Carriker hopes struggles are over
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
He's arguably Nebraska's most intimidating player, in terms of size and athleticism. In fact, he reminds you of Ivan Drago, the Russian boxer in the movie "Rocky IV," the guy with muscles in his face.
Looking at 6-foot-6, 280-pound Adam Carriker, a Nebraska defensive end seemingly sculptured from granite, you might think he's indestructible. Listening to Carriker as he discusses his No. 1 goal for the 2005 season, you learn otherwise.
"I just want to stay healthy," he said. "Everything revolves around that."
Carriker, a junior, has suffered ankle injuries early in each of the past two seasons. He injured his left ankle in the third game of the 2003 season, missed three games, then became productive late in the season. Last year, he missed only one game (a win at Pittsburgh in game three), but said he never fully recovered after suffering an injury to his right ankle.
He finished last season with 36 tackles, including three sacks, and Nebraska ended with a 5-6 record.
"I couldn't come off the ball nearly as fast as I wanted," Carriker said. "I just wasn't fast. I lost quickness. I couldn't cut. When I got double-teamed, it affected me a lot because I couldn't brace on it."
Carriker's frustration and lack of explosiveness last year was a microcosm for a defense that was, well, shaky. Nebraska coach Bill Callahan had hoped to lean on his defense as players on offense adapted to his West Coast offense. That notion was scrapped for good in a 60-point loss in game five at Texas Tech. The brace had been shattered.
Nebraska seeks to put last season's struggles in the past when it opens preseason camp Thursday with 12 returning starters, including five on defense. The opener is set for Sept. 3 at home against Maine.
"I think we'll do better," said Carriker, who has recovered fully. "I'm curious to see how much better. Every team has talent. It becomes a matter of how everyone on your team meshes."
As Nebraska prepares for camp, fans wonder exactly how many newcomers from the touted 2005 recruiting class will contribute immediately. Carriker said you can't get a completely accurate read on a young player until you see how he responds in a game.
Carriker is arguably the most talented player along an experienced Nebraska defensive line. Indeed, the d-line is one of the team's deepest positions. The Huskers feature returning starters in senior interior linemen Titus Adams and Le Kevin Smith. In addition to Carriker, NU's group of ends includes battle-tested Jay Moore and Wali Muhammad.
Redshirt freshmen Adam Blankenship and Ty Steinkuhler likely will compete for playing time, as will incoming freshmen Zach Potter and Barry Turner and junior-college transfer Justin Tomerlin, part of a 28-player recruiting class.
"We brought in a lot of new guys, and a lot of them arrived early this summer," Carriker said. "I haven't seen anyone not fit in. People worked hard. They showed up on time. As soon as 7 a.m. hit, we were working."
Of course, players on virtually every campus throughout the nation are talking about how hard they worked this summer.
Any bravado by Nebraska players vanishes as they reflect on last season. Callahan said his team learned to deal with adversity. He hopes a tight and lasting bond was formed between what was a new coaching staff and its players.
"I have always contended that players really don't care how much you know until they know how much you care," Callahan said during Big 12 media days. "That's really been the case for us as a coaching staff and as a team — coming together and having that bond become a little bit tighter as you move through the process."
Carriker, meanwhile, hopes to remain healthy as Nebraska moves through the season. As the Huskers' "base" end, he typically lines up over a tackle and often is double-teamed, helping to keep blockers from reaching linebackers, so they can make plays.
"It's kind of like being an offensive lineman," Carriker said. "Offensive linemen do all of the work, but it's not them that gets the Heisman. That's OK, though, as long I'm helping us win."
You come up with cute little insults like gutless Husker? Not even going to bother with you anymore, you have shown your level of maturity
