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Published Friday August 17, 2001 NU Defensive Line Set for Big Push BY STEVEN PIVOVAR
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

Lincoln - The heat is on the men in the middle of Nebraska's defense.

Nebraska's Jon Clanton hurries Northwestern quarterback Zak Kustok during last season's Alamo Bowl.

The Huskers' defensive efficiency slipped in 2000, due in part to the lack of consistent pressure applied by the defensive tackles.

Defensive tackles registered just 4¹/₂ sacks last season. In the three previous seasons, the Huskers got at least 5¹/₂ sacks out of one of their tackles, including seven from Steve Warren in 1999 and seven from Jason Peter in 1997.

"We know we need more of an inside push," junior tackle Jon Clanton said, "and we know that it's going to happen this year."

If it doesn't, NU might be hard-pressed to achieve its hoped-for defensive improvement. After finishing in the top six in each of the four major NCAA defensive statistical categories in 1999, the Huskers dipped to 26th in total defense and scoring defense.

The slip wasn't due exclusively to inconsistency in the middle. But much of the effectiveness of NU's 4-3 defensive alignment depends on strength in the middle. When the tackles can control the line of scrimmage to stop the run, and apply consistent pressure on pass plays, good things generally happen for the defense.

"The big thing we're talking about is pushing the pocket," said Jeff Jamrog, defensive tackles coach.

Quarterback sacks provide one measure of a defense's ability to do that, Jamrog said, but they're not the only gauge. Nebraska recorded 25 sacks last season, the lowest total in the two decades the school has included sacks in defensive reports.

Oklahoma registered just eight more sacks than Nebraska did in 2000, but the Sooners wound up finishing seventh in scoring defense and eighth in total defense, not to mention winning the national championship.

"People make a big deal as to how many sacks you have," Jamrog said. "It's an important stat, but the bottom line on third down is getting off the field, whether that comes from a hurry by Jason Lohr or Jeremy Slechta, or whether that comes from a sack by Chris Kelsay or Demoine Adams.

"The most important stat to us is scoring defense. That's the stat that tells you if you're playing great defense."

Jamrog's players say their coach hasn't ranted and raved about how they need to get more push upfield this season.

"That's something we're working on this year," Lohr said, "and it's something that we know we have to do."

Lohr and Slechta are projected as Nebraska's starters in the middle, giving the Huskers a pair of seniors who have played extensively the past three seasons. Each player has battled injuries throughout their careers, with Slechta one of several defensive tackles who has missed practice in preseason camp. He's been bothered by an ankle sprain.

On the flip side, Lohr has not missed a practice in spite of coming off back surgery in May that repaired a bulging disk.

"They weren't quite sure whether I would be able to make two-a-days, but I've been able to do it," said Lohr, a 6-foot-2, 275-pounder from Tulsa, Okla. "Coming in, I really didn't expect to be able to do it all. I was concerned that my back would hurt, but it really hasn't."

Lohr played hurt last season, first bothered by a turf toe injury and then by the back problems. The Huskers also lost senior Loran Kaiser for four games because of a foot injury. That left Lohr, Slechta and Clanton getting most of the playing time.

"I think a lot of our problems last year had to do with only three or four guys rotating," Clanton said. "That's why we're trying to get some depth this year, so that we have strength in there. If it's toward the end of the game and you've taken 50 reps, you're going to be tired. I think that's why sometimes the push was there last year and sometimes it wasn't."

Clanton, a 6-2, 280-pound junior, saw his first extensive playing time last season while participating in all but one of 12 games. Casey Nelson, a former walk-on from Newman Grove, Neb., also played in 11 games, and the 6-2, 285-pound senior figures into the mix this season.

"I really believe that if we stay healthy that we'll be in good shape," Jamrog said. "If we're solid, we'll have a four-man rotation. Potentially, we could have five or six guys who can contribute. The problem we had last year was that we had some games when Jason Lohr played almost the whole game and we were relying, at times, on just three guys."

Jamrog is hoping sophomores Patrick Kabongo and Ryon Bingham and freshman Manaia Brown can provide additional assistance. An overweight Kabongo played sparingly last season, but he's impressed the defensive coaches since slimming down to 290 pounds.

Bingham was expected to contend for playing time last season but suffered a stress fracture that sidelined him for the year.

"Ryon has shown flashes of being a fine football player for us," Jamrog said. "He's big and strong and hungry right now."

Brown was a member of the 2000 recruiting class but did not enroll until last January while cleaning up some academic problems. He raised eyebrows last spring after being moved from rush end to tackle, but his progress in preseason camp has been slowed because of injury.

"He's really been banged up and we haven't been able to see him at full speed," Jamrog said. "Hopefully, he'll get healthy because I think he'll be a factor."

True freshman Le Kevin Smith is another player who might have played a role this season but he underwent surgery to repair a torn knee ligament after participating in just one practice. The three other true freshman tackles - Titus Adams of Omaha Creighton Prep, Jared Helming of Springfield, Mo., and Seppo Evwaraye of Laurel, Neb. - are still developing.

"We didn't miss on any of those guys," Jamrog said. "We're pleased with how they're doing and the kind of players they're going to be in the future."

Lohr, though, is more concerned with the present as he prepares for his last season.

"From what I'm seeing, we're starting to click as a unit," he said. "We're trying to get better every day, and I think we've done that to this point."

Note: Join World-Herald staff writer Mitch Sherman Wednesday, August 22 from 7 to 8 p.m. for the next installment of Omaha.com's SportsTalk. Mitch will be answering your NU football questions as the Huskers prepare for next Saturday's season opener against Texas Christian.