Huskers want 'complete' backs
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By the Lincoln Journal Star
Nebraska’s plans for a bruising, physical running game needs to include, obviously, a strong stable of running backs.
While it appears the Huskers have the necessary depth, it’s important each back is well-rounded, running backs coach Tim Beck said.
“They’ve all got to do everything that we need them to do,” he said, “because you never know when they’re going to have to play 40 or 50 snaps a game,” Beck said.
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Beck said he’s against the philosophy of designating certain backs for certain situations.
Doing that, Beck said, reveals too much to the opponent.
“I try not to rep a guy, ‘OK, you’re the pass blocker, you’re the inside runner, you’re the outside runner, you only run this route.’ I’ve got to see everybody do it, because we may need them to do it.
“Certain guys do certain things better than others. It’s great to have the depth. Guys compete hard against each other but they help each other, and we’re going to need them. I think they know that. They all know, ‘Hey, listen, I can’t do this all by myself.’
Nebraska has made it through nearly three weeks of fall camp relatively injury-free at running back with senior Marlon Luck and sophomores Quentin Castille, Roy Helu and Marcus Mendoza.
Helu has been nursing a sore shoulder, but Beck said he’s having no problems and should be fine.
Helu, begrudgingly, has worn a non-contact green jersey in recent practices.
“We tease him,” Beck said. “We say, ‘Quarterback meeting’s over there, buddy.’ ”
THIS AND THAT: Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said true freshmen Khiry Cooper (receiver) and Ben Cotton (tight end) have good chances to play immediately ... Injured redshirted freshman defensive tackle Terrence Moore could be out another week to two weeks, leaving his availability highly doubtful for the Aug. 30 opener. ... Junior Major Culbert is day-to-day with a high ankle sprain. ... Without mentioning names, Pelini said two of the four freshmen who’ve yet to gain academic clearance “have a chance” to qualify and enroll in the fall semester. ... Nebraska finished Tuesday’s practice on the grass fields with two-minute work on both sides of the ball. ... Pelini said he has no timeline on awarding Blackshirts. ... Nebraska will have its second-to-last two-a-day practice today. ... Former Nebraska fullback Cory Schlesinger attended Tuesday’s practice.
Scouting report: CB Anthony Blue: Pelini said sophomore Anthony Blue, who's not on the 105-man roster while he recovers from ACL surgery, has "gotten over the hump" in the last couple of weeks.
Despite Blue's recent progress, Pelini talked as if Blue will likely sit the season as a redshirt.
“I don’t think we’ll have him for the year, but I think he’s going to make it back to 100 percent — which I think for a while was a little bit questionable," Pelini said.
“You don’t want to rush him back. Who knows? He’s missed a lot of football. As times goes by, it becomes increasingly apparent to us it’s probably better to let him rest, get his knee back underneath him. For us, and for him.”
Opponent watch: Baylor: The defense forced several turnovers in the Bears’ first full scrimmage of pre-season practices over the weekend.
The Dallas Morning News reports senior end Leon Freeman had two fumble recoveries, and sophomore cornerback Krys Buerck, junior safety Jordan Lake and junior end Jason Lamb had one each. Junior linebacker Joe Pawelek and Jake La Mar each forced a fumble.
“I thought defensively we came out with a lot of energy, ready to play, ready to perform,” coach Art Briles told the newspaper. “Offensively, we kept waiting for something to happen to get us going. Something happened, it just wasn’t good.”
Just asking: When will Nebraska announce team captains? That decision, Pelini said, is still up in the air. He said it’s likely Nebraska will elect captains on a game-by-game basis.
“That’s what I believe in,” he said. “I’ve been around that a lot.”
Pelini stressed, though, that it won’t be just his decision, that the unity council will have its say.
— Brian Rosenthal
