NU Notes, 9/15: Huskers brace for Pitt corners
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BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Nebraska receivers will face a significant challenge Saturday against Pitt, which features the biggest and most physical cornerbacks the Huskers have faced this season, said NU wideouts coach Ted Gilmore.
The Panthers’ starters are 6-foot, 190-pound Darrelle Revis and 6-2, 195-pound Bernard “Josh” Lay. They’ve helped lead a unit that ranks 28th nationally in pass defense.
However, Pitt gave up 227 passing yards in a season-opening loss to Notre Dame.
“They’re going to come up and get in our face,” Gilmore said. “We have to be good at getting off the line of scrimmage and using our hands and not letting them disrupt our timing.
“Our guys know what’s coming; we just have to answer the bell.”
NU receivers need to have a sense of urgency about reducing the number of dropped passes, Gilmore said.
The Huskers were plagued by drops in each of their first two games, both wins. The missed opportunities by receivers are partly to blame for NU’s lackluster pass completion rate of 42 percent.
“The drops we’ve had have been in key situations,” Gilmore said. “But I think every drop is big. I don’t want them to drop any, and I don’t want them to ever get in the mind-set that it’s OK to drop one. Because it’s not.
“This offense is based on timing and execution. Those drops have stalled out drives, so they’ve all been huge.”
PECKING ORDER: As expected, senior Cory Ross remains the clear-cut starter at I-back, ahead of sophomore Brandon Jackson and true freshman Marlon Lucky, Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said. He added, “Hopefully we’ll see a little bit of Cody (Glenn) this weekend as well.” The 6-foot, 230-pound Glenn, also a true freshman, is yet to play this season, a somewhat perplexing development considering the significant amount of praise coaches gave him during preseason camp. Callahan said each I-back has a package of plays that features each player’s strengths. Game plans this season have included plays for Glenn; those plays just haven’t been used, Callahan said.
QUOTABLE: “It looks like they have simplified things from when they played Pitt last year. They have a new quarterback that they are trying to get in rhythm. Their defense and special teams have carried them through the year so far” — Pitt first-year coach Dave Wannstedt, offering a glimpse of his scouting report on Nebraska.
— Steven M. Sipple
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