Huskers begin scrimmaging
The Huskers spent part of their fifth spring practice scrimmaging, going at it for about 20 to 25 plays Wednesday at Memorial Stadium.
“We wanted to see these guys tackle and play football and see the aggressiveness,” Husker coach Bo Pelini said. “We saw a lot of good things on both sides of the ball. We’ll do a lot of that coming up. But we did it within the structure of the practice so we’re still getting done what we need to get done.
“It’s not all about just going out and having 200-play scrimmages. We have to continue to progress, and that kind of format allows us to get that done.”
Nebraska was without several players. Wide receiver Will Henry and running back Kenny Wilson continue to sit out practice, as does tight end Tyson Hetzer, who has a considerable limp from a knee injury.
Pelini didn’t have an update when asked about Hetzer’s injury.
Redshirt freshman linebacker Austin Stafford was not at practice, but it’s not because of injury. Pelini said Stafford is missing because of personal reasons. No timetable is set for his return, but Pelini said Stafford will be back.
ROZIER MAKES APPEARANCE: Heisman Trophy winner and former Husker Mike Rozier was present at the beginning of Wednesday’s practice.
Running backs stopped their opening drills for about five minutes, huddling around Rozier to hear him speak.
Rozier said he told the players: “Just don’t do anything to embarrass Nebraska. ... When you put that uniform on, once you get done playing ball and you say you play for Nebraska, good is good.”
Rozier lives in New Jersey but is in town for an autograph-signing session. He admitted he hadn’t watched enough football recently to comment about NU’s current running backs.
“Hey, Mike, you want to suit up and run a few plays?” Pelini asked as he walked past Rozier.
Rozier said he’s impressed with Pelini’s abilities as a defensive coach, but said people shouldn’t expect drastic improvement on that side of the ball to just happen overnight.
He maybe hadn’t been watching a lot of football lately, but he had certainly seen some scores.
“Seventy (blanking) points against Kansas?” Rozier said. “That was embarrassing.”
BY THE NUMBERS:
700
A conservative estimate on the number of high school football coaches the Husker staff will host during the annual Spring Coaches Clinic this weekend.
SCOUTING REPORT
LB Cody Glenn
So Husker linebackers coach Mike Ekeler has inherited a new player.
What’s he think about this Cody Glenn fellow?
“He’s starting just like everyone else, from square one,” Ekeler said. “I don’t think it’s anymore difficult for him than any of the other linebackers. ... It’s like riding a bike. He’ll pick it right back up.”
Glenn didn’t get many reps on his first day at linebacker, but Ekeler said the senior’s opportunities would increase with each practice.
“Each day, it’s all about the process,” Ekeler said. “He’ll get better and better each rep he’s in there, and we’ll give him plenty of reps and give him an opportunity just like everyone else has.”
OPPONENT WATCH
The Sporting News’ Tom Dienhart recently ranked Big 12 football coaches.
Dienhart wrote that the conference is “heavy on coaches with potential.”
The order of his rankings: Bob Stoops, Mack Brown, Mark Mangino, Mike Leach, Dan Hawkins, Gary Pinkel, Art Briles, Mike Sherman, Pelini, Mike Gundy, Gene Chizik and Ron Prince.
Though he ranked Pelini ninth, he was not void of flattery: “I expect Pelini to shoot up this list quickly, as he grows into a role he was born to perform. His defensive smarts are well-documented, but most impressive is his ability to connect with players and get them to fulfill their potential.”
— Brian Christopherson and Brian Rosenthal
“We wanted to see these guys tackle and play football and see the aggressiveness,” Husker coach Bo Pelini said. “We saw a lot of good things on both sides of the ball. We’ll do a lot of that coming up. But we did it within the structure of the practice so we’re still getting done what we need to get done.
“It’s not all about just going out and having 200-play scrimmages. We have to continue to progress, and that kind of format allows us to get that done.”
Nebraska was without several players. Wide receiver Will Henry and running back Kenny Wilson continue to sit out practice, as does tight end Tyson Hetzer, who has a considerable limp from a knee injury.
Pelini didn’t have an update when asked about Hetzer’s injury.
Redshirt freshman linebacker Austin Stafford was not at practice, but it’s not because of injury. Pelini said Stafford is missing because of personal reasons. No timetable is set for his return, but Pelini said Stafford will be back.
ROZIER MAKES APPEARANCE: Heisman Trophy winner and former Husker Mike Rozier was present at the beginning of Wednesday’s practice.
Running backs stopped their opening drills for about five minutes, huddling around Rozier to hear him speak.
Rozier said he told the players: “Just don’t do anything to embarrass Nebraska. ... When you put that uniform on, once you get done playing ball and you say you play for Nebraska, good is good.”
Rozier lives in New Jersey but is in town for an autograph-signing session. He admitted he hadn’t watched enough football recently to comment about NU’s current running backs.
“Hey, Mike, you want to suit up and run a few plays?” Pelini asked as he walked past Rozier.
Rozier said he’s impressed with Pelini’s abilities as a defensive coach, but said people shouldn’t expect drastic improvement on that side of the ball to just happen overnight.
He maybe hadn’t been watching a lot of football lately, but he had certainly seen some scores.
“Seventy (blanking) points against Kansas?” Rozier said. “That was embarrassing.”
BY THE NUMBERS:
700
A conservative estimate on the number of high school football coaches the Husker staff will host during the annual Spring Coaches Clinic this weekend.
SCOUTING REPORT
LB Cody Glenn
So Husker linebackers coach Mike Ekeler has inherited a new player.
What’s he think about this Cody Glenn fellow?
“He’s starting just like everyone else, from square one,” Ekeler said. “I don’t think it’s anymore difficult for him than any of the other linebackers. ... It’s like riding a bike. He’ll pick it right back up.”
Glenn didn’t get many reps on his first day at linebacker, but Ekeler said the senior’s opportunities would increase with each practice.
“Each day, it’s all about the process,” Ekeler said. “He’ll get better and better each rep he’s in there, and we’ll give him plenty of reps and give him an opportunity just like everyone else has.”
OPPONENT WATCH
The Sporting News’ Tom Dienhart recently ranked Big 12 football coaches.
Dienhart wrote that the conference is “heavy on coaches with potential.”
The order of his rankings: Bob Stoops, Mack Brown, Mark Mangino, Mike Leach, Dan Hawkins, Gary Pinkel, Art Briles, Mike Sherman, Pelini, Mike Gundy, Gene Chizik and Ron Prince.
Though he ranked Pelini ninth, he was not void of flattery: “I expect Pelini to shoot up this list quickly, as he grows into a role he was born to perform. His defensive smarts are well-documented, but most impressive is his ability to connect with players and get them to fulfill their potential.”
— Brian Christopherson and Brian Rosenthal
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