Huskers could be hard for Huskies to move

One of the all-time greats found on a defensive line at Nebraska – or anywhere in college football – has moved on to the NFL.

Every Big 12 team feared Ndamukong Suh last season. The Heisman Trophy hopeful from Portland was a lean and powerful defensive tackle who blew through gaps to blow up running backs – and quarterbacks.

But once upon a time, even Suh had his difficulties in Bo and Carl Pelini’s defense when the coaching duo arrived in 2008.

Nebraska runs a unique base attack. As many as seven defensive backs/hybrid players will play off the ball at one time, leaving the big guys to hold the action up at the line of scrimmage.

This week, University of Washington coaches dubbed Nebraska’s defensive-line scheme as a “two-gap” attack – meaning the tackles are responsible for occupying two separate lanes through the line.

Carl Pelini, the Cornhuskers’ defensive coordinator, characterized it a bit differently.

“(We) don’t play a two-gap scheme,” Pelini said. “We play with a two-gap mentality.”

With Suh’s departure to the Detroit Lions, sophomore Jared Crick is now the most experienced interior defensive lineman the Cornhuskers have. Even he struggles with the scheme – and he has a whole year playing next to Suh under his belt.

“It takes years, actually,” Crick said. “If you’re seeing the same (offensive) play every time, it would be easy. I’m still trying ... to get it down perfect. It took Suh a long time, too.”

On any given play, Crick wants to move the blocker in front of him toward the ballcarrier going through the primary gap in which he’s responsible. But he also has to be aware of the crease either on his left or right, just in case of sudden change in movement or direction.

“Nothing can go through that (primary) gap,” Crick said. “If we can, we close another gap – try and rock ourselves into that gap, if need be.”

Last season, with Suh in the fold, the scheme made Nebraska one of the stoutest teams in the country to move the ball on. The Cornhuskers were ninth in rushing defense (93.1 yards a game), and tied for second in total sacks with Texas with 44 – behind Pittsburgh’s 47.

Crick is now the veteran of the group with his 16 career starts. Next in the pecking order at defensive tackle is Baker Steinkuhler (two starts), who rotates with Terrence Moore and Thaddeus Randle.

The group is a tad behind last year’s run-defense pace – 119.5 yards a game – but the defense has registered eight sacks in two games, good enough for No. 5 in the country.

“If you’re stronger (than a blocker), it helps. If you’re quick and can get into your guy, that helps,” Crick said. “But technique is 95 percent of this.”

It’s all enough to have UW coach Steve Sarkisian a bit concerned heading into the team’s matchup Saturday afternoon in Husky Stadium.

“A lot of what two-gap defenses do are built around leverage – they try and feel leverage and then shed opposite,” Sarkisian said. “It’s going to be important for us to, once we get our leverage base where we need it to be, to solidify it.”

EXTRA POINTS

Middle linebacker Cort Dennison (illness) was held out of afternoon practice Thursday. Sarkisian thought he would be OK to go for the game Saturday. If not, true freshman Garret Gilliland would make his first career start. ... Running back Johri Fogerson (upper leg) and linebacker Victor Burnett (concussion) were non-participants Thursday. Both are doubtful, at best, for Saturday. ... Erik Kohler, a true freshman from California, started a third consecutive day at left guard, with Ryan Tolar at right guard. ... Receiver James Johnson (ankle) was at practice but is noticeably limping and still not fully healthy from the fall-camp injury. ... Sarkisian is hoping for a bit of everything Saturday in the weather forecast. “We always like it a little gray, a little misty,” the coach said. “And I wouldn’t even mind some wind.”

Todd Milles: 253-597-8442 todd.milles@thenewstribune.com