Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
NU's young offensive tackles have had to grow up fast
BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Friday, Dec 16, 2005 - 02:03:03 am CST
Nebraska offensive tackle Matt Slauson admits he expected little or no playing time this season.
That’s understandable, given Slauson is a true freshman. His reasoning becomes even clearer, though, when he shares this quick story:
“I remember the first time I went against (Adam) Carriker in fall camp,” Slauson said, referring to Nebraska’s starting defensive end. “He picked me up and threw me on the quarterback. I’m like, ‘Welcome to Nebraska.’ ”
Suffice it say, Slauson didn’t predict he’d have a starting role as Nebraska practiced for a bowl game. Yet today, that’s Slauson’s role as the Huskers prepare to face Michigan in the Alamo Bowl.
“He’s done well for a freshman,” Nebraska lineman Chris Patrick said. “He’s one of the better freshman linemen I’ve seen come through here that last couple of years. He’s big as a house. He’s aggressive, has good technique. He’s athletic for a big guy.”
Athletic, big ... and young.
In fact, Nebraska’s top three tackles entering the Dec. 28 bowl game are probably two freshmen and a sophomore. Senior Seppo Evwaraye could be in that mix, but he’s still recovering from stress fractures in his feet. He hasn’t been healthy since Oct. 29 against Oklahoma.
Senior Cornealius Fuamatu-Thomas also suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, meaning players like Slauson, Patrick and Lydon Murtha have had to grow up quickly.
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It’s not the most ideal situation, but experience now for those youngsters could pay off next season. The Huskers will need to replace Evwaraye, and Fuamatu-Thomas’ future is uncertain. He will miss spring practice, and his availability next fall depends on whether the NCAA grants him a medical hardship for missing most of 2004 with another injury.
“It’s a work in progress,” Nebraska offensive line coach Dennis Wagner said of his young tackles. “We continue to get better every day in practice. That’s the great part about going to a bowl game. Not only do you get to play in a bowl game, but you get extra practices to develop.”
The 6-foot-5, 340-pound Slauson started at right tackle against Kansas State and Colorado in place of Evwaraye. Murtha, a 6-7, 315-pound redshirt freshman, has made three starts at left tackle and seen extensive playing time throughout the season. But against Colorado, he was replaced by Patrick, a 6-4, 285-pound sophomore.
Before the K-State game, Patrick had played four snaps in his career, all against Western Illinois in the 2004 season opener.
“As the fall went along, I knew I had to get better,” said Patrick, a converted defensive end. “Coach Wagner kept encouraging me and telling me I could do it. I knew physically I could do it. It was just mentally, making stupid mistakes.”
Patrick wasn’t alone. As a unit, Nebraska’s offensive line has had its share of growing pains, as evidenced by the 33 sacks allowed, or one every 12 passing attempts. Nebraska’s running game hasn’t been consistent, either, and false-start penalties have drawn the ire of coaches and fans alike.
Hence, the importance of more practice, more work and more game time for the young guys in December.
“We just tell guys as long as they give us effort and they block the right guy, that’s all we can ask out of them,” Wagner said. “They’ve done a good job of putting in the extra time studying film and learning the position.”
But just because guys like Slauson and Patrick are playing tackle today and filling vital roles doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed of playing the same position next season.
Wagner said Nebraska continues to recruit “tackle-type bodies,” and that coaches want to get the five best linemen on the field.
“Chris Patrick, Matt Slauson, they might be tackles, they might be guards,” Wagner said. “But for the bowl game, those are the guys who are going to get the bulk of the load (at tackle).”
Nebraska currently has verbal commitments from five offensive linemen — Cruz Barrett, Victory Haines, Ricky Henry, D.J. Jones and Carl Nicks.
“What we tell (recruits) is, you may start off at tackle, but if there’s two tackles ahead of you, and you’re better than the guards who are playing, we’ve got to get you on the field,” Wagner said. “That’s more of the mode we want to go to. We want to go to the big, long-armed guys who are athletic enough that if they can play tackle, they can certainly play guard.
“We want guys to be able to play multiple positions. The best five guys have to be on the field.”
BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Friday, Dec 16, 2005 - 02:03:03 am CST
Nebraska offensive tackle Matt Slauson admits he expected little or no playing time this season.
That’s understandable, given Slauson is a true freshman. His reasoning becomes even clearer, though, when he shares this quick story:
“I remember the first time I went against (Adam) Carriker in fall camp,” Slauson said, referring to Nebraska’s starting defensive end. “He picked me up and threw me on the quarterback. I’m like, ‘Welcome to Nebraska.’ ”
Suffice it say, Slauson didn’t predict he’d have a starting role as Nebraska practiced for a bowl game. Yet today, that’s Slauson’s role as the Huskers prepare to face Michigan in the Alamo Bowl.
“He’s done well for a freshman,” Nebraska lineman Chris Patrick said. “He’s one of the better freshman linemen I’ve seen come through here that last couple of years. He’s big as a house. He’s aggressive, has good technique. He’s athletic for a big guy.”
Athletic, big ... and young.
In fact, Nebraska’s top three tackles entering the Dec. 28 bowl game are probably two freshmen and a sophomore. Senior Seppo Evwaraye could be in that mix, but he’s still recovering from stress fractures in his feet. He hasn’t been healthy since Oct. 29 against Oklahoma.
Senior Cornealius Fuamatu-Thomas also suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, meaning players like Slauson, Patrick and Lydon Murtha have had to grow up quickly.
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It’s not the most ideal situation, but experience now for those youngsters could pay off next season. The Huskers will need to replace Evwaraye, and Fuamatu-Thomas’ future is uncertain. He will miss spring practice, and his availability next fall depends on whether the NCAA grants him a medical hardship for missing most of 2004 with another injury.
“It’s a work in progress,” Nebraska offensive line coach Dennis Wagner said of his young tackles. “We continue to get better every day in practice. That’s the great part about going to a bowl game. Not only do you get to play in a bowl game, but you get extra practices to develop.”
The 6-foot-5, 340-pound Slauson started at right tackle against Kansas State and Colorado in place of Evwaraye. Murtha, a 6-7, 315-pound redshirt freshman, has made three starts at left tackle and seen extensive playing time throughout the season. But against Colorado, he was replaced by Patrick, a 6-4, 285-pound sophomore.
Before the K-State game, Patrick had played four snaps in his career, all against Western Illinois in the 2004 season opener.
“As the fall went along, I knew I had to get better,” said Patrick, a converted defensive end. “Coach Wagner kept encouraging me and telling me I could do it. I knew physically I could do it. It was just mentally, making stupid mistakes.”
Patrick wasn’t alone. As a unit, Nebraska’s offensive line has had its share of growing pains, as evidenced by the 33 sacks allowed, or one every 12 passing attempts. Nebraska’s running game hasn’t been consistent, either, and false-start penalties have drawn the ire of coaches and fans alike.
Hence, the importance of more practice, more work and more game time for the young guys in December.
“We just tell guys as long as they give us effort and they block the right guy, that’s all we can ask out of them,” Wagner said. “They’ve done a good job of putting in the extra time studying film and learning the position.”
But just because guys like Slauson and Patrick are playing tackle today and filling vital roles doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed of playing the same position next season.
Wagner said Nebraska continues to recruit “tackle-type bodies,” and that coaches want to get the five best linemen on the field.
“Chris Patrick, Matt Slauson, they might be tackles, they might be guards,” Wagner said. “But for the bowl game, those are the guys who are going to get the bulk of the load (at tackle).”
Nebraska currently has verbal commitments from five offensive linemen — Cruz Barrett, Victory Haines, Ricky Henry, D.J. Jones and Carl Nicks.
“What we tell (recruits) is, you may start off at tackle, but if there’s two tackles ahead of you, and you’re better than the guards who are playing, we’ve got to get you on the field,” Wagner said. “That’s more of the mode we want to go to. We want to go to the big, long-armed guys who are athletic enough that if they can play tackle, they can certainly play guard.
“We want guys to be able to play multiple positions. The best five guys have to be on the field.”