JD PicKell: Defense is winning fall camp so far at Nebraska

Much has been made about the Nebraska offense this offseason. It makes sense considering Scott Frost is taking a step back to let new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple run more of the show with new quarterback Casey Thompson.

But On3’s J.D. PicKell thinks the defense is winning training camp so far — for an understandable reason, too.

The Cornhuskers are in a unique spot in camp since they not only have a Week 0 game on Aug. 27, but they have to go to Ireland to play it against Northwestern. Considering how fast that game is approaching and the fresh faces on offense, PicKell argued the defense, anchored by Big Ten Media Days attendees Garrett Nelson and Quinton Newsome, is likely to keep winning training camp for Nebraska.

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“Remember, [Nebraska has] a Week 0 game,” PicKell said on The Hard Count. “They go over to Ireland to go play in front of Bono and Co. over there against Northwestern. They’re favored in that game, but that’s going to be a very telling game. But I say that to say their schedule in terms of fall camp is a little bit more accelerated. It’s a little bit ahead of where other programs are right now because of the fact that they’re going to Ireland and that’s going to throw a curveball in terms of the travel schedule, getting adjusted to jet lag. They’re farther along in fall camp is what you really need to know.

“As it stands right now in fall camp, the defense is winning the fall. And if you’re saying, ‘Oh my gosh, here we go again. Gosh dang it.’ Relax. Because in fall camp, that’s usually how it goes. It’s not overwhelmingly surprising that the defense will win fall camp, especially considering that they have a first-year offensive coordinator in Mark Whipple and a first-time quarterback in Casey Thompson for the first time working together.”