Red Report: Comfy corners?
Husker head coach Bill Callahan is anxious to see how his secondary stacks up against a Wake Forest team that proved pass-happy in its opener.
“I don’t know that you’re ever comfortable. I’m confident in our corners, but you can never have enough great corners,” Callahan said after Thursday’s practice.
“Our guys, I like our personnel. I’m confident that they’re capable of competing at a high level, but until they’re tested, how do you know?”
In Saturday’s season-opening 52-10 win against Nevada, the Huskers showed more nickel and dime defenses than they had utilized in games last year.
Such defensive packages allow Nebraska to put more defensive backs on the field and take advantage of added depth at cornerback.
One guy Callahan knows his corners will have to watch closely is Wake Forest senior Kenneth Moore, who caught 15 passes in the Deacons’ 38-28 loss at Boston College on Saturday.
“He’s a focus for our football team and he deserves that kind of respect,” Callahan said. “For a guy to have 15 catches in one game, that speaks volumes for his ability.”
Injury watch
Callahan said junior defensive tackle Ty Steinkuhler “worked good” during Thursday’s practice, but it won’t be known until Saturday if he can play against Wake Forest.
“We’re going to take it all the way into pregame warmups,” Callahan said.
Steinkuhler injured a knee less than five minutes into the opener.
Another question mark for Saturday is tight end Josh Mueller, mainly used for blocking. The junior from Columbus missed practice Thursday with a shoulder stinger. Callahan said they’d evaluate his status Friday before the team left for Winston-Salem.
By the numbers
76: The number of players Nebraska will take to Wake Forest. Actually, it might be 77. Callahan wasn’t sure Thursday.
Because it’s a nonconference game, there is no limit to how many players Nebraska can bring.
Scouting report
RG Matt Slauson
One series, he’s a tackle. The next, he’s a guard.
Coming soon: Matt Slauson, the 335-pound running back? OK, in his dreams.
But what about this switching between guard and tackle that Slauson does? Is that easy for him?
No, not at all, admitted offensive line coach Dennis Wagner. “But when you know that’s your expectation and you practice it that way, it makes it easier.”
Last week, Wagner played five different guys at tackle: Carl Nicks, Lydon Murtha, Mike Smith, D.J. Jones and Slauson.
“I think we just need to have some combinations in case there’s an injury,” Wagner said of Slauson being in the tackle rotation. “And right now, we’re not prepared to throw all those redshirt freshmen right into the fire.”
Slauson, a junior, is listed as a right guard this year. Mike Huff started at that spot Saturday. Andy Christensen started at left guard.
Wagner said Slauson, who was slowed by a shoulder injury during fall camp, probably wasn’t yet in top game shape against Nevada.
“We still haven’t decided who the starting guards are and that’s great, because every week they have to compete in practice,” he said.
Opponent watch: Iowa State
Following a season-opening 23-14 loss to Kent State, first-year Iowa State coach Gene Chizik said he’s giving his starters three weeks to improve or he’ll change the lineup.
“I can only stand being below-average for so long,” Chizik said. “That’s not a threat. Nobody is panicking. But there will be an expectation every week for improvement from every guy. If that’s not getting done three weeks from now, we’ll look at changing.”
If Chizik sticks to his timetable, any lineup changes will come the week the Cyclones are preparing to play Nebraska.
— Brian Christopherson
“I don’t know that you’re ever comfortable. I’m confident in our corners, but you can never have enough great corners,” Callahan said after Thursday’s practice.
“Our guys, I like our personnel. I’m confident that they’re capable of competing at a high level, but until they’re tested, how do you know?”
In Saturday’s season-opening 52-10 win against Nevada, the Huskers showed more nickel and dime defenses than they had utilized in games last year.
Such defensive packages allow Nebraska to put more defensive backs on the field and take advantage of added depth at cornerback.
One guy Callahan knows his corners will have to watch closely is Wake Forest senior Kenneth Moore, who caught 15 passes in the Deacons’ 38-28 loss at Boston College on Saturday.
“He’s a focus for our football team and he deserves that kind of respect,” Callahan said. “For a guy to have 15 catches in one game, that speaks volumes for his ability.”
Injury watch
Callahan said junior defensive tackle Ty Steinkuhler “worked good” during Thursday’s practice, but it won’t be known until Saturday if he can play against Wake Forest.
“We’re going to take it all the way into pregame warmups,” Callahan said.
Steinkuhler injured a knee less than five minutes into the opener.
Another question mark for Saturday is tight end Josh Mueller, mainly used for blocking. The junior from Columbus missed practice Thursday with a shoulder stinger. Callahan said they’d evaluate his status Friday before the team left for Winston-Salem.
By the numbers
76: The number of players Nebraska will take to Wake Forest. Actually, it might be 77. Callahan wasn’t sure Thursday.
Because it’s a nonconference game, there is no limit to how many players Nebraska can bring.
Scouting report
RG Matt Slauson
One series, he’s a tackle. The next, he’s a guard.
Coming soon: Matt Slauson, the 335-pound running back? OK, in his dreams.
But what about this switching between guard and tackle that Slauson does? Is that easy for him?
No, not at all, admitted offensive line coach Dennis Wagner. “But when you know that’s your expectation and you practice it that way, it makes it easier.”
Last week, Wagner played five different guys at tackle: Carl Nicks, Lydon Murtha, Mike Smith, D.J. Jones and Slauson.
“I think we just need to have some combinations in case there’s an injury,” Wagner said of Slauson being in the tackle rotation. “And right now, we’re not prepared to throw all those redshirt freshmen right into the fire.”
Slauson, a junior, is listed as a right guard this year. Mike Huff started at that spot Saturday. Andy Christensen started at left guard.
Wagner said Slauson, who was slowed by a shoulder injury during fall camp, probably wasn’t yet in top game shape against Nevada.
“We still haven’t decided who the starting guards are and that’s great, because every week they have to compete in practice,” he said.
Opponent watch: Iowa State
Following a season-opening 23-14 loss to Kent State, first-year Iowa State coach Gene Chizik said he’s giving his starters three weeks to improve or he’ll change the lineup.
“I can only stand being below-average for so long,” Chizik said. “That’s not a threat. Nobody is panicking. But there will be an expectation every week for improvement from every guy. If that’s not getting done three weeks from now, we’ll look at changing.”
If Chizik sticks to his timetable, any lineup changes will come the week the Cyclones are preparing to play Nebraska.
— Brian Christopherson
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