Wednesday, February 25, 2009
TSN Today analyst throws support for Lee
Also from TSN Today, college football analyst Matt Hayes writes that he believes quarterback Patrick Witt’s departure will have “very little” impact on Nebraska’s football program.
“Witt likely saw where this offense is headed and realized he wasn’t part of the plans,” Hayes wrote. “The Huskers want to use more of a run game with the quarterback and Witt is more of a traditional pro-style quarterback. The positive reverb from Witt’s departure: incoming freshman Cody Green will likely get more reps with the No. 1 offense.”
Hayes is also bullish on the talents of quarterback Zac Lee, who now might look to be the front-runner heading into spring practice, noting that Lee beat out Jeremiah Masoli in 2006 for the starting job at City College of San Francisco.
“Masoli blossomed late last year at Oregon, and will be one of the nation’s top players next fall,” Hayes wrote. “This tells us, at the very least, Lee has some ability.”
“Witt likely saw where this offense is headed and realized he wasn’t part of the plans,” Hayes wrote. “The Huskers want to use more of a run game with the quarterback and Witt is more of a traditional pro-style quarterback. The positive reverb from Witt’s departure: incoming freshman Cody Green will likely get more reps with the No. 1 offense.”
Hayes is also bullish on the talents of quarterback Zac Lee, who now might look to be the front-runner heading into spring practice, noting that Lee beat out Jeremiah Masoli in 2006 for the starting job at City College of San Francisco.
“Masoli blossomed late last year at Oregon, and will be one of the nation’s top players next fall,” Hayes wrote. “This tells us, at the very least, Lee has some ability.”
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Monday, February 23, 2009
Not so Swift?
It comes as no surprise to Nebraska football fans that former Cornhuskers’ wide receiver Nate Swift came away from last week’s NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis with less than glowing reviews of his physical abilities.
According to The Sporting News Today, “scouts timed (Swift) between 4.66 and 4.69 seconds (in the 40-yard dash) and he did not show the necessary explosive ability. Swift didn’t look at quicker or faster in drills. He remains a likely free-agent prospect.”
What pro teams might do well to notice is that despite his supposed deficiencies, Swift is Nebraska’s all-time receptions leader (166) and ranks second in career receivers yards (2.476) while playing in the Big 12 Conference. Surely, those numbers should count for something.
According to The Sporting News Today, “scouts timed (Swift) between 4.66 and 4.69 seconds (in the 40-yard dash) and he did not show the necessary explosive ability. Swift didn’t look at quicker or faster in drills. He remains a likely free-agent prospect.”
What pro teams might do well to notice is that despite his supposed deficiencies, Swift is Nebraska’s all-time receptions leader (166) and ranks second in career receivers yards (2.476) while playing in the Big 12 Conference. Surely, those numbers should count for something.
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Monday, February 09, 2009
ESPN.com has Nebraska No. 19 for 2009
Since it's virtually college football season 365 days a year here in Nebraska, there's really no such thing as a time that's too early to talk about the upcoming season for the Cornhuskers. With that in mind, ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach has NU No. 19 in his revised preseason rankings for 2009.
In his commentary, Schlabach writes: "In his first season as Nebraska's coach, Bo Pelini went a long way toward restoring the pride in the Cornhuskers' defense. Nebraska will have to worry more about its offense going into the 2009 season after losing quarterback Joe Ganz, tailback Marlon Lucky and receivers Todd Peterson and Nate Swift. Patrick Witt and Zac Lee will battle to replace Ganz, and Roy Helu looked like Nebraska's best running back at times during the 2008 season. Seven starters should be back on defense, including Ndamukong Suh, who returned to school instead of entering the NFL draft. The Big 12 schedule might set up nicely for the Cornhuskers, who will play Texas Tech and Oklahoma at home and won't play Texas during the regular season."
As for the top five, Schlabach has Florida No. 1, followed by Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama and Virginia Tech. Nebraska will travel to Blacksburg, Va., to play the Hokies next September.
In his commentary, Schlabach writes: "In his first season as Nebraska's coach, Bo Pelini went a long way toward restoring the pride in the Cornhuskers' defense. Nebraska will have to worry more about its offense going into the 2009 season after losing quarterback Joe Ganz, tailback Marlon Lucky and receivers Todd Peterson and Nate Swift. Patrick Witt and Zac Lee will battle to replace Ganz, and Roy Helu looked like Nebraska's best running back at times during the 2008 season. Seven starters should be back on defense, including Ndamukong Suh, who returned to school instead of entering the NFL draft. The Big 12 schedule might set up nicely for the Cornhuskers, who will play Texas Tech and Oklahoma at home and won't play Texas during the regular season."
As for the top five, Schlabach has Florida No. 1, followed by Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama and Virginia Tech. Nebraska will travel to Blacksburg, Va., to play the Hokies next September.
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Friday, February 06, 2009
Pelini would prefer limited number of jucos
LINCOLN — Shying away from a trend that seemed to be becoming popular with Nebraska's previous coaching staff under Bill Callahan, the Cornhuskers signed just two junior college players in their 2009 recruiting class Wednesday. The two jucos inked included defensive back Dejon Gomes, who comes from City College of San Francisco, and wide receiver Brandon Kinnie from Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College.
“We'd rather move toward high school athletes because you get a chance to get them into your program, into your culture right from the start and develop them right from the beginning,” Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. “It's a thing that's going to help us down the road.”
When Nebraska does sign junior college players, Pelini said he prefers them to be players who have either three years of eligibility remaining or three years to play two for the Huskers.
“When we do take junior college kids, we're going to look into it and specifically know what we're getting,” Pelini said. “I thought these were two young men we felt that could come in and have an impact on us and were the right kids for our program. Not everybody is.”
“We'd rather move toward high school athletes because you get a chance to get them into your program, into your culture right from the start and develop them right from the beginning,” Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. “It's a thing that's going to help us down the road.”
When Nebraska does sign junior college players, Pelini said he prefers them to be players who have either three years of eligibility remaining or three years to play two for the Huskers.
“When we do take junior college kids, we're going to look into it and specifically know what we're getting,” Pelini said. “I thought these were two young men we felt that could come in and have an impact on us and were the right kids for our program. Not everybody is.”
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