Offensive Lineman Ricky Henry

Nebraska Football
Weekly Press Conference
Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010
Pre-Western Kentucky

Ricky Henry
Senior, Offensive Lineman
On if the offensive line had accomplished everything they had hoped to do this fall camp
"I think so. We had a really good fall camp. I think we've improved immensely from the previous fall camp and just everything. Everybody is getting a better perspective of it, and everybody is playing harder."

On how much different this line looks from years past
"I think we're doing pretty good.  A lot of the younger guys are coming a lot quicker than we thought they would. It gives us better depth and competition. It makes everybody work a lot harder."

On what Coach Barney Cotton wanted him to work on between last season and now
"Just becoming a better all-around player. Student-wise, footwork, hands and everything. Just becoming a better football player and a leader on the offensive front."

On how the newcomers have come along on the  offensive line
"They're progressing real well. It's crazy how quick they picked all the stuff up. They picked it up a lot quicker than I did when I first got here. That's the main thing that's helping us right now, just having that depth and getting more people on the playing field."

On what he has seen from the three quarterbacks
"They are all doing well and are all in there taking reps with the ones and twos. They are all doing really well I think, passing-wise and scrambling, it's a pretty close race right now."

On if anybody has really rallied around one guy at quarterback
"I wouldn't particularly pick out anyone. They've all done real good."

On if the offensive line needs more improvement on the run blocking or pass blocking
"I think just becoming all-around better, becoming more dominant, more physical."

On if he has seen his aggressive attitude rub off on the younger guys
"Yeah, I think it's starting to rub off a lot on the younger guys. They are playing a lot harder and finishing blocks, going to the whistle."

On the offensive style being similar to his personality
"It allows us to come off the ball and drive people off the ball."

On his record for number of guys hit on one play
"I don't know. I don't keep track."

On whether there is a team leader board of pancake blocks
"Yeah, we have one up after every game, and tally them all up. "

On how he finished in that regard last year
"I won it. Coach takes us to dinner and gives us a plaque (if we win)."

On if the quarterbacks believe the race will go to the last day
"Yeah, I think it will come down to the last-minute call. There's so much competition between all of them and they are all doing things well. It's going to be a hard decision."

On the key to knocking a guy off his feet
"Coming off the ball and having good footwork and hand placement. Just doing everything sound."

On how good defensive tackle Jared Crick is
"Jared is good. He's got a lot of potential. He's a really good player. I enjoy going against him when I get a chance to."

On what stands out about Crick
"He's just an all-around athlete with balance. He's really good. It's fun to go against him when I get a chance to."

On if he has ever pancaked Crick
"Not that I can remember. He usually plays on the other side."

On this team's legacy, given that it's his senior year
"Be an aggressive, physical team and winning every game that we are in."

On if last year's team was as aggressive as this year
"I think we were at times but not as aggressive as we needed to be."