Cryer looks to use his explosiveness
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BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Every week in the autumn, Nebraska defensive lineman Barry Cryer studies tape of opposing linemen. This week, he’s been watching a big Kansas State offensive line.
“They’re really good,” Cryer said.
They have at least one problem. “They’re not that fast off the ball,” Cryer said.
Which should play into Cryer’s strengths — quickness and explosion off the line. The 6-foot-2, 280-pound senior reacts quickly at the line of scrimmage, Nebraska defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said.
Kansas State’s offensive line averages about 300 pounds per starter and features three starters standing 6-5 or taller. The Wildcats rank 87th nationally in total offense, averaging 308.8 yards.
The teams square off at 6 p.m. Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
“You just try to be quicker than them at the point of attack,” Cryer said.
Cryer has been active in the trenches all season, but was particularly disruptive last week at Iowa State. A native of Marrero, La. (pop. 36,000), near New Orleans, Cryer recorded four tackles (including a 9-yard sack) and batted down a pass as Nebraska’s defense rebounded from a disappointing performance the previous week against Kansas.
“I think his mentality has changed since he’s become a starter,” Cosgrove said.
Cryer has a “tremendous motor” and goes hard every play nowadays — unlike last season, Cosgrove said.
Playing behind senior Titus Adams, Cryer acknowledged he lacked a sense of urgency in 2005. Even so, he saw action in all 12 games and finished with six tackles, including four for losses. He came up with a sack in each of the final two games.
Upon landing the starting job this past spring, Cryer said, “It just felt like I really had to put everything into every play because people were counting on me. There’s no room for error. When I was a backup, it was like, ‘If I mess up, oh,well, the starter’s back in.’ ”
Cryer’s quickness comes in especially handy at defensive tackle as opposed to nose tackle. That’s because defensive tackles typically battle one-on-one with guards.
“At the nose, you need guys with thickness and strength because you’re getting double-teamed,” Cosgrove said.
Cryer, who leads Nebraska’s crew of interior linemen with 17 tackles this season, often tells his opponents, “I’m going to be here all night!”
He likes to talk trash. He’s also regarded as one of most humorous players on the team, preferring to keep things lighthearted.
That wasn’t always easy last season, as Cryer constantly wondered if everybody was OK back home.
Hurricane Katrina ravaged his family’s home in Marrero last August. He felt helpless in Nebraska, several hours from the scene. His family had to move to Houston, then to Lincoln. Now they’re back in Louisiana fixing up their house.
“I don’t think it affected my play, but it affected my mind,” Cryer said. “I was never at peace and able to just worry about football 100 percent of the time.”
This year, he can better focus on his game, he said. He’s playing well, but insists he can play better. He thinks he can play faster and quicker. So, he delves hard into film study, watching how offensive linemen use their hands and noting their body lean in certain situations.
“Sometimes I feel like I know what they’re going to do before they do it,” he said.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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