Crick looks to fill big shoes alongside Suh

Ndamukong Suh caught opposing offensive lines by surprise during his breakout season last fall.

That certainly won't be the case in 2009, and that's a good thing for Jared Crick.

The sophomore defensive tackle knows playing alongside a preseason All-American will mean a good deal of advantageous matchups this fall, which is just what he'll need in his first year as a starter.

"The plan right now is, when he starts to get double-teamed, I'll start making plays so they start double-teaming me," Crick said. "That way, Suh can make plays and vice-versa. Getting Suh one-on-one, it's a ‘W' for us every time. We want that to happen, and that's my goal."

The two have already begun to develop a strong on-field relationship, and Suh said Crick has proven he's ready for the starting job.

"He's really learned how to play off me and things have come together quickly," Suh said. "I think that's due to getting to work together a lot during this spring. He knows our schemes and knows what to do."

The double-teams on Suh began last year. When NU played Clemson in the Gator Bowl, linemen keyed on him, and Ty Steinkuhler took advantage to the tune of six tackles – two of them for loss – and a sack.

"They reeled back the center and had him watching me, and Stein made them pay," Suh said. "I can see Crick doing the same exact thing."

Defensive line coach Carl Pelini said double-teaming a defensive tackle ruins the integrity of an offensive line scheme both in the run game and the pass game and allows NU's other three defensive linemen to take linemen one-on-one.

"I tell Suh this: The best thing you can do for us is force that offensive coordinator to know you're there and to think about you as he's making calls," Pelini said. "If he can force that kind of disruption, we're going to be in good shape."

Crick, who appeared in nine games last season as a red shirt freshman, will be vital to keeping offensive lines honest. He called the chance to get in a season of experience "immensely helpful."

"Just getting to learn from Ty, getting in games, playing the technique and learning the speed, it was a great experience and something I treasure," Crick said.

During winter workouts, Crick emerged as the clear favorite to replace Steinkuhler on the starting line, and Suh lauded him at the beginning of spring ball for his strong work ethic.

Crick attributes much of his improved play to his work with Pelini and assistant coach John Papuchis.

"I learned more from J.P. and Carl in the time I've been here with them than I have in my entire life," Crick said. "They taught me the game of football and technique, how to beat your opponent.

"We have the two best defensive line coaches in the nation, bar none," he said. "It's definitely good to work hard for them."

Getting to play next to a player who's been tabbed by some as a possible No. 1 overall pick in next April's NFL Draft hasn't hurt, either.

"Suh has taught me to be aggressive," Crick said. "He plays with such intensity every single day, and you can't help but to learn from it and use it yourself. He brings his lunch box every day, and that's another thing I've learned from him. I've got to come on every rep and not take any off."

Crick's improvement during the offseason impressed Pelini, and he proved to the NU defensive coordinator he was ready to step in with the first string defense.

"Jared is explosive, and he's very strong," Pelini said. "He's got great balance, and he has all those things you want a defensive tackle to be. I'm very proud of how he prepared himself in the offseason to be a great player. He's not the same ballplayer he was a year ago."

When Pelini and Papuchis took over last winter, they asked Crick, a defensive end in high school, to prepare himself to move to the inside of the line. He responded by putting on more than 40 pounds over the span of six months.

"Knowing he was being asked to gain that weight, he focused on flexibility, footwork, quick footwork and his strength," Pelini said. "He gained good weight — his body fat didn't change at all. He really committed himself to that move inside, and it's been really great for him."

At 285 pounds, the 6-foot-6 Cozad, Neb., native knows he has big shoes to fill. He calls Steinkuhler "the best technician in college football last year" and hopes he can bring the same complimentary play to the table.

"I'd like to think I can pick up right where Ty left off, but you can't replace a Ty Steinkuhler," Crick said. "I'll try and bring my own game and be intense in every single rep."

The way Crick sees it, if he can be good, Nebraska's defensive line can be great.

"The sky's the limit for us," he said. "I think we can be the best defensive line in the nation, and some have said we could be the best defensive line in Nebraska's history. We don't let that get to our heads.

"We know we've got to come out there and work hard every day. We're taking it day by day."

maxolson@dailynebraskan.com