Husker_Power
Starter
NU Football: 'Different attitude' for Husker secondary
BY NICK RUBEK
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
LINK
Andre Jones heard it. He read it, too.
The criticisms of Nebraska's secondary used to get to him, the senior says. But not anymore.
Jones and fellow cornerback Cortney Grixby took much of the heat for an NU secondary that struggled at times last season. They were too small to cover big-bodied receivers, people said. They'd be the Achilles' heel again if something didn't change.
"Something did change: We quit worrying about everything else and just worried about playing football," Jones said. "It's hard to sit here and say you don't think about it when you're getting just dogged through the media, because you are a human being and you do think about stuff like that. That's like life: You're going to have people that criticize even when you do good."
The 6-foot, 190-pound Jones is in the starting lineup again. Zack Bowman, a 2005 starter, is slowly returning from a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee after missing the entire 2006 season with a blown ACL in the left knee.
Bowman's injury took its toll on everyone, Jones said. "But we had to keep moving, trusting and believing that he'd come back, which he is."
Jones' troubles last season began in the week leading up to the USC game. He was quoted as saying, "When we beat USC . . ." setting off a media firestorm that didn't let up much when the Trojans beat NU 28-10.
"Last year was a learning experience for a lot of us," he said.
Later, the NU secondary was torched by Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. A defensive backfield that Jones said was still learning how to play together without its top player took the brunt of the blame.
"We watch film, we play the game," Grixby said. "People that don't play the game, they're not in the film room and don't see what goes on when the play happens and when the play breaks down. All they see is the final finish. They have their own perception."
Jones came to Nebraska highly regarded out of Fresno City Community College. His second and last go-round as a Husker is under way, and the Florida native says he's ready to make the most of it.
"Each day we get up, we don't get that day back," Jones said. "We've got to take it in stride, take everything we can learn and go with it and try to be productive with it. This year we have a different attitude about this team."
Both Grixby and Jones said there's been more emphasis on getting physical in the secondary, something most critics thought was lacking last season.
"We've been practicing, and busting our behinds in the summer," Jones said. "This year we want to be more physical out there. Make plays. That's what it all comes down to, bottom line. You've got to make plays out there regardless."
Jones said he's consciously taken on more of a leadership role in the secondary. Both he and Grixby said they're expecting "big things" out of their senior seasons. A quick scan of the schedule provides plenty of opportunity.
USC visits Lincoln Sept. 15. The Huskers host Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. They'll get Texas in Austin. But don't expect any big predictions out of Jones.
"There's not a day that goes by, a second of the day where we're not amped up," he said. "I've never been so proud to be a part of something like this.
"This is a new year."
BY NICK RUBEK
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
LINK
Andre Jones heard it. He read it, too.
The criticisms of Nebraska's secondary used to get to him, the senior says. But not anymore.
Jones and fellow cornerback Cortney Grixby took much of the heat for an NU secondary that struggled at times last season. They were too small to cover big-bodied receivers, people said. They'd be the Achilles' heel again if something didn't change.
"Something did change: We quit worrying about everything else and just worried about playing football," Jones said. "It's hard to sit here and say you don't think about it when you're getting just dogged through the media, because you are a human being and you do think about stuff like that. That's like life: You're going to have people that criticize even when you do good."
The 6-foot, 190-pound Jones is in the starting lineup again. Zack Bowman, a 2005 starter, is slowly returning from a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee after missing the entire 2006 season with a blown ACL in the left knee.
Bowman's injury took its toll on everyone, Jones said. "But we had to keep moving, trusting and believing that he'd come back, which he is."
Jones' troubles last season began in the week leading up to the USC game. He was quoted as saying, "When we beat USC . . ." setting off a media firestorm that didn't let up much when the Trojans beat NU 28-10.
"Last year was a learning experience for a lot of us," he said.
Later, the NU secondary was torched by Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. A defensive backfield that Jones said was still learning how to play together without its top player took the brunt of the blame.
"We watch film, we play the game," Grixby said. "People that don't play the game, they're not in the film room and don't see what goes on when the play happens and when the play breaks down. All they see is the final finish. They have their own perception."
Jones came to Nebraska highly regarded out of Fresno City Community College. His second and last go-round as a Husker is under way, and the Florida native says he's ready to make the most of it.
"Each day we get up, we don't get that day back," Jones said. "We've got to take it in stride, take everything we can learn and go with it and try to be productive with it. This year we have a different attitude about this team."
Both Grixby and Jones said there's been more emphasis on getting physical in the secondary, something most critics thought was lacking last season.
"We've been practicing, and busting our behinds in the summer," Jones said. "This year we want to be more physical out there. Make plays. That's what it all comes down to, bottom line. You've got to make plays out there regardless."
Jones said he's consciously taken on more of a leadership role in the secondary. Both he and Grixby said they're expecting "big things" out of their senior seasons. A quick scan of the schedule provides plenty of opportunity.
USC visits Lincoln Sept. 15. The Huskers host Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. They'll get Texas in Austin. But don't expect any big predictions out of Jones.
"There's not a day that goes by, a second of the day where we're not amped up," he said. "I've never been so proud to be a part of something like this.
"This is a new year."
.
