Dillard - "The Ice Man"

kramer

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Dillard takes it play by play

BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star

Friday, Aug 12, 2005 - 12:33:35 am CDT

It's often interesting to monitor how a week of preseason practice in a major college football program affects a true freshman's self-assurance.

Exhibit A: Phillip Dillard, a Nebraska freshman middle linebacker. He began preseason drills confident he could land a starting job. Eight days later, he's still confident. Still thinks he can start. But his tone has become more reserved. He's dialed down his expectations, if only slightly.

"It's been a little frustrating, I'd say," Dillard said after Thursday's practice.

 
very suprised that dilliard showed up overweight at 270 lbs.
Yeah, real surprising for a true freshman who has high hopes for starting at middle linebacker right away. Kennedy's got him back on track now and he is gonna kick butt.

 
265.... And not out of shape, too big. He worked too hard and didnt moderated his diet enough during the summer and gained about 15 lbs of muscle, which made him to big and unflexible to play linebacker, so he is eating differently now and is at about 255, still all muscle.

 
265.... And not out of shape, too big. He worked too hard and didnt moderated his diet enough during the summer and gained about 15 lbs of muscle, which made him to big and unflexible to play linebacker, so he is eating differently now and is at about 255, still all muscle.
Overweight does not equal fat necessarily. He was over the weight that the coaches wanted him at. A college middle linebacker at 255 running a 4.5-4.6 40 as a true freshman is an absolute beast. Most aren't quite that big and fast. 265-270 is probably a little bigger than he needed to be, can't wait to see this guy play!

 
he can run a 4.5-40. That would put him in the Carlos Polk size/speed catagory. I have been hearing repeatedly that Dillard is a "blow you up" player, and it sounds like he will be starting for sure on special teams.

 
I don't see him playing alot this year. Special teams mainly. I don't think he's smart enough to play this year personally.

 
I don't see him playing alot this year. Special teams mainly. I don't think he's smart enough to play this year personally.
What are you going by? Test scores or football smarts?

If you ask me he will play as much if not more then Ruud did his first year. If he is working with the 2nd team we will see plenty of time.IMO

 
I disagree entirely. According to every source I have heard, he is a dominating run stopper and is extemely efficient at blowing up the iso blocker, and that alone will get him in there on short yardage situations. I have also heard that in high school and army all american camp, most thought his strength was actually PASS coverage. If he can do both of these things, it will take him about half the season to fully envelop the play book, at which point he will start, but until then it will probably be situational playing time.

 
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