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• Video Below: See practice highlights and an interview with NU coach Bo Pelini
• Photo Showcase: Husker football practice, March 16
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LINCOLN — Coach Bo Pelini ended Wednesday's on-field workout by leaving his players with a clear message about what he expects on their 11-day break between practices.
Stay ready.
Because when Nebraska reconvenes on March 28, Pelini doesn't want to waste time waiting on any suddenly out-of-shape Huskers to play catch-up.
“We want them to go home and enjoy their families and relax and do whatever they choose to do,” Pelini said. “But they better be working out and be ready to go when they come back, because we have a lot of work to do, and a lot to accomplish over the last three weeks of spring.”
Spring break at Nebraska starts when classes end Friday afternoon, and it continues through next week. Break happens seven days later than usual and is the reason Pelini began offseason drills Saturday, choosing against cramming 14 practices between March 28 and the April 16 spring game.
So with the time off, the majority of NU players are leaving campus. Many of the coaches won't even be in their offices.
It's plenty of freedom for a team still meshing with a new staff, still in the process of installing a simplified offense and still adjusting without key contributors. But there shouldn't be any consequences to the layoff, as long as everyone is prepared to work once the break's over, according to Pelini.
“We've got a lot of work to do when we get back,” he said. “We've got to be ready to hit the ground running on Monday after spring break.”
The Huskers worked in full pads for the first time Wednesday, their third practice of 15 scheduled during the spring.
Their focus through this point was to install the offensive and defensive systems, while emphasizing and reinforcing concepts along the way. That process is expected to last a bit longer for the offense, considering that Tim Beck took over at offensive coordinator just one month ago.
But running backs coach Ron Brown said coaches accomplished what they wanted during the three productive practices. And actually, Brown said, he's caught glimpses of the potential potency of Nebraska's new approach.
“There are some great things,” Brown said. “We're doing things that I think will create some issues on defense. Our defense has gotten a little dose of it already.”
There are a few changes defensively as well.
Two new assistants — secondary coach Corey Raymond and linebackers coach Ross Els — are providing a different perspective. John Papuchis is now coaching the entire defensive line.
That's created a “new energy” on defense, according to senior defensive tackle Jared Crick. But it's also given the players a lot to think about. He said the team is ready to rest.
“We've got these three pretty long practices out of the way now, and then we've got a week to recover and have a little fun,” Crick said. “But when we get back, it's time to work again.”
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• Video: Husker football practice, March 16:
• Video: NU coach Bo Pelini after football practice, March 16:
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