Blackshirts Continue Preparation for Opener

The Nebraska football team practiced for two hours in full pads at the Hawks Indoor Championship Center on Wednesday in preparation for Saturday's season opener against Tennessee-Chattanooga. Linebackers Coach Ross Els spoke with the media following practice, addressing the topic of the linebacker rotation.

"It all depends on the game," Els said. "I'm one of those guys who likes to play a lot of people, because if we do play 14 games, that's an awful long season. I don't want our starters to play the entire game in any game; I don't care who it is. But the game will dictate how much we do rotate."

Els also talked about the progression of starting senior Lavonte David during fall camp.

"I think he and Will (Compton) are very similar in that they understand more of the package," Els said. "It's not because I'm here, but rather because they are older and have had more repetitions. They do a very good job of understanding what's happening up front, they understand where the secondary is supposed to be. I think it's the mental aspect for Lavonte, from the spring to the fall, where he has improved."

Els also said that junior Sean Fisher is eager to play again after missing all of last season and has looked impressive during fall camp.

"Fisher has done very well," Els said. "He needed a lot of reps in practice to see that he was 100 percent and ready to run. I've noticed this fall a lot more than the spring is that he is able to do those change of direction things, he's able to plan on his feet, he's able to accelerate and I think he's a lot more comfortable now than he was a few months ago."

Nebraska returns to the practice field on Thursday afternoon to wrap up full-scale preparations for its season opener. The Huskers kick off the season at Memorial Stadium on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against Tennessee-Chattanooga. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network with radio coverage available through the Husker Sports Network and on Huskers.com.