Bray?s Influence on Linebackers Traces to His Roots

Randy York’s N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

The most transformative position from Mike Riley's first year at Nebraska to his second year is linebacker, and the man leading that high-octane transition from a serious shortage to a sizeable surplus is an over-achieving coach who played linebacker at Oregon State like his hair was on fire every Saturday.

Meet Trent Bray, in his fifth season on Riley’s staff after making 337 career tackles at Oregon State while earning Pac-10 all-conference honors at linebacker in 2004 and 2005. Bray’s influence on Husker linebacker depth can be traced to his own inspiring approach to competition.

“When I played linebacker in college, I only had two things that really mattered – I played smart and I played with unbelievable work ethic because I didn’t have anything else physically,” he said. “I wasn’t fast. I wasn’t big. I wasn’t strong, so really I concentrated on knowing where I needed to be and when I saw what I needed to see, I went 100 miles-an-hour to the ball.”

That same mindset is the foundation of what Bray is trying to build with his linebackers. “When I do my job in recruiting, they have the physical abilities,” he said, “so if I can give them the things I had without much physical ability and these guys can play smart and play with great effort and intensity, then you have a very special player.”

Teaching Discipline and Understanding, Bray Wants 100 Miles-an-Hour Pursuit

The two biggest things that Bray (pictured above) tries to teach are discipline and understanding what your job is and once you see it, go 100 miles-an-hour to the ball like he did.

That philosophy originated from his dad, a football coach. “What honestly drove me the most was being afraid of being just a normal guy,” Bray said. “I had to be the best guy on the field. I had to make every play. I watched so much film, I almost drove myself crazy. Every day during the week, I’d be a wreck until game time. That’s how driven I was. I just did not want to be another guy on the field. I wanted to be the best guy every week.”

Understanding his own shortcomings has helped Bray coach his top five linebackers in precise and productive fashion. Bray shares the following thoughts on:

Dedrick Young II (sophomore, Peoria, Ariz.) “brings consistency. He’s probably our most consistent linebacker in where he needs to be in both the run and pass. He has the athleticism and ability to do the things that we need our linebackers to do. He really gives us that.”

Michael Rose-Ivey (senior, Kansas City, Mo.) “gives us that playmaking ability. He’s a playmaker and needs to work on being more consistent. He’s gotten better, but his playmaking ability is what we need. That’s what he brings to the table for sure.”

Banderas Thrives on Consistency, Makes Right Calls, Helps Stop the Run Game

Josh Banderas (senior, Lincoln, Neb.), pictured above last Saturday night, “is a lot like Dedrick – very consistent. He can make the calls and is a good player that helps us do what we want, especially in the run game. He brings a lot of experience and leadership to our team.”

Chris Weber(junior, Elkhorn, Neb.) “is very much in the same vein as Banderas. They’re both smart and know where to be. They can line people up and do all of those kinds of things. They’re both well respected by their teammates.”

Marcus Newby (junior, North Potomac, Md.) “can do a lot of things athletically for us. He’s probably our most physical linebacker, so trying to utilize all those guys and find roles in game situations can help us win and do things that they’re good at.”

Marcus Newby, Chris Weber Didn't Play Linebacker Until They Became Huskers

Bray praises the work his linebackers embrace. Newby (above with Bray) “really had to learn the position because when he first got here, he wasn’t a linebacker,” Bray pointed out. “Chris Weber (No. 49 pictured below against Wisconsin last year) was the same way. He was a good special team player but he hadn’t played linebacker until he came to Nebraska.”

Both worked hard learning the system and climbed into the depth chart. Neither were on Bray’s radar “because they hadn’t done it before,” he said. “They worked very hard to get to the position where they can go in and play and do things well.”

Relentless Work Ethic Opened Door to Opportunity for Both Non-Linebackers

Relentless work ethic opened the door to opportunity and both “non-linebackers” worked their way up. “You coach every guy as intentionally as you coach the starter,” Bray said. “That makes them feel like they have a chance when you’re coaching them.

“When you only give your attention to the three guys that you know are going to play, guys kind of get the picture,” Bray said. “The policy we’ve had since we’ve been here, everything must be earned, and if you learn, you play.”

Rose-Ivey Earned His Way Back into the Lineup after Pair of Difficult Injuries

That same principle applied to Rose-Ivey (No. 15 above), who earned his way back from injuries. “If we just handed him his starting spot when he came back, it meant nothing,” Bray said. “That’s what we’ve always believed – you earn playing time through what you do and how you act.

“This has been by far the best group of guys working with each other and for each other,” Bray said. “Everybody’s competing for time, but there’s no negative aspect. I’ve been at other places where guys wouldn’t help each other because they didn’t want you to take their playing time.

“That hasn’t happened here, and I think that’s because of the kind of kids we have in the room,” Bray said. “They understand that if they do what they’re supposed to do, they’ll get themselves out on the field. They want to win and they want to be successful.

“The constant reminder for us to win is that all hands must be on deck,” Bray said. “Everyone has to play a role, whether its position or special teams. Whatever it is, be a star at your role and help us win. I think guys have bought into that. They know the team success is the most important thing. The individual things will come when you define what your hard work means in the overall process to win.”

Send a comment to ryork@huskers.com (Please include city, state)

Follow Randy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RandyYorkNsider

N-Sider Archives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 \\