STEVEN M. SIPPLE AND CURT McKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Friday, September 9, 2005 7:00 pm
Charles Davis, who will provide color analysis for TBS’ broadcast of Saturday’s game, said Thursday he expects Nebraska to play more physically than it did during its season-opening win against Maine.
“I think that because they got that first game out of the way, and now they can let it go a little,” said Davis, a four-year starter at defensive back for Tennessee during the 1980s. “Plus, it never feels good when you’re criticized for winning.”
In other words, Nebraska might be motivated by criticism it received after beating Division I-AA Maine 25-7. The Black Bears, helped by five Husker turnovers, pulled within 15-7 early in the fourth quarter before succumbing.
Meanwhile, Davis said Wake Forest (0-1) is a more physical team than people might think. He also said Wake Forest makes effective use of misdirection plays and “cut” blocks, a la the NFL’s Denver Broncos.
“They cut people down at the ankles — it’s nothing dirty,” Davis said. “Wake Forest isn’t a dirty team. But you better be on your horse. … They cut you down, they’re blocking you to the whistle, they’re staying in your face all of the time.”
Davis notes that Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe is an old-school type who taught a multiple-option attack at his previous coaching stops, including Ohio University.
“Now, he’s got a quarterback who can throw the ball (sophomore Ben Mauk), but he’s not straying from his roots,” Davis said, noting that backup running back Micah Andrews rushed for 254 yards last week in a 24-20 loss to Vanderbilt.
— CATCH IT: Speaking Friday at the Big Red Breakfast in Omaha, Nebraska defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove shed some additional light on why sophomores Terrence Nunn and Cortney Grixby weren’t used as punt returners last season, when the Huskers averaged only 5.8 yards per return. “We would’ve liked to use them last year, believe me, but they didn’t catch the ball with any consistency in practice,” Cosgrove said. “And the No. 1 thing a punt returner has to do is secure the ball for your offense.” Last week against Maine, Nunn and Grixby combined to return nine punts for 196 yards (21.7 per return). Following the game, NU special teams coordinator Bill Busch said Nunn and Grixby last season “had their plates full” learning other areas of the game, making the coaches hesitant to use them as return men.
— DILLARD DIET: Husker freshman linebacker Phillip Dillard arrived on campus weighing about 260 pounds. However, he has dropped to 244, and NU coaches want him to weigh about 240, Cosgrove said. “We’re trying to rebuild him physically,” the coach said. Dillard said he has shed pounds thanks in large part to head strength coach Dave Kennedy and nutritionist James Harris. “They’re watching every move I make and everything I eat,” Dillard said last month.
— REDSHIRT LIKELY: Freshman Nick Covey, a strongside linebacker, probably will sit out the season as a redshirt, Cosgrove said. Covey is behind two veterans on the depth chart — junior Stewart Bradley and senior Adam Ickes. Meanwhile, some people have wondered why touted transfer Justin Tomerlin, a defensive end, hasn’t cracked the depth chart. Said Cosgrove: “He’s a very talented individual, but he needs to develop strength in his upper body. You’ll see a lot of him in the future.”
— The Demon Deacons are glad to have tailback Chris Barclay and cornerback Riley Swanson back in the fold. Both were suspended from last week’s game against Vanderbilt as the result of a July 1 incident in which Swanson was cited for misdemeanor possession of marijuana (Barclay was with Swanson at the time.).
But coach Jim Grobe isn’t sure, especially in the case of two-time All-ACC performer Barclay, how they’ll be utilized against the Huskers. In Wake’s opener, Micah Andrews replaced Barclay and rushed for 254 yards.
“It will help us, certainly from a depth standpoint,” Grobe said. “One of our issues is they haven’t gotten as many repetitions as we would like for them to have, so I’m not really sure how much they’re going to be playing in the game. We’ll start working them in somewhere, I’m sure in the first quarter, and then just see how effective they are.”
Grobe then admitted he has never had to deal with rotating backs the quality of Barclay and Williams.
“With Chris, we need him to play. I think the best thing we’ve got right now is Micah has great respect for Chris, and I think that we’ll have no problems sharing reps with those guys,” Grobe said. “My biggest concern is that Chris can come back without having had a lot of practice time and perform effectively. We feel like Micah Andrews is ready to play right now.”