Spring Football Thread

[vailhusker]

 

[vailhusker]

 

[Flabio]

Brix has not completed his first season which is a redshirt. He played in a wing T or some all running offense in Cockeye so he pretty much just ran forward and mauled significantly undersized defenders. He has all the physical tools but did not know how to play OT and projects to OG as others have said. Rhule says he think it takes until the redshirt sophomore (year 3) before OL, even good ones, can play at a high level in the B1G.

 

[vailhusker]

Free

 

[vailhusker]

 

[DrumMonkeyRobot]

 

[SOHusker11]

 

[SOHusker11]

 

[SOHusker11]

 

[SOHusker11]

Nebraska defensive coordinator John Butler​

***Butler said Nebraska’s scrimmage was “awesome,” and “a ton of stuff came up.” He said the installation was pretty much done after the fifth or sixth practice; now they’re “tweaking some stuff’ and experimenting with different things.


The last four or five days will be about continuing to search for the “best 11” on defense and to “galvanize that unit collectively.”

***Butler said the galvanizing was still “a work in progress” because there was still so much mixing and matching with personnel and groupings. “It’s getting there.”

***Butler said he felt best about NU’s play in man coverage, which has been aided by some of the new additions in the secondary. He also felt they have blitzed well, as has the “continued development of our defensive line.”

***Butler said Nebraska’s secondary was still “a long way away” from where it was at the end of last season. Much of that is new pieces, but also because of the development guys have made so far this offseason.

***Butler said he constantly asked Phil Snow where this year’s defense was in specific areas compared to Matt Rhule’s previous stops. That gives him a gauge of where things are and what needs to improve.

Butler is pushing physicality, fundamentals on defense​

***On the defensive line, Butler said the competition would likely go through fall camp. “I think maybe there will be some more fluidity there” than other positions.

***Butler still didn’t want to single out players, but he said he’d been pleased with most of the newcomers thus far.

***Butler said defensive backs needed to cover, tackle, and play the ball. If you can do that, “you’re going to be a really good player.” When a player can do those things, then you can focus on mastering the finer details that separate a good player from a great one.

***Butler said Rhule’s practices had “elite” physicality. That means “very hard” practices and maximizing the value of every period. He said Rhule’s teams have always done that, and it’s shown everywhere he’d been.

***When he shows the defensive backs clips of “good tacklers,” Butler uses film of guys from the Buffalo Bills like Jordan Poyer, Christian Benford, and Taron Johnson. He also shows them clips of Charles Tillman punching out the ball.

Butler said the best way to develop tacklers is by tackling “live bodies.” All of the new “toys” teams use to reduce injuries have led to poorer tackling across the board in football.

***Butler said defensive line coach Terry Bradden’s work ethic had immediately stood out. “Here’s here all the time … and really investing into those guys.” Bradden has provided a “good, fresh energy to the staff.”

Cornerback Ceyair Wright​

***Ceyair Wright said the “closeness” on defense was one of his primary reasons for optimism about this season.

***Wright said he wanted a competitive secondary because it would push everyone every day. The key was having a “love” within the room that made it healthy competition.

***Wright said his “knowledge of the game” had increased this offseason, and much of that was from being “a sponge” around Butler to learn as much as possible.

***Wright said a difference this offseason was that he could study film of himself in Nebraska’s defense instead of watching tape of other players. He’s noticed things he didn’t at first because of the experience he gained last season.

***Wright said he was “very, very grateful to be here” last season, which helped him fit in at Nebraska. That helped him earn his teammates’ respect.

***Wright said he hadn’t done any acting since coming to Nebraska, but he has taken an internship with Omaha-based Falling Giant Productions. He’s learned a lot about the production side of the film industry.

***Wright said the physicality of Nebraska practices was immediately apparent when he first arrived. That includes “real, live reps” with tackling that have helped him adjust to the physical play of the Big Ten.

Defensive lineman Riley Van Poppel​

***Riley Van Poppel said the offseason had “gone by real fast.” He felt the defense had “gotten after it” all spring, especially on the defensive line.

***Van Poppel said replacing all of the lost production and experience on the defensive line wasn’t affecting this year’s group. He said every team loses good players every season, and he thinks NU has “a great group coming back this year… It’s a different room, but I’m loving where we’re at.”

***Van Poppel said staying in his four-game redshirt window last season was “tough at first, I’m not going to lie.” He felt he was ready to play last year but shifted his mindset to helping the team any way he could. That went from the weight room to practice to giving good looks on the scout team.

“It was rough, but at the end of the day, personally, it allowed me to take a lot of pressure off me and develop.”

***Van Poppel said he put on 8-10 pounds from the Colorado game to the finale at Cockeye. That’s because he could focus on his training and nutrition, knowing he wouldn’t play.

***On Bradden, Van Poppel said his motto was “energy is contagious.” Bradden lives that mantra in everything he does. “He’s very, very detailed” and “wants you to play with effort.”

“It’s a lot of fun to play for him.”

***Van Poppel said Keona Davis was in a similar spot to him last year after playing as a true freshman. He tries to help Davis as much as he can, but he also learns from Davis. “I love that guy.”

 

[Kaladin]

 

[Kaladin]

JoBu is going to be an elite defensive coordinator

 

[vailhusker]