Blackshirts’ biggest challenge is learning Pelini’s principles

By Marc Hudgens  |   Sunday, April 20, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Nebraska Cornhuskers
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!

Health? Check.
Focus? Check.
Progress? Check.

Confidence? Discipline? Effort? Check, check and check.

That's a lot of pluses for a team with a brand new coaching staff. Inferring from head coach Bo Pelini's Saturday afternoon press conference after Nebraska's Red-White spring game, it seems the team has about 99 percent of the puzzle pieces in place. But that little nagging 1 percent will be the largest obstacle in the coaching staff's perfectionist goals.

"What I see defensively is they're starting to learn the concepts and principles of what we're asking them to do, and the rules, and a lot of that's new to them," Pelini said after the Reds defeated the Whites, 24-14, in front of 80,149 people. "As far as developing an understanding of it, it's coming. But it's not there yet."

Huskers fiery linebackers coach Mike Ekeler echoed those sentiments when he stated, "Spring ball may be over, but we’re going to continue on in the mental part of it."

It's possible this is all coach-speak, with the staff attempting what many coaches do and downplay any significant successes in order to avoid giving away any dirty little secrets. But it's difficult to imagine a defense that forced three fumbles and had one pick not "getting it."

The linebackers, as most know, are the defense's weakest link. Coupling this common knowledge with what was said after the spring game, it's a safe assumption that the linebackers are the ones who must grasp Pelini's principles the quickest.

But maybe they are already doing just that. Will linebacker Cody Glenn, who shifted from running back after the first week of practice, has done a bang-up job. It's clear if there was one player on the team who has exceeded expectations, it's Glenn. Secondly, buck linebacker Tyler Wortman, who missed the first five practices because of a class, has done a "fantastic job," according to Ekeler, in spite of all the missed time and reps.

According to Pelini, there's simply no consistency yet, and he attributes this to learning a new program. But Pelini always says confidence is on the rise, and consistency will only improve as a result because confidence eliminates second-guessing and hesitation; players will simply react positively based on the way they were coached.

As long as confidence continues to rise, adhering to the new coach's principles will end up taking care of itself.
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

About Marc Hudgens

Marc Hudgens has been with RealFootball365 since 2007, covering college football, specifically Clemson and Oregon. He also writes for SouthernPigskin.com covering the ACC. He enjoys the acidic wit of Hunter S. Thompson, is a freelance graphic designer and has written several screenplays. He ...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report