I’m getting the sense some Nebraska football fans are having a difficult time warming up to this year’s Blackshirt defense. Not all fans. Just a few. For example, the two gentlemen I saw pictured in one of those wide shots on TBS, where the TV camera pans the crowd for fan reaction after a score.

Corey McKeon had just returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown Saturday night against Wake Forest, giving Nebraska a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Most fans, obviously, were celebrating.

Then, in the middle of my TV screen, I happened to catch two guys just sitting there, expressionless. This is only seconds after the touchdown, before the extra point.

Now, I’m not trying to be critical of the fans. They have every right to sit and do nothing after a game-turning play and still enjoy the game. That’s fine. Seriously. They’re probably not alone. (That’s another subject for another day.)

For some reason, though, I keep envisioning these two guys whenever I hear widespread discussion about the defense, and how the Blackshirts are doing “OK” but haven’t really proven anything yet.

Tough crowd? Well, Nebraska is 2-0, and the defense, in case you haven’t heard, has scored twice as many touchdowns as the offense. Not that anyone’s keeping track.

Here’s my take: Some people want desperately to open their arms, welcome back Kevin Cosgrove and his troops, offer a warm embrace and go win the Big 12 North. Forgive and forget.

But they won’t. They’re hesitant. They’re skeptical.

Can you blame them? Probably not when they point out, with good reason, that the defense appeared to be doing just fine last year, too, until that 70-point night in Lubbock. Before then, Nebraska had the nation’s fifth-ranked defense, and the Blackshirts were coming off a tough 14-8 victory against Kansas.

Today, some folks don’t want to risk praising the defense, only to be burned and disappointed by another implosion. Those four touchdowns by the Blackshirts in two games? That number might as well be 44, because, well, Texas Tech hasn’t come to town yet, so what difference does it make?

Perhaps such hesitation is warranted. It has only been two games — one against a Division I-AA team — and the opposing quarterbacks haven’t exactly elicited thoughts of Joe Namath.

Even Nebraska coach Bill Callahan, while pleased with the defense’s play, remains cautious.

“Overall, we’ve just got to be more consistent and have more definition as to what we’re doing across the board,” Callahan said. “We’ve got more guys that are playing more consistently, but as a unit, we can become better. We can become stronger and more defined in everything we’re doing.”

But … but … the linebackers! Have you seen these guys? They’re everywhere. They’ve scored three touchdowns. They’re getting sacks. They look like they’re having a blast.

“They are an outstanding group,” Callahan said, “but we’ve got a long way to go yet. This is week two, and we’ve got a long way to go before we get to conference play or before we can throw any accolades on them. They’ve produced, but they’ve got to get better, too.”

That’s fair. I agree, it’s probably not wise to hype this unit as some reincarnation of Wistrom, Peter and Co.

I do, however, feel it’s necessary to give the Blackshirts a little love. Especially after last season, when I tried creating shortcuts on my keyboard for popular phrases such as “We just didn’t execute” and “We didn’t match their intensity” to use in my stories after every game.

I know it’s early, but those problems don’t seem quite as evident this year — especially the intensity part. Guys like McKeon, for example, seem to create more energy, more fire.

There are other signs pointing against another defensive meltdown. The tackling looks more sound. The depth on the defensive line is remarkably better. Players don’t look lost.

Of course, challenges await, perhaps as soon as Pitt’s Tyler Palko. He’ll be the first quarterback to truly test this secondary. Also, we’re waiting to see how that chemistry kicks in after surrendering a couple of long plays, or when the game’s tied in the fourth quarter.

Yes, it’s OK to be hesitant. It’s also OK, even if you’re a staunch Cosgrove critic, to give a little credit for a strong start. Enjoy something positive. Smile.

If you’re not ready to fall in love just yet, fine. That’s understandable.

Just don’t hold your breath until Texas Tech. Then you’ll implode before you find out if this defense does.

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.