Hawkeyehusker
Starter
I didn't see this anywhere else. Murillo is number two now, right behind Grixby.
http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2007/0...4c759459167.txt
NU turns to other corners
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 - 12:03:09 am CDT
Andre Jones (25), here intercepting a pass against Kansas last season, is confident the Huskers' cornerbacks will be more than capable of shutting down opposing receivers this fall. (William Lauer)
Andre Jones’ reaction when Zack Bowman injured his right knee this past week?
“I just immediately started praying,” Jones said Saturday. “I just hoped he’d be OK.”
Nebraska football fans probably can relate. Bowman, who ruptured his patellar tendon in practice Wednesday, is among an elite group of players the Huskers can least afford to lose. A 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior cornerback, he can match up with all of those tall and fleet Big 12 Conference wide receivers. Entering spring drills, he was regarded as the key to NU improving last season’s porous pass defense.
Now, however, Bowman’s playing future is clouded by his second major knee injury in an eight-month span.
Last August, Bowman suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and Jones was pressed into starting duty fresh out of junior college. Eight months later, Jones once again fields questions from people wondering how he will respond in the wake of Bowman’s latest injury.
“It’s a lot better for me now because I understand the schemes and understand what’s going on,” Jones said Saturday. “Last season, I didn’t know what was going on. I was basically coming in off what I was taught in junior college and having to erase all of that.”
Jones last August was looking forward to learning from Bowman. This spring, Jones was looking forward to Nebraska having better depth at cornerback. Bowman, Jones and fellow senior Cortney Grixby would form a trio of battle-tested corners as opposed to having just two corners play the vast majority of snaps, as was the case last season when the Huskers finished 79th nationally in pass defense.
“Well, it’s pretty much back to where it was last season,” Jones said.
At least for now. Both Jones and Grixby said Saturday they think Bowman will return to the team in time for preseason camp in August, although Nebraska coach Bill Callahan has said Bowman could be sidelined for up to six months, meaning he could miss at least five games and perhaps more.
Nebraska coaches responded to Bowman’s injury by immediately moving redshirt freshman Anthony West from safety to cornerback. As it stands, Jones, Grixby, West, junior college transfer Armando Murillo and walk-on Tyler Kester form the core of the Husker cornerback crew.
The 6-foot, 195-pound Murillo is listed No. 2 on the depth chart behind Grixby, a full-time starter the last two seasons. Because Murillo graduated from Eastern Arizona Community College in time to join Nebraska’s spring camp, he can be brought along at a more manageable pace than the situation Jones encountered last August.
Jones said he struggled to learn Nebraska coaches’ terminology. For instance, Husker cornerbacks coach Phil Elmassian would tell Jones that a wideout was running a “seam” route. Jones said he would nod as if he understood “seam,” although in reality he had no clue.
In addition, Grixby said learning cornerback techniques requires time and diligence.
“Different coaches have different techniques, and you have to come in and master those,” Grixby said. “It’s a technique position.”
Murillo is being brought along quickly. In a scrimmage Saturday, the Florida native recorded multiple pass breakups, made some tackles and recovered a fumble.
“Coach tells him something one time, and he does it,” Jones said. “We need fast learners, so when it’s time to play, those errors won’t be out there.”
Murillo said he excels in press coverage at the line of scrimmage.
“I have the talent and speed,” he said. “If I learn the system, I should be OK.”
Said Grixby: “He’s a very strong corner.”
That said, Grixby and Jones likely will be counted on to stabilize the corner positions as Bowman rehabilitates. Bowman had responded well to last season’s injury early in spring camp before colliding with a teammate Wednesday during a non-contact seven-on-seven drill, Callahan said.
“He was strong,” Grixby said. “I mean, he had a brace on (his left knee), but it was just there for protective reasons.”
Now, Nebraska fans might have to brace for Bowman being sidelined for much, if not all, of the 2007 season. Many Husker fans lobbed stinging criticism toward the cornerbacks last season.
“People are going to talk,” Jones said. “Criticism, I mean, I’ve done it, too. It’s not a good thing to criticize, but people will do it. And when you do good, there’s still going to be criticism. I just try to put that behind us and focus on my teammates and the guys I play with, and we just try to go out and get the job done, and not really worry what other people are saying.”
http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2007/0...4c759459167.txt
NU turns to other corners
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Sunday, Apr 01, 2007 - 12:03:09 am CDT
Andre Jones (25), here intercepting a pass against Kansas last season, is confident the Huskers' cornerbacks will be more than capable of shutting down opposing receivers this fall. (William Lauer)
Andre Jones’ reaction when Zack Bowman injured his right knee this past week?
“I just immediately started praying,” Jones said Saturday. “I just hoped he’d be OK.”
Nebraska football fans probably can relate. Bowman, who ruptured his patellar tendon in practice Wednesday, is among an elite group of players the Huskers can least afford to lose. A 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior cornerback, he can match up with all of those tall and fleet Big 12 Conference wide receivers. Entering spring drills, he was regarded as the key to NU improving last season’s porous pass defense.
Now, however, Bowman’s playing future is clouded by his second major knee injury in an eight-month span.
Last August, Bowman suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and Jones was pressed into starting duty fresh out of junior college. Eight months later, Jones once again fields questions from people wondering how he will respond in the wake of Bowman’s latest injury.
“It’s a lot better for me now because I understand the schemes and understand what’s going on,” Jones said Saturday. “Last season, I didn’t know what was going on. I was basically coming in off what I was taught in junior college and having to erase all of that.”
Jones last August was looking forward to learning from Bowman. This spring, Jones was looking forward to Nebraska having better depth at cornerback. Bowman, Jones and fellow senior Cortney Grixby would form a trio of battle-tested corners as opposed to having just two corners play the vast majority of snaps, as was the case last season when the Huskers finished 79th nationally in pass defense.
“Well, it’s pretty much back to where it was last season,” Jones said.
At least for now. Both Jones and Grixby said Saturday they think Bowman will return to the team in time for preseason camp in August, although Nebraska coach Bill Callahan has said Bowman could be sidelined for up to six months, meaning he could miss at least five games and perhaps more.
Nebraska coaches responded to Bowman’s injury by immediately moving redshirt freshman Anthony West from safety to cornerback. As it stands, Jones, Grixby, West, junior college transfer Armando Murillo and walk-on Tyler Kester form the core of the Husker cornerback crew.
The 6-foot, 195-pound Murillo is listed No. 2 on the depth chart behind Grixby, a full-time starter the last two seasons. Because Murillo graduated from Eastern Arizona Community College in time to join Nebraska’s spring camp, he can be brought along at a more manageable pace than the situation Jones encountered last August.
Jones said he struggled to learn Nebraska coaches’ terminology. For instance, Husker cornerbacks coach Phil Elmassian would tell Jones that a wideout was running a “seam” route. Jones said he would nod as if he understood “seam,” although in reality he had no clue.
In addition, Grixby said learning cornerback techniques requires time and diligence.
“Different coaches have different techniques, and you have to come in and master those,” Grixby said. “It’s a technique position.”
Murillo is being brought along quickly. In a scrimmage Saturday, the Florida native recorded multiple pass breakups, made some tackles and recovered a fumble.
“Coach tells him something one time, and he does it,” Jones said. “We need fast learners, so when it’s time to play, those errors won’t be out there.”
Murillo said he excels in press coverage at the line of scrimmage.
“I have the talent and speed,” he said. “If I learn the system, I should be OK.”
Said Grixby: “He’s a very strong corner.”
That said, Grixby and Jones likely will be counted on to stabilize the corner positions as Bowman rehabilitates. Bowman had responded well to last season’s injury early in spring camp before colliding with a teammate Wednesday during a non-contact seven-on-seven drill, Callahan said.
“He was strong,” Grixby said. “I mean, he had a brace on (his left knee), but it was just there for protective reasons.”
Now, Nebraska fans might have to brace for Bowman being sidelined for much, if not all, of the 2007 season. Many Husker fans lobbed stinging criticism toward the cornerbacks last season.
“People are going to talk,” Jones said. “Criticism, I mean, I’ve done it, too. It’s not a good thing to criticize, but people will do it. And when you do good, there’s still going to be criticism. I just try to put that behind us and focus on my teammates and the guys I play with, and we just try to go out and get the job done, and not really worry what other people are saying.”
