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The Blackshirts are emerging, but DC Erik Chinander says ‘we’ve got so much more to give’ | Football



NU’s forced just one fumble and six turnovers total through five games and is a modest No. 67 nationally in third-down defense, allowing conversions on 37.7% of opponents’ tries.

The Huskers, though, have steadily improved on the defensive side not only through Erik Chinander’s three-plus seasons at the helm but also over the first five games this fall. That dominant stretch against MSU did not go unnoticed.

“They held Michigan State to zero first downs in the second half, and it was one of the most dominant defensive performances that I’ve seen in the Big Ten in a long time,” said Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald on Tuesday as he prepared to bring his team to Lincoln this weekend. “I mean, that was incredibly impressive, and I think Michigan State’s outstanding on offense.”

Statistically, the unit has been solid in 2021, but the second half in East Lansing stands as a breakthrough.

The Huskers check in No. 7 in the stingy Big Ten in scoring defense at 17.2 points allowed per game, but that number is good for No. 26 in the country. Defense is winning all over the place this year — in part, to be sure, because of the number of defenders who returned for the extra year of eligibility. In 2020, 17.2 would have been the No. 9 mark in the country.

NU is 26th nationally in first downs allowed per game (16.4) and tied for 22nd nationally (tied for in the Big Ten) in allowing just 6.0 yards per pass attempt.



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