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Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson says he lists the offensive line as the Huskers’ overall “No. 1 strength” entering this football season.
How strong, healthwise, is that strength as the Huskers continue summer conditioning?
Pretty good, Watson said Wednesday.
Three of four offensive linemen who either sat out spring practice or were injured by the end of the Spring Game are now 100 percent.
“Mike Huff is probably the one we’re most concerned with, but he’s had a really good summer,” Watson said. “He’s right on schedule with his rehab, and we expect him to be back for the season. How fast he gets back in camp and how fast he moves along, it’s going to depend on how the rest of this month goes. But he’s doing really well.”
Huff, a junior from Ralston, missed all of spring practice after having surgery for an Achilles tendon injury. He started 13 of 14 games last season at right guard.
Sophomore utility lineman Jacob Hickman had offseason knee surgery and missed spring practice. Junior left guard Andy Christensen missed the Spring Game with a foot sprain, and junior right tackle Lydon Murtha left the Spring Game wearing a walking boot after spraining his ankle.
All three are “full-go right now,” Watson said. Murtha, in fact, was declared ready to play two weeks after the Spring Game.
Nebraska will begin fall camp Aug. 6 with a first-string line that features Carl Nicks at left tackle, Christensen at left guard, Brett Byford at center, Matt Slauson at right guard and Murtha at right tackle.
Factoring into Watson’s excitement for the offensive line is a group of talented redshirt freshmen, including guard Keith Williams and tackle D.J. Jones. Both are listed at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds.
“They made enormous strides (in the spring),” Watson said. “Both those kids came here physically ahead of the curve. So did Mike Smith, and we moved him over from defense (to offensive tackle). But Mike Smith, I’m telling you, he’s going to matter in depth.
“Those three young guys, they’re going to find their way on the field. They’re ahead of their schedule, just because of their physical presence. They’re great athletes to go along with it.”
Watson, in his first season as Nebraska’s offensive coordinator, said he expects Nebraska to continue its improvement in rushing the football. Last season, the Huskers ran for 170.5 yards per game, a year after averaging 96 yards rushing. The 74.5-yard improvement vaulted NU from a No. 110 national ranking in rushing in 2005 to No. 23 last season.
“I think we’re poised to have that same kind of production,” Watson said. “That’s, I think, critical. I think we can be really good at doing that.”
Injuries also hampered Nebraska running backs during the spring, but front-runners Marlon Lucky and Cody Glenn are in good shape, Watson said. Lucky was cleared a week after suffering a knee sprain in the Spring Game. Glenn has been slow to recover from a foot injury he suffered in November.
“He’s done really well,” Watson said of Glenn. “Early on, he had good days, he had bad days. But he’s had a bunch of good days. He’s doing really well right now.”
Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson says he lists the offensive line as the Huskers’ overall “No. 1 strength” entering this football season.
How strong, healthwise, is that strength as the Huskers continue summer conditioning?
Pretty good, Watson said Wednesday.
Three of four offensive linemen who either sat out spring practice or were injured by the end of the Spring Game are now 100 percent.
“Mike Huff is probably the one we’re most concerned with, but he’s had a really good summer,” Watson said. “He’s right on schedule with his rehab, and we expect him to be back for the season. How fast he gets back in camp and how fast he moves along, it’s going to depend on how the rest of this month goes. But he’s doing really well.”
Huff, a junior from Ralston, missed all of spring practice after having surgery for an Achilles tendon injury. He started 13 of 14 games last season at right guard.
Sophomore utility lineman Jacob Hickman had offseason knee surgery and missed spring practice. Junior left guard Andy Christensen missed the Spring Game with a foot sprain, and junior right tackle Lydon Murtha left the Spring Game wearing a walking boot after spraining his ankle.
All three are “full-go right now,” Watson said. Murtha, in fact, was declared ready to play two weeks after the Spring Game.
Nebraska will begin fall camp Aug. 6 with a first-string line that features Carl Nicks at left tackle, Christensen at left guard, Brett Byford at center, Matt Slauson at right guard and Murtha at right tackle.
Factoring into Watson’s excitement for the offensive line is a group of talented redshirt freshmen, including guard Keith Williams and tackle D.J. Jones. Both are listed at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds.
“They made enormous strides (in the spring),” Watson said. “Both those kids came here physically ahead of the curve. So did Mike Smith, and we moved him over from defense (to offensive tackle). But Mike Smith, I’m telling you, he’s going to matter in depth.
“Those three young guys, they’re going to find their way on the field. They’re ahead of their schedule, just because of their physical presence. They’re great athletes to go along with it.”
Watson, in his first season as Nebraska’s offensive coordinator, said he expects Nebraska to continue its improvement in rushing the football. Last season, the Huskers ran for 170.5 yards per game, a year after averaging 96 yards rushing. The 74.5-yard improvement vaulted NU from a No. 110 national ranking in rushing in 2005 to No. 23 last season.
“I think we’re poised to have that same kind of production,” Watson said. “That’s, I think, critical. I think we can be really good at doing that.”
Injuries also hampered Nebraska running backs during the spring, but front-runners Marlon Lucky and Cody Glenn are in good shape, Watson said. Lucky was cleared a week after suffering a knee sprain in the Spring Game. Glenn has been slow to recover from a foot injury he suffered in November.
“He’s done really well,” Watson said of Glenn. “Early on, he had good days, he had bad days. But he’s had a bunch of good days. He’s doing really well right now.”
