NU football notebook, 10/15: Robinson fills role on special teams
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BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
It became well-documented this week that senior Adam Ickes would start today at strongside linebacker in place of Stewart Bradley, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last week against Texas Tech.
Joey Robison, meanwhile, flew under the radar. Such is typically the case with special-teams players. But it was Robison who filled Bradley’s shoes on special teams last week because Bradley already was limping from a previous injury before going down for good with an anterior cruciate ligament tear.
All Robison did against Tech was earn Husker special-teams player of the week honors, as voted by NU coaches. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound senior made an immediate impact against Tech, combining with true freshman Leon Jackson for a vicious hit on a return man on the opening kickoff.
“We put him in a few roles, and he did a great job,” Husker coach Bill Callahan said of Robison. “He knows what to do and how to do it. He’s going to go full speed. We have a lot of confidence in Joey.”
Robison, of Bertrand, has a knack for making plays in the open field, Callahan said.
“(Special-teams players) need a feel for playing in big spaces,” the coach said. “He has that feel. He has that knack. He’s very precise with the angles he takes and with his assignments.”
Robison has appeared in every game this season and has nine tackles. He had been playing on special teams through the first four games but saw increased action last week. He expects to play a similar role today against a Baylor team noted for strong special-teams play.
Among the Bears’ special-teams stalwarts is Willie Andrews, who averages 12.9 yards per punt return and 23.2 per kickoff return.
“He’s a strong runner,” Robison said. “He’s not going to go down easy with the first hit. You’re going to have to wrap up. He’s just going to be a tough guy to wrestle down, I think.”
-- FOR OPENERS: Nebraska has won its last two road openers, picking up a seven-point win at Pitt last year after a 24-point triumph at Southern Miss in 2003. Dating to 1993, the Huskers have captured 10 of their past 12 road openers. However, NU today will look to end a three-game skid in Big 12 road openers, having lost at Iowa State in 2002, Missouri in 2003 and Tech in 2004.
-- A LOOK BACK: Although Nebraska’s offense sputtered most of last season, Baylor had the misfortune of playing a Husker team that was clicking offensively last October. Joe Dailey, who has since transferred to North Carolina, threw for 342 yards and five touchdowns. NU had six pass plays of 25 yards or longer in the 59-27 triumph.
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