LINCOLN — Nebraska's younger players are progressing at a rapid rate this spring, which has NU's offensive coordinator encouraged about the team's state two-thirds of the way through the spring.
Shawn Watson said Saturday that the Huskers are further along than they thought they would be at this point. And the underclassmen get much of the credit for that.
“They're starting to execute with technique,” Watson said. “You can see the fundamentals coming out.”
There are still mistakes, though. They'll head into the final week of spring practices ahead of schedule, but Watson and the NU coaches won't be expecting any dropoff.
The players can still get better, he said.
“With younger players, they execute and then they run plays. There's a difference,” Watson said. “When they run plays, there's a mistake. When they execute, there's no mistake. ... We've just got to keep coaching and keep working because if you get them in that execution mode time after time after time, that's when you get pretty good.”
QBs ‘all contenders'
Watson is still not unveiling any clues regarding Nebraska's ongoing quarterback battle.
All he said Saturday was that everyone is getting a chance.
Sophomore Cody Green entered spring as the perceived leader, as 2009 starter Zac Lee is inactive after offseason surgery. But redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez, sophomore Kody Spano, senior Latravis Washington and redshirt freshman Ron Kellogg are all apparently getting better and keeping pace.
“They're all contenders,” Watson said. “We'll just see how it all pans out.”
Linemen being pushed
Watson thought that the team's top offensive linemen got comfortable with their depth chart slots last year because they didn't have capable reserves to push them regularly for playing time.
Not any more.
Redshirt freshmen Nick Ash, Jeremiah Sirles, Brent Qvale and Jesse Coffey are all healthy again, and they're making an impression. Junior college transfer Jermarcus Hardrick is a newcomer who is keeping the returners on edge, too.
“You've got to respond when you've got heat on you,” Watson said. “The younger players that have come in, have flashed on film — all those things heighten your sense of urgency if you're a veteran player. Competition's the best thing for a football team.”
No talk of spring game
Watson said he and the NU staff haven't discussed plans for Saturday's Red-White game yet. It's not even on his radar.
For now, Watson said the focus is on improvement.
“We think one day at a time,” he said.
Watson guesses that the pre-spring game meeting to discuss particulars probably won't take place until Wednesday. Last year, the coaches crafted two teams and announced the rosters two days before the spring game.
— Jon Nyatawa
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