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A pick is money.

A bunch of picks can change lives.

That's what Nebraska senior cornerback Lamar Jackson told the media Thursday, a day before the Huskers begin preseason camp.

"When the ball's in the sky, we all want it," said Jackson, who had two of the team's 11 interceptions last season.

Deflections are helpful, he said. But, yeah, a pick is money.

"If we drop a ball even in drills, it's 15 pushups," Jackson said. "When the ball touches your hands, you need to take it because I think that can change everybody's life."

Takeaways in general are money. They tend to change lives for the better. We're talking players' lives, coaches' lives, coaches wives' and kids' lives, fans' lives, downtown merchants' lives, you name it. If you were to choose five statistics to best measure defensive progress in Nebraska's second season with coordinator Erik Chinander in charge, takeaways should be one of them. The Huskers had 20 last season, up from a meager 12 in 2017, but still not good enough.

Some other critical stats to watch should be yards per rush allowed, explosive plays allowed, sacks and third-down efficiency.