Banker Optimistic About Defensive ImprovementsBanker Optimistic About Defensive Improvements
Football

Banker Optimistic About Defensive Improvements

Lincoln, Neb. --- The Nebraska football team continued its 2016 Fall Camp on Saturday, as the Huskers practiced outside on the Ed and Joyanne Gass practice fields for just over two hours in helmets and shoulder pads.

Defensive Coordinator Mark Banker met with media following practice and talked about one of his senior leaders, safety Nathan Gerry.

“Nate Gerry is respected by his teammates, they see how hard he works, they see what type if athlete he is, what type of player he is and what type of player that he can be," Banker said. "I love coaching Nate Gerry. As good a player as he is, he presents challenges. He’s a little stubborn but I kind of like that.”

"It's fun playing that game to get him, when he needs to, to lighten up, and he gets frustrated because he’s a perfectionist but he’s got to learn that it’s OK sometime to be wrong. But the most important thing is to get back on that saddle and work on the things that you have deficiencies in. Today he played some man coverage against the slot and did a great job in my eyes in how he improved”

Banker also talked about how the players have a much better understanding of the defense in their second year in the system.

“It was really fun to start the signal and not even complete it and have everybody making a call," he said. "So it’s a matter of they know more of what to expect and its second nature. It's helping with taking the think out. The reactions are getting better, and we are starting to play faster. And that’s the key, if you’re not, we don’t want to play defensive offense, we want to play offense with what we do.”

More familiarity with defense has not only helped the defenders play faster, it has increased their confidence as well.

“You can see the confidence that is built amongst the players to really be able to go out and attack in a position that they appear to be more comfortable in and it has also helped in our pursuit angles as well," Banker said.

The Huskers will take Sunday off before continuing camp with their third practice on Monday afternoon. 

Although season tickets are sold out for the 2016 season, fans who want to see the Huskers in person this season at Memorial Stadium can purchase single-game tickets from returning visiting team allotments.

Nebraska Athletics is offering the B1G Pack, where fans can save $10 off single-game pricing and receive a ticket to both the Purdue and Maryland games for $120.

Single-game tickets are also available to the Huskers’ season opener with Fresno State on Sept. 3 ($75) and the Oct. 1 homecoming game against Illinois ($65). To order tickets, visit Huskers.com/tickets or call 1-800-8 BIG RED during regular business hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday.-Friday).

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