Dillard willing to help out to gain playing time
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BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Phillip Dillard was receptive to the idea of playing in the trenches.
Nebraska coaches wanted more speed up front in third-down situations, and Dillard, a MIKE linebacker, was willing to help out.
Very willing, actually. You’d be, too, after spending a season sidelined with an ACL tear.
“The worst injury I’ve ever had,” Dillard said. “Just a humble, learning experience.”
The sophomore injured his knee in last year’s season opener against Louisiana Tech. He missed the rest of the season and was able to redshirt.
This year’s season opener went smoother. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound Dillard showed how he’ll play a key role in a new defensive wrinkle for the Blackshirts this season.
Dillard played nose tackle in Nebraska’s 3-3-5 look — a package the Huskers are apt to pull out in obvious third-down passing situations.
“He’s a big linebacker that’s athletic and can run very well,” Nebraska defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said, “and we feel that he can hold up in the trenches.”
In one scenario Saturday against Nevada, defensive ends Barry Turner and Clayton Sievers lined up on either side of Dillard, with Corey McKeon, Bo Ruud and Steve Octavien at linebacker. Among the five defensive backs was Zack Bowman, who came on a corner blitz and teamed with Turner to force an incompletion on third-and-8.
Dillard finished with two solo tackles. He also played some linebacker, the position he still prefers.
But if helping out up front gets Dillard more playing time, so be it.
“It’s something he likes to do,” defensive line coach Buddy Wyatt said. “He’s taken to it full-throttle. And he’s had some success at it.”
Dillard said Wyatt has helped him learn how to better use his hands, something that’s also helped him as a linebacker.
“Down in the trenches is a totally different story,” Dillard said. “You’ve got to learn how to use your hands.”
Overall, Wyatt said he was pleased with the performance of the defensive line against Nevada, noting its sound technique and lack of mental errors. Although Nebraska had just one sack, the Blackshirts had nine quarterback hurries and, by Wyatt’s count, 17 hits on the quarterback.
Somewhat absent from the hurry-and-hit parade was nose tackle Ndamukong Suh. Wyatt, though, commended Suh, saying the sophomore had a “very solid” game and was disruptive at the line of scrimmage. Suh had two solo tackles.
“Their passing game didn’t really lend to the inside guys getting a lot of pressure,” Wyatt said. “They rolled out quite a bit.”
Wyatt also pointed out that with Dillard playing inside on third-down situations, Suh’s opportunities for big plays were limited.
“On first and second down they were running the ball, and on third down we pulled him out,” Wyatt said. “That’s just the way our package is on third down this year.”
Are there situations where Suh, regarded as Nebraska’s most physical, dominant lineman, plays on third-and-long?
“There’s definitely situations,” Wyatt said. “Each week is a different game. Our plan will be dictated by what they do and how we can attack them on third down. That will include Suh in some cases.”
And in other cases, Dillard.
“All the other kids give him a hard time,” Wyatt said. “They say he’s just a big linebacker. But he has skills. The young man is really talented. We just wanted to use his talents.”
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
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