Husker Football Notes, 10/11: Callahan pleased with running scheme
In the words of Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, what the, you know, is going on?
And no, we’re not delving more here into Peterson’s stunned reaction over his fumbled lateral that he thought was an incomplete pass against Texas last Saturday. This puzzler stems from how Bill Callahan is able to get production out of the Huskers’ running game, regardless of who he sticks in at I-back.
Against Iowa State, Cody Glenn and Brandon Jackson split the carries and both posted career games (Glenn had 148 yards on 19 rushes; Jackson ran for 118 on 22 attempts). Before Saturday’s game, Marlon Lucky and Kenny Wilson each had produced 100-yard efforts and between them had logged nearly 70 percent of Nebraska’s carries. Neither got a handoff against the Cyclones.
“I’m just pleased that we’ve got team-oriented guys that know their roles, that appreciate their roles and appreciate the opportunity to play,” Bill Callahan said Tuesday. “We’d like to get them all the ball more, and we’re trying to do that in the way that we scheme and design the game plan.”
OK, coach, so when do these guys have a good idea of how they’ll fit into each week’s plan?
“Probably by Saturday night, by the time we’ve put in the first 15 (plays),” the coach said.
Folks, he wasn’t kidding, either.
“After the first 15, you’re kind of ‘OK, I’m going to play quite a bit,’ or ‘I’m not going to play quite a bit.’ ” Glenn said. “However they want the first 15 plays to go, they go like that. And then once you get done with the 15, whichever play’s working you just keep going with them, and whichever guy was in on that play is going to be in (the most).”
Thus far, it’d be hard to argue against that logic.
AUSTIN NOT FULLY POWERED: Left guard Steve Austin, who left the Iowa State game with a knee injury sustained on NU’s second drive of the fourth quarter, practiced Tuesday. As to how much work Austin was able to do, offensive coordinator Jay Norvell wasn’t saying.
“Hopefully, Greg’s going to be ready,” said Norvell, adding that Austin’s injury wasn’t nearly as severe as the coaches first thought Saturday. If Austin can’t go, he’ll be replaced by sophomore Andy Christensen or freshman Jacob Hickman.
The chance of weak-side linebacker Steve Octavien playing this week also appears highly questionable. Octavien missed his third straight game and didn’t even travel to Iowa State because of a hamstring injury. He worked out with trainers Tuesday, and defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove indicated the Huskers are taking it a day at a time in regard to the time frame for Octavien’s return.
ROAD CONSTRUCTION: Nebraska went 2-2 in Big 12 road games last year after going 0-4 in 2004. A win Saturday would make them 2-0 and put them in good position to post a winning league road mark for the first time since the 2001 Huskers went 3-1.
“Crowd noise, officiating — you’ve got to have that mentality to overcome whatever’s thrown at you. And I think our team has done that,” Callahan said. “To a large extrent, our first half at USC was very solid. We would’ve like to have done better. Our game against Iowa State was much improved from where we were at SC, from handling the ebb and flow of the game. But it could be better. In the third quarter, we had some opportunities that we squandered, offensively. We want to get to that point where we gain a lead and we can separate and put a team away.
“(But) we feel that we’ve established a pretty good routine on the road. It’s very similar to what we’re doing at home on a Friday, and on a Saturday, as well ... and I think that has a lot to do with their preparation and their mind-set when they hit the field.”
HERE COMES No. 800: Nebraska’s next victory will be the 800th in school history. Naturally, junior linebacker Corey McKeon thinks it’ll be awesome when the Huskers get it, but he clearly left it up for someone else to decide when that will happen. “That’s not a guarantee. Don’t Andre Jones me,” McKeon said, referring to the attention the Huskers’ junior cornerback received after predicting victory prior to the USC game.
FREEMAN RU THERE?: Callahan also wasn’t about to draw himself into any tit for tat with K-State freshman quarterback Josh Freeman, who originally committed to Nebraska. When asked if Freeman really did text message him about his change of heart, Callahan responded, “Oh, there you go again. That’s over. Recruiting’s over, it’s time to play. We’re excited about playing. And they’re a good football team. It’s going to be a heck of a challenge. Let me put a few more coach-speak words in there. Next question.”
And no, we’re not delving more here into Peterson’s stunned reaction over his fumbled lateral that he thought was an incomplete pass against Texas last Saturday. This puzzler stems from how Bill Callahan is able to get production out of the Huskers’ running game, regardless of who he sticks in at I-back.
Against Iowa State, Cody Glenn and Brandon Jackson split the carries and both posted career games (Glenn had 148 yards on 19 rushes; Jackson ran for 118 on 22 attempts). Before Saturday’s game, Marlon Lucky and Kenny Wilson each had produced 100-yard efforts and between them had logged nearly 70 percent of Nebraska’s carries. Neither got a handoff against the Cyclones.
“I’m just pleased that we’ve got team-oriented guys that know their roles, that appreciate their roles and appreciate the opportunity to play,” Bill Callahan said Tuesday. “We’d like to get them all the ball more, and we’re trying to do that in the way that we scheme and design the game plan.”
OK, coach, so when do these guys have a good idea of how they’ll fit into each week’s plan?
“Probably by Saturday night, by the time we’ve put in the first 15 (plays),” the coach said.
Folks, he wasn’t kidding, either.
“After the first 15, you’re kind of ‘OK, I’m going to play quite a bit,’ or ‘I’m not going to play quite a bit.’ ” Glenn said. “However they want the first 15 plays to go, they go like that. And then once you get done with the 15, whichever play’s working you just keep going with them, and whichever guy was in on that play is going to be in (the most).”
Thus far, it’d be hard to argue against that logic.
AUSTIN NOT FULLY POWERED: Left guard Steve Austin, who left the Iowa State game with a knee injury sustained on NU’s second drive of the fourth quarter, practiced Tuesday. As to how much work Austin was able to do, offensive coordinator Jay Norvell wasn’t saying.
“Hopefully, Greg’s going to be ready,” said Norvell, adding that Austin’s injury wasn’t nearly as severe as the coaches first thought Saturday. If Austin can’t go, he’ll be replaced by sophomore Andy Christensen or freshman Jacob Hickman.
The chance of weak-side linebacker Steve Octavien playing this week also appears highly questionable. Octavien missed his third straight game and didn’t even travel to Iowa State because of a hamstring injury. He worked out with trainers Tuesday, and defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove indicated the Huskers are taking it a day at a time in regard to the time frame for Octavien’s return.
ROAD CONSTRUCTION: Nebraska went 2-2 in Big 12 road games last year after going 0-4 in 2004. A win Saturday would make them 2-0 and put them in good position to post a winning league road mark for the first time since the 2001 Huskers went 3-1.
“Crowd noise, officiating — you’ve got to have that mentality to overcome whatever’s thrown at you. And I think our team has done that,” Callahan said. “To a large extrent, our first half at USC was very solid. We would’ve like to have done better. Our game against Iowa State was much improved from where we were at SC, from handling the ebb and flow of the game. But it could be better. In the third quarter, we had some opportunities that we squandered, offensively. We want to get to that point where we gain a lead and we can separate and put a team away.
“(But) we feel that we’ve established a pretty good routine on the road. It’s very similar to what we’re doing at home on a Friday, and on a Saturday, as well ... and I think that has a lot to do with their preparation and their mind-set when they hit the field.”
HERE COMES No. 800: Nebraska’s next victory will be the 800th in school history. Naturally, junior linebacker Corey McKeon thinks it’ll be awesome when the Huskers get it, but he clearly left it up for someone else to decide when that will happen. “That’s not a guarantee. Don’t Andre Jones me,” McKeon said, referring to the attention the Huskers’ junior cornerback received after predicting victory prior to the USC game.
FREEMAN RU THERE?: Callahan also wasn’t about to draw himself into any tit for tat with K-State freshman quarterback Josh Freeman, who originally committed to Nebraska. When asked if Freeman really did text message him about his change of heart, Callahan responded, “Oh, there you go again. That’s over. Recruiting’s over, it’s time to play. We’re excited about playing. And they’re a good football team. It’s going to be a heck of a challenge. Let me put a few more coach-speak words in there. Next question.”
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