• Photo Showcase: NU football practice, Sept. 29

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LINCOLN — Coach Bo Pelini considered holding a practice Tuesday. Then he re-examined the rest of Nebraska's schedule.

For the next eight weeks, the Huskers are set to play Big 12 opponents. It's a demanding slate, so Pelini figured an extra day off wouldn't hurt his team.

On Wednesday, the NU players were in full pads for the first time since Saturday's 17-3 win over South Dakota State.

“I thought we were a little leg-weary last week in practice,” Pelini said. “(I thought), just give them a mental break and a physical break. It showed Wednesday.”

They did have weight room workouts Monday, but Sunday and Tuesday were off days.

The extra rest likely aided in the recovery of three hobbled Huskers who left Saturday's game with injuries. Receiver Mike McNeill, safety P.J. Smith and linebacker Eric Martin all practiced Wednesday.

Brown expects ‘kitchen sink'

From this point forward, assistant Ron Brown expects opponents to use some unconventional methods to try to stop Nebraska's potentially explosive offense.

What the Huskers saw against South Dakota State was just a start, he said.

“We're going to see a lot of teams hover around and then attack,” Brown told a crowd of about 200 at the Nebraska Walk-on Club luncheon Wednesday. “And we're going to have to figure out ways to get them off our back. … We have to learn how to block movement. People are not just going to sit still.”

Brown said it certainly is easier for the NU offense to impose its will and win the physicality battle when it has an idea beforehand of what its opponents plan to do.

But teams will be going out of their way to try to confuse redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez and the rest of the Huskers, according to Brown.

“Particularly with a young quarterback, we're going to see the kitchen sink,” Brown said.

Martin ready to take on Thomas

Eric Martin isn't making a big deal of his potential role in defending Daniel Thomas next week.

Nebraska would be considered more likely to go with two true linebackers against the Wildcats, who tend to power the 6-foot-2, 228-pounder at opponents. Martin is the Huskers' biggest linebacker at 240.

Both Martin and Alonzo Whaley played decent amounts during the nonconference schedule, but NU often went to its dime scheme with only Lavonte David at linebacker.

“They have a great running game, but we're just more focused on us,” Martin said. “We're just trying to get us together. We've got to play team defense, and if we play team defense we'll be fine.”

Thomas ranks fourth nationally in rushing at 157.0 yards per game and is averaging 5.98 per carry. He shares the lead for rushing attempts (105) with DeMarco Murray of Oklahoma.

“I think he's a great running back,” Martin said. “Watching him play, he's real physical and all. He's an extremely big back, and one of the better backs in the nation.”

Amukamara on watch list

Senior cornerback Prince Amukamara was added to the watch list for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, a nationwide award honoring a defender's performance on the field and his contributions away from it.

Nebraska's lockdown cornerback has 14 total tackles and four pass breakups this season. He was named to the Huskers' Brook Berringer Citizenship Team earlier this year.

TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes won the award last season.

Fond memories for Derrie Nelson

Former Nebraska star Derrie Nelson was back in Lincoln on Wednesday, reminiscing about his rags-to-riches career as a Husker defensive end.

Nelson, of Fairmont, Neb., walked on in 1976 and earned a starting spot two years later. By the time he finished his career, he was the Big Eight defensive player of the year and a first-team All-American. Nelson was drafted in the fourth round by the Dallas Cowboys.

Nelson, speaking at the Nebraska Walk-on Club luncheon, said he wanted to play football at NU from the moment he started the sport.

That's why he still beams with pride when he talks about games like the Missouri matchup in 1979. Nebraska won 23-20, but with the Tigers 11 yards from the end zone, NU needed a game-ending, 18-yard sack from Nelson to preserve the win.

“Once I put my hand on the guy, I said, ‘I got 'em.' I dropped him for a sack,” he said. “Those types of games are something you live for here at Nebraska.”

— Jon Nyatawa and Rich Kaipust

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• Video: Check out this week's edition of the Big Red Today Show:



• Video: See NU coach Bo Pelini after Wednesday's practice:



• Video: Highlights from Wednesday's Husker football practice:

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