Here are some quick noes and observations to pass along from Nebraska's first full-pads practice of the spring on Wednesday afternoon. Click the link below for our full Wednesday practice notebook...
***With the first session in full pads came the first round of injuries for the Huskers, as cornerbacks Daniel Davie and Charles Jackson both were carted off the field after suffering injuries literally in back-to-back reps. Head coach Mike Riley said Davie suffered an ankle injury, and Jackson was seen on crutches after practice with his left knee wrapped up. Riley couldn't give any further detail on their status until he got another update on Thursday.
***Receiver Jordan Westerkamp also suffered a minor hamstring injury, but said after practice that he was fine and there was no tear.
***Riley said Nebraska was able to work on its inside running game for the first time on Wednesday, and he saw good energy and physicality in the team's first run through in full pads.
***Riley said there's been some typical frustration for both the coaches and the players with learning the new systems on both sides of the ball, but overall the understanding has been progressing like he had hoped thus far.
***Because of the skill sets of NU's quarterbacks, Riley said the offense is using more shotgun running game than he's ever used before. He said they will still go under center quite a bit, but he wants to play to the strengths of his quarterbacks, and most all more comfortable in the shotgun.
***For the running backs, Riley hinted that Friday's practice could be a big separation day in terms of the pecking order for the group. The Huskers plan to start working on their third-down packages, which will test how well the backs can catch and pass protect.
***Offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf said the first day of practice was "a bit of fire drill" with everyone out there together for the first time, but the execution and understanding has gotten better each day. He said the biggest thing right now is with terminology and communication.
***Langsdorf said NU wants to utilize the deep passing game, but they're not going to just chuck a bunch of incompletions down field. He's liked what he's seen from his quarterbacks' arm strength and his wide outs stretching the field, and the Huskers converted a few deep balls that really caught his eye today.
***The Red and White squad rosters remained the same as they were the first two practices.
***Receiver Jamal Turner did not practice again on Wednesday.
***Another group of former Huskers took in Wednesday's practice, including former offensive linemen Jake Cotton and Jeremiah Sirles, linebacker Zaire Anderson and quarterback Ron Kellogg III.
We'll have much more from today's practice up later on this evening in our full Wednesday spring practice notebook, practice observations and video.
Click the link below for our full Wednesday practice notebook...
This post was edited on 3/11 8:36 PM by Robin Washut
Wednesday notebook
***With the first session in full pads came the first round of injuries for the Huskers, as cornerbacks Daniel Davie and Charles Jackson both were carted off the field after suffering injuries literally in back-to-back reps. Head coach Mike Riley said Davie suffered an ankle injury, and Jackson was seen on crutches after practice with his left knee wrapped up. Riley couldn't give any further detail on their status until he got another update on Thursday.
***Receiver Jordan Westerkamp also suffered a minor hamstring injury, but said after practice that he was fine and there was no tear.
***Riley said Nebraska was able to work on its inside running game for the first time on Wednesday, and he saw good energy and physicality in the team's first run through in full pads.
***Riley said there's been some typical frustration for both the coaches and the players with learning the new systems on both sides of the ball, but overall the understanding has been progressing like he had hoped thus far.
***Because of the skill sets of NU's quarterbacks, Riley said the offense is using more shotgun running game than he's ever used before. He said they will still go under center quite a bit, but he wants to play to the strengths of his quarterbacks, and most all more comfortable in the shotgun.
***For the running backs, Riley hinted that Friday's practice could be a big separation day in terms of the pecking order for the group. The Huskers plan to start working on their third-down packages, which will test how well the backs can catch and pass protect.
***Offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf said the first day of practice was "a bit of fire drill" with everyone out there together for the first time, but the execution and understanding has gotten better each day. He said the biggest thing right now is with terminology and communication.
***Langsdorf said NU wants to utilize the deep passing game, but they're not going to just chuck a bunch of incompletions down field. He's liked what he's seen from his quarterbacks' arm strength and his wide outs stretching the field, and the Huskers converted a few deep balls that really caught his eye today.
***The Red and White squad rosters remained the same as they were the first two practices.
***Receiver Jamal Turner did not practice again on Wednesday.
***Another group of former Huskers took in Wednesday's practice, including former offensive linemen Jake Cotton and Jeremiah Sirles, linebacker Zaire Anderson and quarterback Ron Kellogg III.
We'll have much more from today's practice up later on this evening in our full Wednesday spring practice notebook, practice observations and video.
Click the link below for our full Wednesday practice notebook...
This post was edited on 3/11 8:36 PM by Robin Washut
Wednesday notebook
