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NU looks to rebuild D-line
BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Tuesday, Dec 19, 2006 - 12:14:55 am CST
Zach Potter knew he’d get his chance to excel at defensive end when Adam Carriker graduated.
That opportunity first arose Saturday when Carriker was, well, graduating.
Carriker, a senior on the Nebraska football team, was receiving his diploma, and therefore was excused from practice.
Enter Potter, the seldom-used sophomore backup from Omaha. He took all of the practice snaps with the No. 1 defense.
When you’re playing behind a probable first-round NFL Draft pick, being No. 1, even in practice, is a big deal.
“It’s bittersweet, because you’re not getting the reps you might want (during the season),” Potter said, “but at the same time, you’re getting to learn from a first-class type of guy.”
Nebraska defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said the 6-foot-7, 285-pound Potter is a key player as the Huskers prepare to revamp their defensive line, which loses four senior starters after the Jan. 1 Cotton Bowl.
“Potter’s got to keep on coming around,” Cosgrove said. “He has to develop. He’s a big, strong guy. In another year, he’s going to continue to add strength.”
Of the four backups along this year’s defensive line, Potter has seen the least amount of playing time at his position. Sophomores Ndamukong Suh and Ty Steinkuhler have played ample snaps while providing quality depth inside. Sophomore defensive end Barry Turner, although his production dipped from his freshman season, still played a role as a third-down pass rusher.
That leaves Potter, who played in 12 games, primarily on special teams. He saw very little time behind Carriker, a first-team All-Big 12 selection.
So what does a guy in Potter’s position do? Watch, listen and learn.
Potter said he’s observed everything about Carriker, from studying his pass rush moves to how he practices and how he mentally prepares for games.
“I’ve learned so much about my style of play and what I need to work on,” Potter said. “I’ve got really close to Adam Carriker this year, on and off the field. He can teach you so many different things about the game. You know he’s going to be a top NFL Draft pick next year. There’s no better guy to learn from.”
Cosgrove is eager to see what Potter’s absorbed. He suspects, and hopes, he’ll see Potter take some big steps now that the pupil knows his time has finally arrived.
In fact, Cosgrove said he already saw positive signs in Saturday’s Carriker-less practice.
“As much as you talk about it as a coach, until it actually happens, it’s hard for a kid to be mentally repped (as a backup),” Cosgrove said. “You want them to. You drill it in them. But when it’s a guy’s time, that’s when you see guys step up the most.”
Cosgrove and new defensive line coach Buddy Wyatt will be looking for a variety of fresh faces to contribute in 2007. The Huskers need to replace Carriker and Jay Moore at defensive end and Barry Cryer and Ola Dagunduro at tackle.
The experience of Suh (15 tackles, seven for loss), Steinkuhler (18½ tackles) and Turner (14½ tackles) will help. But they’ll need backups.
Incoming recruits will get hard looks. Players who redshirted this season — Cosgrove said freshman defensive end Pierre Allen has been particularly impressive — will become more involved come spring.
Allen, freshmen defensive ends Mike Smith and Ben Martin, and defensive tackle Seth Jensen all redshirted. So did Brandon Johnson, a 6-3, 315-pound junior college transfer who will vie for a starting position inside. His emergence could mean Steinkuhler moves back to defensive end, where he began his career.
Among Nebraska’s orally-committed recruits for 2007 are three more defensive tackles, including junior college transfer Joseph Townsend and prep players Terrence Moore and Demetrious Davis.
“It’s not like we’ve got to start from scratch,” Cosgrove said. “And recruiting is going to be key. We’re going to need some guys to come in and step up.”
Along with some current guys, like Potter.
“It will be a fresh start for all of us,” Potter said, noting the openness of competition is magnified with a new position coach.
“We’ve got a lot to prove in the spring. All of us. We’ve got to start all over.”
NU looks to rebuild D-line
BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Tuesday, Dec 19, 2006 - 12:14:55 am CST
Zach Potter knew he’d get his chance to excel at defensive end when Adam Carriker graduated.
That opportunity first arose Saturday when Carriker was, well, graduating.
Carriker, a senior on the Nebraska football team, was receiving his diploma, and therefore was excused from practice.
Enter Potter, the seldom-used sophomore backup from Omaha. He took all of the practice snaps with the No. 1 defense.
When you’re playing behind a probable first-round NFL Draft pick, being No. 1, even in practice, is a big deal.
“It’s bittersweet, because you’re not getting the reps you might want (during the season),” Potter said, “but at the same time, you’re getting to learn from a first-class type of guy.”
Nebraska defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said the 6-foot-7, 285-pound Potter is a key player as the Huskers prepare to revamp their defensive line, which loses four senior starters after the Jan. 1 Cotton Bowl.
“Potter’s got to keep on coming around,” Cosgrove said. “He has to develop. He’s a big, strong guy. In another year, he’s going to continue to add strength.”
Of the four backups along this year’s defensive line, Potter has seen the least amount of playing time at his position. Sophomores Ndamukong Suh and Ty Steinkuhler have played ample snaps while providing quality depth inside. Sophomore defensive end Barry Turner, although his production dipped from his freshman season, still played a role as a third-down pass rusher.
That leaves Potter, who played in 12 games, primarily on special teams. He saw very little time behind Carriker, a first-team All-Big 12 selection.
So what does a guy in Potter’s position do? Watch, listen and learn.
Potter said he’s observed everything about Carriker, from studying his pass rush moves to how he practices and how he mentally prepares for games.
“I’ve learned so much about my style of play and what I need to work on,” Potter said. “I’ve got really close to Adam Carriker this year, on and off the field. He can teach you so many different things about the game. You know he’s going to be a top NFL Draft pick next year. There’s no better guy to learn from.”
Cosgrove is eager to see what Potter’s absorbed. He suspects, and hopes, he’ll see Potter take some big steps now that the pupil knows his time has finally arrived.
In fact, Cosgrove said he already saw positive signs in Saturday’s Carriker-less practice.
“As much as you talk about it as a coach, until it actually happens, it’s hard for a kid to be mentally repped (as a backup),” Cosgrove said. “You want them to. You drill it in them. But when it’s a guy’s time, that’s when you see guys step up the most.”
Cosgrove and new defensive line coach Buddy Wyatt will be looking for a variety of fresh faces to contribute in 2007. The Huskers need to replace Carriker and Jay Moore at defensive end and Barry Cryer and Ola Dagunduro at tackle.
The experience of Suh (15 tackles, seven for loss), Steinkuhler (18½ tackles) and Turner (14½ tackles) will help. But they’ll need backups.
Incoming recruits will get hard looks. Players who redshirted this season — Cosgrove said freshman defensive end Pierre Allen has been particularly impressive — will become more involved come spring.
Allen, freshmen defensive ends Mike Smith and Ben Martin, and defensive tackle Seth Jensen all redshirted. So did Brandon Johnson, a 6-3, 315-pound junior college transfer who will vie for a starting position inside. His emergence could mean Steinkuhler moves back to defensive end, where he began his career.
Among Nebraska’s orally-committed recruits for 2007 are three more defensive tackles, including junior college transfer Joseph Townsend and prep players Terrence Moore and Demetrious Davis.
“It’s not like we’ve got to start from scratch,” Cosgrove said. “And recruiting is going to be key. We’re going to need some guys to come in and step up.”
Along with some current guys, like Potter.
“It will be a fresh start for all of us,” Potter said, noting the openness of competition is magnified with a new position coach.
“We’ve got a lot to prove in the spring. All of us. We’ve got to start all over.”
