Nebraska's First depth chart reveals numerous changes

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BYSTEVEN M. SIPPLE

Nebraska football coach Bill Callahan unveiled a spring practice depth chart Wednesday peppered with nearly a dozen players making position changes.

While those players likely will remain entrenched at their new spots, Callahan said he anticipates the depth chart will undergo frequent revision this spring and during preseason camp in August as the Huskers prepare for their 2004 schedule.

Callahan said competition for positions will be "wide-open."

"Nothing has been earmarked or defined as a starting position," Callahan said during a news conference at Memorial Stadium. "We will have open competition throughout the spring. My philosophy about depth charts early in the process is very simple:It's not how you line up, it's how you wind up."

The first spring practice of the Callahan era is set for March 24. The Huskers will have 15 spring workouts, including three in sweat clothes, as mandated by the NCAA. In addition, there will be three full-scale scrimmages.

Nebraska has spent the past six weeks concentrating on improving strength and speed during winter conditioning, which wraps up this week.

Among the most significant off-season position changes on the two-deep depth chart Callahan released Wednesday:

n Jared Helming, Seppo Evwaraye and Chris Patrick moved from defensive line to offensive line.

n Kurt Mann, backup center last season, is listed No. 1 at left tackle ahead of Evwaraye.

n Nick Povendo, backup tackle last season, is listed No. 1 at right guard ahead of returning starter Jake Andersen.

n Stewart Bradley, reserve defensive end in 2003, is listed No. 1 at SAMlinebacker.

n Chad Sievers, reserve middle linebacker last season, is listed No. 1 at WILL linebacker.

n Titus Adams, reserve defensive end in 2003, is now No. 1 at right defensive tackle.

n Richie Incognito, the team's best offensive lineman, has moved from tackle to center.

"Richie is an incredible athlete," Callahan said. "He has the ability to play anywhere across the board."

Indeed, Callahan said, he expects offensive linemen to be able to play multiple positions.

"The big challenge for us is to rebuild that offensive line," Callahan said of a unit that lost two starters - center Josh Sewell and right tackle Dan Vili Waldrop - to graduation.

Junior defensive tackle LeKevin Smith, one of 14 returning starters, expected the major depth chart overhaul.

"You have to figure that with a new coaching staff, there are going to be changes," Smith said. "Now, we're just trying to roll with it."

A few players will have to heal before joining the fray.

Offensive lineman Greg Austin, who showed promise last season as a true freshman, will miss the entire spring because of a knee injury.

Callahan listed the following top-unit players as "probable" for spring:defensive tackle Brandon Teamer (toe injury), offensive guard Mike Erickson (hip) and wide receiver Andy Birkel (mononucleosis).

Nebraska coaches enter spring practice with open minds, Callahan said.

"It's really hard for us as a staff to project how the players will do in the new system, because we really haven't had the opportunity to coach football yet," he said. "We've coached a lot of drill work and conditioning. But we really haven't isolated on fundamentals or techniques relative to the game itself."

Callahan said Nebraska coaches will use systems on both sides of the ball that are "adaptable" to the talent on hand.

"We will work our system around what our players do best," he said. "We don't stuff the players into the system."

Most prominent on Callahan's to-do list for the team this spring will be installing the West Coast offense, as well as a new defensive system; learning how to practice smarter and faster; establishing a strong running game, as well as a defense geared to stop the run; and putting a premium on creating and avoiding turnovers.

"We'll try to lock up the rock,"Callahan said.

In addition, Callahan said, Nebraska's offensive line will devote significant time to learning how to pick up the wide variety of blitzes that defenses use nowadays.

"For our system, for our quarterback and for our offense, everything begins with pass protection,"Callahan said. "If you don't have the ability to protect the quarterback, you don't have a chance."

Callahan said the staff is eager and excited for spring ball to begin.

"It's a very exciting and energized time for Nebraska football," he said. "Our team has paid a tremendous price this off-season. As I've told the players, it hasn't guaranteed them anything. It just allows us a chance to compete with the other teams in the conference."

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@;journalstar.com.