Husker Football Notes, 11/05: Hickman holds up well in first start
In the days leading to Saturday’s game, nobody formally informed Nebraska offensive guard Jacob Hickman that he would make his first career start.
However, the true freshman began to get a distinct feeling it was a possibility during practice last week as he worked extensively with the first string. In team meetings Friday, it became even more clear.
“It was nerve-racking (Friday),” Hickman said. “It was stressful because I knew what the game meant to the whole team. This was a big opportunity for us, and I didn’t want to let anybody down.”
By all accounts, Hickman held up well during Nebraska’s 34-20 victory against Missouri in which the Huskers didn’t allow a sack and finished with 419 yards of total offense.
“We knew going into the game we wanted to pound the ball and pound the ball, and then make the most of it when we did throw,” Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor said. “I think we did a good job of it.”
The Huskers did it with some major changes along the offensive line.
Hickman, who had played only a couple of series in Nebraska’s previous five Big 12 games, went the distance at right guard in place of sophomore Mike Huff, who had started the previous nine games.
Meanwhile, with senior Greg Austin sidelined by a knee injury, sophomore Andy Christensen made his second start of the season at left guard.
In addition, sophomore Lydon Murtha started at left tackle ahead of junior Chris Patrick, who also had started the previous nine games. Murtha, Patrick and starting right tackle Matt Slauson formed a three-man tackle rotation Saturday.
The 6-foot-7, 315-pound Murtha, who had started three games last season, got the nod against Missouri because “he’s been practicing great,” said Nebraska offensive line coach Dennis Wagner, whose unit had allowed 13 sacks in the past three games.
“It’s important that you’re coachable and do the techniques that we teach,” added Wagner, referring to Murtha.
As for the 6-4, 285-pound Hickman, “He’s picked up the system as fast as anyone we’ve had since we’ve been here,” the third-year Nebraska assistant said.
Hickman is ahead of Huff on the depth chart for now, Wagner said, emphasizing that competition continues.
Nebraska defensive end Adam Carriker said he has noticed Hickman’s strong hands in practice.
A native of Bakersfield, Calif., Hickman was a member of Nebraska’s 2005 recruiting class, but delayed full-time enrollment until January 2006. He arrived on campus weighing only 250 pounds.
“I’ve been trying desperately not to lose any weight — just eating everything in sight,” Hickman said.
Special teams improve
A Nebraska special-teams unit that faced criticism after a poor performance last week against Oklahoma State redeemed itself with solid play Saturday.
Special-teams coach Bill Busch said the improvements began with better kickoffs. For instance, for the first time in recent games, Nebraska was able to get a touchback on a kickoff. Jake Wesch reached the end zone on the opening kickoff, drawing cheers (some sarcastic?) from the crowd. All told, Wesch had three touchbacks, and on the kicks Missouri returned, the Tigers averaged only 14.8 yards. Oklahoma State averaged 22.4.
Nebraska, by the way, entered Saturday’s game ranked No. 21 nationally in kickoff yardage allowed (17.4 yards per return). That didn’t prevent criticism, which players and coaches heard.
“The kids take everything just like the coaches do — extremely personal,” Busch said. “We just keep working, we just keep grinding. That’s one thing about football, you can’t be too high or too low. We just keep grinding. The kids really, really played well today, with tremendous effort.”
In addition, Dan Titchener pinned Missouri deep with a punt that landed out of bounds at the Tigers’ 7-yard line; Jordan Congdon was 2-for-2 on field goals; and Cortney Grixby averaged 8 yards on three punt returns.
Jackson notable
Husker junior I-back Brandon Jackson’s big day was marred somewhat by a couple of fumbles — on his team’s first possession and its second-to-last. He hadn’t fumbled all season.
“It’s all me,” he said. “I was holding the ball wrong. I messed up a couple of times. Hopefully that won’t happen again.”
Tough luck
No use dwelling on tight end J.B. Phillips’ dropped pass on the fourth-and-1 play in the third quarter, Taylor said.
“There’s nothing you have to say to him,” the quarterback said. “You know exactly how he feels. ... That stuff happens. He’s probably very glad we won the game and that it doesn’t come back to him.”
Brian Rosenthal contributed to this report.
However, the true freshman began to get a distinct feeling it was a possibility during practice last week as he worked extensively with the first string. In team meetings Friday, it became even more clear.
“It was nerve-racking (Friday),” Hickman said. “It was stressful because I knew what the game meant to the whole team. This was a big opportunity for us, and I didn’t want to let anybody down.”
By all accounts, Hickman held up well during Nebraska’s 34-20 victory against Missouri in which the Huskers didn’t allow a sack and finished with 419 yards of total offense.
“We knew going into the game we wanted to pound the ball and pound the ball, and then make the most of it when we did throw,” Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor said. “I think we did a good job of it.”
The Huskers did it with some major changes along the offensive line.
Hickman, who had played only a couple of series in Nebraska’s previous five Big 12 games, went the distance at right guard in place of sophomore Mike Huff, who had started the previous nine games.
Meanwhile, with senior Greg Austin sidelined by a knee injury, sophomore Andy Christensen made his second start of the season at left guard.
In addition, sophomore Lydon Murtha started at left tackle ahead of junior Chris Patrick, who also had started the previous nine games. Murtha, Patrick and starting right tackle Matt Slauson formed a three-man tackle rotation Saturday.
The 6-foot-7, 315-pound Murtha, who had started three games last season, got the nod against Missouri because “he’s been practicing great,” said Nebraska offensive line coach Dennis Wagner, whose unit had allowed 13 sacks in the past three games.
“It’s important that you’re coachable and do the techniques that we teach,” added Wagner, referring to Murtha.
As for the 6-4, 285-pound Hickman, “He’s picked up the system as fast as anyone we’ve had since we’ve been here,” the third-year Nebraska assistant said.
Hickman is ahead of Huff on the depth chart for now, Wagner said, emphasizing that competition continues.
Nebraska defensive end Adam Carriker said he has noticed Hickman’s strong hands in practice.
A native of Bakersfield, Calif., Hickman was a member of Nebraska’s 2005 recruiting class, but delayed full-time enrollment until January 2006. He arrived on campus weighing only 250 pounds.
“I’ve been trying desperately not to lose any weight — just eating everything in sight,” Hickman said.
Special teams improve
A Nebraska special-teams unit that faced criticism after a poor performance last week against Oklahoma State redeemed itself with solid play Saturday.
Special-teams coach Bill Busch said the improvements began with better kickoffs. For instance, for the first time in recent games, Nebraska was able to get a touchback on a kickoff. Jake Wesch reached the end zone on the opening kickoff, drawing cheers (some sarcastic?) from the crowd. All told, Wesch had three touchbacks, and on the kicks Missouri returned, the Tigers averaged only 14.8 yards. Oklahoma State averaged 22.4.
Nebraska, by the way, entered Saturday’s game ranked No. 21 nationally in kickoff yardage allowed (17.4 yards per return). That didn’t prevent criticism, which players and coaches heard.
“The kids take everything just like the coaches do — extremely personal,” Busch said. “We just keep working, we just keep grinding. That’s one thing about football, you can’t be too high or too low. We just keep grinding. The kids really, really played well today, with tremendous effort.”
In addition, Dan Titchener pinned Missouri deep with a punt that landed out of bounds at the Tigers’ 7-yard line; Jordan Congdon was 2-for-2 on field goals; and Cortney Grixby averaged 8 yards on three punt returns.
Jackson notable
Husker junior I-back Brandon Jackson’s big day was marred somewhat by a couple of fumbles — on his team’s first possession and its second-to-last. He hadn’t fumbled all season.
“It’s all me,” he said. “I was holding the ball wrong. I messed up a couple of times. Hopefully that won’t happen again.”
Tough luck
No use dwelling on tight end J.B. Phillips’ dropped pass on the fourth-and-1 play in the third quarter, Taylor said.
“There’s nothing you have to say to him,” the quarterback said. “You know exactly how he feels. ... That stuff happens. He’s probably very glad we won the game and that it doesn’t come back to him.”
Brian Rosenthal contributed to this report.
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