NU position breakdowns
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BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star
Quarterbacks
Our take: It’s Joe Ganz’s show. The senior showed great promise in just three starts last year — scamper ability to go with a good arm. He exhibited leadership in the spring, but will have to steer clear of trying to do too much in the fall. While forcing some balls trying to play catch-up last year, he had seven interceptions.
Patrick Witt seems to have the edge at No. 2, but it’s worth keeping track to see if Zac Lee can push him for the backup spot.
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* The first day of practice is Monday.
* According to NU’s current fall practice schedule, which is set through Aug. 24, the Huskers will practice Monday through Saturday, taking Sundays off.
* Practices are scheduled from 3:45 to 6 p.m. On six days, the team will workout twice, going from 9 to 11:15 a.m. and then at the regular time at night.
* The first two-a-day is scheduled for Saturday. The last two-a-day is Aug. 22.
* Fan Day is Aug. 17 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
* The first game is Aug. 30 (vs. Western Michigan).
Live from Memorial Stadium: JournalStar.com will broadcast live Monday as Bo Pelini opens his first fall camp as Nebraska's head coach. Go to media.journalstar.com/live/ to see the coach and some of his players talk about the upcoming year at a preseason press conference starting at 11:30 a.m.
A coach says: “(Joe) gets it real easy. He’s one of those kids who gets X’s and O’s real easy. But he’s a concept thinker. He thinks in terms of concepts; he doesn’t think in terms of plays. There’s a difference. Thinking in concepts makes it real easy. ... It’s almost like I’m worried about him getting bored. I give him little projects: ‘Hey Joe, tell us what the quarterback’s thought process should be in this two-minute situation.’ Just to keep him on his toes.”
— Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson
Running backs
Our take: Marlon Lucky’s the man until proven otherwise, but he’s got company on the depth chart in sophomore Roy Helu, who was a real menace to the defense in the spring.
The Huskers are stacked in the backfield, arguably their best position on the field. Lucky and Helu are both impressive talents and if tough-running Quentin Castille can hang onto the ball, don’t count him out of the equation.
A coach says: “I think you just look at this this way: Roy Helu has put himself in position to play football. He had a great spring, and that’s a good thing for the Huskers.”
— Shawn Watson
Offensive line
Our take: This group looks great on paper. Now, can they look great on third-and-2? Though playing from behind had a lot to do with the lack of running numbers last year, that’s not a total excuse for the inconsistencies that bogged down this line in 2007.
Lydon Murtha and Jaivorio Burkes are loaded with potential but now they need to produce at a top level. Jacob Hickman will have to give the Big Red a stronger presence at the center position than it has had in recent years. This line has sound depth and will need big contributions from everyone on the two-deep to be something this offense can lean on.
A coach says: “What Bo believes in, what I believe in, what Barney (Cotton) believes in — we’re all on the same page — is that we want guys to have endurance and explosive strength. (Strength coach) James (Dobson) has done an unbelievable job of developing that in our players. They’ve taken pride in it and understand it.”
— Shawn Watson
Wide receivers/tight ends
Our take: The loss of Maurice Purify is huge. Nate Swift and Todd Peterson have had flashes of goodness, but they’ve got to be a constant presence now. And they need help from the young guys.
Niles Paul has shown great physicality in practices. Curenski Gilleylen has shown the potential to be a deep threat. Menelik Holt is blessed with a big frame that reminds of Purify. The doors are wide open for them to show what they can do. The receiver position is probably considered the biggest question mark on NU’s offense going into the season.
A coach says: “We’re right on track. It was a big spring. We’ve got to continue to get better. My challenge to all of them, including Nate and Todd, is to be every-down players. As much experience as Todd and Nate bring to the table, they still weren’t every-down players the last couple years. Now I need them to be. And I need other guys to work toward that where they’re every-down players.”
— Wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore
Defensive line
Our take: This unit took a lot of criticism last year, but defensive coordinator Carl Pelini says he believes the D-line can be a strength of the football team. All the starters return from last fall and he sees talent there.
At the nose, Ndamukong Suh looks trim and ready inside. Defensive end Barry Turner seemed inspired by the new coaching staff in the spring. He’ll need to raise his game this fall. Kevin Dixon could be a player to watch at defensive tackle. He had a strong spring and could add depth to a front four that was lacking it last year.
A coach says: “I think we need to be a strength of the team. We have a lot of game experience. And even though our scheme and how we teach is very different from what they’ve done in the past, you can’t substitute that game experience. There’s not a lot of nerves anymore. They’ve been through the ringer. ... Honestly, we expect them to perform because we think we have a great deal of talent there.”
— Defensive coordinator Carl Pelini
Linebackers
Our take: Coaches have been wowed by Cody Glenn at the WILL spot. He could be a surprise to opponents. Phillip Dillard will need to be a leader at the MIKE spot. Tyler Wortman had a great spring to earn the No. 1 job at the BUCK position going into fall.
Watch the young guys this fall to see if anyone emerges. Will Compton and Sean Fisher are among the incoming freshmen who will try to work their way into playing time over the next few weeks.
A coach says: “I think we’ve created depth with this recruiting class. I will preface that by saying, ‘I think we felt pretty good about our linebacker play coming out of the spring.’ But we’re also aware that we’re not really deep there.”
— Carl Pelini
Defensive backs
Our take: This group is relatively green, and the fact that sophomore Anthony Blue will likely miss all of fall camp while recovering from an ACL tear is a big blow. The Huskers will have to be able to play with five DBs against spread offenses.
There’s certainly ability there with guys like Armando Murillo, Rickey Thenarse, Larry Asante, Anthony West and Prince Amukamara. But there’s also the feeling that you don’t know what you’ve really got with these guys until you see them in game action under Pelini’s defensive philosophy. New recruits — Alfonzo Dennard and P.J. Smith, for example — could become factors here.
A coach says: “I think, coming out of spring, we felt good about (them), but more importantly, I think they started feeling pretty good about themselves. And in the secondary that’s important, because you’re going to give up plays. And you have to have a short memory and be able to pull the trigger the next time and go after it even though they maybe caught the ball the last time.”
— Carl Pelini
Specialists
Our take: It’s tough not to be impressed with Nebraska’s kickers. There’s Adi Kunalic to boom kicks out of the end zone and Alex Henery, who didn’t miss a field goal or extra point last year. Dan Titchener is solid at punter.
The Huskers could use some excitement in the return game. Prince Amukamara, Niles Paul, Larry Asante and Roy Helu all seemed candidates for returning kickoffs coming out of spring. Marcus Mendoza and Nate Swift might be potential punt return guys, though Mendoza will have to field the ball better than he did in the Spring Game.
A coach says: “We talk about a lot of things as a staff and we have to make sure that we, offense, defense and special teams, are all on the same page. ... You have to work together and make sure that everybody is getting what they need so the program and the whole team moves forward and gets better.”
— Head coach Bo Pelini
