New offense, new offensive coordinator, new position coach.
If ever there was a clean slate for a group of players, Nebraska receivers are seeing it in spring practice, junior Tim Marlowe says.
Brandon Kinnie is a good bet to win one job after leading the Huskers with 44 receptions last year. But Marlowe said first-year assistant coach Rich Fisher wants to start anew in evaluating the rest.
“He's giving everyone equal opportunity,” Marlowe said. “He doesn't care if you're scholarship or walk-on, or whatever happened last year.”
Beyond Kinnie, no returning Nebraska receiver had more than one catch in 2010. Gone are Niles Paul, Mike McNeill, Joe Broekemeier and Will Henry — not to mention offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and receivers coach Ted Gilmore.
That likely will lend itself to some surprises, which NU head coach Bo Pelini hinted at as he evaluated his receiving corps after practice Monday.
“I like the core group of guys,” he said. “I think you're going to see some guys that haven't played a lot around here that are ready to step up. And we'll see who steps to the forefront.”
Marlowe is a two-year special teams contributor who saw a decent amount of time at receiver last season. Quincy Enunwa impressed the staff enough last August to burn a redshirt and get some playing time as a true freshman. The list of potential up-and-comers includes Tyler Evans, Kenny Bell and Stanley Jean-Baptiste coming off redshirt seasons.
What will it take for people to separate themselves from the others? Marlowe said he thinks it's pretty simple with Fisher.
“He told us whoever plays the way he wants them to play — with great effort and great technique — is going to be the guys on the field,” Marlowe said.
Enunwa got that chance last fall, but produced just one reception and lost a season of eligibility in the process. Although he might not have accomplished his goals, he said he feels as if he matured more last season by playing than redshirting.
“I think every freshman wants to come in and play,” he said. “I came in hoping that I would play, and once I did see the field it was really a blessing. I didn't really exceed my expectations once I did see the field, but I put that on myself.”
Other candidates at receiver include Steven Osborne, brother of NU safety Courtney Osborne, and Khiry Cooper, who is missing another spring practice to play Husker baseball. With spring being a time to experiment, some moves also could be in the works.
Marlowe said he knows Fisher has watched film from last season, but more to just get a base of knowledge than to judge or make decisions.
With five practices behind NU as of Wednesday, right now it's just about competing.
“Coach Fisher and the whole offensive staff, they're all about effort right now,” Marlowe said. “They accept that there are going to be some mental mistakes out there. They're not so much concerned about who knows the plays the best just yet. They're just really concerned with who's giving it all every single play, who's laying it on the line.
“There's great camaraderie in the room right now. We're really coming together as one, and Coach Fisher is really helping us get to the right spot.”
If ever there was a clean slate for a group of players, Nebraska receivers are seeing it in spring practice, junior Tim Marlowe says.
Brandon Kinnie is a good bet to win one job after leading the Huskers with 44 receptions last year. But Marlowe said first-year assistant coach Rich Fisher wants to start anew in evaluating the rest.
“He's giving everyone equal opportunity,” Marlowe said. “He doesn't care if you're scholarship or walk-on, or whatever happened last year.”
Beyond Kinnie, no returning Nebraska receiver had more than one catch in 2010. Gone are Niles Paul, Mike McNeill, Joe Broekemeier and Will Henry — not to mention offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and receivers coach Ted Gilmore.
That likely will lend itself to some surprises, which NU head coach Bo Pelini hinted at as he evaluated his receiving corps after practice Monday.
“I like the core group of guys,” he said. “I think you're going to see some guys that haven't played a lot around here that are ready to step up. And we'll see who steps to the forefront.”
Marlowe is a two-year special teams contributor who saw a decent amount of time at receiver last season. Quincy Enunwa impressed the staff enough last August to burn a redshirt and get some playing time as a true freshman. The list of potential up-and-comers includes Tyler Evans, Kenny Bell and Stanley Jean-Baptiste coming off redshirt seasons.
What will it take for people to separate themselves from the others? Marlowe said he thinks it's pretty simple with Fisher.
“He told us whoever plays the way he wants them to play — with great effort and great technique — is going to be the guys on the field,” Marlowe said.
Enunwa got that chance last fall, but produced just one reception and lost a season of eligibility in the process. Although he might not have accomplished his goals, he said he feels as if he matured more last season by playing than redshirting.
“I think every freshman wants to come in and play,” he said. “I came in hoping that I would play, and once I did see the field it was really a blessing. I didn't really exceed my expectations once I did see the field, but I put that on myself.”
Other candidates at receiver include Steven Osborne, brother of NU safety Courtney Osborne, and Khiry Cooper, who is missing another spring practice to play Husker baseball. With spring being a time to experiment, some moves also could be in the works.
Marlowe said he knows Fisher has watched film from last season, but more to just get a base of knowledge than to judge or make decisions.
With five practices behind NU as of Wednesday, right now it's just about competing.
“Coach Fisher and the whole offensive staff, they're all about effort right now,” Marlowe said. “They accept that there are going to be some mental mistakes out there. They're not so much concerned about who knows the plays the best just yet. They're just really concerned with who's giving it all every single play, who's laying it on the line.
“There's great camaraderie in the room right now. We're really coming together as one, and Coach Fisher is really helping us get to the right spot.”
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