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There was football talk after Wednesday's practice too.
While Wednesday's headlines will have people chatting about topics off-the-field, Husker offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Matt Lubick was all business keeping it to what's happening on the field.
"I like where we're at right now from a focus standpoint. It's been a long camp, but a good camp," Lubick said. "A lot of improvement. Our guys are excited to play an opponent. ... Really fired up about how our guys have prepared all camp. We're a much improved team, but still have some work to do."
Some Husker Hits:
– It's not set in stone yet, "but each day the depth chart gets a little bit more clear of who are the most consistent players at every position." Lubick said there's a lot more depth than last year – at every position. "Especially skilled spots."
– Lubick said Samori Toure is playing like a veteran, and guys returning have taken their game a notch. He mentioned Oliver Martin, Levi Falck, Wyatt Liewer, Zavier Betts and Omar Manning as guys who have all gotten better and make him feel good at the position.
– At running back, "Sevion Morrison is really jumping out. Markese is showing some good things. Gabe Ervin is getting better every day and Marvin has done some good things. So had Rahmir. Rahmir has had his best camp." More than one guy will be involved. Decision on a starter isn't yet set."
– Lubick said Morrison popped out to him right off the bat this camp. "He got his body ready in the summertime. Just the way he looked. And when he gets the ball in his hands, he's been doing a lot of good things. He has great vision. He's a guy we can throw the ball too. He's very assignment-sound."
– Rahmir Johnson has been much more consistent in all areas, including knowing his assignments and running hard downhill. "I think he's worked on all aspects of his game, and he's a guy with his experience, he knows the offense ... When we ask something new it doesn't really faze him. With the other guys, when you ask something new, you still have to rep through it. It's not his first rodeo ... and it's showing."
– You need depth at I-back but you do need that one guy you believe in during crunch time. "When it's third-and-1 to win the football game, who are you giving the ball? So that we're still (deciding). We feel pretty good about it, but we're not ready to say who that guy is. You want depth, but at the end of the day, you want to know 'Hey, this is the drive to win the game. Who is that guy?' That's getting clearer and clearer."
– Wyatt Liewer is a quiet guy but lets his play do the talking. Everyone has been highlighting him this camp. "Never complains. Goes 100 mph. Takes as many reps as he can. ... And he's making a ton of plays," Lubick said. "Because he's so humble ... our guys just gravitate toward him."
– Liewer said the entire WR unit is stepping up. He definitely gave a nod to Oliver Martin and Samori Toure. He understands why Toure had almost 1,500 yards his last season at Montana. "He's so smooth."
– Lubick said he has a lot of respect for Zavier Betts. "It shows a lot of maturity to admit you have room to grow ... and admit your faults," he said of Betts' recent candid comments about having a tough spring. Lubick said it's natural for a young player to have to learn to practice. While Betts could have embraced it more in the spring, of late it's been arrow up. "You can make an argument that some days you look out there and that guy might be our No. 1 receiver. Each day they kind of take turns on who's the No. 1 guy.
His effort and speed of play has stood out this camp. "Now we can actually see his talent because he knows his assignments. And we can actually say, 'OK, this is the guy we thought he was.'"
– At tight end, "We're starting to get back healthy at that position. We'll be healthy the first game," Lubick said without getting into details. Chris Hickman has done well, he said, when asked about him specifically. "And Austin Allen has played a lot of football. If he misses a practice, it's not the end of the world. He knows his assignments. And it really does give the other guys a chance to come in and develop ... There's always a silver lining sometimes to injuries. The other guy gets in to develop and we're getting those other guys back."
