By BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Thursday, September 23, 2010 9:22 pm
Rickey Thenarse has fought hard in his career to win a starting safety spot.
So now that he's earned that role, how is he doing with it?
Husker head coach Bo Pelini said he thinks the senior has played well in his first three starts this season.
Thenarse is fourth on the team in tackles with 15 and has a forced fumble and an interception return for a touchdown.
He also had an interception against Washington that was taken away because of a defensive holding call.
"I think he still has to work on some consistency at times. He has to make sure he doesn't have any mental lapses," Pelini said. "But I think he has come a long way."
Thenarse has come back strong after sitting out last year with a torn ACL injury, the coach said.
"I think he is playing some good football, but I think the best is still ahead of him."
Use those feet: Nit-picking is required to find flaws in Nebraska's offensive showing this past Saturday.
But sacks allowed is one stat the Huskers would probably like to improve on.
Husker freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez was sacked three times by the Husky defense in the 56-21 Nebraska win.
On at least one or two of those sacks, Husker offensive coordinator Shawn Watson saw plays where Martinez probably could have taken off and gained positive yards.
"I get him after every series," Watson said. "I told him after the first sack, ‘Listen, brother, you need to take it and use your feet. They're a match-zone team and you'll hurt them.' He did. After that he did a really nice job. That is part of the process where he is at right now. He'll continue to develop that."
Baker stepping up: Everyone was asking how the Huskers would fill the void left by Ndamukong Suh.
So far it's hard to complain with the results of Baker Steinkuhler, who has taken over the starting spot Suh owned.
Steinkuhler has eight tackles and four of those have been for losses. Most notably, he leads the team in sacks with 3 1/2.
"You see in games he is starting to make some plays for us," said junior defensive tackle Jared Crick. "You could say he has incredibly huge shoes to fill, but he is doing his job and is going out there and playing hard every single down. That is all I can expect from him."
Pelini likes downfield effort: Pelini said the downfield blocking of wide receivers has been a big key for many of the explosive plays the Huskers have been able to accumulate on offense.
Nebraska has had 22 offensive plays of more than 20 yards and four touchdowns of more than 40 yards.
"Big plays in the run game don't happen if you're not blocking down the field," Pelini said. "You look at (Roy Helu's) touchdown the other day, BK (Brandon Kinnie) did a heck of a job on the corner and helped spring Roy. A lot of that is about effort. Obviously technique plays a part of it, but it's about getting your hats on people, not being lazy and making sure you find people down the field. They've done a good job of it."
A higher standard: Pelini has had a simple message to his football team as it approaches Saturday's game against South Dakota State.
Improve.
"We got to take it to a higher standard," Pelini said. "We're not even close to where we can be as a football team, and I think our guys understand that."
No Jones: Pelini confirmed that offensive right tackle Marcel Jones will not play Saturday.
"He's getting some needed rest and hopefully he'll be back next week and feeling good," said Pelini, who noted his team is otherwise in good health.
Jones, who has been bothered by back soreness, said this week he has hopes of being back by the Big 12 opener on Oct. 7 against Kansas State.
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