Poor defensive effort leaves Pelini asking for improvement

Amid the swirl of excitement surrounding Taylor Martinez's magical debut, it was easy to overlook something that most Husker fans now take for granted.

Nebraska's defense didn't play to the same level as last year.

Not even close.

Not that it should have right away, anyway. It was the first game of the year, and the Huskers were replacing five graduated starters, not including the losses of Will Compton and Sean Fisher to injuries.

Still, when coach Bo Pelini claims that this year's defense will upstage last year's, the expectations are going to be high.

Speaking of Pelini, he was less than enthused with his unit's effort.

"I thought overall defensively it was an absolute embarrassment," Pelini said. "I thought it was coached poorly, and that starts with me. I didn't like anything we did defensively.

"I mean, there were a couple things that we did OK, but we didn't play up to our standard."

The Huskers gave up 179 rushing yards, more than they gave up in any one game last season. Western Kentucky's Bobby Rainey had 155 yards, the most any running back has rushed for since Pelini became NU's coach.

Some of the responsibility falls on the starting linebackers, Lavonte David and Alonzo Whaley. David led NU with 13 tackles, but Pelini said he's still has work to do.

"I think Lavonte David made a lot of mistakes," he said, "as did most of our other guys."

David said he agreed with Pelini's assessment.

"Yeah, most of it was our fault," David said. "Everybody knew what we had to be, but we had to step up. A lot of people weren't hearing us."

The highlight for the Blackshirts was a fumble forced by DeJon Gomes just before Rainey crossed the goal line in the third quarter. Rainey sprinted 46 yards up the middle before Gomes caught him from behind. The ball popped out in the end zone, where it was recovered by Eric Hagg.

"It's just a part of our culture, which is effort," Gomes said. "You see a guy running, and I'm pretty sure I and a lot of my teammates chase him down just so we can get that next-play opportunity and maybe get a three-and-out or a field goal on the board, just trying to make another play.

"I had the opportunity, and I was just going for the tackle, but the ball came out, too."

Without that fumble, the Hilltoppers would have had another seven points, which would have given them more than any NU non-conference opponent last year.

But it's just one game. The Huskers had five players making their first career start, including both starting linebackers, depended upon to make calls and direct the rest of the defense.

And the team that had the most rushing yards against NU last year? That would be Arkansas State, another overmatched early-season opponent.

"It's the first game," Pelini said. "I've seen a lot of good things defensively through camp. I think we're going to be a good defense."

danhoppen@dailynebraskan.com