Watch ?Invaluable? James Dobson Give His View of Summer Conditioning

Bo Pelini believes that Nebraska has the best coaching staff in the country, and James Dobson is a big part of that belief.

"I can't tell you how valuable he is," Pelini said of the Huskers' head strength and conditioning coach for football. "He's great at what he does. We have to keep establishing accountability and get these guys taught, and it all started in summer conditioning."

In taking time with Huskers.com to discuss this summer's voluntary workouts preceding fall camp, Dobson expressed confidence in what the Huskers accomplished.

He had special praise for Jacob Hickman, a senior offensive lineman from Bakersfield, Calif.; Matt May, a sophomore walk-on linebacker from Imperial, Neb.; and Niles Paul, a junior wide receiver from Omaha.

Dobson said the Huskers' senior class served as leaders and role models for day-to-day improvement during summer conditioning and set the tone for the team's off-season efforts to get bigger, stronger and faster. Mental toughness, Dobson stressed, is every bit as important as strength and conditioning, especially when the goal is to become the most physically dominating team in the Big 12 Conference.

Pelini and his staff use that vision to measure Nebraska's progress in returning to its roots of physically dominating football.

"We still have a long way to go, but I'm thrilled with the job that James has done," Pelini said. "He's an invaluable member of this team."

The Huskers are looking for significant improvement over last year.

In 2008, conditioning was a key factor in Nebraska outscoring its opponents, 155-52, in the fourth quarter. The Huskers' point total and scoring differential in the fourth quarter both ranked second-best in the nation.