Here are some quick notes and observations to pass along from Nebraska’s full-pads practice inside Memorial Stadium on Saturday…
***Nebraska held its second major spring scrimmage on Saturday, running more than 100 plays in a variety of situational formats.
Rather than play a standard live scrimmage, NU broke it up into situations like first-and-10, second-and-long, third-and-short, redzone, and the offense backed up against its own goal line. The Huskers also mixed in some special teams work with punts and field goals.
***Cole Conrad worked as the No. 1 center during the scrimmage portion of Saturday’s practice, while Michael Decker was the No. 2. John Raridon moved over to left guard and alternated with Jalin Barnett with the second team.
***Head coach Mike Riley said the idea behind the offensive line shakeups was to get the best five football players on the field, and they feel Conrad might be one of those five on the line.
Riley said, just like the QBs, they actually flipped a coin before practice to see who would be the first center out between Conrad and Decker, and Conrad won.
***As for the offensive line as whole, Riley said he an the staff needed to be “concerned”, “thoughtful”, and “excited” about continuing the growth of a “talented and experienced group” this offseason. Riley said the o-line needed to regain some of the confidence and toughness that was missing at the end of last season.
***The competition at running back is starting tree some separation, as Riley said Tre Bryant and Mikale Wilbon have pulled ahead of Devine Ozigbo this spring.
***Riley added that the running game as a whole has really picked up over the past two practices, including the brief period of live scrimmage work NU did on Saturday.
***Wide receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. participated in the first part of practice but did not play in the scrimmage, as Riley said he decided to hold Morgan out as he recovers from a soft tissue injury in his neck.
Riley said he expected Morgan to return to full work as early as Tuesday’s practice.
***Safety JoJo Domann (ACL) was obviously out but was not on crutches like he was on Thursday. He still had a large brace on his left knee. Riley said he didn’t even want to think about losing Domann, as he not only was going to be in the mix at safety but was also slated to be a starter on four special teams units.
***Some good injury news was that both receiver Bryan Reimers (knee bruise) and safety Kieron Williams (undisclosed) were both back at practice after sitting out on Thursday.
***Riley was asked about the addition of new special teams consultant Scott Booker for the first time on Saturday. Riley said Bookers’ main role would be to consult and advise the coaching staff on special teams matters, but he couldn’t have any direct instruction of the players.
***It’s still early, but Riley said he wasn’t sure how they would handle the Red-White Spring Game format next week. He said they might do a point system where the offense plays the defense and the defense can score, but they could also do a two-team format.
***Riley said he does have some thoughts on the quarterback competition so far, but declined to go into detail. He said he plans to let things play out on through the spring game, so don’t expect a starter to be named any earlier than that.
***Towards the end of practice Nebraska held a pretty intense tackling drill between the offense and defense, and things heated up to the point for a fight broke out. Riley said it was two freshmen who started the tussle, but rather than have teammates quickly step in and break it up, some jumped in and escalated things further.
Riley stopped practice and made everyone take a knee, and he laid into the team about the lack of leadership and discipline in that situation. He added that fights in practice are by no means out of the norm, it was a good teaching moment that will hopefully change how the team reacts in the future.
***Nebraska hosted a couple of notable offensive line recruits for Saturday’s practice in three-star 2018 Sioux Falls (S.D.) Washington center Will Farniok and four-star 2019 Chatham (Ill.) Glenwood guard Will Putnam.
***Nebraska held its second major spring scrimmage on Saturday, running more than 100 plays in a variety of situational formats.
Rather than play a standard live scrimmage, NU broke it up into situations like first-and-10, second-and-long, third-and-short, redzone, and the offense backed up against its own goal line. The Huskers also mixed in some special teams work with punts and field goals.
***Cole Conrad worked as the No. 1 center during the scrimmage portion of Saturday’s practice, while Michael Decker was the No. 2. John Raridon moved over to left guard and alternated with Jalin Barnett with the second team.
***Head coach Mike Riley said the idea behind the offensive line shakeups was to get the best five football players on the field, and they feel Conrad might be one of those five on the line.
Riley said, just like the QBs, they actually flipped a coin before practice to see who would be the first center out between Conrad and Decker, and Conrad won.
***As for the offensive line as whole, Riley said he an the staff needed to be “concerned”, “thoughtful”, and “excited” about continuing the growth of a “talented and experienced group” this offseason. Riley said the o-line needed to regain some of the confidence and toughness that was missing at the end of last season.
***The competition at running back is starting tree some separation, as Riley said Tre Bryant and Mikale Wilbon have pulled ahead of Devine Ozigbo this spring.
***Riley added that the running game as a whole has really picked up over the past two practices, including the brief period of live scrimmage work NU did on Saturday.
***Wide receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. participated in the first part of practice but did not play in the scrimmage, as Riley said he decided to hold Morgan out as he recovers from a soft tissue injury in his neck.
Riley said he expected Morgan to return to full work as early as Tuesday’s practice.
***Safety JoJo Domann (ACL) was obviously out but was not on crutches like he was on Thursday. He still had a large brace on his left knee. Riley said he didn’t even want to think about losing Domann, as he not only was going to be in the mix at safety but was also slated to be a starter on four special teams units.
***Some good injury news was that both receiver Bryan Reimers (knee bruise) and safety Kieron Williams (undisclosed) were both back at practice after sitting out on Thursday.
***Riley was asked about the addition of new special teams consultant Scott Booker for the first time on Saturday. Riley said Bookers’ main role would be to consult and advise the coaching staff on special teams matters, but he couldn’t have any direct instruction of the players.
***It’s still early, but Riley said he wasn’t sure how they would handle the Red-White Spring Game format next week. He said they might do a point system where the offense plays the defense and the defense can score, but they could also do a two-team format.
***Riley said he does have some thoughts on the quarterback competition so far, but declined to go into detail. He said he plans to let things play out on through the spring game, so don’t expect a starter to be named any earlier than that.
***Towards the end of practice Nebraska held a pretty intense tackling drill between the offense and defense, and things heated up to the point for a fight broke out. Riley said it was two freshmen who started the tussle, but rather than have teammates quickly step in and break it up, some jumped in and escalated things further.
Riley stopped practice and made everyone take a knee, and he laid into the team about the lack of leadership and discipline in that situation. He added that fights in practice are by no means out of the norm, it was a good teaching moment that will hopefully change how the team reacts in the future.
***Nebraska hosted a couple of notable offensive line recruits for Saturday’s practice in three-star 2018 Sioux Falls (S.D.) Washington center Will Farniok and four-star 2019 Chatham (Ill.) Glenwood guard Will Putnam.
