Red Report: Lawrence's playing status up in air
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By The Lincoln Journal Star
Opening statement
“It’s never as good as people think and it’s never as bad as people think either. It usually lies somewhere in between, and it’s our job to make that evaluation regardless of what’s going on.”
— Bo Pelini
10 a.m. Thursday: Chat with Steven M. Sipple and Brian Christopherson about the NU-ISU game. Join the chat here
Lawrence’s status up in the air: A statement is expected this week regarding the future playing status of Husker linebacker Blake Lawrence.
The junior suited up Saturday against Texas Tech but has sat out the past couple practices. Lawrence has had some concussions in the past year.
“Blake’s parents are meeting with Bo and they’ll probably have some kind of statement (Thursday),” defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said after Wednesday’s practice.
Lawrence started the first two games of the season at WILL linebacker and had 10 tackles in those games. The 2008 Big 12 All-Academic pick has not played in three of the past four games.
Backing up Helu: Nebraska running backs coach Tim Beck said the team is sticking to a committee approach when it comes to Roy Helu’s backup for Saturday’s game against Iowa State.
“I don’t know if anybody’s jumped out and taken it and said, ‘I’m the No. 2 back right now,’ ” Beck said.
True freshman Dontrayevous Robinson (6-1, 215), who played on special teams this past Saturday, is progressing.
Asked about Robinson possibly playing at running back this week, Beck said: “Certainly. We pulled his redshirt last week with that reason in mind. But again, a lot will depend on the game — where we’re at in the game and what we need in that game. Other guys can do things better than him at this point in his career.”
The wounded: Helu (shoulder) remained in a green no-contact jersey Wednesday. Wide receiver Chris Brooks continues to be hobbled and did not practice. Cornerback Alfonzo Dennard wore a no-contact jersey, but Carl Pelini said coaches are “very comfortable he’ll be able to go 100 percent.”
Thanks, Mean Joe: Former Pittsburgh Steelers great “Mean” Joe Greene talked to the Husker football team at Wednesday’s practice.
Greene was in town because of scouting duties with the Steelers.
“What a great privilege for our guys to be able to meet him, a Hall of Famer,” Carl Pelini said.
The coach said Greene’s message was on how to be a great teammate, “how to be accountable to your team by preparing every day mentally and physically. He kind of pointed to that as the Steelers success in the 70s.”
Pelini laughed when asked if he told Greene he’d give him a Coke to re-enact the famous 1979 Coca-Cola commercial. “No, we told him we’d have one tomorrow,” Pelini said. “But I don’t think I’m allowed to say that. We’re a Pepsi school.”
No satisfaction: The Huskers held Texas Tech to well below its season average in points and total yards.
So what, says Ndamukong Suh.
“It doesn’t mean that much when you come out with a loss,” the senior nose tackle said. “It’s a moral victory and we don’t allow those here. It’s a good thing that we did those for stats. It looks good to you guys, but for me personally I could care less. I would rather them have 6,000 yards on us and we come out with the win.”
Suh: Defense needs to create turnovers
Total trust: Bo Pelini said he trusts offensive coordinator Shawn Watson to guide him on who should start at quarterback this week — Zac Lee or Cody Green.
“I have input in everybody that walks onto the field, but obviously I lean heavily on Wats,” Pelini said. “He’s the guy who coaches them, and he has a heckuva lot more experience in that area than I do. I have total and the utmost trust in his evaluation and his decision-making ability.”
Practice meter
The Huskers practiced inside the Hawks Championship Center on a rainy Wednesday in Lincoln.
“It was a good week,” Carl Pelini said. “We had three good ones in a row defensively. I’m very pleased with how we practiced all week.”
— Brian Christopherson
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