Grixby will get the start at corner

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Published Friday

October 1, 2004

 

Husker Report: Grixby receives cornerback start

 

BY RICH KAIPUST

 

WORLD-HERALD BUREAU 

 

LINCOLN - Nebraska freshman Cortney Grixby is set to make his second career start at cornerback Saturday night against Kansas.

 

NU Assistant Coach Phil Elmassian said Thursday that Grixby again will replace Lornell McPherson at right cornerback. Although McPherson is back from a hamstring injury, Elmassian said it won't be clear until Saturday how much the fifth-year senior might play.

 

"If he is 100 percent on Saturday, hopefully the opportunity will present itself to get him back in the swing of things," Elmassian said. "It's not a matter of how the game's going, but how he's feeling."

 

McPherson injured his hamstring while covering a second-quarter punt Sept. 11 against Southern Mississippi. He didn't make the trip to Pittsburgh on Sept. 18, and the Huskers had last week off.

 

At Pitt, Grixby made three tackles and two pass breakups in a 24-17 win. Starting left cornerback Fabian Washington left the Pitt game early with a knee injury but plans to play Saturday.

 

 

Erickson a maybe

 

Head Coach Bill Callahan said offensive tackle Mike Erickson remains questionable for the KU game. The senior returned to practice Thursday after suffering a neck stinger Tuesday.

 

If Erickson isn't able to go, Nick Povendo, Darren DeLone and Cornealius Thomas are among those who might pick up work at the left tackle spot. Erickson, Brandon Koch, Kurt Mann, Jake Andersen and Seppo Evwaraye have started all three games on the Husker line.

 

Two Huskers already ruled out for Saturday are Steve Kriewald and Joey Robison.

 

 

Kick coverage focus

 

The Huskers are down to a walk-through practice today after working out for two hours in half pads Thursday.

 

NU focused on red zone and third-down offense. Also, Callahan said there was more emphasis on the Huskers' punt and kickoff coverages.

 

"We've worked hard on that facet of our play," Callahan said.

 

 

Passing fancy

 

Callahan said he expects Kansas to run some four- and five-receiver sets Saturday. The Jayhawks rank fifth in the Big 12 in passing offense (244.8 yards a game), and their 10 touchdown passes are second only to Texas Tech. . . . Dave Armstrong and Jayice Pearson will handle the play-by-play and color commentary for Fox Sports Net's pay-per-view telecast of NU-KU. . . . Despite playing every year since 1906, the Huskers and Jayhawks have never met as early as this year's date, Oct. 2. NU has won 28 of its past 29 league openers, including five against Kansas.

 

 

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