From: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=38&u_sid=2009735
NU Notes: Ross kept head up despite bad day
BY RICH KAIPUST
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINCOLN - It didn't take long before Cory Ross found out what goes along with being a captain.
The Nebraska I-back lost fumbles in both halves Saturday night, including one inside the Maine 10-yard line. It would have been easy for the senior to drop his head and feel sorry for himself during the 25-7 win.
Instead, Ross went over to talk to the Husker offensive linemen.
"I just told them they were doing a great job and that was on me, and I would take full responsibility for that," Ross said.
"Most people were shocked, but I was shocked the most. But it happens to everybody. I just didn't want those guys to see me down and have everybody else get down, and lose focus on what we were trying to do."
Ross' second-quarter fumble came on first-and-goal from the 5, when he didn't tuck away the ball before the safety "came out of nowhere" and hit him. His fourth-quarter fumble came at the end of a 30-yard run.
"Cory's just been spectacular all through fall camp," NU offensive guard Greg Austin said. "It was just something that happened, like Peyton Manning throwing three interceptions or something like that. It's out of the norm."
Taylor enjoys violent baptism
The green jersey came off and, inevitably, NU quarterback Zac Taylor finally took some punishment Saturday night. Even liked it a little bit.
"There was once or twice that I felt like they got a pretty good shot in on me," Taylor said. "It was really my fault. One time I missed a check that I should have made, and the offensive linemen just flat out couldn't protect that many guys. One of them I just held on to the ball too long and tried to run."
Taylor wore the green jersey in preseason camp that signified he wasn't to be hit. Maine was under no such orders, sacking him twice and hurrying him on some other throws.
Asked if he considered himself a mobile quarterback, Taylor cracked: "That's probably not the first way I'd describe myself."
Taylor said he's more comfortable dropping pack, but said he could operate outside the pocket if necessary.
"I'm not just extremely slow, where it's going to kill me," Taylor said. "But if I had to choose, I'm more comfortable throwing from the pocket."
No change on special teams
Coach Bill Callahan said Nebraska won't re-evaluate who plays on special teams after Steve Octavien broke his left leg on a punt unit vs. Maine.
Octavien was injured on Cortney Grixby's 14-yard return early in the second quarter. The junior college transfer had started at weakside linebacker and made four tackles in the first quarter.
"We play to win," Callahan said. "We've got 11 opportunities and we want to put our best players on the field."
Bradenbaugh moves up
Octavien's injury forced a slight move on the Husker defensive depth chart, where sophomore Lance Brandenburgh is now listed No. 2 at weakside linebacker behind Bo Ruud.
Brandenburgh and Corey McKeon were battling at middle linebacker until Brandenburgh was injured midway through camp. McKeon was backed up by freshman Phillip Dillard on Saturday night.
NU Notes: Ross kept head up despite bad day
BY RICH KAIPUST
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINCOLN - It didn't take long before Cory Ross found out what goes along with being a captain.
The Nebraska I-back lost fumbles in both halves Saturday night, including one inside the Maine 10-yard line. It would have been easy for the senior to drop his head and feel sorry for himself during the 25-7 win.
Instead, Ross went over to talk to the Husker offensive linemen.
"I just told them they were doing a great job and that was on me, and I would take full responsibility for that," Ross said.
"Most people were shocked, but I was shocked the most. But it happens to everybody. I just didn't want those guys to see me down and have everybody else get down, and lose focus on what we were trying to do."
Ross' second-quarter fumble came on first-and-goal from the 5, when he didn't tuck away the ball before the safety "came out of nowhere" and hit him. His fourth-quarter fumble came at the end of a 30-yard run.
"Cory's just been spectacular all through fall camp," NU offensive guard Greg Austin said. "It was just something that happened, like Peyton Manning throwing three interceptions or something like that. It's out of the norm."
Taylor enjoys violent baptism
The green jersey came off and, inevitably, NU quarterback Zac Taylor finally took some punishment Saturday night. Even liked it a little bit.
"There was once or twice that I felt like they got a pretty good shot in on me," Taylor said. "It was really my fault. One time I missed a check that I should have made, and the offensive linemen just flat out couldn't protect that many guys. One of them I just held on to the ball too long and tried to run."
Taylor wore the green jersey in preseason camp that signified he wasn't to be hit. Maine was under no such orders, sacking him twice and hurrying him on some other throws.
Asked if he considered himself a mobile quarterback, Taylor cracked: "That's probably not the first way I'd describe myself."
Taylor said he's more comfortable dropping pack, but said he could operate outside the pocket if necessary.
"I'm not just extremely slow, where it's going to kill me," Taylor said. "But if I had to choose, I'm more comfortable throwing from the pocket."
No change on special teams
Coach Bill Callahan said Nebraska won't re-evaluate who plays on special teams after Steve Octavien broke his left leg on a punt unit vs. Maine.
Octavien was injured on Cortney Grixby's 14-yard return early in the second quarter. The junior college transfer had started at weakside linebacker and made four tackles in the first quarter.
"We play to win," Callahan said. "We've got 11 opportunities and we want to put our best players on the field."
Bradenbaugh moves up
Octavien's injury forced a slight move on the Husker defensive depth chart, where sophomore Lance Brandenburgh is now listed No. 2 at weakside linebacker behind Bo Ruud.
Brandenburgh and Corey McKeon were battling at middle linebacker until Brandenburgh was injured midway through camp. McKeon was backed up by freshman Phillip Dillard on Saturday night.