Holgorsen talks Nebraska offense, Lateef, as Wade settles in with the o-line
LAS VEGAS – Following Nebraska’s Monday practice at Bishop Gorman High School, offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen and offensive line coach Geep Wade met with local media.
Here is a full recap of what they had to say…
Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen
***Holgorsen said Wade brought “a lot of energy” to the offensive line. He didn’t know Wade well before the hire, and he watched extensive Georgia Tech film to familiarize himself with Wade’s approach to offensive o-line play.Holgorsen saw a Yellow Jacket group that was detailed, physical, and played with good pad level, while their counter blocking scheme stood out.
***Holgorsen said Nebraska was taking it slow with Wade this month to allow him to familiarize himself with the staff and personnel. “He’s got his plate full right now.”
***Holgorsen said quarterback TJ Lateef (hamstring) finally started running again during live team work “a couple of days ago.” Lateef got in plenty of mental prep during Nebraska’s additional bowl practices.
“He looks good,” Holgorsen said. “He’s fired up to play football.”
***Holgorsen said Nebraska’s running backs were “so excited” for the opportunity to “go into a game knowing they’re going to get more than 1-2 carries.” He said that had boosted the unit’s energy in practice and created great competition this month.
Holgorsen said NU would use a “committee approach” at running back against Utah, but he wasn’t sure what that would look like until the game started. He expects Mekhi Nelson, Isaiah Mozee, Kwinten Ives, and Kenneth to all play in the bowl game.
Young receivers have jumped out with additional reps
***Holgorsen said Nebraska rested veteran receivers Nyziah Hunter, Jacory Barney, and Dane Key early on during bowl prep. As a result, young receivers like Quinn Clark, Cortez Mills, and Keelan Smith all got bigger workloads.Holgorsen singled out Clark as a wideout who had taken advantage of his additional opportunities.
***Holgorsen said Nebraska’s next steps at quarterback this offseason would “happen quick” once the portal opens on Jan. 2. “The dominoes are going to fall.” However, he said he’s letting NU’s personnel department handle all of that stuff for now. He’s only focused on preparing for Utah.
***Holgorsen said Utah’s defense was still formidable despite losing its top two pass rushers to injury/opt out. He added that it wasn’t just sacks that made the Utes’ pass rush so impressive, but also the consistent pressure they create.
Holgorsen said UU’s pressure, combined with “excellent” man coverage, made its defense so difficult to combat. He said Nebraska’s receivers getting off press-man coverage would likely define the game for NU’s offense.
“That’s what this thing’s going to come down to,” he said.
Offensive line coach Geep Wade
***Wade said thepast three weeks had been very beneficial for him as he settles into his new role at Nebraska. Why did he want the NU job? “It’s Nebraska.”***Wade said he grew up watching Nebraska’s offensive lines in the 1980s and 90s, and he wants his group to return to that dominant mentality.
***Wade said there was a lot to like about the Huskers’ returning o-line, calling it a “smart” and “well-coached” group.
As for what he wants the unit to be going forward, Wade’s focus is “coming off the ball without thinking.”
“I want them to have the mentality that this is Nebraska. I want that to mean something. I want them to play hard.”
***Wade said he planned to “do what I do” during the Las Vegas Bowl. He’ll coach from the sideline as usual.
***Wade is already very high on center Justin Evans, saying the junior has “a bright future… I think he could be an elite football player. Wade is excited to work one-on-one more with Evans this offseason.
***As for Elijah Pritchett, Wade also sees plenty of potential, “but we want production over potential.” Wade said it starts with the “year-round work” Pritchett and everyone else put in between now and next season.
With Singleton out for bowl game, Nebraska's defense must adjust vs. Utah
LAS VEGAS – Before Nebraska’s Monday practice at Bishop Gorman High School, interim defensive coordinator Phil Snow and special teams coordinator/defensive ends coach Mike Ekeler met with local media.
Here is a full recap of what they had to say…
Nebraska interim defensive coordinator Phil Snow
***Snow announced that starting safety DeShon Singleton will not play in the Las Vegas Bowl. Snow said Singleton recently underwent surgery.A Nebraska official confirmed the news shortly after.
“DeShon’s not playing,” Snow said. “Matt (Rhule) said that this morning. He’s not playing in the game… He had a surgery not too long ago. Matt can talk to you all about that.”
***Snow said Singleton was still with the Huskers in Las Vegas and would be on the sideline with the team on Wednesday. Snow also dismissed the notion that Singleton’s absence would affect NU’s leadership.
“He’ll be on the sideline with us,” Snow said. “But it’s like every level of football, the next guy’s got to be ready to play, right?”
***That “next guy” appears to be Justyn Rhett. After earning plenty of praise this month from coaches and teammates alike, Snow added to it on Monday.
Snow noted that Rhett committed to Georgia out of high school, and “they don’t take bad players at Georgia.” He said the sophomore was “big, he can run, and he will hit you.”
Snow talks challenges vs. Utah’s run game, Ekeler’s impact
***Whichever players are on the field for Nebraska’s defense, they will have their hands full against Utah’s productive and versatile running game.Snow said the Utes used “option principles” but could run numerous plays out of the same formation. He said that would especially challenge NU’s linebackers and safeties. They’ll need excellent “eye discipline” because “there’s a lot of candy in front of them.”
***When Snow took the keys of Nebraska’s defense this month, one of his first moves was “recruiting” Ekeler to help coach the d-line.
Snow said Ekeler coached what would be the Huskers’ Jack position at Tennessee, so it’s been a natural transition during bowl prep.
***Snow confirmed that he will coach the Las Vegas Bowl from the sideline and not the coaches’ box.
Special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler
***Ekeler said it had been “a lot of fun” working with the defensive line this month. Asked if he’d like to continue doing it next season, Ekeler said he, Rhule, and new DC Rob Aurich would all evaluate that after the bowl game.Ultimately, Ekeler wants to do whatever Rhule asks of him to help the team.
***Ekeler said Nebraska’s special teams “played their tails off” all season. Now, the challenge was finishing the job with another strong showing in the bowl game.
Ekeler said NU’s special teams “left a lot of meat on the bone” this year, and improving that starts with him.
***Ekeler couldn’t say enough about freshman punter Archie Wilson. Despite facing “tough situations” and inclement weather in his first season of college football, Ekeler said Wilson “never blinked.”
Ekeler credited Brett Maher for his work with Wilson and NU’s specialists, and he thinks Wilson will only continue to improve.
***Ekeler said Nebraska’s latest Australian specialist, incoming freshman kicker Michael Sarikizis, was a quiet guy. Wilson is not. “They’re going to be best friends,” Ekeler joked.
***Ekeler said there were too many special teams players who didn’t receive enough credit for the play this season. Some of the guys he listed off the top of his head were Derek Branch, Michael Booker, Kevin Gallic, Carter Nelson, Heinrich Haarberg, Jacob Bower, and Derek Wacker.
Ekeler has high hopes for Barney, Williams in return game
***Looking back on Kenneth Williams’ All-Big Ten season as a kickoff returner, Ekeler said Williams’ success was “all on him.” He said Williams “brought it every day” and earned his opportunity at KR in practice.Ekeler said Williams had a “high ceiling” and was just scratching the surface on his potential as a kick returner and running back.
***Ekeler said receiver/punt returner Jacory Barney was “one of my favorite players of all time.” Like Williams, Ekeler said Barney put in so much work and “loves the game.”
***Asked what his message was to Barney about when to return a punt or fair catch, Ekeler said: “Scared money don’t make money. We’re in Vegas, right? Double down.”
***Ekeler joked that watching film of Utah’s running game was “kind of like a horror movie” with how many ways the Utes stress a defense. He said it would be a “great challenge” for Nebraska’s defense because UU does “a little bit of everything” on the ground.
