. And maybe even more.

The experienced players returning in our front 7 are Chase Rome, Thad Randle, Kevin Williams, and David Santos. One guy that has struggled with injuries his entire career, another still trying to recoup from major knee surgery, another that was pancacked 30+ times in the Big 10 Championship game, and the other that played sparingly (at best) at LB throughout the season.

But thankfully, we have a joke of a schedule. And with good coaching and a great offense we can be 8-0 when we play @ Michigan come next November. Heck, maybe we'll be the 2013 version of the 2011 Oklahoma State team?

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Landohusker said...

I am never interested in Stars, I am interested in Offers. If coaches from their own home state don't even offer, what does that tell you.

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TheUnknownFan said...

Am I missing something?

DE Randy Gregory is the highest ranked recruit in our entire class. He's a JuCo plug and play. How do you not factor that guy into the equation at DE? He's exactly the kind of guy people have been bitching we need at DT.

Disagree totally about the linebackers. Not much else to say there. There will be growing pains, but the speed and athleticism will dwarf what we had out there most the time this year.

As far as the OL goes, bitch all you want. They still helped the team average 30 points and 440 yards of offense even in the games we lost, and very little of that was garbage time. They could have been better, but their deficiencies had little to do with how successful we were this year.

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TheUnknownFan said...

Am I missing something?

DE Randy Gregory is the highest ranked recruit in our entire class. He's a JuCo plug and play. How do you not factor that guy into the equation at DE? He's exactly the kind of guy people have been bitching we need at DT.

Disagree totally about the linebackers. Not much else to say there. There will be growing pains, but the speed and athleticism will dwarf what we had out there most the time this year.

As far as the OL goes, bitch all you want. They still helped the team average 30 points and 440 yards of offense even in the games we lost, and very little of that was garbage time. They could have been better, but their deficiencies had little to do with how successful we were this year.

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