Bo tightens screws on spring details

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Nexus

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Things I know and things I think I know:
* Wanted to clarify something with Nebraska’s football coach.

Bo Pelini told reporters March 23 that spring football is not a time to discuss the depth chart.

So, when might be a good time?

“The week before the first game,” Pelini told me Monday.

It should be noted Nebraska coaches do keep an active depth chart.

“It’s very active,” Pelini said. “It could change by the day.”

Thing is, Husker coaches right now are more interested in deciding which players from an expanding pool can best help the team than fretting over who’s ahead of whom at certain positions. That’ll shake out in August.

Nebraska’s depth across the board makes it a challenge to put out a meaningful depth chart at this point — after just four spring practices — because in many cases there’s not much separating a starter from his top backup, said defensive coordinator Carl Pelini.

There might be a few other reasons Bo is reluctant to roll out a formal depth chart:

1. Many coaches tend to button up a bit when they know they have a team capable of big things. These type of coaches will tighten screws in several areas.

Trust me, Bo believes in this team.

2. Many of us have a tendency to read too much into depth charts. We overreact. Overreaction breeds fan hysteria. Fan hysteria distracts players. Distraction is the last thing Nebraska’s young quarterbacks need — especially considering the fate of this team could come down to QB play.

3. I get a strong sense Bo thinks we media types tend to overanalyze just about everything.

“I’ve never dealt much in depth charts,” he said. “I’ve never worried about it. When I first got here, (Husker media relations guru) Keith Mann was like, ‘(The media) wants a depth chart.’ I said, ‘Give them one, I don’t care.’ ”

Well, he cares now.

Fans and media want a depth chart because it gives us something concrete to study and memorize. We want to know who’s gaining ground, or losing it. But it often boils down to perception and supposition.

“You can sit there and get caught up in all that crap,” Bo said. “You guys (the media) can talk about it all you want. It’s about competition around here. And that competition is going to go a long way beyond spring ball.”

We also should note a change in Pelini’s modus operandi: Any official word regarding the depth chart now comes from Bo. In the past, reporters could get decent position rundowns from assistant coaches.

We probably shouldn’t count on a lengthy depth-chart analysis from the head coach any time soon.

“I couldn’t even tell you who’s where on the depth chart right now,” he said.

* A developing spring storyline: Nebraska’s base defense essentially has changed from a 4-3 to the defense the Huskers played in their last two games last season, against Texas and Arizona. Husker coaches have eliminated one linebacker position, Carl Pelini said Tuesday.

“Now you’re in a position where your (two) linebackers virtually always will align between the tackles,” he said. “And a hybrid player will be the one who adjusts outside the tackles when necessary.”

Nebraska’s hybrid — a nickel back/linebacker — will be senior Eric Hagg or junior Austin Cassidy.

“You look at Hagg and Cassidy, they have a unique skill set,” Carl said. “They’re linebacker bodies who play DB. You might as well take advantage of those guys, right?”

It’s a rather significant storyline, considering the 4-3 had been the Huskers’ base since 1993, when Charlie McBride changed from a 5-2 to get more speed on the field.

* Keep an eye on redshirt freshman Thaddeus Randle, a defensive tackle from Galena Park, Texas, who’s impressed Husker coaches and likely will serve in a key backup role.

* Hard to avoid letting your imagination wander about juco transfer offensive tackle Jermarcus “Yoshi” Hardrick.

“He’s going to be a dominant force,” Husker junior tackle Marcel Jones said. “He brings a lot of intensity. He brings a lot of passion toward the game. He finishes tremendously. I think once he gets our playbook down, and once he tightens up his technique a little bit, he’s going to be a great player.”

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Nexus, when I saw "posted at 12:15" how did I know it would be by you?

But anyways, I think we do get a little worked up over depth charts. Especially us internet guys who analyze the sh*t out of everything. I think we can all agree that so lang as the best 11 guys for the job are on the field, we can sleep at night, no?

And most of the time I think we can derive who the coaches like where just from the context in which they tak about certain guys. The pictures on rivals don't hurt either

 
I don't know, Pelini has always been pretty tight about his practices, so I don't really see this year as anything different or "him trying to hide something special".

And I agree with Bo about the depth chart. It's not really an issue until we at least get to fall practice. Spring is not really about depth charts...at least it shouldn't be, in my opinion.

 
I think the fan interest in depth charts is understandable. Even if it's just the spring when we know it's not the final say, you still get a picture of who's up there vying for real playing time. Of course you can't make your final evaluation until the end of fall camp, but it's still something to talk about until then...

 
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