Practice report: CB Dennard says he will 'play regardless'
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By BRIAN ROSENTHAL and BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON /
Opening statement
“Young guys in today’s world, history’s a year or two. But you do your best to educate them on it. You like to them to understand where the rivalry used to be and the tradition of it.”
— Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops
Dennard expects to play: Cornerback Alfonzo Dennard continues to practice in a green no-contact jersey.
The sophomore reinjured a sprained AC joint in his shoulder against Baylor, but expects to play against Oklahoma.
Dennard said Husker coaches might not as well even bother asking him if he can play.
“Don’t ask me that because I’m going to play,” Dennard said. “I’m going to play regardless. I just call it a hurt. It’s not a big injury. I just say it’s a hurt. I’m going to do my best to get out there with the team because I love the game of football. I love to play for Nebraska.”
As for redshirt freshman tight end Kyler Reed? He said he reaggravated a previous knee injury Saturday when a Baylor defender clipped his legs at the end of Reed’s 22-yard reception on the final play of the first quarter.
“It’s an injury I’ve been kind of dealing with all year,” he said Tuesday. He hopes to be practicing again by the end of this week, “But I’m not sure of a timeline.”
Burkhead return?: Pelini shed some positive light on Nebraska’s running back situation Tuesday when he said true freshman Rex Burkhead could return in time for the Huskers’ final game at Colorado. “Obviously, for sure for the bowl game,” Pelini said.
Burkhead, who’s rushed 23 times for 118 yards, has missed the past three games with a foot injury.
Fast starts: Pelini was asked Tuesday whether Nebraska has something to prove after last year’s disastrous first quarter at Oklahoma. “Forget the first quarter,” he said. “How about the four quarters?”
True enough. The Sooners won 62-28, scoring four touchdowns in the game’s first five minutes, 33 seconds. In fact, in the last three meetings between Nebraska and Oklahoma, the Sooners have scored a touchdown within the game’s first three minutes.
“They took it to us (last year),” Pelini said. “Is it something to prove? No, what are you going to prove? They proved what happened last year. This is a different year. It’s another opportunity and we need to play better.”
Ready for a rush? Perhaps Oklahoma’s greatest strength on defense is its front four. Like Nebraska, the Sooners have a potential top-five NFL draft pick at defensive tackle in junior Gerald McCoy. They also have a junior defensive end, Jeremy Beal, who ranks seventh nationally in sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (13.5).
How does true freshman Husker quarterback Cody Green feel as he gets ready to go against such a talented defensive line?
“It really helps having our D-line to go against us, with (Ndamukong) Suh, Barry Turner, Pierre (Allen) and (Jared) Crick,” Green said. “I’d rank our guys higher than theirs even if they aren’t higher. … I think if our O-line can hold up to Suh and them, we have a heckuva chance to hold up to theirs.”
Green: 'I came to compete'
Another honor: The honors keep pouring in for Nebraska defensive tackle Jared Crick. Tuesday he was named the Football Writers Association of America/Bronko Nagurski national defensive player of the week.
Ndamukong Suh earned the same honor earlier this season. Suh and Crick are both on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which will be presented to the best defensive player in college football on Dec. 7.
Crick discusses Baylor, Oklahoma
Watson's new spot: Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson has usually viewed games from the press box. But on Saturday against Baylor, with Cody Green making his first start, he called the offense from the sideline so that he could be closer and directly communicate with Green.
Watson said that will continue this week. Green certainly won’t mind.
“It’s kind of like having a father figure out there,” Green said. “Instead of him being in the press box where I can’t see him, I can just go straight to him on the sidelines and ask him directly: What did I do wrong? Or what was the read I should have made? Or what does he think the defense is doing that I can’t see on the field?”
Practice meter
Said Watson of Tuesday’s practice: “Good practice. Good. Guys are excited.”
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