Husker_Power
Starter
By STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Thursday, Aug 16, 2007 - 12:06:53 am CDT
LINK
Andy Christensen sported a nasty gash across his chin that was partially covered by a sweat-soaked bandage that was peeling away from the wound.
“Just got in a little practice altercation,” the Nebraska junior offensive guard said Tuesday with a shrug of his shoulders.
“It’s just football.”
Not that Christensen takes football for granted. Especially not lately. He injured a hamstring a couple weeks before fall camp and missed the first five days of drills last week before returning Saturday. Five days may not seem like much to most people. But it can feel like an eternity when you’re a starter for a Husker offensive line that feels a palpable sense of urgency as the 2007 season fast approaches.
“I feel like our offensive line is going to be one of the key elements to the season,” said Christensen, one of four returning starters on the Nebraska o-line. “I need to be out there with the guys because we need to get acclimated with each other again. I mean, we have great chemistry from the spring.
“I think this season you’ll see a unit that works well together,” he added. “A unit that communicates and gets things done. We’re planning on, first of all, running the football to set up the pass. We’re going to get out and get after people.”
Christensen, projected to start at left guard, came back strong from his injury, said Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson.
“You can tell he’s in the game,” Watson said. “Andy working beside (left tackle) Carl Nicks is a good deal for us.”
Christensen appears strong and quick, Watson said.
“He’s a real hard spot on that line.”
These days it’s hard to find soft spots in Nebraska’s offensive line. The Huskers are big, strong and athletic across the front. The line’s depth has improved markedly in the last three years. And their chemistry has improved as veterans have grown in the system, Christensen said. He said that, right before a snap, he can simply glance at a fellow lineman to understand blocking assignments for that particular play.
“Dealing with anybody you know well, like your friends (off the field), you can predict what they’re going to do in most any situation,” Christensen said. “It helps playing with these guys for a long period of time.”
Christensen said Nebraska’s o-line veterans — three juniors and two seniors are projected to start — are being asked to master more complicated techniques and assignments compared to 2004, when Bill Callahan took over as head coach and installed a West Coast system.
“In 2004, when I first got here, we were in a lot of just slide gap protections,” Christensen said. “Now we’re getting back in the shotgun. We’re doing a lot of different things. We’re spreading out the offense.”
Given a choice, Christensen prefers run blocking to pass blocking. He’s always been that way, he said.
“I just like getting after people, getting to the second level (of the defense),” he said. “Pulling is probably one of my favorite things to do. You get out there and run with the running backs. And there’s nothing better than coming up on a little defensive back and just blowing him up.
“But I definitely work hard with my pass blocking. With this West Coast offense, you have to be dynamic. Getting your hands up and getting them on the defender is the biggest key to pass blocking. If you don’t get your hands on him, you’re beat.”
Christensen said he can’t afford to relax, lest someone passes him on the depth chart.
“Jordan (Picou) and (Mike) Huff, they work just as hard as anybody out here,” Christensen said. “You can’t be complacent in college football these days. I mean, everything’s competitive.”
He expects the offensive line to be more than just competitive this season.
“We need to be the strength of the team,” Christensen said. “Every play starts with us. I mean, if we’re not strong, the offense won’t be strong as a unit. If we don’t do our jobs, it makes it really hard for the skill-position guys.”
Added Watson: “It’ll be fun, because we’re loaded with a lot of big people.”
Briefly
After having 10 practices in nine days, Callahan gave his team Wednesday off to get “recharged.” The Huskers open the season Sept. 1 against Nevada.
“Our players have been working extremely hard and pushing through some rigorous days,” he said, adding, “We also have a large number of players who are finishing up summer classes Thursday with exams, and we want to ensure they have a good amount of time to take care of their priorities in the classroom.”
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
Thursday, Aug 16, 2007 - 12:06:53 am CDT
LINK
Andy Christensen sported a nasty gash across his chin that was partially covered by a sweat-soaked bandage that was peeling away from the wound.
“Just got in a little practice altercation,” the Nebraska junior offensive guard said Tuesday with a shrug of his shoulders.
“It’s just football.”
Not that Christensen takes football for granted. Especially not lately. He injured a hamstring a couple weeks before fall camp and missed the first five days of drills last week before returning Saturday. Five days may not seem like much to most people. But it can feel like an eternity when you’re a starter for a Husker offensive line that feels a palpable sense of urgency as the 2007 season fast approaches.
“I feel like our offensive line is going to be one of the key elements to the season,” said Christensen, one of four returning starters on the Nebraska o-line. “I need to be out there with the guys because we need to get acclimated with each other again. I mean, we have great chemistry from the spring.
“I think this season you’ll see a unit that works well together,” he added. “A unit that communicates and gets things done. We’re planning on, first of all, running the football to set up the pass. We’re going to get out and get after people.”
Christensen, projected to start at left guard, came back strong from his injury, said Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson.
“You can tell he’s in the game,” Watson said. “Andy working beside (left tackle) Carl Nicks is a good deal for us.”
Christensen appears strong and quick, Watson said.
“He’s a real hard spot on that line.”
These days it’s hard to find soft spots in Nebraska’s offensive line. The Huskers are big, strong and athletic across the front. The line’s depth has improved markedly in the last three years. And their chemistry has improved as veterans have grown in the system, Christensen said. He said that, right before a snap, he can simply glance at a fellow lineman to understand blocking assignments for that particular play.
“Dealing with anybody you know well, like your friends (off the field), you can predict what they’re going to do in most any situation,” Christensen said. “It helps playing with these guys for a long period of time.”
Christensen said Nebraska’s o-line veterans — three juniors and two seniors are projected to start — are being asked to master more complicated techniques and assignments compared to 2004, when Bill Callahan took over as head coach and installed a West Coast system.
“In 2004, when I first got here, we were in a lot of just slide gap protections,” Christensen said. “Now we’re getting back in the shotgun. We’re doing a lot of different things. We’re spreading out the offense.”
Given a choice, Christensen prefers run blocking to pass blocking. He’s always been that way, he said.
“I just like getting after people, getting to the second level (of the defense),” he said. “Pulling is probably one of my favorite things to do. You get out there and run with the running backs. And there’s nothing better than coming up on a little defensive back and just blowing him up.
“But I definitely work hard with my pass blocking. With this West Coast offense, you have to be dynamic. Getting your hands up and getting them on the defender is the biggest key to pass blocking. If you don’t get your hands on him, you’re beat.”
Christensen said he can’t afford to relax, lest someone passes him on the depth chart.
“Jordan (Picou) and (Mike) Huff, they work just as hard as anybody out here,” Christensen said. “You can’t be complacent in college football these days. I mean, everything’s competitive.”
He expects the offensive line to be more than just competitive this season.
“We need to be the strength of the team,” Christensen said. “Every play starts with us. I mean, if we’re not strong, the offense won’t be strong as a unit. If we don’t do our jobs, it makes it really hard for the skill-position guys.”
Added Watson: “It’ll be fun, because we’re loaded with a lot of big people.”
Briefly
After having 10 practices in nine days, Callahan gave his team Wednesday off to get “recharged.” The Huskers open the season Sept. 1 against Nevada.
“Our players have been working extremely hard and pushing through some rigorous days,” he said, adding, “We also have a large number of players who are finishing up summer classes Thursday with exams, and we want to ensure they have a good amount of time to take care of their priorities in the classroom.”
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.