The Spring Practice Presser

[knapplc]

Updates on the way...

 

 

EDIT - it's 11:06 and Bo just shows up. Not punctual!

 

 

Bo is opening Pro Day and first day of Spring Practice for the press. He just wants the press not to put up anything live from practice. Coach's clinic is this week and the press is able to see that from the balcony as well. But nothing live from the events. Otherwise practice access is the same.

 

 

 

Bo is happy with ending Winter Conditioning. Happy with where they are, but they have a lot to accomplish, lot to get going on. Feels like everything is coming quickly.

 

Bo already opening stuff to the press.

 

How hard will it be to replace the big playmakers we lose on defense?

 

Bo likes the potential of the guys coming back and their leadership. Likes who they have coming back.

 

Mo Seisay - he's been through this stuff a little bit, so he's not raw. Been there done that from Memphis and JUCO. He knows what's necessary for him to develop and learn. Bo has watched him going through Spring and he thinks Mo has his feet on the ground and he's learning the playbook and what we're trying to accomplish.

 

 

Center - it's going to be a good competition for who replaces Caputo. Pensick, Jackson, Reeves and Pelini all in the mix. Competition makes you better, and it's up to the coaches to get them taught and get them reps. Spencer Long won't move to Center. Bo likes him as a Guard. They feel good with who they have at Center right now. Not going to move an All-Conference performer from his spot to Center. Bo likes the depth on the O Line.

 

 

Heard - moving to defense because he's sudden, strong and tough. He has all the skills and the footwork to do the job. They've talked to him many times about this, laid it all out for him, and this isn't the first time they've approached him. He wants to give Corner a go, and Bo just talked to him last week about it. Heard sees an opportunity there. Bo says Heard is talented enough to play a number of spots, RB, WR or CB.

 

 

Joseph - Can't talk about anyone until the paperwork comes through. Thinks he'll be a tremendous fit for the staff. He's a steal. He's a good football coach.

 

 

Martinez - last year he was in the midst of learning a lot of new things. He had a lot of things on his plate, a lot of things going through him. Now it's a matter of refining what he knows. He didn't have the opportunity to work on much last year. This is the first time in his career that he'll spend a second year in the same system. Should be good for him. Not giving Jamal Turner many reps right now, but he's available if they need him. They feel good about where they are at QB right now. Jamal needs to learn the WR spot first and let his talent come through.

 

 

Replacements on defense - yes, we're going to put someone in Lavonte's spot, but to say you're going to replace Lavonte David isn't right. Every guy is different and every guy can be effective, as long as the coaches put them in a position to play to their strengths. They have Whaley and Santos lining up in David's spot first, and they'll evaluate from there. Fisher will line up on the other side. Fisher has had a good Winter. Max Spirman has had a good winter. Compton and Roach are the Mikes right now. Figure out the best combination as they go. Alonzo has grown up a lot in the last year, he's more confident than he's ever been, and he's a leader and he's matured. He's grown as a football player. Going to see that he's become a good football player. Santos - he's a physically talented guy who can play multiple spots. Athletic but nice size. Bigger on the surface than Lavonte was, for sure than when Lavonte got here. Everything they thought when they recruited Santos is there.

 

 

Offensive Tackles - Feel good about this spot. Moore started last year and he'll be good. Sirles is as healthy as he's been during his career here. Lots of guys "on the come." Lots of depth and lots of competition, and that will make everyone better.

 

Mike Marrow - he's a guy who can do a LOT of things. Big physical guy who can run through the tackles, run on the edge, play a lot of positions. If he stays on the same track he's on, he'll be good for us. He's slated as a fullback.

 

Rex Burkhead - just like every other guy, it's about refining what you're doing. Rex is the first guy who'll tell you he could have done things better last year. He's his own toughest critic. Bo likes his attitude, and the guys in general. He thinks they're all hungry and they think Spring practice is important. That process started months ago and every day is important for everyone out there.

 

 

Green and Abdullah - both are very talented, and like Rex they're both just trying to get better. Last year was all instinct, and now they have time to refine and grow in their roles. They're not Freshmen anymore. They can be a force for our football team.

 

 

The future is in our hands. Bo likes the chemistry on the team. We have talent, but we have to continue to work on that aspect of the game. Everyone is on the same page, but you have to be ready to live it day in and day out.

 

 

Every coach is different. You have to make that work for you. Bo is different than JP and Tim, and you have to coach within your personality and play to your strengths and work on your weaknesses. Look at JP - he's had a pretty meteoric rise in this profession. He's made many personal sacrifices to make the most of it. It hasn't been an easy road, but he's stayed the course and he serves as an example of how to do it right.

 

Khiry Cooper is not coming back. He's graduated. The door is open for him, but he's decided not to come back. You'd have to talk to him about why, but he's probably trying to figure out if he's playing football or baseball.

 

Doesn't matter to Bo if the Spring Game is televised. It matters to fans and recruits. Bo has heard a couple of things about when and where it's going to air. It's not a big deal to him. Good for the fans, though.

 

Bo not worried about changing uniforms. Not sure if it affects the recruits. If a kid is picking us because of how we look in our uniform, probably needs to reevaluate his priorities.

 

Young Staff, how does that affect Bo - Bo loves our staff on defense. Loves what they're doing. Doesn't worry that they're young. Just trying to hire good football coaches, good people, good communicators, guys he believes can recruit, guys who see eye-to-eye with Bo and how he wants to do things. Also looking for guys who think outside the box, and guys who will speak up and disagree with Bo. He likes the staff. Bo doesn't want a bunch of people who are going to tell him that his ideas are right all the time, because he's not right all the time. Need guys who will speak their mind, but once you walk out the door after making a decision, you stay on the same page. Bo has seen both ways, and the right way is the guys who are willing to speak their mind, or if they think something is wrong to say it's wrong. Speak their mind about it. He sees this throughout his whole staff. This is why you have to have the right people, people who aren't ego-driven and have good character. If someone disagrees with you, you have to not take it as an attack on you. This is how you continue to grow and get where you want to be.

 

 

Injuries - Todd Peat out for Spring. Jake Cotton still Rehabbing. Peat had an injury with his back that has to get cleared up. Kevin Williams and ________ (couldn't get the other name) also banged up, will miss the first two practices or so.

 

 

Martinez, how is he adjusting to the role of being "the guy," - Bo thinks he's made that adjustment. He's different this offseason from last offseason. He's continued to grow, and Bo likes his evolution to this point. He has to continue to grow, it's all part of the process. He has two years left, a lot of football ahead of him. And he has a lot of talent behind him. Bo is excited about Brion Carnes, who has made strides through the Winter, and he'll be fun to watch as the Spring goes on. The position as a whole is getting refined, getting better. Bronson Marsh is another guy mentioned. Bo laid it out for Marsh and he showed a lot of talent at QB in prepping for the bowl. Marsh has always dreamed of playing QB at Nebraska, and if he didn't give it a chance he'd always kick himself. We'll communicate throughout the process and if it comes to a point where it doesn't look like it's going to work out, we'll sit down and talk about moving back to defense.

 

This spring the focus is on details. Developing greater knowledge, refining details. Accountability, raising the level of accountability to a level it hasn't been to. It hasn't been bad before, we're just taking it to a higher level. Accountability leads to toughness, which leads to greater attention to detail and getting better as a football team, from players to coaches.

 

 

Playoffs - Bo always says that you hear a lot of different things. A lot of people talk about wanting a playoff, but find one that makes sense. There's been a lot of theoretical things put out there. Bo could end up on the moon tomorrow, but that's not likely to happen. To a certain extent the fans, the media, be careful what you ask for because we have a pretty good product right now. How do you get a four-team playoff without messing up a good thing that we have right now? Unless they come up with a really good idea, then Bo thinks that we shouldn't have a playoff. Right now, that good idea hasn't come out, and there's a big push for a playoff but you have to look out for what you get. Could be far-reaching consequences that could change the sport of football as we know it, and nobody wants that. Bo hasn't heard a plan that truly makes sense yet.

 

That's it for Bo. Beck is up next, I believe.

[JurassicHusk]

Bo should just say he loves Lavonte David and that the people that are stepping in aren't as good....

[da skers]

Wouldn't surprise me to see Cooper end up in Tulsa with Green since he's only called him all season trying to get him to transfer there.

[n.e.husker]

CoachBeck up now..

[knapplc]

Tim Beck:

 

 

How much looking forward to second Spring, and how much further ahead are you - Light years. So much further along than last year training the staff and players, just trying to get everyone on the same page was a challenge.

 

The offense grew last year as the season went on, but even then it was weird because part of the system is just doing what they guys do well and when you find that not going away from it. Beck wasn't always on cue with seeing that. This year we should be sharper and know better what we're doing, and execute that.

 

 

Input from staff - Tim has seen better understanding from the staff, better understanding of the big picture, and the staff is contributing more because they see things better. This is all welcome change. This helps Beck as well as the offense as a whole.

 

Martinez being a returning starter a year ago had an advantage, and he still has that advantage being a two-year starter. But every other guy is better because they've all seen the offense, and that trickles down to every player, RB, WR, everyone.

 

Carnes' knowledge is improving. He struggled with this last year, he didn't know the best play to put us in when he went out there. With more experience he's been getting much better at that.

 

Martinez is working on consistency and execution. Details. Last year you built the foundation, and the QB is the foundation of the offense. You build from the inside out and last year was all about how to learn the position and communicate, making decisions. For the most part he made good decisions last year, but now we're working on the further details. Even Beck realized things were hard last year as the season was flying by, you're teaching so many guys so many things and some times last year he may have forgotten to teach his guy, Taylor, this stuff. But Taylor has worked hard in the interim and he's in a good place.

 

 

 

MISSED SOME QUESTIONS WHEN THE FEED DIED THERE.

 

 

They want to lighten Rex's load, and you do that just by subbing the other guys. It's hard to do that, but you have to do it. It comes with more experience from the other guys. Last year we had so many freshmen playing and it was hard to have consistency with these young players. The development from those guys is huge going into the new season.

 

They want Marrow to shore up depth at the FB position. He's a big, pounding, physical tailback, and it depends on how much we can give him because he's a first-time guy in this system. All three of our guys at FB, CJ, Marrow and Stoddard, are big solid guys. Physical guys who can run. It's become a big part of our offense. Stoddard moved because they had CJ and Marrow, and Mike needed to learn, so they needed depth.

 

WRs - we have to be able to throw it more than we did. Teams defended us by packing their guys all in there, and you have to be able to take advantage of that. Kenny Bell is a guy who just started to get it as the season went on, same with Quincy. They have a lot of guys who can move forward, six guys. Turner is another one who's made a big jump. Film study has helped them a lot, and that will help them because they'll play faster. Now they know what to do.

 

Cole Pensick is a guy who's worked his butt off since he's been here. Sometimes you don't find out the maturity level or leadership level of a guy until you put them in there. Pensick has done well there, as has Reeves, Jackson and Mark Pelini. They have a lot of guys who can come in and get it done there.

 

Martinez did he notice he was making progress - Beck felt he did, but Beck didn't ask Martinez if he was making progress. Beck thinks he recognized that he was more in control of the offense, but that knowledge doesn't mean wins.

 

Turner to QB - Bo made a great point, in order to let the kid have a chance to be an electrifying punt returner and WR, you have to give him that chance. They have a package of very small plays that they can put him in for, and Beck would put him in, but they want him to learn the WR position.

 

Tariq Allen - he will push these guys. Smooth, fast, strong, big guy. Good hands. Has a "Get it" factor. Likens him to Quincy Enunwa. Just have to translate that into play on the field.

 

 

Beck will take any advice from Bill Belichick if he wants to give him some.

[n.e.husker]

JP is up

[n.e.husker]

JP holding back a smile when talking about the possibility of Terry Joseph as a possible coach.

[knapplc]

Papuchis

 

Number one goal is to get the guys to get a better knowledge of what they're doing, physically and mentally. Need to get a little bit better every day.

 

Lots of holes to fill. You're always going to be in a position to have to replace guys at a place like Nebraska. You're always going to have to find someone to step up. They have guys "on the come" ready to step up.

 

Pap doesn't think of it as trying to put his stamp on the defense. It's a "we" concept. Pap is interested in winning.

 

Bo wants input from everybody. Pap has been with Bo a long time, and he's interested in everyone's thoughts on things. That brings out the best in everyone. Bo is an exceptional defensive mind. Having him in the room makes everyone better.

 

Terry Joseph and Pap are friends, and they stayed in contact. Good teacher, leader, recruiter, friend. Pap feels really good about him coming on board.

 

They had a handful of names when Raymond left, and Joseph was at the top of the list. It's good that Joseph has ties in Louisiana, similar to Raymond, but that wasn't the reason for the hire.

 

Coach Kaz has made for a really efficient and smooth transition. His teaching has been effective for the guys. Good hire there.

 

Compton - Will has been one of the guys in the first recruiting class. He's improved physically and mentally every year. His biggest jump has been in leadership, and that's what you want in your MIKE linebacker. Pap is pleased with him.

 

Fisher - He had a pretty significant injury two years ago. Still thinks there was a lingering effect last year, because it was so severe. He moves around better now, and he's poised to have a better season.

 

Kickoff rule change - the effect is different for each team. If you put the ball at the 35 then Maher would put most of his kickoffs in the endzone. Most guys were putting the ball at about the five. The rule of the 25 yard line shouldn't be a punishment for putting the ball in the end zone. Those five yards make up a little difference, even a little bit. Five yards six to eight times a game adds up. Might experiment with pooch kicking, but you don't want to get too greedy. If there's no threat of a big return you may kick to the guy, but if there's a bigger threat you might kick it into the endzone.

 

Whaley - he's a bigger, more physical presence than Lavonte. They've had a lot of guys play that spot over the years. Zo has a great understanding of the system and he knows this is his last go-round here. And he wants to embrace it and take a shot.

 

SJB is still at CB. He was put in a really tough situation last year. It's impossible to learn everything no matter how hard you try. He's put in a lot of time to learn more about the position and that should pay off.

 

Having a year under your belt just gives you a better feel for how you're going to play your opponents. Until you really line up against these guys and match up physically, you don't always know how you're going to match up. Now you know more.

 

Big Ten offenses are more physical than the Big XII. Big XII is more of a spread league, and the Big Ten has more of a physical two-back system.

 

Mo Seisay - he's been there before, and he's been through the rigors of a D1 program, so he knows what he has to do, and he knows he has a limited time clock to get that done.

 

I love how they keep saying "If Terry comes in" as if we don't know we hired Terry Joseph. Funny stuff.

 

Third down stoppage is an emphasis this year. They are going to address this. There are a variety of reasons we didn't get it done on third down last year. It will be an emphasis. There were times when you have to give the offense credit for making plays, and there were times when we didn't execute. But guys are another year experienced in the system and Pap is looking for better results on third down.

[n.e.husker]

Will Compton up now.

[knapplc]

I'm done, guys. That's about as much typing as I can handle at one shot.

[n.e.husker]

Will :

 

talks about being a senior and a leader, helping the younger guys gain knowledge of the defense heading into spring practice.

 

Coach Els is very knowledgeable and great to play for.

 

Says two deep wasnt strong last season due to guys not getting the mental part of the game.

[n.e.husker]

Frustrated with what was put on film when they know they are better than what was seen on field.

 

Ready to hit the ground running after the offseason of teaching the basics before spring ball to focus more on individual responsibilities of the defense.

 

Has learned a lot leading up to his senior year as far as what it takes to be a leader, going through the practices, and offseasons helping him and others prepare better.

 

Zo Whaley as a come a long way from last season and can be a leader on the D.

[n.e.husker]

Ben Cotton up now

[knapplc]

I'm just going to guess that Compton wasn't supposed to divulge that Whaley wasn't in the 105 last year because of "grades and off-the-field issues."

 

Also, Compton specifically mentioned the "doghouse." Interesting.

[Comish]

I'm done, guys. That's about as much typing as I can handle at one shot.

 

Great synopsis..............thanks for the effort and typing marathon..............