Callahan Assesses Southern Miss

Lincoln -- The Nebraska football team continued its week-long preparations for Southern Miss with a two-hour and fifteen-minute workout in full pads on the grass practice field located northeast of Memorial Stadium.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Earlier in the day, Head Coach Bill Callahan highlighted the Golden Eagles’ defensive strengths during his weekly press conference.

 

“I am very impressed with their ability to play championship-caliber football,” Callahan said. “I looked extensively at their defense, and the thing that just jumps out at you is the way that they’re able to play so many different fronts and really give you a pro-style type agenda. I say that because they can get in and out of an odd front to an even front to a nickel front. They give you a lot of stuff in terms of stunts and blitzes, so we’re going to have our hands full on Saturday. It will be quite a challenge for our team, a huge test for our offense.

 

Callahan also noticed marked offensive improvement for Southern Miss over the course of last season.

 

“They’ve got a lot of players returning, they know how to move the ball,” he said. “They’re older, they’re a more mature group right now, and they seem to be getting into a rhythm as you’ve watched them last year late in the year.

 

In other news, Callahan named NU’s first Players of the Week for the 2004 season. Matt Herian and Willie Amos earned co-offensive players of the week, while Ira Cooper earned the nod on defense. Andrew Shanle was tabbed special teams player of the week, and Brandon Rigoni and Joe Ganz earned practice team honors.

 

NU will continue its preparations for the Golden Eagles with a 4:05 p.m. workout Wednesday.