Immediately after the final gun sounded on the Nebraska Huskers' 33-0 victory in the Holiday Bowl over the Arizona Wildcats, the critics began to talk.  Particularly those media types outside the state of Nebraska who have no idea what they are talking about.

Sure, Ndamukong Suh was one of the greatest players to ever wear the Husker uniform, but last I checked it takes four guys to make up a defensive line. To hear these critics talk you'd think that the absence of Suh will suddenly return the line to the Calahan/Cosgrove days!

Folks here in Nebraska know that as long as the Pelini brothers are around, that just won't happen.  These great defensive minds have an unmatched way of tapping every ounce of ability out of each and every player on the defensive side of the ball.

Will there be a drop off?

Well, when you lose a player as great as Suh, that's inevitable.  Just how much of one is where the critics and I disagree.

So let’s take a look at the Huskers probable starting four and some reserves on the defensive line this season.

DT Jared Crick, a 6’6” 285 pound junior, possesses an explosive first step. He earned All-Big 12 honors last season with 9.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss.  The most talented of the group, Crick will be this year’s anchor.

DT Baker Steinkuhler, a 6’6” 290 pound sophomore, had limited playing time in a reserve roll last season as a redshirt freshman. 

He recorded 17 tackles.  With the opportunity at the starting role, I look for Baker to step up, but should he struggle, the depth behind him looks strong with players like Junior, Terrence Moore and one of my personal favorites, redshirt freshman, Thaddeus Randle.  Randle is one of those players with a non-stop motor.  You can never have enough of these types of guys.

DE Pierre Allen, a 6’5” 265 pound senior, started all 14 games last season.  He had 51 tackles, five sacks and 12 tackles for loss.  Allen is a bull rushing type defensive end which complements well with the speed rushing Meredith at the other end

DE Cameron Meredith, a 6’4” 265 pound sophomore, played in every game last season as the top reserve behind Pierre Allen and Barry Turner.  He recorded 21 tackles, five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.  Meredith has a nose for the ball and a quick first step.  His skills have been compared to former Husker great Adam Carriker.

Other significant contributors at the defensive end position will be sophomores Josh Williams and Jason Ankrah.  Williams is slated to be the first man off the bench in the four man rotation.

So, with returning starters Crick and Allen in addition to Meredith playing in 14 games last season, the experience is certainly there.  I wouldn't be at all surprised to see one of the other guys step up at the other defensive tackle position.

I know how badly some of you guys down south want to write off this line without Suh.  You certainly didn’t expect what you saw in last year’s Big 12 Championship game.  Well, you better be prepared this year cause the freight train is still rolling!

I still project this as one of the top defensive lines in the country.