Senior Bowl Participants Highlight Pelini's Reclamation Project

3 comments so far February 1, 2010 by Darren K. Carlson

This weekend's Senior Bowl included two members of the 2009 Husker team - Phillip Dillard and Larry Asante. In the North's exhibition victory, they were able to make a few plays. More importantly, the practice session allowed both players to showcase their ability for NFL scouts. Participating in the Senior Bowl greatly enhanced both players' chances of playing professionally. For fans of the college game an NU in particular, these two specific players having that opportunity speaks volumes about the coaching job done by Bo Pelini and his staff.

Practices More Important Than the Game
While both Dillard and Asante had the chance to make some plays in the North's win, their opportunity to practice against other top members of this class in front of NFL scouts and personnel people made a difference in the draft status for both players.
Performing well in these sessions can make a player a lot of money.

Asante developed a reputation at the camp as one of the most fierce and sure tacklers in the group. That is always a good quality. Dillard demonstrated the versatility to play either at the middle linebacker position or on the outside. NFL coaches like having linebackers that don't have to leave the field on third down, or aren't too much of a liability in coverage. Husker fans grew accustomed to Dillard being the only NU 'backer on the field at times, making all the calls and checks in their nickle and dime sets. It is only good that he is able to show this skill set to the NFL people too.

It doesn't always work out so well at these exhibitions. Some players can cost themselves quite a bit of money. Many who don't have much left to "prove", like Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh (already widely considered the draft's top player) have little more to gain by playing.

Others have issues to address or points to prove. In some cases, it works out. Maybe a player shows the ability to change positions. For Tim Tebow's quest to play quarterback, it didn't appear to go so well. He may have fumbled and one-hopped his way out of millions. That is how much these things matter. So, Asante and Dillard can take heart knowing they didn't hurt themselves, at a minimum.

You've Come a Long Way, Fellas
The fact that Dillard and Asante were the Husker players selected to participate in the Senior Bowl is a big stunning, if you think back on it. Following the 2007 season, most Husker observers - partisan or otherwise - would have held both of them up as examples of player who were not at all living up to their reputation or ability.

Their improvement in 2008 and the excellent play in 2009 changed all that, and likely helped pave the way to the NFL. Asante, once a mistake-prone liability over the middle became an all-conference performer. Dillard was at one point so big that the former coaching staff had him practice some at nose gaurd. And, the current coaching staff shuffled him clear back in the linebacking pecking order. But, he responded to hard coaching, slimmed down, and really showed up. At several times this season, Dillard could be considered the most valuable or important Husker defender not named Suh.

They are living examples of the Pelini project at Nebraska. Nebraska's defense in 2009 was spectacular because it was strong up the middle. Yes, it started with Suh and his linemates. But, Nebraska also could count on play makers in the middle at the next two levels. Dillard made calls, flew around and tackled soundly. Asante patrolled the deep area between the hashes. They were key elements in the team success.

Now, that same ability could lead them to more individual success and the realization of their NFL dreams. This weekend's Senior Bowl was indicative of more than just a few stats collected in an exhibition. It was the culmination of a project for both the individual players and their teams' coaching staff.

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