Huskers Go Full Speed in Situation Scrimmage

Lincoln ? After taking Sunday off, the Nebraska football team got back to work on Monday with another round of two-a-days under near perfect conditions in Memorial Stadium.  Monday marked the Huskers’ second two-a-day workout after transitioning into the format on Saturday.  Nebraska practiced for two and a half hours in full pads during the morning session, while switching to sweats for the two-hour afternoon workout.

 

The morning practice featured increased physicality on both sides of the ball as the Nebraska coaches worked the team through a series of full-speed, full-contact plays in a 60-play scrimmage.  During the scrimmage, the Huskers worked the spectrum of situational plays including practicing both red zone and goal-line maneuvers.

 

“We had a little red zone sequence and then we brought the ball down to the goal line and installed our goal line tactics,” Head Coach Bill Callahan said.  “We ran our normal blitz pick-up and we had a regular situational scrimmage.  We just let them go.”

 

Callahan assessed the performance of the team following the scrimmage, indicating that he is happy with the progress the players are making in all areas of the game, but specifically on the offensive side of the ball.

 

“Both sides are doing really well,” Callahan said.  “I’m really excited about the improvements of our running game.  I think that’s coming along.  Our offensive linemen are more in tune.  They are more tied together in everything we’re doing.”

 

Callahan also commented on the progress of tight end Matt Herian as he makes his return to the Nebraska lineup this season following a redshirt season in 2005.

 

“Matt is continuing to get confidence the more reps he gets,” Callahan said.  “You can see his speed and quickness beginning to emerge.  You can see him getting more comfortable and more confident and that’s the big thing.  He’s more confident in his cutting, his blocking and everything that he’s doing as a player.”

 

With Herian’s return, Nebraska adds yet another tight end to an already deep well of talent at that position.  In order to spread some of that talent around and give all of the players an opportunity to contribute this season, Callahan and the Nebraska coaching staff made the decision to move David Harvey to open end and Andy Sand to fullback.

 

“We’ve got so many tight ends on our board right now.  We’re just trying to break that position,” Callahan said.  “We’re so loaded up at that spot and we’re just trying to find spots for all of them.  If it doesn’t work out, we’ll work with them at tight end, but for now we want to get them out there and work with them at some different spots.”

 

As the Huskers continue the transition from one-a-days to two-a-days, one factor remains constant and that is the ever-present intense tempo that both players and coaches have come to expect of each other on the practice field.  The quick paced drills and highly structured format of practices have become calling cards of Nebraska football and one that Callahan fully intends to keep.

 

“It’s year three.  Everything is in, in terms of how we practice, the way we practice and the tempo that we demand from the players,” Callahan said.  “It’s getting to the point now where the players are enforcing it themselves.  They’re pushing each to get to the game-like tempo that you want on the practice field.  And most importantly, the scout team or the second team and third team players are starting to rise up.  When you have that, you’re players are going to start to get better.”