The mental hurdle is sometimes as tough as the physical one for a player coming off an ACL injury like Rickey Thenarse suffered last fall.
But the senior safety said it’s a hurdle he jumped quickly.
“I think I got over that after the first day,” Thenarse said. “I don’t think about it anymore. I just pray before practice. I just get hyped, I come out and compete.”
Thenarse is vying for one of the starting safety spots. Competition is deep at the position, especially considering DeJon Gomes and Anthony West are also now working there this spring.
Thenarse said the competition has only helped him.
“I’m just trying to be a leader out there and step up.”
Husker coach Bo Pelini said Thenarse seems healthy but must be sure to maintain a consistent focus.
“Mentally, he’s got to keep making progress so he doesn’t beat himself or beat us,” Pelini said. “But he brings some experience to the table and there are some things he does real well. But he has a lot to work on, too.”
Sharp enough?: Pelini was even-keeled after Monday’s practice, but pointed out he’s seen better ones from his team this spring.
Perhaps that isn’t a total surprise, since the Huskers are coming off a 150-play scrimmage Saturday.
“It wasn’t as sharp today as I would have liked it to have been,” Pelini said. “You come off of a scrimmage and I just thought our attention to detail wasn’t quite as good. There were some errors we made that I don't think we should be making at this point. But the effort’s there. The want-to is there. Now we just have to put our heads inside of it and keep progressing.”
Bring the reps: Defensive coordinator Carl Pelini recently spoke about the depth at defensive tackle, noting that four or five players were capable of rotating at that position come fall.
Jared Crick, the most experienced of the defensive tackles, said he’s all for younger players getting their opportunities but also didn’t mind last year when he was sometimes out there for most every snap.
“Last year (Ndamukong) Suh and I never complained about playing high reps,” the junior from Cozad said. “It didn’t really bug us, but it will be nice in the long run to have those guys get the experience. I could care less about staying fresh or whatnot. I like to be in there every single play if I could. ... But as long as these guys are getting the game experience they need for the future, that’s the biggest thing.”
High motors: Count Crick among those who has been impressed by the effort of the offensive line this spring.
And, yes, Crick said the reports about newcomer Jermarcus “Yoshi” Hardrick have been accurate. He really does get after it.
“They’re still learning the offense and the defense, but the biggest thing for them right now is to have great effort. And that’s what they’re doing and doing in the classroom as well,” Crick said. “That’s the biggest thing for them, just lay it all on the line. And I think they’re really impressing the coaches, especially Yoshi. He’ll get his block and he’ll be 30 yards downfield, and that’s pretty cool to see.”
Wide receiver Antonio Bell also noted Hardrick’s play without even being asked about him.
“He made the O-line step up big-time,” Bell said. “The line was already good, but with his physicalness and his downfield blocking, after every play you see the O-line downfield trying to hit somebody.”
Reeding it: Saturday, offensive coordinator Shawn Watson mentioned sophomore tight end Kyler Reed as a player who was making the most of his chances while Ben Cotton and Dreu Young have been hampered by injuries. (Young was back on the field Monday).
Pelini echoed Watson’s sentiments about Reed, also sending some praise toward sophomore tight end Mychael McClure, a Wisner native.
“I think Kyler has made tremendous progress,” Pelini said. “You know, McClure really stepped up today and made some plays at the tight end position and really competed for the football. When guys go down, it gives opportunities for other guys. At that position especially I saw some guys take advantage of their opportunities.”
Fine tuning: It’s tough to find much fault with the way cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Alfonzo Dennard played last year.
So what is Pelini looking for from those two this spring?
“I want them competing and challenging routes and things like that,” Pelini said. “I also want attention to detail in what we’re asking them to do, how we’re asking them to do it and working on the fine points.”
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