4:37 p.m.: In the coming days, it will be interesting to hear a second-day assessment of the defensive line's performance in the Nebraska opener because statistically, there wasn't a lot to speak of.
The Huskers relied heavily on the production of their four talented linemen last year, allowing those guys to create havoc while seven other defenders worked to take away openings downfield.
Can NU do that again? It's hard to argue that the defensive line will have to be more active than it was Saturday night for that to happen.
As a team, Nebraska recorded just two tackles for loss against the Hilltoppers. Last season, the Huskers had two or fewer stops behind the line of scrimmage in just one game (Colorado). The four starters on the defensive line combined to average 4.8 tackles for loss per game a year ago.
Bobby Rainey's 155 rushing yards were not only a career high, but they were the most by an opponent since 2007 (pre-Bo-Pelini).
There were some positives Saturday, obviously.
Sophomore Baker Stienkuhler beat a blocker and sacked the Western Kentucky quarterback in the first quarter. Sophomore Cameron Meredith recorded the other tackle for loss later in the game. Junior Jared Crick delivered a bone-crushing hit Hilltopper signal caller in the second quarter.
Senior Pierre Allen had five tackles. Crick had six.
Yes, oftentimes, the true impact of a defensive line isn't completely apparent in the box score. But after the game, defensive coordinator Carl Pelini didn't seem to have a good handle on the unit's performance either.
“It's hard to say,” Pelini said. “(The Hilltoppers) played it so close to the vest that everything was happening inside. They were so tight with their formations and their running game, that's it's hard for me to say until I look at the film.”
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
RSS Feeds