Lincoln - The Husker football team will conduct the first of 15 spring practices on Wednesday afternoon as Nebraska prepares for the April 18 Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium. The Huskers return 13 starters from a team that finished 9-4, including victories in six of their final seven games, capped by a Gator Bowl win over Clemson.
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In advance of the start of spring practice, Head Coach Bo Pelini and a number of Husker players met with the media on Tuesday. Read Coach Pelini’s comments on the start of his second season as Nebraska’s head coach...
On injuries entering spring...
Everyone is in pretty good shape. Cody Green is probably not going to be available this first weekend. It is nothing too serious. It is just a soft tissue problem that we have to make sure heels properly (in his hip). It was just something he tweaked while lifting and we don’t want to rush him back too quickly. He’ll still be involved in meetings and such. He’s a high school senior, so if you look at it he shouldn’t even be here. I am glad whatever we can get him in on.
On the quarterback situation...
We have four quarterbacks, plus Cody (Green). The guys that are ready to go will be out there tomorrow and they are going to get a bunch of reps.
On LaTravis Washington...
You’re going to see LaTravis Washington out there playing some quarterback. It is something he wanted to try and we wanted to get a look at. He has a big arm and played quarterback in high school.
On the amount of snaps for Zac Lee...
We have no percentages for any of the quarterbacks. Wats (Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Shawn Watson) will rotate them like he always does. It will be pretty much equal reps. Just by being more experienced he (Zac Lee) may get a few more snaps, but we don’t want any of their arms to get worn out and put them in a bad situation.
Is Zac Lee the leader at quarterback...
No. There is no leader at any position. Everyone needs to go out and compete.
On any other position changes...
Off the top of my head, I don’t think so. We might move some people around on the lines, but as of now, no.
On Javario Burkes status...
He will not be out there at the start. It is something we’ll be monitoring from week to week. I feel really good about our offensive line. We feel real good about our two-deep going in. We just need guys to continue to develop and that is what this time of the year is for.
On Andy Christensen...
Andy is getting better and making progress. He is not where he or we want him to be. He’s been off for over a year and he is getting close. The spring is going to be big for him.
What he’s looking to get out of spring...
I think we have a better handle this year on what we have on our roster and what we want to do. I think we have a better plan on both sides of the ball on where we want to go. I told the team yesterday that we have to make some giant steps in 15 practices. Last year there were a lot of unknowns and this year we have a better idea entering spring ball. I know that we are a better team this year entering spring ball then we were last year.
On getting involved in the offense...
The offense is in good hands with Wats and the rest of the staff. I am always going to be around though, trying to shoot a hole in what they’re doing, and it’s the same the other way around on defense. Their input makes us better and hopefully our input from the defensive side makes them better.
On opening up the defense in year two...
I think we’re going to start grassroots with these guys. We need to stay on our progression. They have a bit more knowledge to start with and hopefully that helps us be better. Thinking back to different places where I was entering year two, I expect to make a big jump this year. We were our own worst enemy a lot last year. We need to fix us and I think we have a good idea on how to get that done. If we can stay consistent, I think we have a shot to be a lot better. We gave up a lot of big plays and it wasn’t always the offense beating us. I have high expectations. We made a jump last year from where they were the year before, but nowhere close to where I expect us to be. Until we’re at the top, we aren’t satisfied.
On having more linebackers this year...
I think all our positions from the front to the back, we have the potential to be better. Some of the things we did coaching-wise last year, we can be better at this year. We can teach better and put them in better positions. We’ve gotten a lot of work done in the offseason and we have a plan.
On the status of Anthony Blue...
He is getting better and I think he is getting more confident in his knee every day. I think he is 100 percent physically, but the mental aspect of that type of injury takes time.
On Phillip Dillard...
He is healthy and I expect him to come out there and compete for a job.
On a two-deep chart at the end of spring ball...
I don’t worry about that, that’s for you guys (the media). I am just worried about who’s going to be ready for game one. I don’t get worked up with 1’s and 2’s, there is a lot of practice until our first game. I am concerned with the process of getting us to the first game. There are no guarantees. I just want everyone to get out there and work their butts off, everything counts.
On the quarterbacks wearing green jerseys during the spring...
We haven’t decided that yet. They’ll start in green jerseys, but when it comes to scrimmages I don’t know.
On the defensive ends behind (Barry) Tuner and (Pierre) Allen...
There is no one behind anyone right now. We have Turner, Allen, Cameron Meredith and Josh Williams. We have some good competition at that spot and some guys that we expect to do something. We have some athletic linebackers too that we may put hands down on third down.
On if he’s changed from year one to year two...
I am the same guy I was last year. I hope I’ve grown up a bit into the positions. I learned a lot in my first year. Everyone makes mistakes along the way. I hope I learned, made corrections and have gotten better. Just like when I was a coordinator or position coach, you don’t have all the answers and you learn every step of the way. If you continue to learn you have a chance to make yourself better and the program better. I think the whole staff learned to get better last year.
On Ndamukong Suh...
I’ve talked to Suh about how he hasn’t gotten to the potential yet. No one in college football ever gets there. He has high expectations and wants to be the best. We’re lucky to have him back, and his attitude makes him a special player. He has tons of room to grown. He’s going to be in the NFL for seven or eight years and never reach his potential. There is so much more for him and not just physically or technique wise. It’s the knowledge and experience you gain from more snaps in the game of football.
What is the goal for spring...
Get better, period. We want to continue the development of the culture of how we want our program to be. That is a broad all encompassing thing. It’s an everyday day thing. We want our kids to compete in everything because everything counts. We won’t be satisfied until we’re on top.