Blackshirts

We're down to 12 days until kickoff against Nevada, and I haven't even run down Coach Coz's fellas yet. AP has NU ranked #20 to start the season.

The obvious issue this year is the defensive line, where all four starters from a year ago went to the NFL (the ends were drafted and the tackles were signed as Free agents). There is some talent returning, however, starting with the big boys up front, sophomore Ndamukong Suh and junior Ty Steinkuhler at tackle and with jucos juniors Shurkee Barfield & Kevin Dixon, sophomore Joseph Townsend and also Redshirt frosh Seth Jensen possibly contributing. At end, juniors Zach Potter and Barry Turner replace Carriker and Moore, with fellow junior Clayton Sievers, redshirt frosh Pierre Allen, and senior Andy Poulosky vying for backup positions. Steinkuhler also may get moved outside to end at times as well.

The heart of the defense is the all senior linebacking corps, led by All Big 12 selections Corey McKeon and Bo Ruud, and the oft injured Steve Octavian hoping to stay healthy this year. Fellow senior Lance Brandenburgh can backup at all three spots, and word in Lincoln is that there will be some 3-4 schemes being used this year. Sophomore Phil Dilliard backups up McKeon and fellow sophomore Nick Covey looks for second team status as well. There's been alot of talk of using the LBs at end (Octavian) and even nose (Dilliard) in passing situations, so Coach Coz is apparently coming up with some new wrinkles this year, can't wait to see how things shake out.

The other big issue is the oft-maligned secondary, which was repeatedly burned last year for big plays at critical junctures. Hopefully, a healthy Zac Bowman at corner will relieve some of that pressure. Still recovering from a spring knee injury, Bowman donned pads this past weekend for the first time and the team is hoping for a late September return for the senior. Two other seniors also work at corner, Courtney Grixby and Andre Jones, with junior juco Armando Murillo and freshman Anthony Blue and Prince Amukamura also seeing time at the outside. At safety, it appears the senior Tierre Green moves positons for the fourth time, over to the free safety spot this year, with juco junior Larry Asante taking over for Green at SS. Sophmore Ricky Thenarse and seniors Brian Wilson and Ben Eisenhart will also contribute.

While the Blackshirts have to miss the guys they lost, I think this defense will be pretty stout against the run. My biggest disappointment last year was the lack of a consistent pass rush, and I'm hoping some of the new schemes generate more timely pressure, which should help out the pass defense. The LBs will definitely be the heart of the D, but the secondary could have a real impact if they can get Bowman healthy and Asante is the big hitter that has been advertised. It would be terrific if we improved enough to get a few coverage sacks and could shut down some of the extremely talented receivers the team will face this year.