• Video: Coach Bo Pelini speaks after Friday's Husker football practice:
* * *
• Photo Showcase: Friday's Husker football practice
* * *
LINCOLN — If Eric Hagg gains nothing else from his new role on the Nebraska defense, he'll preserve energy by avoiding those long runs to the sideline and back between plays.
Hagg played strictly as the nickel back for the past two seasons in the Huskers' five-defensive-back alignment. It meant lots of time against a pass-happy schedule. He finished 2008 and 2009 among the most valuable NU defenders, recording 40 tackles with seven behind the line of scrimmage and an interception in 10 starts last year.
“He's one of those guys who just makes our defense so much better than it is when he's not out there,” linebacker Will Compton said.
Often, though, Hagg ran off the field after a first- or second-down play, only to return seconds later when the offense showed its personnel. No more.
Nebraska added a defensive wrinkle late last season, using it regularly in a 33-0 Holiday Bowl win over Arizona. The Peso, as it's called, replaces the Huskers' base defense but utilizes Hagg at the position formerly known as strongside linebacker in many running or short-yardage situations.
This spring, NU continues to refine its Peso look. It will figure prominently in 2010.
So much for Hagg's sprint to the sideline when Nebraska shifts alignments mid-series.
Essentially, the explosive senior from Peoria, Ariz., plays two positions, increasing his value to the Blackshirts.
So how to identify Hagg — linebacker or defensive back? Perhaps both.
“He's a more athletic linebacker,” senior receiver Niles Paul said. “He goes out there and makes plays. A pure athlete, but he's always in the right position.
“You see him off the field, and you would never know he has that type of ability. He's so quiet. Then you get up on the field and he turns into this big, aggressive, strong player. He's honestly one of the toughest guys we have defensively.”
NU still groups Hagg with the secondary in practice and meetings. But linebackers coach Mike Ekeler also gets his chance to coach the 6-foot-2, 210-pound defender.
“He looks like a linebacker,” Ekeler said. “He's very versatile. He's great in coverage, and he's a physical guy in the run. He's one of those hybrid guys. He adds another whole dimension to the defense, which is great, especially when we face offenses that get in personnel to spread you out.”
Safe to say that's a common predicament in the Big 12.
Nebraska, with Hagg and reserve hybrid Austin Cassidy, has effectively turned the table on the spread offense. It converted a matchup problem into a potential advantage.
“Nothing's really changed, except for me taking a linebacker's spot,” Hagg said. “I like it. It can be confusing at times, but I'm starting to get it — slowly, but it's coming.”
In the Peso, Hagg rarely finds himself locked in man-to-man coverage. Against Arizona, no doubt, it confused the Wildcats, who gained fewer than 40 yards of offense until their last drive against NU reserves in the final five minutes.
Hagg said he would likely leave the field for a more traditional base look only in a goal-line stand situation.
In his time at Nebraska, Hagg has played cornerback, nickel back, safety and now this hybrid linebacker spot. Don't look for a move to defensive end anytime soon.
He's gained about 20 pounds since his freshman season but improved his speed and athleticism. Among five signees from the Phoenix area in 2007, Hagg was arguably the most lightly regarded of the group out of high school.
From the Arizonans, he remains alongside Prince Amukamara, a fixture at cornerback, and part-time starting offensive lineman Marcel Jones.
Hagg takes just one regret into his senior year: He would have liked to redshirt in that first season. He debuted midway through the 2007 season under Nebraska's former coaching staff and played in seven games, primarily on special teams.
“I definitely wish I would have redshirted,” Hagg said. “An extra season would have been nice, but it's especially because of school. It's going to be a grind next year to finish school, but I think I'll get it done.”
At least he's accustomed to juggling assignments.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1031, mitch.sherman@owh.com
* * *
• Video: Highlights from Friday's Husker football practice:
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
RSS Feeds