DT - Brandon Teamer - Ankle (hopefully back this week)
OL - Lydon Murtha - Deep calf bruise (out a week and a half to two weeks)
DE - Kevin Luhrs - Hamstring (out indefinitely)
SS - Daniel Bullocks - Viral infection (hopefully back this week)
OL - Seppo EvWaraye - Ankle (Out indefinitely)
LB - Corey McKeon - Concussion (hopefully back this week)
CB - Lornell McPherson - Groin (out indefinitely)
WR - Isaiah Fluellen - Hamstring (probable this week)
QB - Jordan Adams - Surgery on spleen (out indefinitely)
The list keeps getting longer for Callahan and company as
the numbers of Huskers injured goes up. The aforementioned list wasn’t complete
however, LeKevin Smith and Brandon Rigoni not practicing as well, but no official release
was made as to what their particular ailment was.
For a team that doesn’t have even three weeks left to prepare, players being
out are the last thing you want. After stating who was on this list of the
hobbling Huskers though, Callahan said this wasn’t some freak aberration. "It’s
common." Callahan stated. "Everyone is going through the bumps and bruises right
now. Every team is grinding through training camp, working hard and trying to
overcome injuries."
"Like I told the team - from the time you get into training camp until the
end of the season, you are going to have nicks and bruises. It’s just important
to take care of your body, play smart and do the best you can."
And, if it wasn’t the injuries it was something else as
Callahan reported that another defensive tackle was down, but this one for good
- Brandon Greeson
having left the team 4 days ago. Callahan did state that this departure was of
Greeson’s choice.
That kind of depletion on the interior defensive line has
been key in prompting offensive lineman Danny Muy to get at least some work on
that side and the biggest news was defensive end, Adam Carriker being moved into the interior
as well. Carriker’s move isn’t a total change as he worked on the interior in
nickel packages, but Callahan said of the move that it was necessary. "We’re a
little thin." he said. "We made a decision to move Carriker inside. We’ve
rotated him at that position and that was a position we were going to move him
to anyhow in the nickel. So, we’ve got some flexibility in the base if we elect
to go that way or we can play him in the nickel, so it’s a feature position for
him."
Amidst all the bad news, there was some good news,
running back Tierre Green returning to practice,
Callahan stating that he was working "well" and wide receiver Mark LeFlore returned as well, LeFlore nursing what was called a turf
toe.
The depletions have meant that for some players,
opportunities exist that didn’t otherwise. Defensive tackle, Nathan Krug has gotten significantly
more time as has players like Grant Mulkey at wideout and Kurt Mann at the center position. It
perhaps has had the most noticeable effect though at the quarterback position.
With Jordan Adams being gone, Beau Davis and Ryan Goodman
have been fighting for the number two slot.
And, there is once again a new number two.
Ryan Goodman, another true freshman - this one out of New
Jersey took over Davis’ spot with the "twos" this week. Callahan stated of
Goodman that him rising to the top and even his presence has been an interesting
road. "When we recruited him here, I thought he
|
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Ryan Goodman's rise to number 2
is
made that much more dramatic
because he's a scholarship wrestler
for
NU. |
was just going to play football for the fun of
it." Callahan stated. "I thought his main concentration would be wrestling,
which it is and still is."
"Coach (Mark) Manning had asked me to take part in the recruiting process and
asked me if I was interested in recruiting him as a quarterback and I was like
‘yeah, we’re always in the market for a good quarterback’."
"So, we brought him in and he’s been a real pleasant surprise. It’s really
interesting - I’ve never had a chance to watch him on film. This is something
that came about through the wrestling program -he’s a scholarship wrestler and
we had the opportunity to bring him on and join the one ‘o five."
"He’s really a bright kid - he’s smart, intelligent and he has an excellent
grasp of the system. I was telling him yesterday as I was coming off the field
with him, this system is really complex and for him to come in here and to be
able to manage it and communicate all the idiosyncrasies is really
impressive."
"I can only imagine where he he’ll be in four or five years from now when he
knows it all."
Goodman’s ability to comprehend the offense as much as Callahan indicated
bodes well for his spot at number two. Joe Dailey is getting most of the reps,
however, as you would expect.
It’s just one of many battles taking place and that will continue to take
place as depth considerations and some players simply upping their level of play
are making this an interesting Fall to be sure.
Nebraska will resume the normal one-practice session tomorrow, followed by
two–a-days and will continue that rotation until the 22nd. On the
23rd, classes resume and after that practices will resume again - one
a day, but practices will be closed to the media.
Steve Ryan can be reached at SteveRyan@bigredreport.com or
402-476-5006