The Huskers do not return a lot of experience at the tight end position. They'll count on Mike McNeill and others to get the job done.
BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Monday, April 7, 2008 7:00 pm
When the horn sounded the start of Nebraska’s first spring football practice a couple weeks ago, Ron Brown came out firing.
After four years away from coaching, Brown immediately started a rapid-paced pass-catching drill with the tight ends, his voice booming.
“Ball is on top of you! Get it clean! Find it!”
His tight ends did 180-degree turns and tried to locate Brown’s fastballs in time to make a catch.
Get used to it, boys. Intensity doesn’t take a day off in that circle. Passes from Brown come fast and often, something Nebraska’s tight ends know quite well now after eight spring practices with their new position coach.
“He said if we’re only catching two or three balls at practice, we’re not doing nearly enough,” said Mike McNeill, a sophomore tight end. “He wings it from like five yards away. That makes it a hard ball to catch.
“The man has more energy than anyone I’ve ever seen. He never gets tired.”
Don’t think McNeill’s complaining. After waiting his time behind a trio of seniors last year, McNeill is eager to show what he’s all about.
Last year, he caught just one pass, and that was way back in the season opener. This year, bigger things are anticipated.
The Kirkwood, Mo., native is confident of his receiving abilities, but now needs to show his improvement as a blocker. He gained 15 pounds this offseason to get to 240.
“I think I’m improving over the spring with all the work I’m getting,” McNeill said. “It’s nice blocking (defensive ends) Barry Turner and Zach Potter. That’s a good look to go against.”
What’s certain: The door is wide-open for McNeill and all of Nebraska’s tight ends to earn playing time.
The Huskers return no starters at the position — having lost Sean Hill, Josh Mueller and J.B. Phillips to graduation.
Hill had a breakout season last fall, catching 17 passes. Mueller had the size to be a good blocking presence. Phillips, though usually unheralded, started 34 games as a Husker.
That’s all gone, but still, Brown is optimistic about what he has. Alongside McNeill, there’s senior Hunter Teafatiller (who had four catches last season) and sophomore Dreu Young (one catch). Brown has also been impressed with some things he’s seen from redshirt freshman Ryan Hill.
Junior college transfer Tyson Hetzer could be another option, but is currently on crutches and will miss the rest of the spring with a knee injury.
“I think there’s some guys who can get downfield and make some plays,” Brown said. “We’re not the largest tight ends in the world. We got to work real hard in the blocking phase, but that’s going to come.
“It’s just tenacity. You can measure a guy’s size, but how do you measure his heart? When you look at the potential of size, they all have room to grow. They’re young kids.”
He may be a sophomore, but McNeill said he sometimes feels like one of the team’s “old guys.”
Having redshirted his first season, he is now in his third year in the program and has known four Husker tight end coaches.
Scott Downing recruited him, then Shawn Watson was his position coach, then Joe Rudolph, now Brown.
“I almost feel like a senior or something,” said McNeill, who missed practice Monday but is expected to return soon.
Brown said McNeill has proven easy to coach, a smart guy who understands the offense well.
“Kind of a happy guy, a guy who smiles a lot,” the coach said. “But when he gets out here and winds it up, he’s a pretty intense kid.”
Certainly that’s a compliment coming from Brown, who never seems lacking in the intensity department.
It’s not uncommon after a practice to find Brown and his tight ends as the last group on the field, just getting a few extra touches on the football.
“Every practice is like a game really,” Brown said. “It’s like a game, and it needs to be that way. That’s the way you get to the level you need to get to play at a top level when the games do come around.”
Reach Brian Christopherson at bchristopherson@journalstar.com or 473-7439.