Gilmore uncomfortable with receivers' production

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BY CURT McKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star

OMAHA — Ted Gilmore skipped the sugar in his coffee.

Speaking to the Big Red Breakfast crowd Friday morning, the Husker assistant coach didn’t duck questions about recent depth-chart changes involving his receivers.

In the past two weeks, former starters Curenski Gilleylen and Menelik Holt have been demoted to scout-team duty. Gilleylen, who is tied for second on the team with 16 receptions, did not play last Saturday against Baylor, while Holt, who has 15 catches, had none against the Bears.

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Ted Gilmore explains a route to Chris Brooks last season. (LJS file)

Ted Gilmore explains a route to Chris Brooks last season. (LJS file)

Gilmore said that two, along with junior Niles Paul, were “playing pretty good ball for us, making some nice plays” before they started stumbling in the Virginia Tech game, “making mistakes that showed in my mind they’re not ready to be every-down players.”

Thus, he gave junior college transfer Brandon Kinnie, redshirt freshman Khiry Cooper and freshman Antonio Bell more chances in practice. Kinnie, Cooper, Paul and senior Chris Brooks (who’s not played the past two weeks because of a back injury) are expected to play the bulk, if not all, of the snaps against Oklahoma.

“The last couple weeks have been very, very interesting in my spot,” said Gilmore, who’s not close to feeling comfortable with the receivers’ production. But “as a whole, their hearts (are) in the right place.”

Paul has led Nebraska in receiving yards each of the last two games and three of the past four.  

Cooper has had three catches in his last two appearances (he didn't play against Iowa State), but for just 35 yards. Kinnie, meanwhile, had four receptions for 37 yards the last two weeks.

“He's playing fast now. He's playing with some confidence,” Gilmore said of Kinnie. “The last couple weeks he has really grown and he’s becoming that guy we thought he was.”

As for Cooper, who also plays baseball for the Huskers: “In the passing game, I'm not worried,” Gilmore said. “We’ve got to get him tougher, because he’s not used to getting out on the perimeter and doing some of the things he has to do.”

Gilmore noted how Brooks fills a need for a possession-type receiver, and added that he hasn’t given up on Gilleylen and Holt.

“We need them. I tell them that every single day,” he said. “But they’ve got to do it. ... What got them in that (starting) position is the same thing that got them out of that position.”