tattooedhusker
All-Conference
Offensive line works out the details
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
You hear “West Coast offense” and you might think “finesse.” Watching Nebraska’s spring practice this year, you think otherwise. “We want to be physical,” said Husker offensive line coach Dennis Wagner. “I think coach (Bill Callahan) is challenging our guys. We’ve tried to establish running the ball in every scrimmage and in everything we do. Run the ball. Run the ball. Run the ball.”
That mentality occasionally comes with a price, as Matt Slauson learned during practice Monday. About halfway through the workout, the starting right tackle suffered a black eye and a deep gash over his nose that required six stitches. He left practice for about 20 minutes to have the wound mended, then returned as if he had just gotten a drink of water as opposed to minor surgery.
“That’s a lineman’s way,” Slauson said with a smile.
Left tackle Chris Patrick, meanwhile, injured his right ankle in a scrimmage Saturday. It hurt like heck, he said. It was still sore Monday, but the junior practiced anyway.
Why not take a day off?
“Offensive linemen can’t do that,” said Patrick, smiling. “Maybe quarterbacks do that, and running backs. But not offensive linemen.”
Especially not when Nebraska is working to ingrain a rugged mentality into its offensive unit. Wagner said the Huskers are striving to be regarded as a hard-nosed, physical outfit across the board as they prepare for Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. Red-White Game at Memorial Stadium.
“You want to be known for something,” Wagner said. “We want Nebraska to be known for being a physical football team. And that’s the great part of our offense. We want to be able to pass and run. (But) if you can run the ball, it opens a lot more doors. We didn’t feel we ran the ball effectively last year, especially early in the season and midseason.
“The last three or four games, we had better numbers. But we can’t afford to wait. For us to be the kind of team we want to be this season, we have to establish a running game right away.”
Nebraska last season finished 107th nationally in rushing offense at 96.0 yards per game. Perhaps more telling, the Huskers were 101st in fourth-down efficiency (7-for-19, 36.8 percent). On fourth down, gaining tough yards often becomes paramount.
Callahan hasn’t exactly eschewed the run in his first two seasons at Nebraska. In 2004, the Huskers actually ran 56.1 percent of the time and passed on 43.9 percent of the plays. Last season, the Huskers’ run/pass ratio was 48.6/51.4.
In neither season did Nebraska receive consistent offensive line play.
“Obviously, we have a lot to work on and improve on,” Wagner said. “But when you run the football, you’re not going to have 50-yard runs every time. We’re talking to our guys about consistency. That means no tackles for losses. For every 1- or 2-yard gain, maybe there is a big run in there.
“We’re developing. That’s what spring ball is all about.”
Nebraska returns two full-time starters from last season’s O-line, center Kurt Mann and guard/center Greg Austin. Sophomore tackles Lydon Murtha and Slauson started three times late in the season and Patrick twice.
Mann, entering his third season as a starter, is sitting out spring drills following shoulder surgery. In his absence, Nebraska has struggled at times at center this spring.
“Center play is where we really have to become more consistent this spring,” Wagner said.
In Monday’s practice, for instance, Nebraska twice botched center-quarterback exchanges in the red zone.
Through the first seven spring practices, Austin, the starter at left guard last season, handled the bulk of first-string center duty. In the last five practices, junior Brett Byford, sophomore Andy Christensen and freshman Jacob Hickman have shared duty.
Junior Jordan Picou, limited this spring to no-contact work because of a shoulder injury, could be a factor at center come fall.
“There are high expectations for Jordan Picou,” Wagner said.
At tackle, Patrick and Murtha have taken the majority of repetitions on the left side, while Slauson anchors the right side ahead of junior college transfer Victory Haines.
At the guard positions, Austin, Christensen and sophomore Mike Huff typically alternate with the first string, while junior Brock Pasteur and redshirt freshman Rodney Picou work with the second unit. Hickman lately has jumped into the reserve guard fray.
“We’re getting better every day, protection-wise and running game-wise,” Patrick said. “I think it’s a night-and-day difference from last year’s spring football. I think guys are more confident. They know the playbook. It’s been the same offense now for the third straight spring. Guys are playing hard and fast.”
Wagner emphasized that competition for playing time will continue into fall camp, when five newcomers arrive, including transfer Carl Nicks.
“Your confidence had better be high, and you better be playing at a high level,” Wagner said. “If you’re not, somebody could take your spot.”
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
You hear “West Coast offense” and you might think “finesse.” Watching Nebraska’s spring practice this year, you think otherwise. “We want to be physical,” said Husker offensive line coach Dennis Wagner. “I think coach (Bill Callahan) is challenging our guys. We’ve tried to establish running the ball in every scrimmage and in everything we do. Run the ball. Run the ball. Run the ball.”
That mentality occasionally comes with a price, as Matt Slauson learned during practice Monday. About halfway through the workout, the starting right tackle suffered a black eye and a deep gash over his nose that required six stitches. He left practice for about 20 minutes to have the wound mended, then returned as if he had just gotten a drink of water as opposed to minor surgery.
“That’s a lineman’s way,” Slauson said with a smile.
Left tackle Chris Patrick, meanwhile, injured his right ankle in a scrimmage Saturday. It hurt like heck, he said. It was still sore Monday, but the junior practiced anyway.
Why not take a day off?
“Offensive linemen can’t do that,” said Patrick, smiling. “Maybe quarterbacks do that, and running backs. But not offensive linemen.”
Especially not when Nebraska is working to ingrain a rugged mentality into its offensive unit. Wagner said the Huskers are striving to be regarded as a hard-nosed, physical outfit across the board as they prepare for Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. Red-White Game at Memorial Stadium.
“You want to be known for something,” Wagner said. “We want Nebraska to be known for being a physical football team. And that’s the great part of our offense. We want to be able to pass and run. (But) if you can run the ball, it opens a lot more doors. We didn’t feel we ran the ball effectively last year, especially early in the season and midseason.
“The last three or four games, we had better numbers. But we can’t afford to wait. For us to be the kind of team we want to be this season, we have to establish a running game right away.”
Nebraska last season finished 107th nationally in rushing offense at 96.0 yards per game. Perhaps more telling, the Huskers were 101st in fourth-down efficiency (7-for-19, 36.8 percent). On fourth down, gaining tough yards often becomes paramount.
Callahan hasn’t exactly eschewed the run in his first two seasons at Nebraska. In 2004, the Huskers actually ran 56.1 percent of the time and passed on 43.9 percent of the plays. Last season, the Huskers’ run/pass ratio was 48.6/51.4.
In neither season did Nebraska receive consistent offensive line play.
“Obviously, we have a lot to work on and improve on,” Wagner said. “But when you run the football, you’re not going to have 50-yard runs every time. We’re talking to our guys about consistency. That means no tackles for losses. For every 1- or 2-yard gain, maybe there is a big run in there.
“We’re developing. That’s what spring ball is all about.”
Nebraska returns two full-time starters from last season’s O-line, center Kurt Mann and guard/center Greg Austin. Sophomore tackles Lydon Murtha and Slauson started three times late in the season and Patrick twice.
Mann, entering his third season as a starter, is sitting out spring drills following shoulder surgery. In his absence, Nebraska has struggled at times at center this spring.
“Center play is where we really have to become more consistent this spring,” Wagner said.
In Monday’s practice, for instance, Nebraska twice botched center-quarterback exchanges in the red zone.
Through the first seven spring practices, Austin, the starter at left guard last season, handled the bulk of first-string center duty. In the last five practices, junior Brett Byford, sophomore Andy Christensen and freshman Jacob Hickman have shared duty.
Junior Jordan Picou, limited this spring to no-contact work because of a shoulder injury, could be a factor at center come fall.
“There are high expectations for Jordan Picou,” Wagner said.
At tackle, Patrick and Murtha have taken the majority of repetitions on the left side, while Slauson anchors the right side ahead of junior college transfer Victory Haines.
At the guard positions, Austin, Christensen and sophomore Mike Huff typically alternate with the first string, while junior Brock Pasteur and redshirt freshman Rodney Picou work with the second unit. Hickman lately has jumped into the reserve guard fray.
“We’re getting better every day, protection-wise and running game-wise,” Patrick said. “I think it’s a night-and-day difference from last year’s spring football. I think guys are more confident. They know the playbook. It’s been the same offense now for the third straight spring. Guys are playing hard and fast.”
Wagner emphasized that competition for playing time will continue into fall camp, when five newcomers arrive, including transfer Carl Nicks.
“Your confidence had better be high, and you better be playing at a high level,” Wagner said. “If you’re not, somebody could take your spot.”
