Today's practice is scheduled for 3:30 cst. Will update ASAP.
Early Notes and Quotes:
- OWH, Jon Niagara Rugby Style tackling Technique
Last month, the NU coaches were briefed on the Carroll tackling philosophies by an “outside source,” Riley said. The Husker players watched film of the rugby-style techniques last week. They began on-field drill work Saturday.
Head placement appears to be the biggest difference. Previously, tacklers were instructed to wrap up while driving their head across the chest or stomach of the ball carrier. Now, the Huskers are trying to position their outside shoulders with a ball carrier’s inside hip, keeping the head out of harm’s way as they try to put their arms around his thighs.
“Instead of putting your head across (the ball carrier’s body), you keep it inside,” Gerry said. “You don’t have to reach your neck across the body.”
The rugby-style strategy has earned significant national praise — most notably from Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, whose team embraced the changes two years ago. More and more college teams seem to be experimenting with the concepts since Carroll, the Seattle Seahawks coach, released a 20-minute video explaining his techniques in 2014
- Brian Christopherson:
To no surprise, the three backers with the top unit during Saturday's first practice featured seniors Josh Banderas and Michael Rose-Ivey, and sophomore Dedrick Young.
That trio has 40 of the 50 starts made by Husker linebackers on this roster, with Banderas leading the way with 19.
It's also true nobody should feel anybody has a job written down in ink. Because there's also Marcus Newby, with six starts to his name and much improved a season ago. There's Chris Weber, who totaled double-digit tackles in two of his four starts, including that 17-tackle performance against Illinois.
There's a big difference from last spring, and Rose-Ivey knows the competition will stay hot all the way through the fall.
"That's what it's all about," he said. "You don't come to Nebraska to hope that they'll give you a starting spot. They've recruited some phenomenal athletes across the country. That's what you come to do, to compete. I think I said even last year there's no ill feelings toward anybody."
It's all about putting on the field who can help you win, he added. "Whatever is the best group at the situation ... As (linebackers coach Trent Bray) told us, our job is to just go out there and execute what they ask us to execute and play at a high level and go make plays."
Barring any unforeseen changes, there will be 11 scholarship linebackers on campus come the fall, all with eyes on three jobs.
Early Notes and Quotes:
- OWH, Jon Niagara Rugby Style tackling Technique
Last month, the NU coaches were briefed on the Carroll tackling philosophies by an “outside source,” Riley said. The Husker players watched film of the rugby-style techniques last week. They began on-field drill work Saturday.
Head placement appears to be the biggest difference. Previously, tacklers were instructed to wrap up while driving their head across the chest or stomach of the ball carrier. Now, the Huskers are trying to position their outside shoulders with a ball carrier’s inside hip, keeping the head out of harm’s way as they try to put their arms around his thighs.
“Instead of putting your head across (the ball carrier’s body), you keep it inside,” Gerry said. “You don’t have to reach your neck across the body.”
The rugby-style strategy has earned significant national praise — most notably from Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, whose team embraced the changes two years ago. More and more college teams seem to be experimenting with the concepts since Carroll, the Seattle Seahawks coach, released a 20-minute video explaining his techniques in 2014
- Brian Christopherson:
To no surprise, the three backers with the top unit during Saturday's first practice featured seniors Josh Banderas and Michael Rose-Ivey, and sophomore Dedrick Young.
That trio has 40 of the 50 starts made by Husker linebackers on this roster, with Banderas leading the way with 19.
It's also true nobody should feel anybody has a job written down in ink. Because there's also Marcus Newby, with six starts to his name and much improved a season ago. There's Chris Weber, who totaled double-digit tackles in two of his four starts, including that 17-tackle performance against Illinois.
There's a big difference from last spring, and Rose-Ivey knows the competition will stay hot all the way through the fall.
"That's what it's all about," he said. "You don't come to Nebraska to hope that they'll give you a starting spot. They've recruited some phenomenal athletes across the country. That's what you come to do, to compete. I think I said even last year there's no ill feelings toward anybody."
It's all about putting on the field who can help you win, he added. "Whatever is the best group at the situation ... As (linebackers coach Trent Bray) told us, our job is to just go out there and execute what they ask us to execute and play at a high level and go make plays."
Barring any unforeseen changes, there will be 11 scholarship linebackers on campus come the fall, all with eyes on three jobs.
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