LINCOLN — The grades are in from Roy Helu, and Nebraska's junior I-back is not happy with his performance through two weeks of the football season.
“Average,” Helu said.
Helu has rushed for 212 yards and averaged 7.1 per attempt but was held to 60 yards on 14 carries Saturday in the 38-9 win over Arkansas State.
He said he wants to lead the way for Nebraska to establish its running attack in every game.
“I've failed at times in providing that for our offense,” Helu said. “So I just need to be more consistent as a player, run as hard as I can and not think when I'm out there on the field.”
What does Helu envision for himself?
“Just having the passion to run the ball and represent our offense in the right way,” he said. “There's major improvements ahead.”
Martin explains helmet removal
Eric Martin offered an explanation for the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called on him after he removed his helmet at the end of a second-quarter NU kickoff.
The freshman linebacker said he took a forearm in the throat from an Arkansas State player.
“I lost my airway, and my (chin strap) was over my mouth,” he said. “I couldn't breathe. I had to take my helmet off so I could get some air.”
Martin fell to the turf in apparent pain after the penalty was announced. The 15-yard foul was Martin's second in two games. He was flagged for a personal foul against Florida Atlantic.
He said Arkansas State used a double team to try to stop him on kickoff coverage in the first quarter before sending three players at him on the play that resulted in the penalty.
“I wasn't trying to fight them,” Martin said. “I was backing away. I didn't want no problems. I'm just trying to play football.”
NU turns tide on turnovers
Coach Bo Pelini said he was pleased to see Nebraska emerge on top in the turnover battle against Arkansas State. Defensive end Barry Turner recovered a fumble, and the Huskers did not commit a turnover.
“It's huge,” Pelini said. “It's something we're emphasizing big time. It's worked in our favor to this point. We need it to continue. You can't give the ball away. You've got to gain some possessions on defense.”
The Huskers finished minus-11 in turnover margin last year. So far this season, they're plus-3.
Also from practice Monday, Pelini said the Huskers “got a lot done” as they started work in preparation for Virginia Tech.
Guard Andy Christensen returned to drills after missing last week with turf toe. He did not play against Arkansas State.
Asked about the mentality needed as the Huskers travel to their first road venue Saturday, Pelini dismissed the notion that traveling to a hostile environment would affect Nebraska's play.
“It's about execution,” he said. “You've got to execute. The fans aren't playing. It's 11 on 11. The stuff between the lines, you've got to execute.”
Beamer heaps praise on NU
Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer unleashed a parade of compliments Monday in discussing Nebraska.
“I was impressed with them last year,” Beamer said, “and they're a better football team this year.”
Virginia Tech beat Nebraska 35-30 last year in Lincoln.
Beamer praised NU quarterback Zac Lee, comparing him to former Husker Joe Ganz.
“I think they're very similar,” Beamer said. “Heady guy out there. Good pocket presence. Very accurate. You look at his stats, and not much has bothered him so far. I'll tell you, he's been right on.”
Of the Huskers' offensive line, Beamer said: “We haven't played an offensive line this good in a while. These guys can do it.”
He described the NU defensive line as “big and tough and rugged.” Ndamukong Suh, in particular, impresses Beamer. He said Suh presents a challenge much like Terrence Cody, the 6-foot-5, 365-pound Alabama All-American whom the Hokies faced Sept. 5. Alabama beat Virginia Tech 34-24.
“It's more of the same,” the coach said. “Big guys who can change a game.”
Homecoming for Papuchis
Nebraska's John Papuchis will return to his alma mater for the first time in almost a decade, though the NU assistant didn't seem very sentimental about it Monday night.
Papuchis, 31, graduated from Virginia Tech in 2001 but became a graduate assistant at Kansas later that year. He joined Bo Pelini at LSU in 2004.
A return trip to Blacksburg, Va., this weekend will give Papuchis a chance to reminisce — that is, until Saturday, when his team takes the field against the Hokies, he said.
“(I'll) get to see some friends and family, look around the campus and stuff, see how things have changed,” Papuchis said after Monday's practice. “But once it's game time, it's kind of business as usual.”
Henery happy with double duty
Through two games, junior field-goal kicker and punter Alex Henery has handled double duty just fine, so Papuchis isn't planning any changes.
Henery's made all 12 of his extra points. He missed one of his two field-goal attempts Saturday, pushing a 54-yarder wide right.
As a punter, Henery had one impressive boot against Arkansas State, kicking the ball in such a way that it flew 49 yards and bounced directly upward at the 3-yard line. He has five punts this year, averaging 40.4 yards.
“He's enjoying doing both,” Papuchis said. “I think it keeps him more into the game.”
— Mitch Sherman and Jon Nyatawa
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