Getting Faster?
15 comments so far
March 14, 2008 by
For those who believe the return of Bo Pelini will mean a return to glory for Nebraska, another tidbit was reported that will likely add enthusiasm for those looking for a rewind to the 1990’s.
The Wednesday Omaha World-Herald said the following:
A few position changes, particularly on defense, are likely also on tap for spring practice, which begins March 26. But Pelini isn't revealing much.
In general terms, he said, the Huskers might try to maximize speed by looking at cornerbacks who fit at safety or safeties who could move to linebacker.
The ascension of the Husker defense in the 1990’s was defined by getting faster players (even if they were undersized) onto the field. Terry Connealy arrived as a 235 lbs. linebacker and became a defensive tackle. Grant Wistrom was a 230 lbs. linebacker and became a rush end. The same was true of Mike Rucker at 225 lbs and Chad Kelsay at 220 lbs. Ed Stewart arrived as a 195 lbs. defensive back and became a linebacker. The same was true of Eric Johnson, Jamel Williams and Jay Foreman. Troy Dumas arrived as a 185 lbs. safety and became a linebacker. Octavious McFarlin was 180 lbs. and became a linebacker. Kareem Moss arrived as a cornerback and ended up at safety.
Similar moves occurred on offense, to a lesser degree. Josh Heskew was a tight end that became a lineman. Eric Alford was a receiver that became a tight end.
Pelini was quoted in the story as saying, "Our job is not to fit players to the system," he said. "It's to fit our system to the players."
This is good to hear because it appears there are a number of players on the roster that could be moved around to get more speed on the field. While depth at cornerback is a concern, most of the players at that spot seem large enough to be considered at safety. Likewise, there are enough safeties hovering around 200lbs. or more that could be linebackers. There are some bigger linebackers that could be tried at defensive end. There might be an end or two that could move inside. Similarly, there are enough speedy recruits arriving in the fall to be able to make those moves as well.
» Enjoy this article?
Send it to your friend or subscribe to our free newsletter!
Related Stories: Defense
Post a comment
doombob Mar 14 08
Very simply put, a big guy can't hit hard if he can't get to the tackle. Moving faster guys in is a simple choice when everybody and their dog are running the spread offense. It's the fad. When offenses realize that everyone's prepared for that fad and start to switch, we will still have a fast defense that can defend almost anything.
Glenn Baker Mar 14 08
I always thought Callahan and company did not utilize his players at the right position. For instance, Ricky Thenarse should have been on the field as a starter somewhere, maybe to replace Mckewon who was too slow as a linebacker. I am coming to the spring game from Alabama and I hope too see some major changes to the defense.
darren Mar 14 08
This is an important post in a seemingly un-important time of year. Nicely done, Steve.
Football is all about "explosive" plays...collisions, bursts of speed...quick movements in confined spaces or over short distances.
I think the biggest trend we'll see is Pelini and company trying to get the most explosive players on the field.
You don't have to be small to be explosive (Example, Glenn Dorsey from LSU), but dynamite often comes in smaller packages. (Grixby's 41 inch vertical jump).
And smaller doesn't mean weaker when it comes to linemen, either. I'd take a strong 290 pound linemen over a 320 lb dough boy any day.
Husker Mike Mar 14 08
We had this discussion last year, before the huge implosion of the coaching staff. I argued at that time that many of our defensive players were too big. I think that this will be the most interesting thing to watch this spring as they move players around to find place for them to contribute.
I think we'll see several DB's moving up to linebacker this season to fill the holes graduation left. I'd also like to see some linebackers move to end, but I don't know that we've got the depth at linebacker to do that. We may end up being "big" on the line for another year or so.
Come on. Admit it. The idea of Ricky Thenarse lining up at linebacker and bringing the wood sounds more than intriguing...
Tyler Hughes Mar 14 08
Remember all the hoopla about how big Barry Turner and Zach Potter received and how great it was going to be? How did that turn out? Nothing against those two, they did what the strength coaches told them to do.
I remember in the OWH "Heard from the Grandstands" last year and old-timer writing in saying these boys are too darn big and too dang slow. i recall thinking, he might just be right. The whole Bigger, Stronger, Faster can get out of balance and I think perhaps it did. We had all these huge 300+ OL that couldn't open holes and yet, Ball State could come in and run on us with their "undersized" lineman.
There's soooo much to look forward to this season.
Dan Mar 14 08
Getting faster is great for the spread offences, but many of the teams pushed our dline around to create huge holes ... remember USC, Okst..
HuskerWooWoo Mar 14 08
Good comment by Dan. There needs to be a good combination of both. I do think the more speed on the field the better though. If you can get some speed at linebacker and saftey maybe you can get into position a little faster to fill any holes that might get put into your smaller line. It could turn a 15 yard gain into a 5.
darren Mar 14 08
As if on CUE, one of the candidates for position switch - Asante - goes on record about the current training methods. Key word...explosive.
"We do more flexibility, a lot more stretching, lot more explosive lifts, lot more explosive runs, just everything we do we're competing against each other," Asante said. "It's highly intense. It is no joke. Before, we had a long time between sets. Everybody would take five minutes between sets. It's like rapid fire (now). You do everything boom-boom-boom-boom. It's nonstop. And once you enter the weight room, you're not allowed to leave the weight room until you're done."
saunders45 Mar 14 08
He also said he didn't think he'd be switching positions.
Greg Morrow Mar 14 08
Look for Pelini to only move the sophs or redshirt frosh who are most likely to make two deep or alternate as the starter, this year.
Thenarse and Asante will be juniors and really shouldn't be moved unless Bo and Carl really think they'll be "star"ters. Why mess with what should be a decent safety duo? Really though, Thenase won't be moved to weakside 'backer. I'd doubt that. You still want a guy who pushes #205. Too bad he hasn't redshirted. Iv'e been waiting for Major Culbert to be the weakside starter (since his case got settled). To make him an I-B has been a waste of an already brief college career.
What I anticipate will be some fun, unpredictable blitzs featuring guys the Pelinis identify as the fastest K.O. artists. Why else bother? He's going to re-teach guys how to be sure tacklers with pursuit angles, anyway. He's going to teach his defense.
I love the fact that Pelini's well dialed in on college offenses, this being his 6th year "in school."
cvldfg Mar 15 08
The biggest difference in coaching philosophies between BO and the past unmentionable DC will be instead of playing on their heels, moving backwards and reacting, they will be on their toes, moving forward and dictating.
doombob Mar 15 08
There's always one position for which speed is not as important as size/strength, and that's Nose Tackle or one of the Defensive Tackles. If you have fast ends and linebackers, great, but give me a big hoss in the middle any day of the week.
donfl Mar 17 08
doombob, I could not agree with you more. Remember Steve Warren in his heyday? He played havoc up the middle. He was blessed with not only heft (335lbs) but in his case he also had speed. That bull rush up the middle is what frees the ends and the LBs to persue. I am still a firm believer the the R2 (read and react) defense is a loser from the gitgo. We need to return to the D2 (disrupt and destroy) defense to counter the B12 spread that is dominant today. Go Big Red
ze bop Mar 18 08
Well, there's alot that can be said on this subject, I guess, but most of it would be redundant; recycling of what is said from year to year.
Overall, with what now seems to be the dominant trend towards spread/spread option type offenses, there is certainly more of a premium on lighter, faster guys that can chase speedy O guys all over the field. One assumes that they(the defenders) will try to be strong as possible, lol!
But then, yes, you have to have some beef in the interior of the line, and hopefully those guys will be as athletic as possible as well: we just need about 3-4 Ken Dorseys there is all:). I mean, TTech, if i recall correctly, has a big O line, averaging around 300 lbs or so, so you gotta have a D line that can 'disrupt and destroy' that. I think there is just a significant readjusting of the defensive concept in college fb going on overall, again, in adjustment to the spread stuff.
What gets me is how it could be that there are significant differences from one coaching regime to another in terms of fb fundamentals: strength conditioning, reading/reacting vs 'disrupting/attacking', running to the ball, etc. I've never been able to understand that, thinking that kind of stuff would be more or less standardized knowledge, sorta like different surgeons or dentists doing the same procedures pretty much the same. But i guess differences in basic philosophies do exist, like, for e.g., not taking 5 minute breaks in between lifts, stretching more, or something. That kind of stuff seems a little comical to me.......:)
I think NE will come into the '08 season with a slightly different identity; that is--UNDERDOG!! They will be in more of the spoiler role in perhaps most of their games next year. Good news is that I think BO can function well under such circumstances and optimize what is a a fairly 'no name' Big Red team...
Thanks for 'listening'!!!
zE OUT!
ze bop Mar 18 08
p.s
....still depressed over '07....:(