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NEBRASKA FOOTBALL: Reed in a Groove
Sophomore tight end emerges at NU's best deep threat
by Samuel McKewon
October 26, 2010
Kyler Reed sees opposing linebackers spotting him on the field, paying him a rare compliment for a situational tight end.
“In certain formations I'll hear them calling out my number,” the Nebraska sophomore said Tuesday.
That's because Reed's five receptions have three touchdowns and a 34.8-yard average attached to them. Shades of Tracey Wistrom and Matt Herian, former NU tight ends who excelled in run-heavy offenses. The 2010 version of the Huskers' attack relies heavily on the ground game, too. And Reed, at 6-3, 230 pounds, has the speed to blow by opposing safeties who freeze on Taylor Martinez's playaction fakes.
"He's a unique player,” offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said. “He's a match up issue for any defense that tries to match him.”
Linebackers aren't fast enough. Neither are safeties. And in Nebraska's 51-41 win over Oklahoma State, Reed blew by a cornerback en route to a 41-yard touchdown reception.
“He's an exceptional athlete,” Watson said. “He has great speed. He has athleticism and ball skills.”
Naturally, head coach Bo Pelini, who loves stockpiling talent for his defense, tried to convert Reed in December 2008. As a redshirt, he worked with the scout team defense, helping prepare the Huskers for Clemson's defense in the Gator Bowl. Reed played a nickel back position similar to Eric Hagg's Peso role.
“I was blitzing a lot and covering guys out in space a lot, which is what I really liked,” Reed said. “Then once I got back to being a traditional linebacker for our package is when I was less comfortable.”
After a month, he asked to switch back to tight end.
“I missed offense,” said Reed, who played running back in high school. “I felt at home on offense.”
Watson jokingly chalked it up to “prayer.” Tight ends coach Ron Brown also fought hard to keep Reed at tight end. The move definitely seemed right after Reed ripped off a long touchdown reception in the 2009 spring game.
But he struggled last year at catching balls in traffic. He got hurt at the end of a 22-yard reception at Baylor and missed time. He caught six passes for 54 yards.
In spring 2010, coaches saw Reed turn a corner. He opened up about his struggles. He bought all the way in to the scheme and the coaching.
"He's grown up,” Watson said. “It's just that simple. Every player in their career has a time when the lights go on, and everything that you have been talking to them about becomes important, and they start seeing why it's important. That's a key. He's really come on.”
Case in point: Reed's second grab in the OSU game, a third-down catch on NU's final touchdown drive. An OSU defender knocked Reed off his route; he turned and saw Martinez sidestepping a defender and looking to pass.
“It was instinct,” Reed said. “We work on scrambling a little bit each week. It's my job to find a hole the defense.”
A direct route to the end zone doesn't hurt.
NEBRASKA FOOTBALL: Reed in a Groove
Sophomore tight end emerges at NU's best deep threat
by Samuel McKewon
October 26, 2010
Kyler Reed sees opposing linebackers spotting him on the field, paying him a rare compliment for a situational tight end.
“In certain formations I'll hear them calling out my number,” the Nebraska sophomore said Tuesday.
That's because Reed's five receptions have three touchdowns and a 34.8-yard average attached to them. Shades of Tracey Wistrom and Matt Herian, former NU tight ends who excelled in run-heavy offenses. The 2010 version of the Huskers' attack relies heavily on the ground game, too. And Reed, at 6-3, 230 pounds, has the speed to blow by opposing safeties who freeze on Taylor Martinez's playaction fakes.
"He's a unique player,” offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said. “He's a match up issue for any defense that tries to match him.”
Linebackers aren't fast enough. Neither are safeties. And in Nebraska's 51-41 win over Oklahoma State, Reed blew by a cornerback en route to a 41-yard touchdown reception.
“He's an exceptional athlete,” Watson said. “He has great speed. He has athleticism and ball skills.”
Naturally, head coach Bo Pelini, who loves stockpiling talent for his defense, tried to convert Reed in December 2008. As a redshirt, he worked with the scout team defense, helping prepare the Huskers for Clemson's defense in the Gator Bowl. Reed played a nickel back position similar to Eric Hagg's Peso role.
“I was blitzing a lot and covering guys out in space a lot, which is what I really liked,” Reed said. “Then once I got back to being a traditional linebacker for our package is when I was less comfortable.”
After a month, he asked to switch back to tight end.
“I missed offense,” said Reed, who played running back in high school. “I felt at home on offense.”
Watson jokingly chalked it up to “prayer.” Tight ends coach Ron Brown also fought hard to keep Reed at tight end. The move definitely seemed right after Reed ripped off a long touchdown reception in the 2009 spring game.
But he struggled last year at catching balls in traffic. He got hurt at the end of a 22-yard reception at Baylor and missed time. He caught six passes for 54 yards.
In spring 2010, coaches saw Reed turn a corner. He opened up about his struggles. He bought all the way in to the scheme and the coaching.
"He's grown up,” Watson said. “It's just that simple. Every player in their career has a time when the lights go on, and everything that you have been talking to them about becomes important, and they start seeing why it's important. That's a key. He's really come on.”
Case in point: Reed's second grab in the OSU game, a third-down catch on NU's final touchdown drive. An OSU defender knocked Reed off his route; he turned and saw Martinez sidestepping a defender and looking to pass.
“It was instinct,” Reed said. “We work on scrambling a little bit each week. It's my job to find a hole the defense.”
A direct route to the end zone doesn't hurt.