If we had to play today! We would not have a back! Helu is in a green jersey and when Bo says he is fine.....
At the time of the TT game that may not be the case, but we really need more than one back with game experience.
If I was Leach I would game plan for this weakness.
The word of the month is FINE
http://www.omaha.com/article/20091013/BIGR...139958/0/BIGRED
Five backs battle for backup spot after Burkhead injury
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Filed by Mitch Sherman at 9:54 p.m.
Wrapping up a few items involving Nebraska's altered I-back picture at the end of the first day after backup Rex Burkhead went down with a foot injury:
- The injury is a broken bone, according to running backs coach Tim Beck. It happened during a non-contact situation Monday in practice. Though Beck and coach Bo Pelini offered nothing exact on the expected length of Burkhead's absence, it sounds like this will keep Burkhead out into November and perhaps through the end of the regular season. The true freshman wore a boot on his right foot today in practice and walked with crutches.
It's a shame, according to Beck.
“He was really playing well,” the coach said. “I was really proud of the way he was performing and handling all of the situations in games.”
- There's no reason for concern over the green, no-contact jersey worn in practice today by starting I-back Roy Helu. It was not necessary, Beck and offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said.
- I-backs Marcus Mendoza, Lester Ward, Austin Jones, Collins Okafor and Dontrayevous Robinson started today with a clean slate in the race to replace Burkhead. Beck said he's looking for at least two players to emerge. That way, if the Huskers endure another injury at I-back, they'll not need to face another situation like this.
“I think all of them upped their game,” Beck said. “They all know. I met with all of those guys and let them know it's going to be open. The best player will have the best opportunity. Maybe we'll have one. Maybe we'll have two. Maybe it will be all of them.”
Watson said the Huskers aren't concerned about finding a replacement.
“The next guy gets ready,” he said. “This is called life. You move forward. We don't panic about stuff like that. We have the next guy. We have more than two guys on scholarship. We're in good shape, so that's why we don't worry about it.”
- Mendoza said he did not travel to Missouri as he recovered from a bout with the H1N1 virus. “I had the swine flu,” he said. “I'm good now. It's over. I'm fine.”
A group of Huskers, including Helu, stayed home until Thursday morning. No information was made available on their conditions.
- Watson said the Huskers will not implement a run package for freshman quarterback Cody Green to take some of the rushing load away from Helu in Burkhead's absence. Watson said Green needs to focus on his job as the backup QB.
“No, no, no, no,” Watson said. “We need him. He's got to be there to help us win games by passing the ball. That's important.”
Green has rushed six times for 79 yards and two touchdowns this year. But according to Watson, Green's running ability is “average, in terms of his overall speed.”
“He's kind of a nifty runner, kind of like Joe (Ganz),” Watson said.
As for his progression at quarterback, Green is still working out some rough edges, Watson said.
“He's a true freshman,” the coach said. “He's getting better, but he's got some things he's got to improve on before we give him the keys to the car.”
At the time of the TT game that may not be the case, but we really need more than one back with game experience.
If I was Leach I would game plan for this weakness.
The word of the month is FINE
http://www.omaha.com/article/20091013/BIGR...139958/0/BIGRED
Five backs battle for backup spot after Burkhead injury
« Blog - Sports Writers
Digg Newsvine del.icio.us Reddit Facebook Twitter
Filed by Mitch Sherman at 9:54 p.m.
Wrapping up a few items involving Nebraska's altered I-back picture at the end of the first day after backup Rex Burkhead went down with a foot injury:
- The injury is a broken bone, according to running backs coach Tim Beck. It happened during a non-contact situation Monday in practice. Though Beck and coach Bo Pelini offered nothing exact on the expected length of Burkhead's absence, it sounds like this will keep Burkhead out into November and perhaps through the end of the regular season. The true freshman wore a boot on his right foot today in practice and walked with crutches.
It's a shame, according to Beck.
“He was really playing well,” the coach said. “I was really proud of the way he was performing and handling all of the situations in games.”
- There's no reason for concern over the green, no-contact jersey worn in practice today by starting I-back Roy Helu. It was not necessary, Beck and offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said.
- I-backs Marcus Mendoza, Lester Ward, Austin Jones, Collins Okafor and Dontrayevous Robinson started today with a clean slate in the race to replace Burkhead. Beck said he's looking for at least two players to emerge. That way, if the Huskers endure another injury at I-back, they'll not need to face another situation like this.
“I think all of them upped their game,” Beck said. “They all know. I met with all of those guys and let them know it's going to be open. The best player will have the best opportunity. Maybe we'll have one. Maybe we'll have two. Maybe it will be all of them.”
Watson said the Huskers aren't concerned about finding a replacement.
“The next guy gets ready,” he said. “This is called life. You move forward. We don't panic about stuff like that. We have the next guy. We have more than two guys on scholarship. We're in good shape, so that's why we don't worry about it.”
- Mendoza said he did not travel to Missouri as he recovered from a bout with the H1N1 virus. “I had the swine flu,” he said. “I'm good now. It's over. I'm fine.”
A group of Huskers, including Helu, stayed home until Thursday morning. No information was made available on their conditions.
- Watson said the Huskers will not implement a run package for freshman quarterback Cody Green to take some of the rushing load away from Helu in Burkhead's absence. Watson said Green needs to focus on his job as the backup QB.
“No, no, no, no,” Watson said. “We need him. He's got to be there to help us win games by passing the ball. That's important.”
Green has rushed six times for 79 yards and two touchdowns this year. But according to Watson, Green's running ability is “average, in terms of his overall speed.”
“He's kind of a nifty runner, kind of like Joe (Ganz),” Watson said.
As for his progression at quarterback, Green is still working out some rough edges, Watson said.
“He's a true freshman,” the coach said. “He's getting better, but he's got some things he's got to improve on before we give him the keys to the car.”
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