Here are some quick notes to pass along from Nebraska's practice on Monday morning...
ROBIN’S NUGGETS
***Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander said one of his biggest takeaways from Saturday's scrimmage was that his defense got another invaluable chance to do some live tackling.
At this point, Chinander said NU's tackling was "not good enough right now," but that wasn't a major concern because of how limited the team is with its opportunities to tackle to the ground this spring.
That said, Chinander stressed that tackling would be a major point of emphasis throughout the offseason.
***Other ways Chinander said that Nebraska has worked on tackling without going to the ground was by focusing on details like proper leverage, angles, eye placement, and body posture.
However, he said none of that would ever fully simulate live tackling.
***Chinander said he was still waiting for guys to step up and emerge in the defensive line competition. He said Mosai Newsom had a bit of an edge in that regard right now just because of his experience in the program, but he also mentioned Marquis Black and Ru'Quan Buckley.
***At the nickel spot, Chinander said Isaac Gifford, Chris Kolarevic, and John Bullock has all been rotating with the first and second-team defenses this spring. Chinander said he was also looking forward to seeing what Javin Wright could do when he returned from injury.
***Chinander praised Myles Farmer for stepping up as a vocal leader this offseason. Chinander said Farmer clearly felt more comfortable as a player in the defense and as a veteran leader, and "he's even been holding guys accountable" on and off the field this spring.
***As for the top leaders on the defense right now, Chinander pointed to Garrett Nelson and Nick Henrich as the most obvious choices. After that, he named Luke Reimer, Ty Robinson, Quinton Newsome, and even Gifford (though he said Isaac wasn't there yet).
***Newsom said he's been very excited about the opportunity he has this offseason to be one of the next guys up on the defensive line. He said he'd learned a lot from some great players and leaders up front over the last few years, and now "it's our time to ball out."
***Newsom said he arrived at Nebraska at around 260 pounds, and he'd bulked up to as much as 300-305. He said he was currently around 295-298.
ABBY'S NUGGETS
***Defensive front coach Mike Dawson said its been good and bad that Nebraska’s defensive line has limited numbers and experience. Those players get more reps on the field and on film.
***Dawson said the key for Nash Hutmacher to translate his strength in the weight room onto the field is to take the motions and power from squatting, power clinging and benching onto the field. Dawson said all three lifts are done on the football field.
Dawson said the more reps Hutmacher gets, the better he gets.
***Dawson said his line is still a work in progress when asked to give them a grade. He said players like to do what they are good at but he is focusing on having them work on what they are deficient in.
***Ty Robinson and Colton Feist are two are the loudest voices on the field for the interior line, Dawson said. He also said Casey Rogers, while he’s out for the spring, does a nice job of being vocal in the meeting room.
***Nebraska has several players like Ru’Quan Buckley, Marquis Black and Jailen Weaver who are young but have been taking a lot of reps this spring. Dawson said they need to continue to develop and take advantage of the weight room and nutrition program.
***Weaver is one of the biggest players Dawson has every come across including in the NFL. He said Weaver is a great athlete underneath all his weight.
“I didn’t know something that big could move that fast,” Dawson said
Sean's nuggets
***Outside linebacker Jimari Butler is up to 235 pounds now. He's had to work really hard to get up to that.
***Butler has had to wait his turn, but he's been ok with how things have played out. He's got a lot of respect for both Caleb Tannor and Garret Nelson and what they have taught him.
***Butler said all of the outside linebackers can play in space and with their hand down.
"We all have to play in space," Butler said. "It's really 50-50."
***Junior cornerback Braxton Clark said he's trying to be more of a leader now that he's one of the older guys.
"It's really big for me," Butler said of this spring. "This is the first time I've been able to get through a whole year completely healthy without injury."
Before that, Butler battled a shoulder injury that delayed the growth of his career.
***Clark said he is starting to see more of chemistry with the secondary now that they have had 10 practices. Clark thinks they have more athleticism and depth than they did before.
***Being a leader, Clark said one of his jobs is to take care of the young guys and help them with their film work and even do things like make sure guys get home at night. When he was a young player, Deontai Williams did that for him, and he really appreciated that.
***Clark said the scrimmage went well. There were no coverage busts. He did say they missed on a couple of open field tackles though that need to get cleaned up.
ROBIN’S NUGGETS
***Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander said one of his biggest takeaways from Saturday's scrimmage was that his defense got another invaluable chance to do some live tackling.
At this point, Chinander said NU's tackling was "not good enough right now," but that wasn't a major concern because of how limited the team is with its opportunities to tackle to the ground this spring.
That said, Chinander stressed that tackling would be a major point of emphasis throughout the offseason.
***Other ways Chinander said that Nebraska has worked on tackling without going to the ground was by focusing on details like proper leverage, angles, eye placement, and body posture.
However, he said none of that would ever fully simulate live tackling.
***Chinander said he was still waiting for guys to step up and emerge in the defensive line competition. He said Mosai Newsom had a bit of an edge in that regard right now just because of his experience in the program, but he also mentioned Marquis Black and Ru'Quan Buckley.
***At the nickel spot, Chinander said Isaac Gifford, Chris Kolarevic, and John Bullock has all been rotating with the first and second-team defenses this spring. Chinander said he was also looking forward to seeing what Javin Wright could do when he returned from injury.
***Chinander praised Myles Farmer for stepping up as a vocal leader this offseason. Chinander said Farmer clearly felt more comfortable as a player in the defense and as a veteran leader, and "he's even been holding guys accountable" on and off the field this spring.
***As for the top leaders on the defense right now, Chinander pointed to Garrett Nelson and Nick Henrich as the most obvious choices. After that, he named Luke Reimer, Ty Robinson, Quinton Newsome, and even Gifford (though he said Isaac wasn't there yet).
***Newsom said he's been very excited about the opportunity he has this offseason to be one of the next guys up on the defensive line. He said he'd learned a lot from some great players and leaders up front over the last few years, and now "it's our time to ball out."
***Newsom said he arrived at Nebraska at around 260 pounds, and he'd bulked up to as much as 300-305. He said he was currently around 295-298.
ABBY'S NUGGETS
***Defensive front coach Mike Dawson said its been good and bad that Nebraska’s defensive line has limited numbers and experience. Those players get more reps on the field and on film.
***Dawson said the key for Nash Hutmacher to translate his strength in the weight room onto the field is to take the motions and power from squatting, power clinging and benching onto the field. Dawson said all three lifts are done on the football field.
Dawson said the more reps Hutmacher gets, the better he gets.
***Dawson said his line is still a work in progress when asked to give them a grade. He said players like to do what they are good at but he is focusing on having them work on what they are deficient in.
***Ty Robinson and Colton Feist are two are the loudest voices on the field for the interior line, Dawson said. He also said Casey Rogers, while he’s out for the spring, does a nice job of being vocal in the meeting room.
***Nebraska has several players like Ru’Quan Buckley, Marquis Black and Jailen Weaver who are young but have been taking a lot of reps this spring. Dawson said they need to continue to develop and take advantage of the weight room and nutrition program.
***Weaver is one of the biggest players Dawson has every come across including in the NFL. He said Weaver is a great athlete underneath all his weight.
“I didn’t know something that big could move that fast,” Dawson said
Sean's nuggets
***Outside linebacker Jimari Butler is up to 235 pounds now. He's had to work really hard to get up to that.
***Butler has had to wait his turn, but he's been ok with how things have played out. He's got a lot of respect for both Caleb Tannor and Garret Nelson and what they have taught him.
***Butler said all of the outside linebackers can play in space and with their hand down.
"We all have to play in space," Butler said. "It's really 50-50."
***Junior cornerback Braxton Clark said he's trying to be more of a leader now that he's one of the older guys.
"It's really big for me," Butler said of this spring. "This is the first time I've been able to get through a whole year completely healthy without injury."
Before that, Butler battled a shoulder injury that delayed the growth of his career.
***Clark said he is starting to see more of chemistry with the secondary now that they have had 10 practices. Clark thinks they have more athleticism and depth than they did before.
***Being a leader, Clark said one of his jobs is to take care of the young guys and help them with their film work and even do things like make sure guys get home at night. When he was a young player, Deontai Williams did that for him, and he really appreciated that.
***Clark said the scrimmage went well. There were no coverage busts. He did say they missed on a couple of open field tackles though that need to get cleaned up.
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