Curt McKeever: Glenn as good as advertised at LB
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Here’s a conclusion one could have easily made when Cody Glenn announced last spring that he was switching from running back to linebacker.
He and the Huskers were desperate.
So much for that thought.
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East Carolina 27, Virginia Tech 22: How ironic that the Hokies, who always count on their special teams to provide the difference in close games, get beat on a blocked punt after leading the Pirates by nine points in the fourth quarter. Had Tech’s protection not broken down, it would have won 22-20 thanks to a return of a blocked extra point.
Utah 25, Michigan 23: If they weren’t already, the Utes must now be taken as a serious BCS bowl contender. They won in the “Big House” despite committing three turnovers and having a punt blocked.
Ohio State 43, Youngstown State 0: The Buckeyes roll, but could be without star running back ‘Beanie’ Wells when they head to USC in two weeks. X-rays on Wells’ right foot proved negative, but foot injuries and running backs aren’t a good mix.
It took the senior all of one series in Nebraska’s season-opening victory against Western Michigan at Memorial Stadium Saturday night to prove that neither he nor his coaches were blowing smoke about his difference-making potential at the WILL position.
If you’ve forgotten, here’s defensive coordinator Carl Pelini talking about Glenn back on Aug. 2: “He understands football, he understands game day. There are not going to be a lot of jitters on game day.”
Now here’s Glenn himself on Aug. 11: “I know what’s going on, I’m very comfortable back there. I’m excited. I’m ready for game time to be here. Just make sure everybody can believe what they read in the newspaper.”
Fast forward to Western Michigan’s first offensive play Saturday, when Glenn busts loose to drop quarterback Tim Hiller for a loss. Two plays later, he drops back into pass coverage and makes a one-handed breakup of a pass intended for the Broncos’ all-conference receiver, Jamarko Simmons.
Welcome to life on the other side of the ball, Mr. Glenn.
Sure, he’ll make some mistakes — like the one when he drew a personal foul for a late hit on Simmons on the Broncos’ second possession. Or when he got beat (but just barely) in the second half on a 50-yard play while isolated against the Broncos’ talented tight end, Branden Ledbetter.
But there’s no substitute for the kind of horsepower that the 6-foot-1, 235-pounder kept generating.
On the series after drawing the penalty, Glenn showed a burst and stripped the ball from running back Brandon West to put the Nebraska offense back on the field.
He ended the Broncos’ fifth series by cutting in front of Ledbetter to break up a pass.
Western Michigan’s bid for a touchdown on its next drive fell short thanks to two more stops by Glenn.
By halftime, Glenn had five unassisted and six total tackles, two breakups and a caused fumble. By the end, he has a game-high 12 stops and had folks harkening back to how Demorrio Williams created so much havoc during his all-conference season of 2003.
“Think about it, that’s the first game that guy played on defense since high school, and he played very little in high school. He doesn’t even know what he doesn’t know,” linebackers coach Mike Ekeler said. “That’s the beautiful thing, because look at the upside.”
Glenn has spent most of his Nebraska career either in the doghouse or on the sideline nursing injuries. His luck has been so bad that in 2006 he actually suffered a foot injury while celebrating a touchdown at Texas A&M.
Last year, he played in just one of the final seven games, but got new life in the spring when newly hired coach Bo Pelini had a suggestion for him.
“Bo’s got a knack for seeing guys and going, ‘You know what? He’s a receiver, he’s not a DB.’ Or vice versa,” Ekeler said. “He did that same thing when we went to LSU, made some changes and some guys that the previous staff had kind of given up on a little bit turned out to be tremendous players.
“Cody’s one of those guys. He and Bo talked about it. We all talked about it and made the change and I think he’s very, very happy he did.”
But why linebacker?
“I’m not a rocket scientist, but he’s 6-1, 235 and runs a 4.5 (second 40-yard dash), and he’s tough and he’s smart,” Ekeler said. “That fits about anywhere — running back, linebacker, probably fits a safety.”
Following his defensive debut, Glenn maintained he was confident of fulfilling the role asked of him partly because “I kind of envisioned ... just having fun. That’s something I haven’t had in a while.”
His performance kind of makes you wonder if he wishes he’d given up carrying the ball a long time ago.
“If I knew it was going to be like this, most definitely,” Glenn admitted. “But better late than never.”
Isn’t that right, Phillip Dillard.
“It’s crazy,” the Huskers’ middle linebacker said of Glenn, “how good he did.”
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
