Nebraska Spring update: Time to step up

By Timothy Williams  |   Friday, April 14, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Nebraska Cornhuskers
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In college football, every year sees the departure of several key players from teams all over the country. It's simply a part of the game. Talented seniors and some overachieving juniors depart, and the rosters are thinned. New players are expected to step up, and step into the shoes of those who came before them. As Nebraska's annual spring game draws near, the Huskers will look to replace starters at safety, defensive tackle, and running back. Here is a look at a few guys who are looking to fill in the gaps.

Strong Safety - Tierre Green: Green, a junior, was moved to one of the safety slots this spring after playing at cornerback in 2005. Position changes and the pressures of stepping into a starting role are nothing new to Green. Following the 2004 season the Huskers lost both starting cornerbacks, one to graduation and one to an early NFL departure, and Green was moved from running back to help fill the holes. With a year of on the field experience in the defensive backfield, the transition from corner to safety should be smoother for Green this year. Green quite simply has some of the best physical tools on the roster, at 6-1 and 200 pounds and he also happens to be one of the fastest players on the team. It helps when you have some talent in your bloodlines; Green's cousin is NFL running back Ahman Green, who is also a former a Husker. Physical talent aside, Green also possesses a sharp “football mind", and Coaches have had nothing but praise for his work ethic this spring. In particular they note his willingness to learn from his mistakes, and his ability to put bad plays behind him, a trait displayed by some of the best defensive backs. A strong showing in the spring game, followed by continued hard work in the summer, could secure the starting strong safety slot for Green.

Free Safety - Andrew Shanle: Shanle has been a part of the safety rotation for the last two seasons. He has plenty of speed, and showed his big hit ability in the Alamo bowl, with two crushing special teams tackles on punt coverage. In his last season in Lincoln, and with two years of experience, Shanle really has no excuses and is rightfully expected to be a starter in the fall. The question is whether or not he can hold on to the starters roll once the season begins. Several talented young freshmen will arrive, and they will be given every opportunity for playing time. If Shanle has a big game on Saturday, and shows an ability to be a leader in the secondary, then he will take a huge step towards securing the starting roll for the entire 2006 season.

Running Back - Marlon Lucky, Cody Glenn, and Leon Jackson: The sophomore trinity of Lucky, Glenn, and Jackson have seen extensive work throughout the spring. Glenn took an early lead in the race to replace Cory Ross, but Lucky has come on strong at the end of spring and the race looks to be neck and neck again. Coaches have said that the competition will remain open until the first game, but a big day on Saturday could win a place in the hearts and minds of Husker Fans. All three will see plenty of snaps in the spring game, and get every opportunity to show how far they've progressed.

Defensive Tackle - Ola Dagunduro, Barry Cryer, Ndamukong Suh, and Ty Steinkuhler: Dagunduro and Cryer are both seniors, and both saw plenty of time on the field in 2005. Thus far through spring practice, both have shown every sign that they are ready to fill the big holes left in the D-line by LeKevin Smith and Titus Adams. Saturday will prove to be the most valuable for the two sophomores, Suh and Steinkuhler. The Husker's
D-line was able to rotate their DT's rather efficiently in 2005, and it helped tremendously in keeping players fresh. It is up to the two younger players to show coaches that they are ready to contribute, and facing the number one o-line on every snap this Saturday will provide plenty of chances to do so.


Spring Notes:
- Wednesday's practice saw the return of sophomore quarterback Harrison Beck to the practice field. Beck, who had been held out with a sore shoulder and hamstring injury, is still questionable for the game on Saturday, and coaches are expected to make a game day decision on whether to play him.

- Head Coach Bill Callahan's announcement Wednesday, that senior tight end Matt Herian will see action in the spring game, caught a few Husker fans off guard. The news is somewhat surprising, as it was generally accepted that Herian would not play on Saturday, and he wasn't expected to see “live" action until the fall.
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