Defense Works to Improve on Third Down

Football
12/15/2020 2:34:00 PM

NU Athletic Communications

Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander and other members of the Husker football team and staff met with the media virtually Tuesday to discuss preparation for this week’s game against Rutgers.
 
Chinander talked about the improvements the defense has shown on third down the past few games.

“I think it’s a couple different factors,” he said. “Number one, getting in less third-and-shorts which really helps. The guys have done a great job at the third-and-shorts that we have had. I think the guys have a really good understanding right now. They are feeling really comfortable in the system right now. We have kind of finally got the guys where they need to be. I need to get them in some different places earlier but they are where they need to be right now and the guys are understanding of what they need to do.”

Chinander also discussed how targeting penalties have affected the game and what can be done to limit those types of penalties.

“It is really hard to be physical out there right now when you are worried about those hits,” he said. “I think there definitely needs to be some player safety things addressed, and I think they have addressed them and they’ve done a good job at that, but now I think it is becoming so common to get a targeting foul that there is going to be other player safety issues that are going to come up because of it. But the bottom line is we have to do a better job of tackling in the strike zone and taking our head out of the football play.”

 

Talking about the Rutgers’ offense, Chinander noted how the team is preparing with one less day of practice in preparation of Friday’s game.

“They’ve got a pretty wide array of football plays and whether you call them gadgets or tricks, there’s a lot of things where they are trying to take advantage of schematic situations,” he said. “They are going to make you defend 11-on-11 because they are going to run the quarterback. Some quarterback insert plays whether it be power or counter and the running back going the opposite way which is kind of a new fad in college football. But they are going to make you defend the whole field and they are going to make you use all 11 players.

 

“Thankfully we see a little bit of that with our offense as well so the principles are not new to our guys. Maybe the specific looks are. The principles behind what’s going on out there is not a complete shock to our guys.”

The Huskers and Scarlet Knights kick off in Piscataway, New Jersey at SHI Stadium on Friday at 6:30 p.m. (CT). Television coverage will be provided by BTN and radio coverage will be provided by the Husker Sports Network.