Virginia Tech braces for Huskers defensive front

BLACKSBURG Almost a year later, the play has long since faded from Ndamukong Suh's memory. He must worry about too many more important things now, such as the defensive coverages he spent this spring absorbing so he could become a more complete player and a terror for offensive linemen to block.

But the play still is there, italicized for emphasis on stat sheet from last season's game between Virginia Tech and Nebraska: PENALTY NU personal foul (Suh, Ndamukong).

The penalty happened in the fourth quarter, when Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor ran for 2 yards on third down and 4 at Nebraska's 37-yard line. The ACC officiating crew flagged Suh for hitting Taylor after the play, sustaining a touchdown drive that gave the Hokies a 35-23 lead with 2:28 left in a game they won 35-30.

Did the penalty gnaw at Suh the rest of the season? Did it motivate him while he became a first-team all-Big 12 defensive tackle and made everyone stumble through that alphabet-soup first name (pronounced En-dom-ah-ken)?

"Actually, I had forgotten about it," Suh said this week, as his 19th-ranked Cornhuskers prepared to complete their home-and-home series with No. 13 Tech by traveling to Blacksburg for tomorrow's 3:30 p.m. game.

The personal foul, which Suh said he and his coaches regarded as questionable, might offer a convenient segue between last year's game and this year's. But it makes Suh and Nebraska's defensive line no easier to block for a Tech offensive line that is improving but still doesn't protect Taylor well enough.

The Huskers' front four returns three starters: senior end Barry Turner, who started in 2007 before breaking his leg two games into last season; junior Pierre Allen, who replaced Turner after the injury; and Suh, a senior who might be selected in the top 10 of next year's NFL draft. Last season he became the first lineman to lead Nebraska in tackles since 1973. He also led the Huskers with 7½ sacks.

Tech's offensive line allowed 3.4 sacks per game the past two seasons, most in the ACC. This season it has allowed eight. Even more important to the line's coach, Curt Newsome: the number of times last week that Marshall hit Taylor, a junior with no proven backup. Newsome didn't count the hits, but "I know it was too many," he said.

Though Marshall blitzes more than most teams Tech plays, Newsome told his linemen during their Monday meeting that they must limit Taylor's hits because "we can't afford to lose him right now," said sophomore right guard Jaymes Brooks.

Brooks and the Hokies' other interior linemen, sophomore center Beau Warren and senior left guard Sergio Render, will try to keep Suh away from Taylor two games after they limited Alabama tackle Terrence Cody to one tackle in the Hokies' season-opening loss.

While Cody is 6-5, 354 pounds and a space-clogger, Suh is 6-4, 300 and tap dancer by comparison.

"I think Suh's the truth," Brooks said. "He's got more moves than Cody. Cody more likes to bull-rush on a run. Suh will get the blocker off him, throw him off and chase after the play. He's more athletic than Cody."

This spring, Suh studied film with defensive coordinator Carl Pelini, whose younger brother, Bo, is Nebraska's coach. Suh wanted to watch how all of Nebraska's defensive players lined up, so he could learn the coverages in which he can't take a wide rushing angle because the linebackers aren't close enough to the line of scrimmage to help defend a screen pass.

"I think mentally my capacity of understanding football has increased tremendously," Suh said.

The penalty might have slipped Suh's mind this week, but studying film reminded him that in Lincoln last season, Taylor played one of his best games of the season: 9 of 15 passing, 171 yards, and 15 rushes for 87 yards and a touchdown.

"As far as I'm concerned, it's up to us on the front four to control him and keep him inside the pocket," Suh said. "And when he does try and get out, make sure he doesn't."