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[SIZE=14pt]NU working hard to improve punt return game[/SIZE]
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Cory Ross says punt returns "can make or break a game."
"You have to have somebody back there who's a threat," he said.
Statistics indicate Nebraska lacked such a threat last season. Indeed, the Huskers, with true freshman Santino Panico returning most of the punts, ranked 107th nationally with an average of 5.8 yards per return.
Nebraska seems determined to improve those numbers this season. For one thing, first-year Husker assistant coach Ted Gilmore, who now oversees the area, has instilled in his return men a different mindset, Ross said.
"He just brings more of an attitude that you have to respect what you do back there," the senior I-back said. "It ain't about being back there and thinking, ‘OK, I'm catching these punts and whatever.' You have to take it seriously like you do with every job on the field. He's making us take it seriously."
Is that a change compared to last year?
"Definitely. Definitely," said Ross, repeating himself for emphasis.
Fifteen practices into preseason camp, several Huskers are in the hunt to replace Panico, who left the team during the offseason. Among the front-runners are Ross, Cortney Grixby, Terrence Nunn, Blake Tiedtke, Frantz Hardy, Grant Mulkey and Robert Rands.
Among those players, only Ross has experience from last season, when he returned three punts for 29 yards. Panico returned 22 for 68 yards.
Nebraska coaches chart return men's catches and drops during each practice. Gilmore said starting return men may not be determined until the week of the Sept. 3 opener against Maine.
"We have so many skilled athletes," NU head coach Bill Callahan said. "We're doing our best to improve the return situation and make sure we get the best player on the field."
Panico's struggles elicited grumbling from fans. Grixby, though, defends Panico, pointing to his ability to catch the ball in traffic.
"We fielded the ball last season, and that's the whole purpose of punt returning — to gain possession for the offense," said Grixby, a sophomore cornerback. "From that perspective, we did very well. As far as return yardage, we need improvement."
Grixby said Nebraska coaches, above all, stress catching the ball.
Their philosophy after a player makes the catch?
"Make somebody miss and get up field," Grixby said. "When you're returning punts, there are going to be guys you have to make miss. All the great returners can do that."
Bill Busch, Nebraska special- teams coordinator, instructs return men to "excite the blockers," Grixby said.
"If your blockers are excited, they'll block harder, and we'll get yardage," Grixby said.
As for Husker kickoff returners, about a half-dozen players have been mentioned as leading contenders: Tierre Green, Marlon Lucky, Titus Brothers, Bryan Wilson, Nunn and Hardy.
"I think they're still evaluating, but right now I'm on the first string with Tierre," said Lucky, who returned kickoffs for North Hollywood (Calif.) High School. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns as a junior and one as a senior.
"Teams started squibbing kicks to us because they didn't want either of our guys to return them," said North Hollywood coach Brad Ratcliff.
Nebraska ranked 67th nationally last season in kickoff returns. Green averaged 19.2 yards on 26 attempts, and Brandon Jackson averaged 21.1 yards on 17 chances, breaking one for 59 yards.
Jackson, however, has been held out of contact this month because of a shoulder injury. He's cleared to begin contact drills Aug. 26.
"I want to be back there," he said. "I did OK last year, and I'm looking to do better this year."
Same goes for his team, especially when it comes to punt returns.
[SIZE=14pt]NU working hard to improve punt return game[/SIZE]
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Cory Ross says punt returns "can make or break a game."
"You have to have somebody back there who's a threat," he said.
Statistics indicate Nebraska lacked such a threat last season. Indeed, the Huskers, with true freshman Santino Panico returning most of the punts, ranked 107th nationally with an average of 5.8 yards per return.
Nebraska seems determined to improve those numbers this season. For one thing, first-year Husker assistant coach Ted Gilmore, who now oversees the area, has instilled in his return men a different mindset, Ross said.
"He just brings more of an attitude that you have to respect what you do back there," the senior I-back said. "It ain't about being back there and thinking, ‘OK, I'm catching these punts and whatever.' You have to take it seriously like you do with every job on the field. He's making us take it seriously."
Is that a change compared to last year?
"Definitely. Definitely," said Ross, repeating himself for emphasis.
Fifteen practices into preseason camp, several Huskers are in the hunt to replace Panico, who left the team during the offseason. Among the front-runners are Ross, Cortney Grixby, Terrence Nunn, Blake Tiedtke, Frantz Hardy, Grant Mulkey and Robert Rands.
Among those players, only Ross has experience from last season, when he returned three punts for 29 yards. Panico returned 22 for 68 yards.
Nebraska coaches chart return men's catches and drops during each practice. Gilmore said starting return men may not be determined until the week of the Sept. 3 opener against Maine.
"We have so many skilled athletes," NU head coach Bill Callahan said. "We're doing our best to improve the return situation and make sure we get the best player on the field."
Panico's struggles elicited grumbling from fans. Grixby, though, defends Panico, pointing to his ability to catch the ball in traffic.
"We fielded the ball last season, and that's the whole purpose of punt returning — to gain possession for the offense," said Grixby, a sophomore cornerback. "From that perspective, we did very well. As far as return yardage, we need improvement."
Grixby said Nebraska coaches, above all, stress catching the ball.
Their philosophy after a player makes the catch?
"Make somebody miss and get up field," Grixby said. "When you're returning punts, there are going to be guys you have to make miss. All the great returners can do that."
Bill Busch, Nebraska special- teams coordinator, instructs return men to "excite the blockers," Grixby said.
"If your blockers are excited, they'll block harder, and we'll get yardage," Grixby said.
As for Husker kickoff returners, about a half-dozen players have been mentioned as leading contenders: Tierre Green, Marlon Lucky, Titus Brothers, Bryan Wilson, Nunn and Hardy.
"I think they're still evaluating, but right now I'm on the first string with Tierre," said Lucky, who returned kickoffs for North Hollywood (Calif.) High School. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns as a junior and one as a senior.
"Teams started squibbing kicks to us because they didn't want either of our guys to return them," said North Hollywood coach Brad Ratcliff.
Nebraska ranked 67th nationally last season in kickoff returns. Green averaged 19.2 yards on 26 attempts, and Brandon Jackson averaged 21.1 yards on 17 chances, breaking one for 59 yards.
Jackson, however, has been held out of contact this month because of a shoulder injury. He's cleared to begin contact drills Aug. 26.
"I want to be back there," he said. "I did OK last year, and I'm looking to do better this year."
Same goes for his team, especially when it comes to punt returns.
