husker notes
COMBINED DEFENSIVE NUMBERS (2009-2011) TOTAL DEFENSE
Team GP Alabama 39 TCU 38 Ohio St. 38 Florida 39 Texas 38 Boise St. 39 LSU 39 Wisconsin 39 Penn State 38 Nebraska 40
Yds. 9,436 10,242 10,762 11,116 10,913 11,301 11,529 11,966 11,688 12,311
SCORING DEFENSE
Team Alabama LSU TCU Ohio St. Boise St. Nebraska
GP 39 39 38 38 39 40
Pts. 446 585 577 598 625 663
David was dominant in his first season at Nebraska in 2010. In addition to leading the team in tackles, David was second on the team in tackles for loss (15-60), sacks (6-50) and pass breakups (10), while ranking fourth in hurries (7). David was named the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year by every outlet that selected that honor. He was also a first-team All-Big 12 selection, while the Kansas City Star named him its conference defensive player of the year. David also received national accolades, including first-team All-America honors by Rivals.com and CBSSports.com, while the AP and SI.com named him to the second team. 4 David had a career-high 19 tackles in the Huskers’ victory over South Dakota State in 2010. His tackle total vs. SDSU was tied for the most in the Big 12, and was the highest for a Nebraska player since Ruud totaled 19 tackles at Kansas State in 2004. The tackle total tied for the seventh-most in a single game in Nebraska history. 4 David had 35 tackles in back-to-back games against South Dakota State and Kansas State, the best for a Husker since Ruud had 36 tackles in consecutive games against Kansas State and Missouri in 2004.
YPG 241.9 269.5 283.2 285.0 287.2 289.8 295.6 306.8 307.6 307.8
Dennard, Husker Pass Defense Clamping Down on Opponents
A big part of the key to Nebraska’s defensive success in recent years has been a lock-down pass defense. A strong pass defense again provides a key to NU’s success. In consecutive wins against Ohio State, Minnesota and Michigan State, the Huskers had a strong pass defense. Those three opponents combined to complete just 26-of-63 passes (41.2 percent) for a total of 316 yards. The three teams had just one touchdown pass, against two Nebraska interceptions. Northwestern was effective through the air, completing 16-of-24 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown in a 28-25 win over Nebraska. The Huskers did have two interceptions against the Wildcats. Nebraska got back to its lock-down pass defense at Penn State, allowing the Nittany Lions to complete just 17-of-35 passes, and NU allowed Iowa to complete just 16-of-35 passes in a 20-7 win in the regular-season finale. 4 Nebraska ranks 17th nationally in passing yards allowed at 189.1 ypg. NU is 25th nationally in pass efficiency defense. A big part of the success of the Nebraska pass defense has been the return of a healthy Alfonzo Dennard. The senior cornerback missed the season’s first three games with a leg injury, and was limited against Wyoming. The pass defense has improved dramatically since the 5-10, 205-pound senior has returned to full health. Dennard was strong each week since his return, but his play against Michigan State and Iowa were the highlights Dennard had a career-high three pass breakups as NU limited the Spartans to an 11-of-27 passing effort. He also played the lead role in holding MSU’s B.J. Cunningham without a reception, ending a streak of 41 straight games with a catch for the Spartan star. Dennard added two pass breakups in the win at No. 12 Penn State, then against Iowa made Big Ten Receiver of the Year Marvin McNutt a non-factor in a 20-7 win. McNutt caught four passes for 29 yards, including two catches for one yard through three quarters. McNutt averaged better than 100 receiving yards per game prior to the contest. Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini said Dennard is a game-changer for Nebraska. “I wouldn’t trade him for any corner in the country. He has a great impact on our defense.” Dennard was honored with the inaugural Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, while earning firstteam All-Big Ten honors. He was also a second-team All-American by Phil Steele and a third-team pick by Yahoo. The strong pass defense continues a trend in recent years. NU finished third nationally in pass efficiency defense (96.29 rating) and fifth in passing yards allowed (153.6 ypg) in 2010. Nebraska allowed opposing passers to complete just 48.7 percent of their passes, a mark that ranked second nationally. In 2009, Nebraska led the nation in pass efficiency defense. Since the start of 2009 (39 games), Nebraska has a 98.11 pass efficiency defense rating, second-best in the nation. Nebraska has allowed just 173.1 passing yards per game in that stretch, fifth-best in the nation.
PPG 11.4 15.0 15.2 15.7 16.0 16.6
PASS EFFICIENCY DEFENSE
Team Alabama Nebraska LSU
Opp. Pass Numbers % INT Yds TD 48.9 58 6,011 29 49.4 49 6,924 34 53.7 40 6,899 35
Rating 91.76 98.11 104.82
PASSING YARDS PER GAME
Team Alabama Air Force Florida TCU Nebraska
GP 39 38 39 38 40
Yds. 6,011 5,879 6,433 6,390 6,924
YPG 154.1 154.7 164.9 168.2 173.1
2011 Game-by-Game Statistics Defense Rushing Game UTC FSU UW WYO WIS OSU MINN MSU NW PSU MICH IOWA
Passing Game UTC FSU UW WYO WIS OSU MINN MSU NW PSU MICH IOWA
Att. 31 40 31 31 50 41 39 30 54 43 61 24
Yds. 60 190 146 137 231 243 132 101 207 166 238 88
TD 0 1 1 0 5 2 2 0 3 2 4 1
Long 14 21 25 21 21 63 30 13 17 15 31 15
Passes 22-36-1 20-41-0 21-37-2 18-34-1 14-20-0 6-18-1 9-18-0 11-27-1 16-24-2 17-35-0 11-19-1 16-35-1
Yds. 170 254 274 168 255 108 122 86 261 209 180 182
TD 1 1 4 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 2 0
Long 25 55 52 48 46 32 53 20 81 40 46 26
nebraska vs. South carolina
Husker Defense Looks to Get Back to Stingy Ways
Sacks 3-24 0-0 2-3 1-3 2-15 1-1 0-0 4-21 1-7 1-7 1-13 1-11
Nebraska was among the nation’s top scoring defenses in both 2009 and 2010. The 2009 defense led the nation at 10.4 points per game, and held seven foes to single digits and eight teams to 10 or fewer points. Both of those totals led the nation. Nebraska posted two shutouts for the first time since 2003. In 2010, Nebraska again ranked in the top 10 nationally, holding opponents to 17.4 points per game to rank ninth. Nebraska has fallen off in this department in 2011, allowing 22.8 points per game. Nebraska did allow 14 or fewer points four times in its final six games, including three points to Michigan State and seven against Iowa. 4The Huskers’ combined numbers from 2009 to 2011 rank among the nation’s best. Including 12 games in 2011, Nebraska has allowed an average of 16.6 points per game in 40 games since the start of the 2009 season. That is the sixth-best scoring defense mark in the nation in that span. 4 Nebraska’s 10.4 points per game allowed in 2009 were the fewest since the 1984 defense led the nation by allowing just 9.5 points per game. NU had not allowed fewer than 15 points per game since 2003. 4 Before 2009-10, Nebraska had not ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense in consecutive seasons since 1995 and 1996. 4 Nebraska held 13 of 14 opponents to 20 or fewer points in 2009. To put that accomplishment in perspective, NU held just six opponents to fewer than 20 points in 2007 and 2008 combined. Nebraska held 10 of 14 teams to 20 or fewer points in 2010, and only one opponent scored more than 24 points in regulation play. 4 Only 18 Nebraska opponents have scored as many as 17 points since the start of the 2009 season (40 games). In that stretch, Nebraska has allowed 10 or fewer points in 15 games.
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