Matt Slauson wants you to understand that Adam Carriker wins most of their one-on-one battles in Nebraska football practices. That doesn’t mean Slauson, a 6-foot-5, 335-pound offensive right tackle, is prone to backing down. In fact, teammates and coaches say Slauson holds his own against the 6-6, 300-pound Carriker, a standout defensive end. At times, Slauson even works up enough nerve to talk some trash.

“The Pain Train’s coming to town!” Slauson has been known to inform Carriker.

“You know, Adam gets his licks in on me every day, and I get in mine, but they’re few and far between,” said Slauson, a good-natured sort who has picked up a variety of nicknames over the years.

“Pain Train” was Slauson’s nickname at Sweet Home (Ore.) High School. “Slausonator” dates to junior high. “Slausburger” is Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan’s preference.

Yet another nickname emerges.

“I call him the ‘Big Dog’ up there,” said Husker offensive coordinator Jay Norvell. “I challenge him to lead us up front. He’s doing a lot of good things for us, and we’re really proud of his progress. We need big, physical guys like that who we can run behind. He’s becoming one of those kind of guys.”

Slauson, a sophomore-to-be, isn’t entirely comfortable being asked to play a leadership role on the line, he said. After all, he’s started only three games — the final three last season when he emerged as one of the bigger surprises in Nebraska’s ballyhooed 2005 recruiting class. Through eight spring practices this year, he’s held down the starting job at right tackle ahead of junior college transfer Victory Haines.

“Ever since (2005 senior o-line starters) Seppo Evwaraye and Brandon Koch left, I think we’ve all stepped up as a group along the line and taken ownership,” Slauson said.

Callahan has made improved offensive line play a point of emphasis after Nebraska last season finished 96th nationally in total offense while allowing 38 sacks to rank 105th. The Huskers’ first-string line this spring features three sophomores, a junior and one senior in center Greg Austin.

“We need to keep improving,” Slauson said. “Consistency is a big, big aspect we need to achieve, because right now we don’t have it. We can do it on a given play, but we need to be able to do it all of the time. I mean, we’ll be fine on one play. Then the next time, the defense will change its front, bring the same blitz, and we don’t get it.”

Nebraska is determined to improve its running game, said Slauson, noting the school’s tradition for physical line play and a strong rushing attack.

“We need to have that mentality, kind of that snot-nosed, get-in-the-dirt-and-grind mentality,” he said. “We’re all a bunch of pigs up front; we love it in the mud. But it wears on you.”

It wears on Slauson and his linemates because they square off daily against a Husker front seven that is arguably the strength of the team. Carriker was particularly hard to handle during Monday’s practice, Slauson said.

“He was throwing his arms around and clubbing me,” he said. “It was painful. I was just trying to do everything I could to get in his way.”

Slauson will seldom face a defensive end with more power and pure athleticism than Carriker. Carriker also has the advantage of knowing the Husker offense well — knowing the plays, knowing the line calls.

“Adam can cheat a little bit,” Slauson said. “In games, it’s so much easier.”

Last season, Slauson played sparingly — appearing mostly on special teams — until joining the lineup after Evwaraye was slowed by stress fractures in his feet.

Coaches have made mention of Slauson perhaps moving over a spot to right guard, though Slauson has never played guard, he said. He prefers playing tackle.

“You get to kind of show off because everybody can see the guys on the end (of the line), which is also kind of bad if you get beat,” Slauson said. “You’re always thinking, ‘OK, if I get beat, everyone’s going to see it, so I better win this battle.’ ”

Beware, defensive ends: The Pain Train’s coming to town!

“I know that if I don’t get it done against Adam, he’s going to make me look silly,” Slauson said. “I really feel it’s helping me out to face him every day.”

Briefly

Nebraska took Tuesday off from practice and will resume drills today.

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.