Suh takes advice from Husker greats
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BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON AND BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Junior nose tackle Ndamukong Suh said he’s been talking with former Husker defensive linemen Christian Peter and Jason Peter — about the past Blackshirt tradition, about what they expect now, about what Suh can do to help.
“I definitely feel that I have a good understanding of how things have worked and how things can be turned around,” Suh said. “They really just want me to play as hard as I can, just like they played.”
Suh said the Peters told him they see him as a leader on the 2008 defense. Suh said he wants to be a leader, and that he feels some of his teammates look up to him.
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The Peters’ advice?
“Take that to your full advantage. Don’t be a guy that just dictates to people but be a likeable guy at the same time. Don’t let people stray.
“The main thing is, internally, take care of problems. If there’s anything going on. … Take care of it as a team before it gets to the coaches.”
This and that: Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson had no information on Ty Steinkuhler, who sat out Wednesday’s practice and watched from the sideline. Head coach Bo Pelini wasn’t scheduled to meet with the media Wednesday. … Backup quarterbacks Patrick Witt and Zac Lee are splitting reps evenly, although Witt is listed as the top backup. Watson said Witt has been assignment sound, and that Lee is still learning the offense. … Wednesday’s practice was the first in half pads.
Question of the day: What’s wrong with Jaivorio Burkes, and when will he return? Burkes, the No. 1 right tackle, missed a third straight practice Wednesday with high blood pressure, Watson said. Burkes’ status is day-to-day.
“We thought he was probably going to have a chance to go today. He’s getting back in that normal range,” Watson said. “Once he gets his blood pressure down, he’ll be good to go. We’ve got to keep testing him every day.”
Watson said Burkes’ situation isn’t considered to be career-threatening.
“I think it’s in his family,” he said. “We’ve just got to make sure he takes his medication and does the right thing — eats right, sleeps right.”
In Burkes’ absence, Watson said he was impressed with redshirted freshman Marcel Jones.
“Marcel was pushing ‘J’ during the spring, latter part of the spring, and he’s done a really nice job,” Watson said. “Marcel has taken advantage of the reps he’s getting. Those are two very, very good young players.”
Scouting report, WR Niles Paul: Fall camp was about all sophomore wide receiver Niles Paul could think about during the summer.
“Sometimes I caught myself on the weekends not being able to sleep because I was thinking about fall camp, how I need to go out there and prove myself,” Paul said.
At a position where coaches are looking for players to step to the forefront, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Paul seems as likely a candidate as any.
Husker receivers coach Ted Gilmore has called the Omaha North grad the most physical of his players.
Paul said he loves watching a receiver like Terrell Owens play because he’s so strong.
“I like putting people on their backs,” Paul said.
So he must be just fine with some of the chatter that Nebraska will be more ground-oriented this year, right?
The man who had just one catch last year smiled. “As long as there’s a little bit of passing in there, too.”
Opponent watch, Colorado: The Buffs have lost guard Erick Faatagi from the team due to academic problems, the Boulder Daily Camera reported.
This happened to CU last year, too, when former starting quarterback Bernard Jackson was ruled academically ineligible.
Faatagi is the fourth CU player to be ruled academically ineligible this season and, according to the Daily Camera, there could be more coming.
