Returning: Andrew Green, Jr. (starter), Ciante Evans, Jr.; Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Jr.; Josh Mitchell, So.; Dijon Washington, So.; Antonio Bell, Sr.; Jase Dean, Sr., Corey Cooper, So.
Incoming: Mohamaed Seisay (enrolled for Spring semester)
Alfonzo Dennard is off the the NFL, leaving Nebraska with huge question marks at cornerback. This will be a position to keep an eye on this spring, along with the safeties. After the jump, the CN team looks at cornerbacks.
Jon: I need a beer.
Bill: The most obvious problem facing last year's defense was the enormous gap between Alfonzo Dennard and the rest of the cornerbacks. After coaches did everything short of posting wanted ads on craigslist for a CB to play opposite of Dennard, Andrew Green emerged to win the starting job back.
However, Dennard's departure to the NFL has many Husker fans rightfully concerned about this position going into next season. There's simply too many question marks at this point to be overly optimistic.
I don't think we can put the blame on Corey Raymond's shoulders yet. Just look at Andrew Green's improvement over the course of last season. To me that seemed like a result of good coaching. Let's give Raymond a few more years before we decide that his coaching is the problem. To me the biggest factor is whether or not he can turn great athletes like Alonzo Moore or Braylon Heard into great DBs.
Regardless of Raymond's coaching ability, reality is that this position is a mess right now. Mohammed Seisay and Andrew Green are probably the favorites to start heading into next season, but you can't rule out a guy like Jean-Baptiste with an entire offseason to actually learn the position. Then there's Ciante Evans who showed promise as a true freshman but looked totally lost as a sophomore. Will Charles Jackson ever make it to campus?
Someone in this group is bound to take the next step forward and be great by next fall, right?
0 recs | 12 comments
Did Heard move to DB?
Cornbadger - February 20, 2012
We think so
There was a rumor going around about it the last few weeks of January, and then someone asked Pelini about it at his signing day press conference. He said “Possibly, we don’t move somebody without them feeling real comfortable.”
That doesn’t really confirm or deny it…but Heard is a great athlete and with the signing of Imani Cross we should be more than fine at the RB position next season…but the CB position needs help. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him there a little this spring, and if they decide to keep him there I think they can redshirt him and give him a year to learn the position.
Billgrip - February 20, 2012
Hopefully not screwed.
This is the most concerning position we have next year. I think green is going to be a hell of a cb but if seisay doesn’t come in and actually show up we’re screwed. We all know green will be starting because well he was the only one who looked like he actually wanted to play last year besides dennard, he started off weak but came on strong i like green and i know he’ll start- sad to say but not till the coaches realize once again that ciante evans is the biggest joke of a corner we have ever had. Evan was always and i mean always 3 steps behind the receiver and not because they’re faster if u watched the games it was because he had no fricken clue what the hell he was doing out there but the coaches seem to like the hack. As for the others we really don’t know much about any of them the coaches really didn’t give them much of a chance, and as bad as the cb’s did last year they all should of got chances. I also look for Heard to be pretty decent if the coaches can teach him what to do he’s a hell of an athlete. Last words- 2013 recruiting board should have at least 3 to 4 cb’s cause we need them and bad. Go big red.
DirtySkers - February 20, 2012
I agree about Seisay
If anyone needs to come in and live up to the hype right away next year it’s Seisay. Luckily he is already on campus and will have the benefit of spring practices and the spring game.
Billgrip - February 20, 2012
I have every confidence in Seisay.
Pelini has a tremendous record with bringing in JC players who can produce immediately.
Andy Davis - February 20, 2012
I always find it incredibly amusing
that the guy we’ve never seen play in a position is already better than the guy we’ve seen play it.
I don’t know what Ciante Evans deal is, other than when you don’t understand what you’re doing, you’re going to automatically look slow because of indecision. The guy played well enough as a true freshman. Maybe he’ll come back into form.
Jean-Baptiste is the one guy you’d like to see come around on this…. if for no other reason than not wasting another year not getting on the field.
Jon Johnston - February 20, 2012
Interestingly...
Ciante Evans best game was as a freshman against Missouri where he got thrown into the lineup after Alfonzo Dennard got knocked out with a concussion. Didn’t have time to think or worry…just went out there and played his butt off. (Or maybe more appropriately, played Blaine Gabbert’s butt off…)
Husker Mike - February 20, 2012
We're going to lose!
CLEAN HOUSE.
Salt Creek and Stadium - February 20, 2012
Eh,i wouldn't worry about it
The Mayen Prophecy should take care of all this doubt for us =P
Omahusker - February 20, 2012
But it'll be too late!
Salt Creek and Stadium - February 20, 2012
I also like how
when I forgot to respond to one of these “roundtable” type documents, Mike just puts in “I need a beer” for me, and no one notices or says a word….
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Jon Johnston - February 21, 2012
I need to come up with something more original...
Maybe some crack about Ron Paul, Barack Obama, or George W. Bush. Or maybe something about Urban Meyer.
Husker Mike - February 21, 2012
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