How does Zach Potter proceed with trying to replace Adam Carriker? The first step might be realizing he'll never be Adam Carriker.
STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Thursday, April 5, 2007 7:00 pm
How does Zach Potter proceed with trying to replace Adam Carriker?
The first step might be realizing he’ll never be Adam Carriker.
Potter possesses neither the same playing style nor massive body build of Nebraska’s 2006 All-Big 12 defensive end.
“Carriker was 6-foot-6, 300,” Potter said. “Everyone’s like, ‘Well, why can’t Zach Potter be 6-7, 300 pounds and be just like Adam Carriker?’”
Potter’s response: “Because everyone’s different. I got up to about 295 last year and didn’t like it. I felt really slow. So I got down to 275 in winter conditioning and then built my weight back up a little bit with the right type of weight, and so I feel a lot better than I did last fall when I was competing with Adam.”
Carriker has graduated from college and now prepares to cash in handsomely as a likely first-round selection in the April 28-29 NFL Draft. That leaves Potter, a junior from Omaha, to compete this spring with redshirt freshman Pierre Allen for Carriker’s old job at “base” end.
Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan said neither has emerged as a clear-cut starter, though Potter’s experience in the system arguably gives him an edge. To be sure, Potter pushes through spring drills with a sense of urgency. He felt no such urgency last season, realizing Carriker was entrenched atop the depth chart.
“Knowing that Adam Carriker was the guy and that he was going to get all of the (repetitions in practice), that was hard,” Potter said. “My mindset has changed now that I’m the guy and I’ve got to step up. It’s my position and I can’t lose it.”
Potter, a consensus choice as Nebraska’s top high school football player in 2004, has excelled mostly on special teams since becoming a Husker. As a freshman in 2005, he blocked Pittsburgh’s potential game-winning field goal as time expired. Later that season, he blocked an extra-point try by Kansas State. All told, he has just four tackles.
Carriker last season led the team with seven sacks and ranked second with 16 tackles behind the line. His 52 tackles led all NU linemen. He excelled with a rare blend of size, speed, strength and agility that allowed him run down ball-carriers despite constant double- and triple-team blocking.
Potter said he feels “a ton of pressure” trying to follow in Carriker’s footsteps. The good news is, Potter learned a lot from Carriker about how to prepare for games and practices. What’s more, Potter said, he has Nebraska’s defensive system “down pat.”
Plus, “I think in a way I might be more sound in my alignments and techniques because I think Adam, he could cheat a little more or get away with certain things because he was so strong, such a physical player.”
Potter said getting experience in games this coming season should be a significant boon for him.
“I played in every game last year,” he said. “I’d get like four plays here, six plays there. But, I mean, just getting reps in a game is going to be crucial for me. The Spring Game (on April 14) and all of these spring practices being with (the first string), is going to help me a lot.”
If Carriker’s loss weren’t enough for Nebraska, the Huskers also need to replace starters at the other three defensive line positions. Carriker’s absence, though, looms largest.
Just ask his potential successor.
“I’m not going to be another Adam Carriker,” Potter said. “If I am, that’s great. But I’d rather just be my own self. Be Zach Potter. Create my own image to people.”
Briefly
Nebraska took Thursday off from practice. The Huskers today will have the 10th of their 15 spring practices.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.