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Offensive tackle
NU offensive line will look to transfers for immediate help
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
With the beginning of spring football practice a month away, Nebraska offensive line coach Dennis Wagner is nowhere near ready to set his starting rotation for the 2006 season.
However, this much is clear: Wagner is expecting immediate help from two junior college transfers in the Huskers’ 2006 recruiting class.
“I’m expecting Victory Haines to challenge the returning tackles for a starting position,” Wagner said Friday of the 6-foot-7, 288-pound player from Snow College in Utah.
Regarding 6-5, 325-pound Carl Nicks, Wagner said, “I’m expecting him to break into the lineup. But he won’t be here until May, so he won’t have the advantage Victory has in being here already.”
Nicks — who could play tackle or guard, Wagner said — currently is taking courses at Hartnell (Calif.) Junior College. Haines is taking classes at Nebraska and will be on hand for the March 22 start of spring practice.
Other tidbits from Wagner:
Nebraska, which finished with an 8-4 record last season, lost to graduation starters Brandon Koch at guard and Seppo Evwaraye at tackle. The Huskers last season finished 96th nationally in total offense and allowed 38 sacks after surrendering only 16 in 2004.
Nebraska currently is in the midst of its winter-conditioning program, during which coaches are banned from putting their players through technique-related drills.
“The players can get better physically, but with the technical aspect there’s not much you can do,” said Wagner, noting he’s allowed to have one 45-minute film session each week with players.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
NU offensive line will look to transfers for immediate help
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
With the beginning of spring football practice a month away, Nebraska offensive line coach Dennis Wagner is nowhere near ready to set his starting rotation for the 2006 season.
However, this much is clear: Wagner is expecting immediate help from two junior college transfers in the Huskers’ 2006 recruiting class.
“I’m expecting Victory Haines to challenge the returning tackles for a starting position,” Wagner said Friday of the 6-foot-7, 288-pound player from Snow College in Utah.
Regarding 6-5, 325-pound Carl Nicks, Wagner said, “I’m expecting him to break into the lineup. But he won’t be here until May, so he won’t have the advantage Victory has in being here already.”
Nicks — who could play tackle or guard, Wagner said — currently is taking courses at Hartnell (Calif.) Junior College. Haines is taking classes at Nebraska and will be on hand for the March 22 start of spring practice.
Other tidbits from Wagner:
- In addition to starting center Kurt Mann (shoulder), three other offensive linemen will be sidelined by injuries during the spring: Guard Jordan Picou (shoulder), tackle Newton Lingenfelter (shoulder) and center/guard Brett Byford (groin). All four are expected to be cleared for preseason camp in August.
- Sophomore-to-be Matt Slauson, who started the final two games in 2005 at right tackle, will shift to guard during the spring, in part to allow Haines to get plenty of repetitions at tackle.
- With Mann sidelined, senior-to-be Greg Austin will shift his focus from guard to center in the spring. This is interesting in part because Austin is left-handed and Mann right-handed, creating a significant adjustment for the quarterbacks. Austin started 10 games at left guard last season while also serving as backup center.
- Both Haines and sophomore-to-be Lydon Murtha will spend the spring alternating between left tackle and right tackle, or “flopping,” as Wagner calls it. Junior-to-be Chris Patrick, who started the last two games of 2005 at left tackle, will hold down that position, at least in the spring. Murtha was a three-game starter last year.
- Sophomore-to-be Andy Christensen, who had moved into a starting role at guard early last August before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, has recovered well and is again expected to challenge for a starting role. Among others expected to challenge for playing time at guard in the spring are Mike Huff, Brock Pasteur and Craig Roark.
- Jacob Hickman, a 2005 grayshirt, will play only center. He showed good aggressiveness and a good attitude after joining the team in December for Alamo Bowl practices, Wagner said.
Nebraska, which finished with an 8-4 record last season, lost to graduation starters Brandon Koch at guard and Seppo Evwaraye at tackle. The Huskers last season finished 96th nationally in total offense and allowed 38 sacks after surrendering only 16 in 2004.
Nebraska currently is in the midst of its winter-conditioning program, during which coaches are banned from putting their players through technique-related drills.
“The players can get better physically, but with the technical aspect there’s not much you can do,” said Wagner, noting he’s allowed to have one 45-minute film session each week with players.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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