All this talk about the defense

[SnohomishRed]

makes me wonder why we cannot have a top echelon defense both total and scoring. Some on here say that will never happen because of the style of offense we play yet

In 2018 the defense averaged 75 plays on the field. In 2009 arguably our best defense in the last twenty years they defended on average 68 plays a game. Not really a significant difference

Does the style of offense dictate how a defense will do? 7 plays more a game should not make that big of difference

 

[Solana Beach Husker]

makes me wonder why we cannot have a top echelon defense both total and scoring. Some on here say that will never happen because of the style of offense we play yet

In 2018 the defense averaged 75 plays on the field. In 2009 arguably our best defense in the last twenty years they defended on average 68 plays a game. Not really a significant difference

Does the style of offense dictate how a defense will do? 7 plays more a game should not make that big of difference

Bro I would be happy if we had 5 straight games where we held the opponent under 30 points...that hasn't happened in a really long time...last year it took a horrible weather day to hold a bad offense under 30. If worrying is your thing, I would worry that our offense is so poor missing its two top threats...

 

[BeautifulDayintheNeighborhood]

makes me wonder why we cannot have a top echelon defense both total and scoring. Some on here say that will never happen because of the style of offense we play yet

In 2018 the defense averaged 75 plays on the field. In 2009 arguably our best defense in the last twenty years they defended on average 68 plays a game. Not really a significant difference

Does the style of offense dictate how a defense will do? 7 plays more a game should not make that big of difference

I think there is no question the 2009 defense was the best we had in the last 20 years, 25 years maybe not.

 

[BuckysBoys1]

I feel 100% confident the 2019 defense will be better than 2018. However the offense will be better also. The problem right now is the defense has seen this offense every day in practice for over a year. Everyday during the summer they do 7 on 7 drills. If the linebacker and safeties did not know what play the offense is gonna run, I would be worried about that. The offense will be fine.

 

[SnohomishRed]

Bro I would be happy if we had 5 straight games where we held the opponent under 30 points...that hasn't happened in a really long time...last year it took a horrible weather day to hold a bad offense under 30. If worrying is your thing, I would worry that our offense is so poor missing its two top threats...

I am not worried about our offense going forward yes Frost is still missing a piece or two but we have a QB to build around. Defense can and must get to upper Big10 echelon

 

[SnohomishRed]

I think there is no question the 2009 defense was the best we had in the last 20 years, 25 years maybe not.

Keep in mind that defense operated with one of our worst offenses in a long time and extremely turnover prone

 

[RedMyMind]

Keep in mind that defense operated with one of our worst offenses in a long time and extremely turnover prone

Turnover prone you say?

 

[phoenix4nu]

Turnover prone you say?

That was a very strange game.

 

[o_Hit]

Need to get more 3 and outs. Last year was frustrating getting teams to 3rd down over and over again just to give it up.

 

[vs540husker]

The offensive snaps per game leading to a poor defense narrative is complete BS.

I don’t have the numbers in front of me at the moment, but I looked up a sh*t of them 3 or 4 months ago. Basically, you either have a good defense or you don’t. Defendive snaps per game because of the offense mean jack squat, despite people trying to push the narrative that you can’t have a high power offense and a stout defense together (which is a mind numbingly stupid notion).

The 2009 defense is a good example of a bad offense causing a ton of defensive snaps, just like a great offense would cause a bunch of defensive snaps. Either way, the 09’ defense was on the field a ton and was #1 in scoring defense despite being in a conference filled with high scoring offenses.

People also seem to forget our own Nebraska teams in the 90s having the best offenses in the country, along with the best defenses in the country simultaneously.
Or how about a very recent example of Clemson this past season having both a top 5 offense and defense. They aren’t mutually exclusive of each other.

 

[BeautifulDayintheNeighborhood]

Keep in mind that defense operated with one of our worst offenses in a long time and extremely turnover prone

Smiling Zac lee

 

[oldjar07]

makes me wonder why we cannot have a top echelon defense both total and scoring. Some on here say that will never happen because of the style of offense we play yet

In 2018 the defense averaged 75 plays on the field. In 2009 arguably our best defense in the last twenty years they defended on average 68 plays a game. Not really a significant difference

Does the style of offense dictate how a defense will do? 7 plays more a game should not make that big of difference

Those 7 extra plays are most likely the defense's fault anyway. If you can't get off the field on 3rd and long and keep giving up first downs, you're going to be on the field longer than a defense that can force 3 and outs.

 

[timnsun]

Those 7 extra plays are most likely the defense's fault anyway. If you can't get off the field on 3rd and long and keep giving up first downs, you're going to be on the field longer than a defense that can force 3 and outs.

That’s an amazing deduction.

 

[SnohomishRed]

The offensive snaps per game leading to a poor defense narrative is complete BS.

I don’t have the numbers in front of me at the moment, but I looked up a sh*t of them 3 or 4 months ago. Basically, you either have a good defense or you don’t. Defendive snaps per game because of the offense mean jack squat, despite people trying to push the narrative that you can’t have a high power offense and a stout defense together (which is a mind numbingly stupid notion).

The 2009 defense is a good example of a bad offense causing a ton of defensive snaps, just like a great offense would cause a bunch of defensive snaps. Either way, the 09’ defense was on the field a ton and was #1 in scoring defense despite being in a conference filled with high scoring offenses.

People also seem to forget our own Nebraska teams in the 90s having the best offenses in the country, along with the best defenses in the country simultaneously.
Or how about a very recent example of Clemson this past season having both a top 5 offense and defense. They aren’t mutually exclusive of each other.

I agree, mike leach offenses and bad defenses do not need to be the rule

 

[SnohomishRed]

Need to get more 3 and outs. Last year was frustrating getting teams to 3rd down over and over again just to give it up.

Not just third down but third and very long for some reason we could not stop 3rd and 10 or sometimes much longer

 

[phoenix4nu]

Not just third down but third and very long for some reason we could not stop 3rd and 10 or sometimes much longer

No pass rush was a big reason.

 

[bshirt73]

Need to get more 3 and outs. Last year was frustrating getting teams to 3rd down over and over again just to give it up.

Yes, especially when it was 3rd & long for the opponent.....they almost always got it anyway. We've got a long ways to go on that side of the ball.

 

[WestCoastCornhusker2]

makes me wonder why we cannot have a top echelon defense both total and scoring. Some on here say that will never happen because of the style of offense we play yet

In 2018 the defense averaged 75 plays on the field. In 2009 arguably our best defense in the last twenty years they defended on average 68 plays a game. Not really a significant difference

Does the style of offense dictate ho
w a defense will do? 7 plays more a game should not make that big of difference

My biggest concern is the decision making by LBs and safeties. 3rd and long was a repeat over and over again.

 

[inWV]

NU's defense will be better this fall. True veteran players on the Dline. DCap and Lamar returning at corners. If you believe Benning, the OLB group has substantially improved. Safety is a concern, but the safety with arguably the highest ceiling from last year's team will now start and has a more comprehensive understanding of the system.

 

[Maui2022]

Bro I would be happy if we had 5 straight games where we held the opponent under 30 points...that hasn't happened in a really long time...last year it took a horrible weather day to hold a bad offense under 30. If worrying is your thing, I would worry that our offense is so poor missing its two top threats...

So pathetically condescending

 

[DudznSudz]

2009 was one of the best college football defenses I've ever seen, and easily one of the best Nebraska ones ever. If memory serves, we lost to Texas in the Big 12 Championship that year on that bs field goal thing, but that defense basically carried the team all the way up to that point. I remember we knocked off Missouri that year and they were at or near the Top 10 in rankings, and it was through pure defensive savagery.

I also agree with the above few posts that snaps per game doesn't necessarily make your defense worse; I think that might matter if your guys really start to tire out by the end of the game, but presumably either your offense is terrible or amazing in order to cause that imbalance to occur.