- The team went full pads today, scrimmaging for approximately an hour, according to Head Coach Bo Pelini.
- The
team was obviously absent sophomore linebacker Sean Fisher and junior
cornerback Anthony Blue. Pelini said that in regard to corner, they were
sitting pretty good as far as depth, but with this being Blue’s second
knee injury in his Husker career, Pelini said that he felt for what Blue
was going through. “It’s tough on him, but he’s in good spirits,” Bo
said. “He’ll have his surgery next week. On the linebacker side, Will Compton is working in there, Lavonte David, Eric Martin and we obviously
play our PESO. So, we have a lot of options, a lot of interchangeable
parts.”
- On the quarterback situation, Pelini said he sees all
three guys getting better, those players being senior Zac Lee, sophomore
Cody Green and redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez. But Pelini did say
that the picture is becoming a little clearer, though, he would not
clarify what that meant.
- Senior tight end Dreu Young
is out for at least half the season or perhaps the entire year
with a flare up in his back. Last year Young had surgery over the
Summer on his back, and this seems to be a related issue.
- Pelini
continued on that paying, saying that the situation at tight end
is good enough that they don't have to do any real shuffling at
this point. But he didn't rule out the possibility of moving
Michael McNeill back to the position.
- A host of players are
being looked at to take the place of sophomore Seah Fisher, who
broke his leg earlier this week. Pelini included most of the
obvious names as players who could take Fisher's spot, and also
said that junior college transfer Lavonte David has looked good
over the Fall.
- On senior Rickey Thenarse: “He’s doing well. He
missed some time, so obviously he has to work on his consistency
issue. But I am seeing him do some better things. I think his
understanding of what we are doing is better, but he still has a
ways to go,” Pelini said.
- The new AP poll is out, and the
Huskers are ranked eighth in the preseason. Expectedly, Pelini was
dismissive of what that ranking means. “It’s pretty irrelevant to
what we are doing. That all plays itself out in the end. If we play
good football then we’ll be deserving of that. Hopefully we can
move up from there if we do what we are capable of doing,” he said.
But he did admit that starting high in the preseason is better
than starting low. “I guess it’s pretty easy to move down if you
screw up and you lose early. But it’s pretty hard to move up if you
start way out of there. So, that’s always a positive,” he
continued.
- Much of the buzz around this Fall practice versus
last year is how much the offense has actually been able to do some
things, versus last year where it seemed like they couldn’t do
much at all against that obviously very good Husker defense. Pelini
said that experience is a big key, depth is another. But
reiterated that the offense isn’t preparing for their defense. They
are just trying to get better. “We’re just looking to evaluate
guys (and) tech guys basics. It’s not about winning or losing,
offensively or defensively. That’s the furthest thing from any of our
minds,” he said. “But I think it’s obvious the offense has made some
strides. They are playing better. We are deeper. We have more
options. Guys are making plays. It’s fun to watch. I like what I am
seeing on the offensive side of the football.”
- At left
tackle there is obviously a good battle going on between junior
Jermarcus Hardrick and redshirt freshman Jeremiah Sirles. Pelini
said that it’s a good competition, but that they are still making a
lot of mistakes. I asked him about the idea that due to the fact
that those were the two main competitors for that spot, then they must
have confidence that they will indeed be ready for the
season-opener. Pelini said he thought they might, but the depth on
the offensive line gives them some room, just in case. “We are in a
situation where we have two right tackles with experience, and one
of those guys could easily go to the other side if need be,”
Pelini said. “That’s one of the big differences we have on the line
than in years past. We have some more options. We have more depth.
We have more flexibility in how we play our unit.”
- On
junior linebacker Lavonte David: “Fisher’s injury aside, Lavonte
has shown that he is a really good football player, and he’s a guy
that can be a factor for us,” Pelini said. “We’re excited about him
and what he’s shown at this point. He’s come in and made some quick
strides.”
- On Terrence Moore: “He’s done some things. He and
Baker (Steinkuhler) and Thad Randle – all those guys are playing
some good football. I feel good about the first four guys, plus you
add Chase Rome to that mix, who has taken a lot of reps,” Pelini
said.
- Bo was asked about comparing the issues this year
versus last year in regard to the temperament of the players. There has
been some reports of fights and punishment being handed out for
those fights. Pelini said that what they are going through now is
typical, and he had no worries about that being an issue. "it's
football," he said.
- Next week’s practice will be
half-and-half between game planning for the season-opener, Pelini
saying that they will probably go to Wednesday with the
continuation of camp and then moving into game-plan preparation.
- There has been much said about the media ban, and for this next week the
access to the media will be limited to three days. Bo will address
the media Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while players will be
available only on Tuesdays. That's the early impression thus far
from what Bo said after practice today.
Post Practice Audio with Bo Pelini
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