Depth Chart Commentary

Huskers.com released the depth chart for the Nevada game this morning.

Some comments:

Cody Glenn is apparently officially out. That means Quentin Castille is the 2nd string RB and Roy Helu is at #3. Both should get their share of carries on Saturday.

Even without Purify, the wide receiver depth is obvious.

The offensive line looks great on paper. It is exciting to see the way recruiting has reshaped the pipeline.

Defensively the biggest surprise is Armando Murillo starting over Andre Jones at LCB. So much for Jones’ experience at that spot. But I’m excited to see what Murillo can do.

Barfield and Dixon both listed as 2nd stringers. Expect them to see a lot of snaps. Again immediate impact from the most recent recruiting class.

Adi Kunalic is listed as the place kicker. He’ll get a chance to show off that supposed cannon leg.

Looks like Andre Jones will be returning some kicks. Could be exciting to see him with the ball in his hands.

In other words, not a whole lot of surprises, but it is nice to see the team laid out for us on paper.

Patrick to Enter Supplemental Draft

In a move no one saw coming, LT Chris Patrick has decided to enter the NFL's Supplemental Draft. Said Patrick:

"I put a lot of thought into it," Patrick said Thursday night. "A lot of people asked me why I didn’t go into April’s draft but it took time making this decision. Looking back I should have entered the April draft but the supplemental draft is there and I’ll have a good opportunity to demonstrate my skills and will get more individual attention from teams. My timing could have been better but I’m not too worried about that now."

I really have no idea what to make of this. I just mentioned to my Dad that he was still listed on the official roster, which seemed to indicate the possibility of his return. I guess not.

On the one hand, this certainly hurts the depth on the O-line. On the other hand, it could mean two less false-starts/game next year. I kid, I kid.

Anyway, good luck Chris and may all your supplemental draft day dreams come true.

Huff Out...Patrick Too?

News of out of Lincoln is that junior guard Mike Huff will miss at least the spring after tearing his achilles tendon. This is not a pretty injury and my irrational fear of suffering said ailment keeps my ass planted firmly on the couch. Anyway, Huff was expected to push for a starting spot in 2007, but now will spend the near future recovering and rehabbing from surgery. Although his bio on Huskers.com gives no indication of this, it seems as though Huff has battled injuries before. Maybe a shoulder injury last spring or something?

The loss of Huff could have further repercussions following the apparent, but unverified dismissal of Chris Patrick. As the LJS points out both Patrick and Callahan have refused to comment on the speculation surrounding the starter’s future with the team. This sounds like it might involve the dreaded “violation of team rules”. According to the boys at EDSBS this generally means one of three things:

1. Skipped class.
2. Smoked weed and tested positive.
3. Tackled, upended, and then devoured a Geo Metro whole after a raucous off-campus party.

Given the presence of random, but mandatory off-season drug-testing perhaps we can narrow down the list. Number 3, however, would make for a much better story.

Quick Hits

I hadn't commented on it yet but six Huskers will miss the Spring practices due to injury. They are:

Barry Turner (shoulder)
Jacob Hickman (knee)
Corey Young (shoulder)
Seth Jensen (shoulder)
Craig Roark (shoulder)
Mike McNeill (shoulder)

The two I am most concerned about are Turner and McNeill. Turner is going to be relied upon heavily to create pressure from his DE spot. Nursing a shoulder through the Spring will keep him away from the weightroom, preventing him from adding much needed strength. McNeill is a problem given the lack of depth and apparent deficiency of talent at the TE position. I had hoped that he could step up and take on a big role in the offense in 2007. Now we’ll have to see how he progresses once he is healthy.

Another thing to note is the abundance of shoulder injuries. Is the shoulder injury going to become Dave Kennedy’s athletic pubalgia? I seriously hope not.

Additionally, Chad Roark is no longer a member of the team after being forced to give up football due to a persistent back injury. This is an unfortunate situation for Chad, who looked to have a promising future.

Nebraska also dodged a bullet when WR Coach Ted Gilmore accepted and then unacceptedthe same position with the Oakland Raiders. Said Gilmore:

"It's a combination of everything," Gilmore said. "I prayed about it. Although it's a wonderful opportunity (in Oakland), it's just not the right opportunity at this point in my life. All I can do is go on my gut feeling.

"I came to Nebraska to win a championship, and haven't done that at this point."

Word.

Developing First-Year Players

Tom Lemming and Bobby Burton - Spend more time discussing teenage boys than Tiger Beat magazine.

With the recruiting season winding down, many fans are busy penciling several of Nebraska’s verbal commitments into starting spots or key reserve roles come 2007. While I could write endlessly on why this is such a terrible idea, I will instead focus on a few key reasons why these recruiting junkies might want to temper their expectations. First they can look at Nebraska’s recent track record of utilizing first-year players. If they do, they will see that much has been made of the coaching staff’s apparent reluctance to play some of its younger talent. I actually touched on this issue briefly during the season, but concluded even then that the coaching staff probably had a better feel for the development of its underclassmen. Perhaps you will too after reading this.

It is important to note that while coaches often want (or need) their first-year players (particularly high-profile recruits) to contribute to their team’s success, in most instances first year players encounter too many obstacles, which must be overcome for them to make a significant contribution. In his book, Finding the Winning Edge, Bill Walsh highlights several of these obstacles, including - a lack of physical maturity, whether a player is prone to injuries, the fact that he is in “survival mode” during Fall camp, his possible lack of focus, the lack of attention he receives in Fall camp, and the major changes in his lifestyle.

Both fans and coaches need to consider the fact that most first-year players are still maturing physically. Many fans lose sight of this when an 18-year-old athlete with a muscular physique is described as a “boy in a man’s body”, or a “physical specimen”. The truth is, however, that even if a player is described s the prototypical physical specimen, that athlete may have difficulty adapting to the physical demands of Fall camp and the upcoming extended season (i.e., 12-14 games when you factor in conference championship and bowl games).

A first-year player lacking the physical maturity of an upperclassman can lead to several possible problems. Bill Walsh states that, “all factors considered, a first-year player is more likely to suffer a muscle pull than a veteran player”. Many new players participating in their first Fall camp may expend more energy than is necessary, while they learn what being a college football player involves. In addition, these players often do not have a complete appreciation for the value of using the team’s athletic training staff over the course of a long, arduous season the way veteran players do.

Another issue that may affect a first-year player is that during Fall camp, such a player often feels like he is in somewhat of a survival mode. This attitude may limit his focus to a point where he is just concentrating on getting through each “new” task (e.g., moving to a new city, reporting to Fall camp, starting school, surviving two-a-days, dealing with the substantial increase in media attention he receives, etc.). The player’s resulting mental fatigue may also limit his ability to concentrate well in team meetings. As a result, he may occasionally seem confused or appear unable to grasp and retain essential material.

The development of incoming freshmen is also affected by the fact that they normally receive less attention than returning players once two-a-days have concluded. Two-a-days provide an environment where the coaching staff can address the inexperience and the lack of preparation of the team’s first-year players. The coaching staff will often have low expectations for the performance of incoming freshmen during two-a-days, and the opinions the staff develops of them in this environment are often based solely on the athleticism of each player. The remainder of Fall camp and practices during the regular season are typically focused on preparing the entire team for the season. During this time the patience and tolerance of the coaching staff for the typical mistakes and learning difficulties of first-year players may be diminished.

In reality, it is unrealistic for a coach or a fan to expect a first-year player to experience much improvement as a result of practice during his freshman season. Too much is happening during the regular season for coaches or teammates to provide much in the way of detailed coaching to a second-line back-up player. In addition, a first-year player who is not ready to be thrust into a starting role, may only have a minimal sense of urgency to learn. As a result, Bill Walsh points out that a first-year player ‘s skills and level of preparedness may actually erode during the course of a season. Consequently, most of the development of first-year players occurs during the off-season and the subsequent Fall camp.

The best coaches and fans should hope for a player in his first year of Division I football involves the team establishing a specific role for him. By earning an active role on the field as a pass-rush specialist, a special teams player, or an extra receiver in a 3-or-4-receiver formation, a first-year player gains a measure of self-respect because his contribution to the team has been identified and isolated. Through establishing his role on the team and taking pride in the fact that he is contributing in a tangible way, a first-year player can achieve a sense of control in his football life. Not only is he able to earn his keep, he is also able to acquire the acceptance of his teammates.

So perhaps you can keep this information in mind come next Fall. Try to think rationally and logically when wondering why some 4-star prep phenom spends most of his first year on the bench. Consider long and hard the obstacles this 18-year-old is facing before labeling his freshman year as “a disappointment”. Stop thinking of these players as instant superstars and come instead to view them as “building blocks,” who could become the core of a successful organization. And finally, trust that the coaches will do everything possible to ensure that the skills and talents of each player on the roster are developed, refined, and utilized in an appropriate way.

More on Brandon Jackson

Now that his intentions are known, we can take a closer look at Brandon Jackson's NFL prospects. NFL Draft Scout (subscription required) currently ranks Jackson as the 14th best RB available in the 2007 draft. They view BJax as the 189th ranked player in the draft and project him as a 5-6 round selection.

1. Adrian Peterson*
2. Marshawn Lynch*
3. Michael Bush
4. Antonio Pittman*
5. Kenny Irons
6. Tony Hunt
7. Darius Walker*
8. DeShawn Wynn
9. Kenneth Darby
10. Lorenzo Booker
11. Jason Snelling
12. Selvin Young
13. Ahmad Bradshaw*
14. Brandon Jackson*

* Denotes junior entering the draft

After the Cotton Bowl NFL Draft Scout had this to say about Jackson:

“01/06/07 - PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2007: RB Brandon Jackson - The rushing leader in a four-pronged backfield, Jackson's emergence as a featured back didn't matter much in preparations for the Cotton Bowl, where Marlon Lucky drew the start. The competition is good to have, though Jackson may be the most durable of the NU backs.”

Prior to his decision to enter the draft, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper had BJax ranked as the #1 senior RB in the 2008 draft (ESPN Insider Required).

I would like to have seen Jackson stay in Lincoln for his senior year, but for purely selfish reasons. However, with a strong combine I expect to see BJax move up the draft lists. My sense is that he is the most complete RB (running, receiving, and pass protection ability) that Nebraska has produced in quite some time.

For some historical context here are how Nebraska RBs who declared early have done come draft day.

1993 - Derek Brown Round 4 (pick #109)
1994 - Calvin Jones Round 3 (pick #80)
1996 - Lawrence Phillips Round 1 (pick #6)
1998 - Ahman Green Round 3 (pick #76)

BJax to NFL

In what should come as a surprise to few, Brandon Jackson has announced his intentions to enter the NFL draft. Jackson will finish his career with 1,431 career rushing yards to rank 35th on the Huskers’ all-time career charts.

Of the decision, Coach Callahand said, “We have been made aware of Brandon Jackson’s decision enter the NFL Draft. I want to thank him for his contributions to the Nebraska football program and we wish him nothing but the best in the future. We were hopeful that he would choose to stay at Nebraska to complete his eligibility and, most importantly, continue to pursue his college degree.”

Brandon Jackson to the NFL?

Brandon Jackson is apparently considering entering the NFL Draft. My gut tells me he probably won’t be coming back. Next year’s class of running backs looks to be pretty stacked, making him a more appealing selection this year. Given Jackson’s injury history and his supposed family situation, this might be the best move for him. You can checkout his 2006 highlights below.



Obviously losing a back of his caliber will be a blow to the Nebraska rushing attack. Will Lucky, Glenn or Wilson be ready for primetime in 2007?

The Safeties: A Rudimentary Semi-Historical Analysis

This year's safeties have taken a lot of heat from Nebraska fans (and especially from me). As a result, I thought it might be helpful to try and put their performance into some type of historical perspective. The results are below.

A few things to keep in mind: First, when we examine the statistics we must remember that these reflect four different defensive coordinators, each with his own system. Secondly, these statistics do not summarize all that is expected or required of a safety. Third, the performances include those of a "once in a generation" type player in Mike Brown along with 3 other players who made NFL rosters at one time or another. Fourth, I am not privy to film sessions or to how the performers graded out in the eyes of the coaches. And finally, the 2006 season is the only one of those included, in which both safety spots were filled by first-time starters.

2006

Player	Games	Tackles	TFL	INTs	FF	FmbRec
Tierre Green	13	48.5	.5	1	0	1
Andrew Shanle	13	47.5	0	4	0	1

2005

Player	Games	Tackles	TFL	INTs	FF	FmbRec
Daniel Bullocks	12	83	4	1	2	1
Blake Tiedtke	12	68	6	1	2	0

2004

Player	Games	Tackles	TFL	INTs	FF	FmbRec
Josh Bullocks	11	68	2	2	0	0
Daniel Bullocks	11	58	4	5	1	1

2003

Player	Games	Tackles	TFL	INTs	FF	FmbRec
Phillip Bland	4	7	1	0	0	0
Josh Bullocks	13	49	0	10	0	0
Daniel Bullocks	13	59	4	2	1	1

2002

Player	Games	Tackles	TFL	INTs	FF	FmbRec
Philllip Bland	13	84	6	1	1	1
Josh Bullocks	13	48	0	1	1	1
Shane Siegel	14	14	1	0	0	0
Aaron Terpening	14	17	2	0	0	0

2001

Player	Games	Tackles	TFL	INTs	FF	FmbRec
Dion Booker	12	62	1	1	0	0
Willie Amos	9	28	0	4	0	0
Phillip Bland	10	24	1	0	0	0

2000

Player	Games	Tackles	TFL	INTs	FF	FmbRec
Joe Walker	11	44	2	2	1	1
Dion Booker	11	34	2	0	0	0
Troy Watchorn	11	27	2	5	0	0
Clint Finley	11	22	1	0	0	0

1999

Player	Games	Tackles	TFL	INTs	FF	FmbRec
Mike Brown	12	96	8	5	6	1
Dion Booker	12	28	0	1	1	0
Clint Finley	12	27	0	1	0	1
Joe Walker	10	11	4	0	2	1

1998

Player	Games	Tackles	TFL	INTs	FF	FmbRec
Mike Brown	12	102	5	1	1	1
Clint Finley	9	28	3	3	3	1
Joe Walker	12	50	5	3	1	0

After looking things over, my take is that our safeties performed average to a little below average by way of statistical analysis. Shall we say, I don't know...mediocre? What do you guys think?

Position Changes

Several players have made position changes as Nebraska begins its Cotton Bowl preparations. Callahan and crew are clearly using the extra practice time to prepare for 2007. This is good to see and every practice counts when you are moving to a new spot. Here is a summary of some of the changes.

Matt Slauson RT to G
Ricky Thenarse CB to S
Victory Haines T to C
J.B. Phillips TE to FB
Jordan Picou C to NT

I’m very excited to see Thenarse back at safety. With Bowman returning and a few new recruits we may finally have a little depth at CB, so safety offers Thenarse a chance to get on the field a lot next year. Any other changes you guys would like to see?

Brandon Jackson and the Also-Rans?

A recent article highlights that Brandon Jackson has separated himself from the rest of the stable of running backs. Jay Norvell notes:

"He’s really kind of separated himself I think, the way that he’s played. He’s made a lot of big plays the last three weeks."

I agree that BJax has made some tough runs, as well as shown the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. However, weren’t we saying the same thing about Marlon Lucky just a few weeks ago?

In fact, I don’t think the following graphs showing the season as a whole demonstrate much separation at all.

Number of Carries by Game (Click to enlarge)

Rushing Yards by Game (Click to enlarge)

We have the luxury of four talented I-Backs and a coaching staff that has done a tremendous job of spreading the ball around. Most importantly, the players still seem to be comfortable with the system:

"Like Coach (Randy) Jordan says, it’s still a running back by committee," Brandon Jackson said. “Whoever has the momentum, he says he’ll leave him in"

So why then does the media have an unrelenting need to seek clarification about which back sits atop the depth chart? Once again the Nebraska press is asking the wrong damn questions.

Here are some of the right damn questions:

· I totally understand that Maurice Purify doesn’t have a handle on all of the routes and plays within the offense. However, given that he is our best receiver, why not just call more of those plays that he DOES know?

· So, the week of the Texas game Steve Octavian’s hammy miraculously heals AND he is given back his blackshirt, thus allowing him to wreak havoc like a man possessed against the Horns. Are we missing something? Where is Paul Harvey with “the rest of the story?”

· Our execution of trick plays has been perfect on the year. Why are we less sound in our execution of more fundamental aspects, such as inside-out pass protection or defending deep sideline routes?

I’m just saying – use those column inches to tell us something more than, “Brandon Jackson has been playing well lately.”

Thank you.

I-Back Analysis

The I-back battle continues to rage during the second week of Fall camp. Tuesday’s scrimmage saw Brandon Jackson and Kenny Wilson each break long scoring runs. The high level of competition illustrates that a log-jam still exists, despite the transfer of Leon Jackson. Some will argue that you can never have too much depth or talent at a position, or that this “is a good problem to have.” While true in many cases, at this point I would gladly trade a talented RB who is stuck at fourth on the depth chart, for a game-ready backup QB, a safety with some meaningful experience, a battle-tested nickel back, or a dominating offensive lineman. The truth of the matter is that the balance of talent on this squad is a skewed toward the running backs.

I stand by my previous statement that the I-back who best protects Zac Taylor will see the most playing time. However, I’m not sure the depth chart will ever shakeout in a manner that produces a clear cut number one guy. Coach Callahan will likely use a "running backs by committee" approach. This approach, which is popular in the NFL will spread the carries out amongst the backs and may ease discontent. The downsides of situation-based personnel moves, however, are that they can prevent a player from getting into the rhythm of the game and also tip off the offense’s intentions. For a perfect example of this, think back to a mic’d up John Lynch laughing that the Bucs knew every play that was coming in Super Bowl XXXVII against Callahan’s Raiders.

Another problem with the committee approach is that a player is never certain if, and when, his carries are going to come. Case in point, Cody Glenn combined for 24 carries in back-to-back games with Texas Tech and Baylor in 2005. He then had just 7 carries combined in the next two games against Missouri and Oklahoma. Additionally, when most teams split carries at running back it is generally among two talented players rather than four. Because of this, and given that Callahan has occasionally been criticized for going away from the run at inopportune times, there might not be enough carries to go around in Lincoln. And if the carries aren’t there, or if the offensive line can't get enough push, then we’ll see a bigger waste of talent than Jenna Jameson posing for a parka catalog.

For now, however, lets examine what the coaching staff is dealing with:

Cody Glenn (So.): At 6’0”, 230 lbs Cody is a “big back” who has displayed a powerful running style. Glenn fights hard to move the chains and lost yardage on just one of his 45 carries in 2005. Looks capable of being an every down type of back, but hasn’t shown breakaway speed. He seems to have the confidence of his teammates and was named the Most Improved Offensive Player in the Spring. Looked to be the man to beat going into Fall Camp.

Career Stats:
Games: 7
Att: 45
Yds: 131
Avg: 2.91
TD: 4

Marlon Lucky (So.): Was considered the gem of the 2005 recruiting class after earning Parade All-America honors by scoring 40 touchdowns as a senior at North Hollywood (Calif.) High. Has thus far failed to consistently show the talent that is evident in his high school tapes. Played tentatively and looked lost at times last season. Development has been slowed by a propensity to bounce plays to the outside rather than waiting for holes to develop. Flashed signs of his breakaway speed on kickoff returns including a touchdown that was called back against Kansas. May have the greatest upside potential if his grasp of the playbook and pass protection improve markedly.

Career Stats:
Games: 12
Att: 43
Yds: 129
Avg: 3.00
TD: 0

Brandon Jackson (Jr.): Seemingly the forgotten one amongst this group. Should be comfortable with the offense as he enters his third season in the system. Missed entire Spring while recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. Has showed at times that he is more than capable as a runner. Had extremely productive freshman year. Most forget his 390 rushing yards in 2004, which were the ninth-most ever by a Husker freshman. Has decisive running style and hits the hole hard. Many assume he starts the season fourth on the depth chart, but don’t count out his heart and desire.

Career Stats
Games: 19
Att: 93
Yds: 442
Avg: 4.59
TD: 6

Kenny Wilson (Jr.): Probably the wildcard of the group. Considered the top-ranked JUCO running back after a successful stint at Butler Community College. Picked the Huskers over Florida and Tennessee. Certainly passes the eyeball test and was reportedly very impressive at summer workouts. Has track speed that has translated over to the football field at high school and junior college levels. Will lag behind the others until he becomes more comfortable with the playbook. If his pass protection is solid, he could be used in situational packages that utilize his skills until he has had more time to digest the playbook. If his junior college films can be believed, he might be the most complete back on the roster.

Career Stats:
N/A

I imagine that we'll see all four players early in the season. Beyond that I'm not sure that we will have one back clearly separate himself from the pack. Instead, I could see anyone of these guys stepping up and providing a spark in a particular game. Therefore, if the coaching staff can encourage continued competetion, utilize the players' individual skills with packages and gameplans that cater to these, and keep the stable of backs happy, Nebraska's running game should be vastly improved.

Monday Update

The Nebraska secondary got more bad news on Monday as Courtney Grixby has apparently broken dislocated sprained his thumb (no surgery) and is now practicing in a cast. Hopefully the injury won’t be a problem come opening day.

Cornerback was a position we were already thin at before Zack Bowman went down. Here is a list of who is currently on the roster at CB.

Zack Bowman – ACL tear, out for season
Courtney Grixby – Broken thumb, playing with cast
Andre Jones – JUCO transfer, 10 practices under his belt
Titus Brothers – Former safety, good special teams guy.
Tyrell Spain – Switched from receiver, 3 practices at CB
Isaiah Fluellen – Switched from receiver, injured most of his career, currently playing with cast on his hand.
Anthony West – True freshman, 10 practices under his belt, ran 4.38 forty at NU camp.
Corey Young – True freshman, HS running back, switched from safety, 3 practices at CB
Ricky Thenarse – True freshman, just arrived in Lincoln 8/11
Ryan Ford – Freshman walk-on, 5’11”, 170 lbs.
Tim Grier – On track scholarship, apparently working out at CB

*Update - Thenarse is evidently going to play safety.

On the bright side, Louisiana Tech will be breaking in a new starter at quarterback. Junior Zac Champion is expected to win the starting job. He's the most experienced signal-caller on the LA Tech roster, but he's thrown just eight passes in his collegiate career.

Safety Dance

Although the coaching staff is apparently not worried, my biggest question mark of fall camp is the safety position. With Tierre Green and Andrew Shanle penciled in at the top of the depth chart, it means that both safety positions will be manned by first time starters. I’m still looking for the exact answer, but that hasn’t happened since sometime before 1997 (maybe it’s time I had Mom ship me the media guide collection). Although Green started seven games last year at cornerback, he has only been at safety since the spring. Andrew Shanle has been a career back-up, but has been an important contributor on special teams (just ask Michigan return man Steve Breaston). While I think these two could be solid performers, I don’t expect them to be dominant in coverage or in run support. I also expect some growing pains early in the season as they get their feet wet as starters, and join the defense as a whole, in adjusting to the loss of Zack Bowman.

Behind the starters there is little depth. My dark horse at this position is former walk-on Ben Eisenhart, who like Shanle is a product of 8-man high school football. I thought Eisenhart was one of the most impressive performers in the Spring Game. The safety position also includes special teams ace Brandon Rigoni (who is impossible not to love), walk-on Matt O’Hanlon and true freshmen Major Culbert and Corey Young. If Culbert’s high school hype is to be believed, he is the future at one of the safety spots. Young on the other hand is just getting adjusted to the defensive side of the ball after starring as a running back at Millard North. I thoroughly believe Leon Jackson was expected to be a contributor at this point at one of the safety positions. As we all know by now, however, he had other ideas.

This has left us a recruiting class or two away from being shored up at the safety spots. As Husker fans we have probably been spoiled by a glutton of talent here in recent years. It was easy to get used to seeing this position manned by some of our biggest names and greatest athletes. For instance, in the last decade or so, Nebraska has sent players like Toby Wright, Mike Minter, Mike Brown, Jerrell Pippens and both of the Bullocks twins to the NFL. This recent success was a major reason the Huskers were a contender for Rivals.com’s designation as "Safety U."

For this season, however, I think we rely on Green and Shanle to play intelligent and consistent football. Unless they struggle making tackles in the open field or give up the big play, we probably have enough talent around them on defense to beat most of the teams on our schedule. If they progress quickly and make big plays behind our front seven, teams are likely to have a hard time moving the ball on us. So in other words, watching the development of our safeties is another reason September 2nd can’t get here soon enough.