Husker defensive line takes form in preseason

KU right guard Chet Hartley clinches up and tries to push him to his right, but Ndamakong Suh already has an edge.

Suh cuts right and then quickly back left, deflecting Hartley's shove and blowing past the KU guard, who makes a last-ditch effort to grab Suh across the waist.

With Hartley out of the way, Suh wraps up quarterback Todd Reesing and brings him down for an easy sack.

It's a simple play, but one that doesn't come easily for most defensive linemen.

NU defensive tackle Terrence Moore admitted he's always gotten by on his strength.

But he's starting to realize a good lineman is both powerful and crafty.

"We live and die by our technique, the whole line does," said Moore. "It comes with repetition, you have to work at it. You've got to be sound at it because everyone's strong at this level."

The emergence of Suh as a game-changing defensive tackle helped establish the line's identity as a disruptive force during last season's four-game win streak to end the season.

The senior defensive tackle, who led the team with 76 tackles, 7.5 sacks and two interceptions last year, is expected to garner All-America honors in his final season.

Suh will face a flurry of double-teams this season, making the battle for the second defensive tackle starting spot all the more important.

Moore is competing with sophomore Jared Crick and redshirt freshman Baker Steinkuhler for the chance to replace graduated starter Ty Steinkuhler and line up next to Suh.

"Who wouldn't want to play next to him?" Moore said. "If you play next to him, it kind of opens up a door for you – the attention is taken off you, so it gives you an opportunity to have one-on-one every time. It would be an honor to play next to him."

Moore appeared in seven games last season and picked up eight tackles, and Crick saw time in nine games and made two tackles.

Though there's little starting experience behind Suh, coach Bo Pelini said he's pleased with the team's depth at the position.

"I think we're going to be pretty good there," Pelini said. "Crick had a great winter, he's playing well. Baker Steinkuhler is showing he can be a special player if he keeps working. Terrence Moore has had a tremendous first couple days of spring."

Flanking the defensive tackles will be a duo of experienced ends in Barry Turner and Pierre Allen.

Turner suffered a broken leg in the second game of the season against San Jose State and was lost for the season, but received a medical redshirt for the season and returns this year.

"It feels really good to have him back," Allen said. "I mean, that's my right-hand man. He took me in when I was a freshman and getting an opportunity to play alongside him this year is going to be great. He's going to be a good senior leader for us this year."

Allen, a junior, filled in for Turner and thrived in his first season as a starter, racking up 52 tackles and five sacks.

Turner is back on the practice field and aiming for the starting spot that opened up when Zach Potter graduated, but Pelini said it will be awhile before the senior is back to his old self.

"It takes time to get your football legs back underneath you, and he is slowly but surely," Pelini said. "He's done a lot of good things, but he doesn't feel quite like himself and that's to be expected. It takes a little time."

Behind the two likely starters, there's little depth. Redshirt freshmen Cameron Meredith and Josh Williams could contribute and senior David Harvey recently moved over from defensive tackle to aid in the shortage on ends.

"We want to play a bunch of guys," defensive ends coach John Papuchis said. "It's kind of a mix of experience and a lot of youth, too."

Though NU returns only four defensive linemen who saw consistent playing time in 2008, the familiarity that players now have with the defensive system could lend itself to more contributing on a regular basis.

"I feel a whole lot more comfortable than I did last year," Moore said. "I know what's going on now."

Moore is convinced the blend of old and young is capable of being one of the top defensive lines in the conference this season.

"That's what we're striving for, that's what we come out and work for every day," Moore said. "Hopefully all our hard work will pay off."

maxolson@dailynebraskan.com