Foppa
New member
Wednesday, Sep 28, 2005 - 10:20:56 am CDT
If you were ever a college freshman, you’d understand. Mom no longer does your laundry. Your sweetheart’s back home. You’re on your own now, trying to find your way to class, to the mall, the movies, the hottest party.
If you’re running backs Marlon Lucky and Cody Glenn, you’re trying to find your way to the field.
Eleven Nebraska true freshmen, including Lucky and Glenn, have played this season. But only one Husker rookie — place-kicker Jordan Congdon — has started. Bill Callahan has eased his freshmen into action.
The Huskers are 3-0, but fans grumble because the offense sputters like a 30-year-old Army jeep.
There are no easy answers.
Or are there?
At first blush, increasing Glenn’s playing time seems like a no-brainer. Give the kid the rock. If you watched Nebraska’s offense sprint past Pitt 7-6, you saw the 6-foot, 223-pound Glenn punish tacklers. He rushed four times for 20 yards in his college debut. Doesn’t sound like much? Well, in the context of the Huskers’ moribund offense, he was Calvin Jones slicing through Kansas in 1991.
Glenn pounds tacklers and pushes piles. He complements senior Cory Ross, who darts and dodges. Ross remains Nebraska’s most consistent weapon. He needs to get his share of touches. But judging from one game, Glenn could provide solid relief.
Or could he?
Life is indeed tricky, as are blitz packages and 8-pound playbooks. The thing is, we don’t see practice, so we don’t know for certain how well Glenn has grasped the system. He might be shaky against the blitz. On the other hand, maybe he’s designing plays for Callahan. Point is, we don’t know for sure.
Iowa State defensive coordinator John Skladany mixes blitzes and coverages effectively. He can confuse quarterbacks. If he confuses Glenn or Lucky on Saturday and a blitzer bulldozes Zac Taylor, well, what a fine mess that could become.
The 6-foot, 210-pound Lucky rushed for 4,880 yards and 81 touchdowns in three seasons at North Hollywood (Calif.) High School. Rivals.com rated him as the No. 2 running back in the country. Yet he admits he knew next to nothing about pass-blocking when he arrived in Lincoln. We can’t be sure, but that might explain why Lucky has had three carries in the last two games.
If Callahan and Co. are reluctant to use Lucky in the backfield, perhaps they could shift him into the slot and make use of his speed and good hands.
Whatever. With last week’s open date, Nebraska coaches were able to devote more time to young players. There’s buzz that a few freshmen could become more involved in the game plan. So don’t be surprised if Glenn and Lucky — particularly Glenn — see increased action against the 3-0 Cyclones.
Callahan, of course, is careful not to show his cards. He makes no promises about playing time.
It should be noted sophomore I-back Brandon Jackson remains No. 2 on the latest depth chart.
“It’s hard to find enough touches for all of them,” Callahan said of his four I-backs. “There are roles we give those players. They have a package of plays each week they can study, prepare for and get excited about for the upcoming game.”
It’s easy to assume Nebraska’s complex offense stymies freshmen, although Callahan poured some cold water on that notion Tuesday, saying, “I think the media has made way too much of the so-called 8-pound playbook.”
He said his playbook is streamlined for each opponent.
“We have a game-plan notebook that’s about 1 inch (in thickness), and less than 1 pound,” he said.
Learning new plays is one of myriad adjustments for freshmen. For instance, wide receiver Chris Brooks says he had to adjust to Nebraska’s ultra-intense practices.
Others have had to adjust to watching from the sideline. In that regard, some adjust better than others. Consequently, Callahan juggles two difficult tasks — massaging egos while simultaneously deciding what’s best for his team.
It’s interesting that the most hyped Husker recruits haven’t been major contributors. Lucky, Brooks, quarterback Harrison Beck, safety Leon Jackson, linebacker Phillip Dillard — each awaits his turn. Of course, the season’s young.
But try preaching patience to a bunch of four- and five-star recruits.
“I wish I was out there more,” said Dillard, who didn’t play a down at linebacker against Pitt. “I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be out there more. I’m not saying I have to start, but I should be playing more.”
Dillard leans on fellow freshmen for support.
“We try to tell each other our time will come,” he said. “But that gets hard to say after a long time.”
To an 18-year-old, three games seems an eternity.
Glenn keeps his head up.
“With those few reps I do get, I try to take full advantage of them,” he said.
He may soon be getting more of them.
Hey coach, I know how to get them all more reps...run the ball more vs. ISU B)
If you were ever a college freshman, you’d understand. Mom no longer does your laundry. Your sweetheart’s back home. You’re on your own now, trying to find your way to class, to the mall, the movies, the hottest party.
If you’re running backs Marlon Lucky and Cody Glenn, you’re trying to find your way to the field.
Eleven Nebraska true freshmen, including Lucky and Glenn, have played this season. But only one Husker rookie — place-kicker Jordan Congdon — has started. Bill Callahan has eased his freshmen into action.
The Huskers are 3-0, but fans grumble because the offense sputters like a 30-year-old Army jeep.
There are no easy answers.
Or are there?
At first blush, increasing Glenn’s playing time seems like a no-brainer. Give the kid the rock. If you watched Nebraska’s offense sprint past Pitt 7-6, you saw the 6-foot, 223-pound Glenn punish tacklers. He rushed four times for 20 yards in his college debut. Doesn’t sound like much? Well, in the context of the Huskers’ moribund offense, he was Calvin Jones slicing through Kansas in 1991.
Glenn pounds tacklers and pushes piles. He complements senior Cory Ross, who darts and dodges. Ross remains Nebraska’s most consistent weapon. He needs to get his share of touches. But judging from one game, Glenn could provide solid relief.
Or could he?
Life is indeed tricky, as are blitz packages and 8-pound playbooks. The thing is, we don’t see practice, so we don’t know for certain how well Glenn has grasped the system. He might be shaky against the blitz. On the other hand, maybe he’s designing plays for Callahan. Point is, we don’t know for sure.
Iowa State defensive coordinator John Skladany mixes blitzes and coverages effectively. He can confuse quarterbacks. If he confuses Glenn or Lucky on Saturday and a blitzer bulldozes Zac Taylor, well, what a fine mess that could become.
The 6-foot, 210-pound Lucky rushed for 4,880 yards and 81 touchdowns in three seasons at North Hollywood (Calif.) High School. Rivals.com rated him as the No. 2 running back in the country. Yet he admits he knew next to nothing about pass-blocking when he arrived in Lincoln. We can’t be sure, but that might explain why Lucky has had three carries in the last two games.
If Callahan and Co. are reluctant to use Lucky in the backfield, perhaps they could shift him into the slot and make use of his speed and good hands.
Whatever. With last week’s open date, Nebraska coaches were able to devote more time to young players. There’s buzz that a few freshmen could become more involved in the game plan. So don’t be surprised if Glenn and Lucky — particularly Glenn — see increased action against the 3-0 Cyclones.
Callahan, of course, is careful not to show his cards. He makes no promises about playing time.
It should be noted sophomore I-back Brandon Jackson remains No. 2 on the latest depth chart.
“It’s hard to find enough touches for all of them,” Callahan said of his four I-backs. “There are roles we give those players. They have a package of plays each week they can study, prepare for and get excited about for the upcoming game.”
It’s easy to assume Nebraska’s complex offense stymies freshmen, although Callahan poured some cold water on that notion Tuesday, saying, “I think the media has made way too much of the so-called 8-pound playbook.”
He said his playbook is streamlined for each opponent.
“We have a game-plan notebook that’s about 1 inch (in thickness), and less than 1 pound,” he said.
Learning new plays is one of myriad adjustments for freshmen. For instance, wide receiver Chris Brooks says he had to adjust to Nebraska’s ultra-intense practices.
Others have had to adjust to watching from the sideline. In that regard, some adjust better than others. Consequently, Callahan juggles two difficult tasks — massaging egos while simultaneously deciding what’s best for his team.
It’s interesting that the most hyped Husker recruits haven’t been major contributors. Lucky, Brooks, quarterback Harrison Beck, safety Leon Jackson, linebacker Phillip Dillard — each awaits his turn. Of course, the season’s young.
But try preaching patience to a bunch of four- and five-star recruits.
“I wish I was out there more,” said Dillard, who didn’t play a down at linebacker against Pitt. “I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be out there more. I’m not saying I have to start, but I should be playing more.”
Dillard leans on fellow freshmen for support.
“We try to tell each other our time will come,” he said. “But that gets hard to say after a long time.”
To an 18-year-old, three games seems an eternity.
Glenn keeps his head up.
“With those few reps I do get, I try to take full advantage of them,” he said.
He may soon be getting more of them.
Hey coach, I know how to get them all more reps...run the ball more vs. ISU B)
