Blackshirts making intense strides

[Husker_x]

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LINCOLN — Zach Potter is starting to sound a little cocky.

 

After Monday's practice, the defensive end described the recent "fits" Nebraska's defense was causing the offense.

 

"Havoc," he called it moments later.

 

"I've never seen so many interceptions in practices before," Potter said.

 

If you're a concerned constituent of the dilapidated Big Red football program, those declarations aren't a bad sign. Those words illustrate a resurgence among the Blackshirts.

 

"You see guys getting all fired up after someone makes a play," Potter said. "Everyone's running to the ball to congratulate him. We haven't really had that the last couple of years."

 

Nebraska's defense is coming off a disastrous 2007 season; the offense isn't. The defense is scrapping its system and starting over; the offense isn't. Yet it's the defense leading the way emotionally during spring drills.

 

Monday was the latest example. Defenders might have surprised some of the offensive guys with their energy, offensive line coach Barney Cotton said.

 

"I don't like to admit it as an offensive line guy, because we should always set the tempo, but our defense set the tempo today," Cotton said.

 

Ron Brown has noticed the defense, too.

 

"It's been a world of difference from first week to second week," said Brown, Nebraska's tight ends coach. "First week, they're just trying to learn things. They're running around trying to get lined up and so forth. Now . . . they're flying around making some things happen."

 

During Nebraska's championship years of the 1990s, Brown said, no defense challenged the Husker offense like the Blackshirts each day in practice.

 

Those defenses were relentless, Brown said. Each practice, they hooted and hollered and had a good old time.

 

"That's what you're seeing with our defense right now," Brown said.

 

Cotton has also seen it before. He was on the Huskers' staff with Bo Pelini in 2003, when the defense underwent a revolution in confidence.

 

"They start having fun," Cotton said. "When they start having fun, they start getting good.

 

"Our defense has a long way to go, but . . . they've come an unbelievable distance in the eight practices I've watched."

 

Bo Pelini has done a great job emphasizing tempo, convincing players to treat each practice like a game, Brown said.

 

"If you watch our guys, you see them finishing," Brown said. "They're running to the ball like crazy. They're getting 11 guys around the football . . . That intensity has a contagious atmosphere to it."

 

It's indicative of a Pelini defense. Cotton remembers the Texas A&M game in 2003. Before the game, Pelini predicted five turnovers.

 

"Nobody predicts five turnovers," Cotton said. "We ended up getting eight that day."

 

This spring, defenders are ripping at the ball once it's caught. They're disguising coverages. Even Cody Glenn, the running back turned linebacker, had an interception in practice the other day.

 

Defensive ends coach John Papuchis senses guys feeling good about themselves, which is "half the battle." It's not false confidence, though. Coaches aren't inflating egos. Players are just making plays.

 

"It's great for our offense," Brown said. "We need that kind of pressure. You don't have fans, you don't have lights, you don't have cameras.

 

"But what you do have is you have a game-like atmosphere so far here in these two weeks . . . That's invaluable."

 

 

This puts a smile on my face.

[dtbugeater]

This is encouraging to see. Looks like the D is on the right path!

[BOBELIEVER]

it gives me goosebumps thinking about how a team reflects their coaching... I can't wait to see some hitting and ballhawking !

[HuskerTrucker]

Are we still working on getting New England on our schedule this year? I don't want anyone to doubt us when we win the NC and accuse us of having a weak schedule....I can see Brady getting picked five or six times....

[skersfan]

I have some ocean front property in Arizona, you guys seem like likely prospects.

 

Just pulling your chains.

 

But honestly what do you expect to hear coming from the coaches.?

 

They suck, they can not learn, they will not learn, they will not try. Man are we in trouble. Pelini does not know anything.

 

Forget the hype. VaTech is the answer. When and only then will we know if all is right or on the way to being right.

 

Not buying anymore of this preseason bull anymore. Seeing is believeing. Real on real.

 

Remember last year we were beating SC, breaking the huddle National Champions. I want to believe it but have been burnt too many time recently to buy in.

 

Next or the following I may be swallowing all this stuff, but not this year.

 

But man o man I hope I am wrong.

[Landlord]

This article makes me believe more than the others that it isn't just lip service about the defense, but that they really are making strides.

 

 

 

I wasn't so sure before, I'm still not completely sold, but this helps! GBR

[husker249]

I like it! I am a BO-liever!

[HuskerTrucker]

I have some ocean front property in Arizona, you guys seem like likely prospects.

 

Just pulling your chains.

 

But honestly what do you expect to hear coming from the coaches.?

 

They suck, they can not learn, they will not learn, they will not try. Man are we in trouble. Pelini does not know anything.

 

Forget the hype. VaTech is the answer. When and only then will we know if all is right or on the way to being right.

 

Not buying anymore of this preseason bull anymore. Seeing is believeing. Real on real.

 

Remember last year we were beating SC, breaking the huddle National Champions. I want to believe it but have been burnt too many time recently to buy in.

 

Next or the following I may be swallowing all this stuff, but not this year.

 

But man o man I hope I am wrong.

This is pure heresy!! SKEPTIC!!

[PIMPZILLA]

F this is gonna be a long 5 months.................

[Husker_x]

I don't blame the skeptics necessarily, but unless you guys want to chat about the weather for the next 4 1/2 months, better to try and enjoy some spring insights than prophecy the obvious.

[Cy the Cyclone]

I say that that the Defensive unit hasn't improved...the Offensive unit has digressed....

 

But...I'm a Cyyclone fan...what do I know?

[dizzturbedNUfan]

I have some ocean front property in Arizona, you guys seem like likely prospects.

 

Just pulling your chains.

 

But honestly what do you expect to hear coming from the coaches.?

 

They suck, they can not learn, they will not learn, they will not try. Man are we in trouble. Pelini does not know anything.

 

Forget the hype. VaTech is the answer. When and only then will we know if all is right or on the way to being right.

 

Not buying anymore of this preseason bull anymore. Seeing is believeing. Real on real.

 

Remember last year we were beating SC, breaking the huddle National Champions. I want to believe it but have been burnt too many time recently to buy in.

 

Next or the following I may be swallowing all this stuff, but not this year.

 

But man o man I hope I am wrong.

That's what we heard from the coach last year. He had no problem telling us the players sucked.

[Igetbored216]

I say that that the Defensive unit hasn't improved...the Offensive unit has digressed....

 

But...I'm a Cyyclone fan...what do I know?

 

Exactly!

 

But seriously, while this article makes me believe in the defense a little more, it's just not enough. Playing against our own guys does not prove how good or bad we are.

 

Remember one year ago our offense looked nearly flawless during spring practice? Now we know why.

 

Our first measuring stick will be Western Michigan, and then we can go from there.

[Cy the Cyclone]

In the Cyclone's 100 play scrimmage last Saturday, the defense managed to beat the offense by three points...which is kind of disheartening when you think about it....

[Igetbored216]

In the Cyclone's 100 play scrimmage last Saturday, the defense managed to beat the offense by three points...which is kind of disheartening when you think about it....

 

Uh oh. I guess Nebraska's offense better watch out on the 18th of October!