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Wyatt makes transition to Nebraska's defensive line[/url]
By: Michael McHale
Issue date: 1/17/07 Section: Sports
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For one day in the middle of December the Nebraska defensive line had no coach.
That afternoon, former NU Assistant Coach John Blake accepted a position on North Carolina's staff, leaving vacant the reigns to arguably one of the best front fours in the country.
Hours later the Cornhuskers had their replacement: previous Alabama assistant Buddy Wyatt.
And after guiding NU's senior-oriented defensive line to a virtual halting of Auburn's running game at the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1 - NU held the Tigers to 1.9 yards per carry - Wyatt's job is only beginning.
"I've never been a part of a situation where you take a new job and you go into coaching right away," Wyatt said. "Not only do I have to come in and learn new players right away, I have to come in and learn a new defensive system."
But Wyatt has undergone his share of changes in the past. The recently acquired position in Lincoln marks his eighth different assistant coaching job in 16 years, including his fourth in the Big 12 Conference.
The highly touted recruiter spent his last four seasons at Alabama, where he successfully lured both the 2005 and 2006 Mississippi High School Player of the Year to the Crimson Tide.
Now, after losing much of last season's starting defensive linemen to graduation, Wyatt has the task of molding less experienced Husker players like sophomores Zach Potter and Ndamukong Suh into one of the nation's best run-stopping defenses.
"One thing I have to do is help bring these younger guys along," Wyatt said. "Fast."
That starts with making sure they hit the weight room on a regular basis, Wyatt said, along with teaching them proper alignments and stances.
Despite the strong class of defensive linemen leaving the program, such as senior All-American Adam Carriker, expected incoming starters including Suh say they don't expect a letdown next season.
"We all got a lot of playing time last season so there shouldn't be too much of a difference, if any," Suh said.
Because most teams run unique defensive systems based on player personnel, heading to a new school means learning new and unfamiliar schemes - the Kevin Cosgrove scheme, in Wyatt's case.
"The terminology is always different," Wyatt said. "You have to learn a whole new vocabulary."
Wyatt often spent late nights in his office during his first few weeks in Lincoln studying NU's defensive system and all of its unique terms.
"He came in and picked up on the defense really well, and he coached just like coach Blake did," Suh said. "It's been really nice to have a new addition to the coaching staff."Now that he's mastered the many intricacies of yet another coaching staff, the former Colorado, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M defensive line coach has turned his focus to what he thrives at doing: recruiting.
Blake was considered one of the greatest recruiters in the country during his three-year tenure at Nebraska, solidifying commitments from recent Husker standouts like Marlon Lucky and Ola Dagunduro. However, Wyatt has a history of retrieving players from recruiting hotbeds: Texas and Florida.
A native of Victoria, Texas, himself, the new coach has already helped Nebraska earn a commitment from 6-foot-3, 320-pound defensive tackle Chris Perry from Keller, Texas.
This month, Wyatt's schedule is a little less hectic than that mid-December day when he arrived in Lincoln. Instead of learning new players and schemes, Wyatt is on the recruiting road, and similar to the past, he's always moving - always working.
For now, though, Wyatt said he plans to work in the same coaching office for as long as possible.
"All I can say," Wyatt said, "is that from what I've experienced so far from the players, the fans, the coaches and the administration - I hope I'm at Nebraska a long time."
By: Michael McHale
Issue date: 1/17/07 Section: Sports
* Article Tools
*
Page 1 of 2 next >
For one day in the middle of December the Nebraska defensive line had no coach.
That afternoon, former NU Assistant Coach John Blake accepted a position on North Carolina's staff, leaving vacant the reigns to arguably one of the best front fours in the country.
Hours later the Cornhuskers had their replacement: previous Alabama assistant Buddy Wyatt.
And after guiding NU's senior-oriented defensive line to a virtual halting of Auburn's running game at the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1 - NU held the Tigers to 1.9 yards per carry - Wyatt's job is only beginning.
"I've never been a part of a situation where you take a new job and you go into coaching right away," Wyatt said. "Not only do I have to come in and learn new players right away, I have to come in and learn a new defensive system."
But Wyatt has undergone his share of changes in the past. The recently acquired position in Lincoln marks his eighth different assistant coaching job in 16 years, including his fourth in the Big 12 Conference.
The highly touted recruiter spent his last four seasons at Alabama, where he successfully lured both the 2005 and 2006 Mississippi High School Player of the Year to the Crimson Tide.
Now, after losing much of last season's starting defensive linemen to graduation, Wyatt has the task of molding less experienced Husker players like sophomores Zach Potter and Ndamukong Suh into one of the nation's best run-stopping defenses.
"One thing I have to do is help bring these younger guys along," Wyatt said. "Fast."
That starts with making sure they hit the weight room on a regular basis, Wyatt said, along with teaching them proper alignments and stances.
Despite the strong class of defensive linemen leaving the program, such as senior All-American Adam Carriker, expected incoming starters including Suh say they don't expect a letdown next season.
"We all got a lot of playing time last season so there shouldn't be too much of a difference, if any," Suh said.
Because most teams run unique defensive systems based on player personnel, heading to a new school means learning new and unfamiliar schemes - the Kevin Cosgrove scheme, in Wyatt's case.
"The terminology is always different," Wyatt said. "You have to learn a whole new vocabulary."
Wyatt often spent late nights in his office during his first few weeks in Lincoln studying NU's defensive system and all of its unique terms.
"He came in and picked up on the defense really well, and he coached just like coach Blake did," Suh said. "It's been really nice to have a new addition to the coaching staff."Now that he's mastered the many intricacies of yet another coaching staff, the former Colorado, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M defensive line coach has turned his focus to what he thrives at doing: recruiting.
Blake was considered one of the greatest recruiters in the country during his three-year tenure at Nebraska, solidifying commitments from recent Husker standouts like Marlon Lucky and Ola Dagunduro. However, Wyatt has a history of retrieving players from recruiting hotbeds: Texas and Florida.
A native of Victoria, Texas, himself, the new coach has already helped Nebraska earn a commitment from 6-foot-3, 320-pound defensive tackle Chris Perry from Keller, Texas.
This month, Wyatt's schedule is a little less hectic than that mid-December day when he arrived in Lincoln. Instead of learning new players and schemes, Wyatt is on the recruiting road, and similar to the past, he's always moving - always working.
For now, though, Wyatt said he plans to work in the same coaching office for as long as possible.
"All I can say," Wyatt said, "is that from what I've experienced so far from the players, the fans, the coaches and the administration - I hope I'm at Nebraska a long time."
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