[Husker] NC State/Rutgers, Callahan and Daniel

[Steve Stone]

Jon wrote:

>  >> On defense.... Suh is a beast, otherwise, the defensive line is just
>okay.

Skylar replied:

>Jon, I agreed with everything you said, except this.  Our defensive line was
>our strength this year on defense which is crazy to think since we figured
>that was a spot of great concern coming into the season. Potter is probably
>the 4th or 5th best D-end in the conference easy and Ty is very underrated,
>especially as a run-stopper. Allen was OK, but he was not ready and will be
>better down the road.  I think Allen, Turner and Suh will make for a very
>solid core group to anchor or D-Line next year with some good potential for
>others to step up.

It's worth noting that Suh wasn't such a beast earlier in the season 
because the D-line hadn't yet jelled. After it came together and 
began playing as a unit, Suh's talents had a chance to come to the 
forefront.

I must repectfully disagree with Skylar's statement that Potter is 
"probably 4th or 5th best D-end in the conference." He's better than 
that. More important, Potter's the factor that makes the entire 
D-line function. Both of Suh's TD interceptions were due to Potter 
who made several on his own. I think he'll play on Sundays.

>Now our linebackers...While I think we redshirted the most talented
>linebackers on our team, they'll still be redshirt freshman and we'll still
>be a little weak there next year.

NU will be seeing a lot of spread offenses next year. On those 
occasions, the importance linebacking corps will be somewhat 
diminished. Thank Goodness Dillard will return!

>I really agree with you about the secondary too, we have some athletes back
>there, but Pelini has said repeatedly that he couldn't believe how bare the
>cupboard was back there.  I think that's evidenced by the fact that we got
>commitments from 5 DBs for the 2009 recruiting class and another 
>athlete who could potentially play DB (Martinez), more than any 
>other position.

When Pellini arrived as a member of Solich's staff, he had the 
Bullock twins in addition to a pretty well-stocked cupbord, so it's 
little wonder he regards the 2008 secondary as skimpy. The amazing 
thing is not that the secondary had so many problems but that they 
played as well as they did, what with redshirt freshmen walk-ons and 
a bunch of names that only the Husker faithful could recognize.

It seems to me that the big difference-maker next year will not be 
incoming personnel but the fact that by fall camp the Pellini system 
will be deeply ingrained into every returning squad member who can 
then help the newbies learn it easier and faster. (Players learn 
better from other players than they do from coaches.)

Steve Stone