Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
GII: Turner preaches patience Reply
From GII:
In response to a reporter's question, Nebraska freshman Pierre Allen acknowledged that, yes, his style of play was similar to that of Cornhusker sophomore Barry Turner.
Both are defensive ends, on the open side.
"We're almost identical," Allen said after a recent practice.
He was speaking only about style of play, remember. Turner established himself as a pass rusher last season, sacking quarterbacks six times in earning freshman All-America recognition.
Allen considers his strength pass rushing, too. But the similarity ends there. Turner is bigger and faster. His technique is better. And "he knows more plays," said Allen, who arrived at Nebraska figuring he also might play as a true freshman. Now, however, he's not so sure.
If he can help the team in some way, he will. But "I have a lot to learn," he said. "So if I redshirt, I have no problem with it." Two weeks into training camp, his attitude has changed.
Turner laughed when told about Allen's surprise that speed and quickness weren't enough against bigger and stronger players. He learned the same lesson a year ago.
He was naïve when he arrived at Nebraska. "Most definitely," he said. "I thought the game would be much easier than it was. It's tough; college football is tough."
That's why he tells Allen and the other freshmen to be patient.
"That's what it's about, learning your role," Turner said.
A year has changed Turner, and not just physically, though he's 15 pounds heavier, at 255. Muscle weighs more than fat. And strength coach Dave Kennedy has helped him add muscle.
He'll carry the additional weight as long as he doesn't slow down. If he loses even a step, however, "I'll lose weight," he said. The coaches "wanted me to keep my speed." And he has.
Defensive line coach John Blake has encouraged Turner to work at becoming an every-down end, stopping the run as effectively as he frustrates passers. Strength is important to that. But technique is even more important, using his hands, something he didn't have to do in high school.
"Honestly, I was just playing on natural ability," said Turner. "That was about it."
But that was a lot. He played in every game, contributing on special teams as well as rushing the passer. His six sacks tied for the most nationally by a freshman. Among teammates, only Adam Carriker and Corey McKeon had more -- Jay Moore also had six -- as the Cornhuskers led the nation with 50.
"They let me out there, and I just did what I could to help the team," Turner said.
He'll be able to help more this season because he's a much better player. On a scale of 1-to-10, "I'm a '1,' most definitely," he said. "I can always improve. Every day I'm out here improving and getting better. I know where I should be at. I want to strive for perfection. That's what I'm doing."
If he's a "1" now, what would he have been last season? "Probably a point-5," he said, eliciting laughter from the reporters around him. "So I'm making some kind of progression."
A year ago, older players told him he needed to be patient, and that's the advice he gives newcomers, including Allen.
"Patience is what it is," he said. At the college level, "you've got more guys bigger, (more) physical, faster. You've got guys working year out and year in, training just for one season."
High school athletes often excel at more than one sport, "so you're really not focused on conditioning your body (for football)," said Turner, also an outstanding basketball player.
The 6-foot-5 Allen played basketball, too, by the way.
Turner is working toward being a complete defensive end, like Moore, a senior and two-year starter. "He's a great (pass) rusher, a great run-stopper," Turner said. "Jay's the man, and I'm his back-up. I'm watching him. I have to learn to be like him and take his position after he leaves."
Allen watches Turner and Moore and Carriker and realizes how much he has to learn, as well as how much he has to grow. Considering those things, "I thought redshirting could only help," he said.
"So that's what I might do?"
Would that be his preference now?
"Redshirt, yeah, I would say," Allen said.
He wouldn't have said that a couple of weeks ago.
From GII:
In response to a reporter's question, Nebraska freshman Pierre Allen acknowledged that, yes, his style of play was similar to that of Cornhusker sophomore Barry Turner.
Both are defensive ends, on the open side.
"We're almost identical," Allen said after a recent practice.
He was speaking only about style of play, remember. Turner established himself as a pass rusher last season, sacking quarterbacks six times in earning freshman All-America recognition.
Allen considers his strength pass rushing, too. But the similarity ends there. Turner is bigger and faster. His technique is better. And "he knows more plays," said Allen, who arrived at Nebraska figuring he also might play as a true freshman. Now, however, he's not so sure.
If he can help the team in some way, he will. But "I have a lot to learn," he said. "So if I redshirt, I have no problem with it." Two weeks into training camp, his attitude has changed.
Turner laughed when told about Allen's surprise that speed and quickness weren't enough against bigger and stronger players. He learned the same lesson a year ago.
He was naïve when he arrived at Nebraska. "Most definitely," he said. "I thought the game would be much easier than it was. It's tough; college football is tough."
That's why he tells Allen and the other freshmen to be patient.
"That's what it's about, learning your role," Turner said.
A year has changed Turner, and not just physically, though he's 15 pounds heavier, at 255. Muscle weighs more than fat. And strength coach Dave Kennedy has helped him add muscle.
He'll carry the additional weight as long as he doesn't slow down. If he loses even a step, however, "I'll lose weight," he said. The coaches "wanted me to keep my speed." And he has.
Defensive line coach John Blake has encouraged Turner to work at becoming an every-down end, stopping the run as effectively as he frustrates passers. Strength is important to that. But technique is even more important, using his hands, something he didn't have to do in high school.
"Honestly, I was just playing on natural ability," said Turner. "That was about it."
But that was a lot. He played in every game, contributing on special teams as well as rushing the passer. His six sacks tied for the most nationally by a freshman. Among teammates, only Adam Carriker and Corey McKeon had more -- Jay Moore also had six -- as the Cornhuskers led the nation with 50.
"They let me out there, and I just did what I could to help the team," Turner said.
He'll be able to help more this season because he's a much better player. On a scale of 1-to-10, "I'm a '1,' most definitely," he said. "I can always improve. Every day I'm out here improving and getting better. I know where I should be at. I want to strive for perfection. That's what I'm doing."
If he's a "1" now, what would he have been last season? "Probably a point-5," he said, eliciting laughter from the reporters around him. "So I'm making some kind of progression."
A year ago, older players told him he needed to be patient, and that's the advice he gives newcomers, including Allen.
"Patience is what it is," he said. At the college level, "you've got more guys bigger, (more) physical, faster. You've got guys working year out and year in, training just for one season."
High school athletes often excel at more than one sport, "so you're really not focused on conditioning your body (for football)," said Turner, also an outstanding basketball player.
The 6-foot-5 Allen played basketball, too, by the way.
Turner is working toward being a complete defensive end, like Moore, a senior and two-year starter. "He's a great (pass) rusher, a great run-stopper," Turner said. "Jay's the man, and I'm his back-up. I'm watching him. I have to learn to be like him and take his position after he leaves."
Allen watches Turner and Moore and Carriker and realizes how much he has to learn, as well as how much he has to grow. Considering those things, "I thought redshirting could only help," he said.
"So that's what I might do?"
Would that be his preference now?
"Redshirt, yeah, I would say," Allen said.
He wouldn't have said that a couple of weeks ago.
