Defensive Tackles are hard to find

BobVH5150

Junior
Jul 9, 2025
234
353
63
We've been hearing this since Callahan. Yet even in the NIL age, Cincinnati was able to retain one that was 340 lbs with a mafia name. We need five Berrymons, not one. And when we are small, we hear about the "versatility anf speed" of undersized tackles. Whether it's real life or EA CFB27, small defensive linemen can't do ****. I know it sounds like I'm complaining, but I am.
 

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
52,337
13,812
78
We've been hearing this since Callahan. Yet even in the NIL age, Cincinnati was able to retain one that was 340 lbs with a mafia name. We need five Berrymons, not one. And when we are small, we hear about the "versatility anf speed" of undersized tackles. Whether it's real life or EA CFB27, small defensive linemen can't do ****. I know it sounds like I'm complaining, but I am.
Meh. Maybe we need two guys on the roster like Berrymon. Last thing we need is too many guys that can’t move. 6’2”-6’5” 295 to 315 is plenty big if they’re athletic and strong. Suh was listed at 307 lbs most recently in the NFL.
 

orclover11

All-Conference
Dec 1, 2014
1,477
1,082
113
We've been hearing this since Callahan. Yet even in the NIL age, Cincinnati was able to retain one that was 340 lbs with a mafia name. We need five Berrymons, not one. And when we are small, we hear about the "versatility anf speed" of undersized tackles. Whether it's real life or EA CFB27, small defensive linemen can't do ****. I know it sounds like I'm complaining, but I am.
Fans and coaches just need to accept that this is the most important position on the field. If you have great DTs you can save everywhere else on defense...corners can be average because they won't need to cover as long, linebackers will be unblocked, edge rushers will be one on one. What Nebraska has done is overpaid the qb, and given 5 million in NIL to the effin head coach instead of overpaying top end d-tackles. This is just another case of Rhule not having a plan...Dylan was a symptom of that as is the roster construction...our defense last year had to play around a strong secondary. Where in the history of the sport have you heard of a team build around its corners?
 

HUSKERFAN66

All-Conference
Dec 8, 2004
21,434
3,740
113
Meh. Maybe we need two guys on the roster like Berrymon. Last thing we need is too many guys that can’t move. 6’2”-6’5” 295 to 315 is plenty big if they’re athletic and strong. Suh was listed at 307 lbs most recently in the NFL.
I like a 6'2" strong dl vs a 6'8" ol. Line play is 75% leverage. I hated playing short dl because it changed the dynamic. Took about half a game to adjust especially if they were gap shooters. We pulled our linemen on most running plays. They made it a challenge.

Ultimately it's about strength, speed and nasty...how much you got
 
  • Like
Reactions: davecisar

Big bo fan

All-American
Jan 8, 2019
19,824
7,099
113
Meh. Maybe we need two guys on the roster like Berrymon. Last thing we need is too many guys that can’t move. 6’2”-6’5” 295 to 315 is plenty big if they’re athletic and strong. Suh was listed at 307 lbs most recently in the
We've been hearing this since Callahan. Yet even in the NIL age, Cincinnati was able to retain one that was 340 lbs with a mafia name. We need five Berrymons, not one. And when we are small, we hear about the "versatility anf speed" of undersized tackles. Whether it's real life or EA CFB27, small defensive linemen can't do ****. I know it sounds like I'm complaining, but I am.
Indiana the NC last year had 1 dude on their DL depth chart over 300 that was 307 the NG .
 
  • Like
Reactions: dinglefritz

Huskers12345

Senior
Aug 23, 2025
832
924
93
Meh. Maybe we need two guys on the roster like Berrymon. Last thing we need is too many guys that can’t move. 6’2”-6’5” 295 to 315 is plenty big if they’re athletic and strong. Suh was listed at 307 lbs most recently in the NFL.
Suh was 307 at the combine. Zero percent chance he was playing those last few years at 307. He was noticeably bigger.
 

Big bo fan

All-American
Jan 8, 2019
19,824
7,099
113
Suh was 307 at the combine. Zero percent chance he was playing those last few years at 307. He was noticeably bigger.
His Wikipedia lists at 313 . That was probably his top weight. The last two years he played in TB and Philadelphia they listed him as 311 and 307 respectively on the roster
 
  • Like
Reactions: dinglefritz

Huskers12345

Senior
Aug 23, 2025
832
924
93
His Wikipedia lists at 313 . That was probably his top weight. The last two years he played in TB and Philadelphia they listed him as 311 and 307 respectively on the roster
Combine is the only height/weight info you can trust in sports. His last few years he was massive compared to what he was at NU or earlier in his NFL career. That's why he was essentially just a run clogger.
 

davecisar

Senior
Jun 9, 2010
865
980
93
If this is true then maybe budgeting 5 million a year for 2 good ones would probably make the team better one could assume.

Rhules 13.5 million annual compensation which puts him in the top 10 includes 5 million in nil money.

wouldn’t that 5 million be better spent on players rather than “ compensating” an underperforming and overpaid coach?

Seems reasonable - Rhule started the process by donating 500k of his pay. Why not the full 5 million? If he parlays that into 9 wins he recoups what he gave up. Or maybe a bet on yourself thing- give up the 5 million for better players and take a seven million dollar raise if you can win 9 with the 2 beasts.
 
Last edited:

Scoop123

All-Conference
Jan 9, 2026
812
1,396
92
Honest question - who is the last coach to commit to the trenches with recruiting and development?

Riley, Frost and Rhule all like to go after the speedy WR's, QB's, and headline grabbing recruits at skill positions.

Pelini is the last to develop DL, Cally is the last to recruit them. I could bewrong on that but going off memory. That's crazy to think about - 3 HC's in a row at the University of Nebraska have utterly FAILED on the LOS.

Husker fans come on here and talk about the importance of the trenches - and many times they are ridiculed as "not as smart as the guy making millions" so zip it. Instead, every time there's a new HC we get the pom-pom crowd giving the HC 3-4 years of rope, while often the HC is failing from day 1 in this area.

This isn't rocket science. And NO ONE can tell me we can't recruit linemen to Nebraska. Rhule has been an utter failure on our LOS - Geep Wade appears to be bringing hope.
 

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
52,337
13,812
78
You must know people who didn't actually watch him at the end of his career. You think the Eagles brought him in to get after the qb?
That’s exactly what a story said about what he brought to the Eagles when I Googled his “Suh with the Eagles”. WTH is your point? Suh was NEVER listed at anything over 313 lbs. MAYBE he fluctuated over that from time to time but that doesn’t support the original contention of this thread that we have to have a bunch of 330lb+ DTs on the roster. We need guys who are strong enough to demand double teams but weighing 330 doesn’t ensure that you can do that.

Show me pictures where Suh looks like a 330lb fat guy. I can’t find one anywhere. Not even in an Eagles uniform at the end of his career.
 

Big bo fan

All-American
Jan 8, 2019
19,824
7,099
113
Combine is the only height/weight info you can trust in sports. His last few years he was massive compared to what he was at NU or earlier in his NFL career. That's why he was essentially just a run clogger.
What’s your definition of “ Massive “? Are you saying Suh was like Vince Wilfork at NE at 325? Don’t believe I saw Suh at that weight.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dinglefritz

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
52,337
13,812
78
What’s your definition of “ Massive “? Are you saying Suh was like Vince Wilfork at NE at 325? Don’t believe I saw Suh at that weight.
I think Wilfork was heavier than 325 but I can’t find a single picture of Suh at Philly wear he looks heavier than 315.
 

Big bo fan

All-American
Jan 8, 2019
19,824
7,099
113
I think Wilfork was heavier than 325 but I can’t find a single picture of Suh at Philly wear he looks heavier than 315.
Could be . But doesn’t change the fact that OP thinks we need 330 in dL to be good despite the fact the National champs last year had 1 at 307 as its heaviest. Sometimes you literally can’t fix stupid.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dinglefritz

BobVH5150

Junior
Jul 9, 2025
234
353
63
Could be . But doesn’t change the fact that OP thinks we need 330 in dL to be good despite the fact the National champs last year had 1 at 307 as its heaviest. Sometimes you literally can’t fix stupid.
Borrowing a Jeff Foxworthy line from the mid 90's doesn't mean you're funny, but it might prove that I'm interacting with an American. This is less than you get when you call Amazon customer service. Let a player's weight be 307, 340, whatever. Our Interior D-Line got washed down all year. It was a strength issue in addition to coaching. Suh, Donald, those guys were generational. If we had guys that were serviceable enough to hold their gaps, we'd at least be okay.
 

Big bo fan

All-American
Jan 8, 2019
19,824
7,099
113
Borrowing a Jeff Foxworthy line from the mid 90's doesn't mean you're funny, but it might prove that I'm interacting with an American. This is less than you get when you call Amazon customer service. Let a player's weight be 307, 340, whatever. Our Interior D-Line got washed down all year. It was a strength issue in addition to coaching. Suh, Donald, those guys were generational. If we had guys that were serviceable enough to hold their gaps, we'd at least be okay.
I agree, my point is OP and others think every CFB team across America has multiple 330 DL except Nebraska . This is absolutely false .
 
Inside Nebraska

Latest

  1. 01 Inside Nebraska Practice Report #3: Fall Camp Notes on "Wood" and Clark
  2. 02 Inside Nebraska Rhule Rundown: Husker head coach talks scrimmage
  3. 03 Inside Nebraska Long Road Back: Nebraska WR Demitrius Bell returns to action
  4. 04 Inside Nebraska Nebraska reveals alternate uniform for Washington game
  5. 05 Inside Nebraska Intel: Early look at Nebraska targets expected in attendance for Blackout Game vs Washington