RADIGAN: Gomes, Thenarse seem secured in starting safety positions

With both starting safeties having graduated in December, there were many questions about the position coming into spring.

After the Red-White Spring Game, it appears Husker fans can expect the same playmaking and physicality they've grown accustomed to.

Seniors-to-be Rickey Thenarse and DeJon Gomes started together on the Red squad and with it, threw their hats into the race for the starting jobs. While many had assumed Thenarse's big play ability would earn him the spot, he backed it up Saturday and made a splash by picking off a pass and firing up the crowd with his energetic play.

The surprise of the pair was Gomes, who looked surprisingly natural weaving through lineman in pursuit of the ball carrier. He showed his prowess defending the pass last fall, but in the spring game he showed he can make an impact in NU's run defense.

They also showed they have the physicality like that of Larry Asante and other past hard-hitting safeties. Thenarse had some big hits on ball carriers while Gomes showed he isn't afraid to put his pads into a receiver to keep him from making the catch.

For Thenarse, getting back on the field was reason enough to be excited, but he made it clear that just being able to play wasn't enough for him.

"The knee is fine. I know I can just go out there and be me," Thenarse said. "Now I just want to start making plays again and helping my team."

Gomes showed last season that he was able to bring some excitement to the defense, but the transition to a new position seems to only increase his presence on the field. Overall Gomes said he thinks it will be a smooth transition to safety.

"We had two really good safeties last year in Matt (O'Hanlon) and Larry (Asante), and I'm just trying to fill that role. Hopefully I can do a good job," Gomes said.

Although O'Hanlon and Asante operated primarily as a two-man crew last fall, this fall the safety rotation will most likely include more than just Thenarse and Gomes. Gomes said he still expects to play corner in the dime formation, which means that younger players like sophomore Austin Cassidy and freshman P.J. Smith can expect to see more time on the field. The depth Cassidy and Smith provide not only bolster the safety position, but also give the defense more versatility as a whole.

Another reason to expect big things from the safeties is the ability of the corners. Thenarse said having faith in the corners helps him have the freedom to make plays, and this year's team has shown they have talent at corner. And the help for the safeties doesn't stop there. With Jared Crick and Pierre Allen putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, Gomes said he expects to have more opportunities because teams won't have as long to get open.

In addition to pass coverage, the new safeties were also strong in defending the run in Saturday's spring game. There were a number of plays where Gomes darted through blocks to make tackles, while Thenarse forced a fumble out of bounds on one play and knocked the ball loose from another runner after driving him into the ground.

It may have just been a practice, but the energy and physicality showed by Gomes and Thenarse sets up for a strong senior campaign for both because they didn't just go through the motions. They were flying around, hitting everyone in sight while showing they have the energy and swagger to fit in with the NU defense.

But more than anything, they just fit. From the way they looked side-by-side in the defensive backfield, to their movements as a unit after the snap, Gomes and Thenarse showed this Saturday they are capable of taking the reins of the safety position.

Pat Radigan is a junior News-Editorial major. He can be reached at patradigan@dailynebraskan.com.