Wide receivers coach wants more consistency
Nebraska’s “X-men” are an impressive lot in terms of sheer size and athleticism.
The six Husker wide receivers designated at the “X” position all measure at least 6-foot-2, and four stand at least 6-4. They’re lean, fast and hungry like a pack of racing greyhounds.
Senior Maurice Purify and junior Nate Swift stand above the fray on the depth chart, said Nebraska wideouts coach Ted Gilmore.
“From there, it’s a tossup,” Gilmore said. “It really is. No one’s outplaying the other this spring. Too many dropped balls at that position right now.”
Gilmore hopes Nebraska’s “X-men” shore up their issues in time for the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m.
The Husker wideouts — there also is a “Z” group — are expected to be among the strengths of the team in 2007. Last season, six Big Red wideouts combined for 135 receptions, and all six are back this year, including senior “Z” receiver Terrence Nunn, who led the way with 42 catches in 2006.
So, the bodies are in place.
Now, if only those “X-men” — the group also features junior Todd Peterson, sophomores Menelik Holt and Chris Brooks and redshirt freshman Will Henry — would stop dropping passes in practice.
“You can’t accept that,” Gilmore said. “That position has a chance to do some good things for us this year. Those guys who have made plays for us in the past — they have to continue to make plays. And the guys who have not made plays need to put themselves in that position. I would like to think they’re hungry enough to make plays.”
Gilmore said that basically only one of his “X” receivers — the 6-4, 225-pound Purify — is meeting expectations in terms of clutching passes.
“Nate’s dropping a few balls,” Gilmore said. “He just has too many drops. Mo’s been consistent catching the ball, and the rest of them have not been consistent. I have just one guy catching the ball consistently.”
Purify ranked second among Nebraska wide receivers last season with 34 receptions (for a team-leading 630 yards and seven touchdowns), and Swift was next with 22 catches for 374 yards. Peterson, a walk-on, was fourth with 19 for 307.
“I don’t know what it is,” Swift said of the drops this spring. “It seems like there have been more than usual this spring, though.”
Drops apparently aren’t a pressing issue at the “Z” receiver position, where seniors Frantz Hardy and Dan Erickson battle for playing time behind Nunn.
“Nunn obviously has established himself as the guy there,” Gilmore said. “You can probably put Dan and Frantz on the same plane.”
Hardy, who had 14 receptions for 317 yards and three touchdowns last season, moved from “X” to “Z” this spring to add depth.
“Right now Frantz is making too many mentals (mental errors),” Gilmore said. “He’s still learning the position. As for his playmaking capability, obviously that’s there.”
Some Nebraska fans might be surprised to learn that Erickson, a walk-on from Papillion-La Vista, who has just four career receptions, stands on the same plane with Hardy.
“Dan’s ball skills might not be as good as the other guys,” Gilmore said. “But you always know what you’re going to get from Dan. You’re going to get full-speed effort every single time. And he’s gotten more confidence in catching the ball. It might not be the prettiest catch, but he’s catching it.”
Drops aside, Gilmore has witnessed progress this spring.
For instance, “Terrence has gotten better in the run game — he’s doing a better job blocking,” the coach said. “Nate Swift is running good routes. Unfortunately he’s not catching everything. But he’s really detailing his routes.
“Mo is trying to work on a lot of the little things, (such as) getting out of his breaks a little cleaner.”
Purify shot up to 236 pounds last December before the Cotton Bowl. He said he now has his weight under control.
“I just want to lose three, four more pounds, and I’ll be fine,” he said.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
The six Husker wide receivers designated at the “X” position all measure at least 6-foot-2, and four stand at least 6-4. They’re lean, fast and hungry like a pack of racing greyhounds.
Senior Maurice Purify and junior Nate Swift stand above the fray on the depth chart, said Nebraska wideouts coach Ted Gilmore.
“From there, it’s a tossup,” Gilmore said. “It really is. No one’s outplaying the other this spring. Too many dropped balls at that position right now.”
Gilmore hopes Nebraska’s “X-men” shore up their issues in time for the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m.
The Husker wideouts — there also is a “Z” group — are expected to be among the strengths of the team in 2007. Last season, six Big Red wideouts combined for 135 receptions, and all six are back this year, including senior “Z” receiver Terrence Nunn, who led the way with 42 catches in 2006.
So, the bodies are in place.
Now, if only those “X-men” — the group also features junior Todd Peterson, sophomores Menelik Holt and Chris Brooks and redshirt freshman Will Henry — would stop dropping passes in practice.
“You can’t accept that,” Gilmore said. “That position has a chance to do some good things for us this year. Those guys who have made plays for us in the past — they have to continue to make plays. And the guys who have not made plays need to put themselves in that position. I would like to think they’re hungry enough to make plays.”
Gilmore said that basically only one of his “X” receivers — the 6-4, 225-pound Purify — is meeting expectations in terms of clutching passes.
“Nate’s dropping a few balls,” Gilmore said. “He just has too many drops. Mo’s been consistent catching the ball, and the rest of them have not been consistent. I have just one guy catching the ball consistently.”
Purify ranked second among Nebraska wide receivers last season with 34 receptions (for a team-leading 630 yards and seven touchdowns), and Swift was next with 22 catches for 374 yards. Peterson, a walk-on, was fourth with 19 for 307.
“I don’t know what it is,” Swift said of the drops this spring. “It seems like there have been more than usual this spring, though.”
Drops apparently aren’t a pressing issue at the “Z” receiver position, where seniors Frantz Hardy and Dan Erickson battle for playing time behind Nunn.
“Nunn obviously has established himself as the guy there,” Gilmore said. “You can probably put Dan and Frantz on the same plane.”
Hardy, who had 14 receptions for 317 yards and three touchdowns last season, moved from “X” to “Z” this spring to add depth.
“Right now Frantz is making too many mentals (mental errors),” Gilmore said. “He’s still learning the position. As for his playmaking capability, obviously that’s there.”
Some Nebraska fans might be surprised to learn that Erickson, a walk-on from Papillion-La Vista, who has just four career receptions, stands on the same plane with Hardy.
“Dan’s ball skills might not be as good as the other guys,” Gilmore said. “But you always know what you’re going to get from Dan. You’re going to get full-speed effort every single time. And he’s gotten more confidence in catching the ball. It might not be the prettiest catch, but he’s catching it.”
Drops aside, Gilmore has witnessed progress this spring.
For instance, “Terrence has gotten better in the run game — he’s doing a better job blocking,” the coach said. “Nate Swift is running good routes. Unfortunately he’s not catching everything. But he’s really detailing his routes.
“Mo is trying to work on a lot of the little things, (such as) getting out of his breaks a little cleaner.”
Purify shot up to 236 pounds last December before the Cotton Bowl. He said he now has his weight under control.
“I just want to lose three, four more pounds, and I’ll be fine,” he said.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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