Brian Rosenthal: Jordan works to keep backs happy
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Randy Jordan has given the “your time’s going to come speech” to his group of running backs more than once this season. In fact, he’s mastered it.
Yes, there’s been some tension, uneasiness, unhappiness — call it what you want — on Jordan’s running back committee. That happens when you have four talented backs competing for one spot. Understandable.
It’s Jordan’s job, as Nebraska’s running backs coach, to put out the troublesome fires that pop up from time to time.
“I’m like Smokey the Bear,” Jordan said. “I put ’em out all the time. I lost count.”
That’s the disadvantage to Nebraska’s running back-by-committee approach. Find enough carries for all, and keep the masses happy.
The advantage? We might find out Saturday night in Kansas City.
Nebraska plays Oklahoma for the Big 12 Conference championship and a spot in the Jan. 1 BCS Fiesta Bowl. The Huskers are in this position largely because of a vastly improved running game, one that’s relied, as promised, on four running backs.
One has emerged as the featured back, and deservedly so. Junior Brandon Jackson, with a team-high 881 rushing yards, earned first-team All-Big 12 honors Thursday from The Associated Press. This from a guy who had more carries against Colorado (34) than in his first five games combined (27)
“He’s come to work every day, punched the clock, brought his workmanlike boots and his pail,” Jordan said. “I’ve always felt he’s had the capability of being a good back. He’s shown me that with hard work and perseverance … the kid has been through so much physically. I call him the bionic man.”
Who we’ll see behind Jackson on Saturday night seems up in the air, and that’s where the depth — and management — of Jordan’s committee comes into play.
Marlon Lucky is struggling with a sore back. Cody Glenn is nursing a sprained foot. If they play, they won’t likely be 100 percent.
“We’re a little banged up right now,” Jordan said.
Don’t be surprised if that means more opportunities for Kenny Wilson, a somewhat forgotten player. A junior college transfer, Wilson has carried the ball 12 times in Big 12 play.
He had 19 carries at USC.
What happened to Wilson?
“He’s learned there’s a lo-o-o-t-t of things Coach Jordan asks of you,” Jordan said. “Physically, he has all the tools.”
Mostly, Jordan said, Wilson needs to work on ball security. He fumbled on one of his three carries against Colorado. Even on his bullish run into the end zone in the final seconds, he lost the ball after colliding with a CU defensive back.
“He’s working extremely hard on it, and I love him for it,” Jordan said.
“He has power and he has speed. God blessed with him with a body that even Lou Ferrigno would be envious of. He’s going to be a good one for us.”
Wilson, though, will be a senior next season, as will Jackson. Lucky and Glenn will be juniors. The committee will bulge with a few newcomers. If Jordan thought he had fires this season …
It’s natural to wonder, of course, whether everyone will return for 2007. That’s when we’ll learn if this committee was truly successful — if all participants were happy enough with the setup to go through it again. As much as we hear about “team first,” it’s a fact that kids, particularly at this position, want more snaps. They have egos.
If Jordan somehow manages that fire, more power to him. We’ll know more come spring.
Jordan, though, said he’s not concerned with transfer rumors, and that he’s not had to make any recruiting speeches to current players.
“I’ve learned through my young career that everything will eventually iron out itself,” Jordan said. “When this season started, everybody was, ‘Who’s going to play? Who’s this guy? Who’s this guy?’
“For some reason, it all pans out between those striped lines, from goal line to goal line. What happens out there counts.”
Going deep
* Unless the weather reports somehow manage to scare away some Nebraskans, expect Arrowhead Stadium to be loud, in NU’s favor. Some 60,000 Husker fans are expected. “It can get real loud (there),” said Jordan, who played at Arrowhead while with the Oakland Raiders. “There were times I couldn’t hear myself standing five feet from one of my teammates.”
* Forecast for kickoff: Partly cloudy, around 20 degrees, light winds, no precipitation. Just like NU-OU is supposed to be.
* How about the ultimate trick play? A carry for the Big 12’s first-team fullback.
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
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