Castille makes push for playing time

[bennychico11]

http://www.journalstar.com/huskerextra/foo...ce173256792.txt

 

Marlon or Roy?

 

How about Quentin?

 

With so much preseason discussion about the “or” that separates I-backs Marlon Lucky and Roy Helu on the depth chart, position coach Tim Beck provided this nugget in the first week of Nebraska’s fall camp:

 

Sophomore Quentin Castille is seriously in the mix, too.

 

“I tell you what, he’s playing really well right now,” said Beck, the running backs coach.

 

“Probably one of the biggest surprises in camp.”

 

Castille has been impressive partly because he’s using his slimmer frame to his advantage. The 6-foot-1 Castille said he weighed as much as 255 pounds last season. He now weighs 233.

 

“I feel a whole lot quicker, a whole lot faster,” Castille said. “I’m combining the physical attributes of the game, my physical parts, with like the finesse part of our game now. It’s helping me block more and be able to take it to the holes a whole lot more.”

 

Teammates have noticed. Offensive lineman Matt Slauson said Castille seems intent on hitting somebody hard every time he pops through a hole. Very hard.

 

Castille, of course, showed that admirable trait last year, too. The difference, Slauson said, is how quickly Castille is now doing it.

 

“I’m not exactly sure how much weight Quentin has lost, but he is so fast now,” Slauson said. “I mean, he was fast before, at least from my perspective. But he is blazing. He’s juking guys, and he’s really fun to watch.”

 

Castille is Nebraska’s second-leading returning rusher, behind Lucky. As a true freshman, Castille ran 76 times for 343 yards and four touchdowns. In the Huskers’ otherwise forgettable game against Oklahoma State, Castille rumbled for a career-best 102 yards. That included a career-long 23-yard burst.

 

He also fumbled inside the OSU 1-yard line. Nebraska recovered. No such luck the other three times Castille lost the ball last season.

 

In five carries in the April spring game, Castille fumbled once.

 

“Ball protection, I mean, it’s something to work on, but I don’t want to harp on it too much, you know what I mean?” Castille said. “I just run.

 

“Holding on to the ball … the only thing I’m messing up on is I’m thinking too much. It’s helping me now; I know more things, so it’s helping me like that. I don’t really worry about holding on to the ball. I just run.”

 

Still, ball security might be the reason there’s not a third “or” on the depth chart.

 

While Castille fumbled four times in 76 carries last season, Helu had zero fumbles in 45 carries. Lucky had 281 combined touches — 206 attempts rushing, 75 receiving. He fumbled once.

 

“I think everybody has talked about his ball security,” Beck said of Castille. “That’s one of the things that he’s focused on. He’s a great kid. He’s working really hard to improve that area. So far, he has.”

 

Beck said there’s a fine line between talking to a player about fumble problems and harping on the subject.

 

“You coach it, you correct it, and you make them conscious of it, but you can’t beat ’em up over it,” Beck said. “I tell them the fastest way to be standing next to me is don’t hang on to the ball. I think that’s pretty much motivation in itself.”

 

Castille said taking care of the ball was, at one time, No. 1 on his list of things to work on this fall. Now, he said he tries not to think about it, period.

 

“Assignments,” Castille said, describing his new top priority. “I need to work on my assignments, as far as picking up blitzes and knowing which hole to cut into, reading my blocks and things like that.”

[HuskerfaninOkieland]

I like Castille. His running style reminds me a lot of Adrian Peterson.

[DCHusker]

I like Castille. His running style reminds me a lot of Adrian Peterson.

 

Yeah, losing the weight will probably make his physique closer to Peterson's. Although, I always thought Castille ran a little lower to the ground (which I like) than Peterson, who ran more upright. Could be wrong.

 

I loved how during that OSU debacle Castille got about 10 carries during a 12 play drive and took us all the way down the field...

[HUSKER FREAK]

I was kind of wondering why there was no talk of him this year. I thought that he needed to have more playing time last year imo. Not to take anything away from Lucky or Helu though they are both good backs. I was saying last year that Castille kind of reminded me of Lawrence Philips, but without the dumbass mistakes I hope. I think that we will have an outstanding backfield this with those three in the mix, and hopefully for the next few years.

[bennychico11]

He had a big problem with turnovers...and I think that's why he was kept in the back. He was just a Freshman last year so I'm sure he was just making a ton of rookie mistakes. I too think this kid can be great. I love watching him just push his way through the pack barreling towards the end zone. Now that he has some experience at the college level under his belt I think he'll start to shine this year. And by next year we'll start to hear more about him taking over the IB position.

[EbylHusker]

I love to watch him run. Hopefully he develops to his full potential, because he will be an absolute terror.

[huskernumerouno]

MERGED

[BIGREDIOWAN]

This is good for all the running backs. I don't want Helu to automatically think he's going to get the ball when Lucky is not out there. I think we have a different kind of running back in Q and he can really bring the hurt on some guys. I'm pulling for him to make some noise this season.............

[Husker_x]

Duplicate article. Already posted.

[HuskerFan505]

This is good for all the running backs. I don't want Helu to automatically think he's going to get the ball when Lucky is not out there. I think we have a different kind of running back in Q and he can really bring the hurt on some guys. I'm pulling for him to make some noise this season.............

'

x2

[typ3kal]

Probably the biggest improvement for him this season is him dropping 15 lbs since last season. 15 lbs can make a huge difference when finding the hole and breaking defenders ankles in the open field. Should be a great year for all 3 of them, ::crosses fingers::

[father5]

I like Castille. His running style reminds me a lot of Adrian Peterson.

 

He runs NOTHING like AP. What would make you think that?