Nebraska's defense obviously has a ways to go before anyone would deem it a championship-level outfit.
But if you're not noticing progress from that group, you're not looking closely enough.
If you're not seeing a Husker defense that is rallying to the ball and hitting hard, you're in a high level of denial.
Nebraska finished its 2020 season ranked 52nd nationally in total defense, allowing 386.5 yards per game, and made significant improvement in defending the run. Next season, it should easily be a top-50 unit.
Bottom line, you're definitely seeing progress, especially considering Nebraska wasn't even a top-100 defense in 2017, the season before Erik Chinander became the Huskers' defensive coordinator under new head coach Scott Frost.