Posts tagged CodyGlenn at FanHouse

A new coaching staff and a new attitude apparently can't prevent finger pointing and placing of blame as Nebraska begins spring practice. With just one day of practice with the new staff behind them, players are already dredging up the past and highlighting the shortcomings of the previous staff and the frustrations of a 5-7 season.

It all began with a whimper from offensive lineman Matt Slauson.

"There was definitely a frustration for the team, one, but for me especially," Slauson said. "Because I kind of feel like I got jacked around a little bit, switching positions all the times, switching playing time all the time, playing a few plays here, a few plays there. I was really frustrated the whole time ... I had no idea what was going on the whole year. I think (it) just messed with my head a little bit. I don't know if there were head games they were doing or what, but I just didn't feel comfortable where I was."

Slauson said guys usually didn't know who was going to start until 10 minutes before the game. He said he wasn't sure who was making the final call on who started.

That doesn't sound good, but perhaps Slauson was an isolated case. Not so, according to running back Cody Glenn, who also weighed in.

Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky appears to be bouncing back from the curious medical emergency that he was hospitalized for in February. This is good news for the Huskers' backfield, but even better news for the junior-to-be. Bill Callahan sees a lot of positives in Lucky's play this spring.

"I couldn't be more pleased with his efforts and focus and concentration," he said. "He's really done a terrific job, and it's good to see him doing really well."

Coaches still aren't talking about the incident that led to Lucky's hospital stay and Marlon has declined interview requests so far this spring. While his coaches and teammates avoid discussing the problem head on, given their quotes, one has to wonder whether he might have been dealing with some depression.

Exhibit A:

"I hope the crowd sees a more energetic, more smiling Marlon," said [Randy] Jordan, the Huskers' running backs coach. "We talk about it all the time, that the biggest thing is to enjoy the ride. Don't be in such a hurry to get to the end of the road. Enjoy the journey. So I hope that they see a Marlon that's going to go out and play hard, and I hope they see that in all of our guys."

Exhibit B:

"I see a difference in him on the field," I-back Cody Glenn said. "When he's out here, he's more happy, he's having fun. When we're in the meeting rooms, he's joking, it seems like. I guess he's put everything in perspective. He just seems real happy right now."

Whatever might have caused his distress, the important thing is that Lucky seems to be feeling better. With the departure of Brandon Jackson and injuries to Cody Glenn and Kenny Wilson, the starting job should belong to Lucky in 2007. With his health and a more positive outlook, he now appears ready to grasp this role.

Nebraska running back Kenny Wilson suffered a broken femur in what has to be one of college football's freakiest accidents. Wilson somehow managed to fracture the largest bone in his body while moving a television on Monday. This is clearly a story that raises more questions than answers, but details unfortunately remain unclear at this time (how big was this TV?). Nebraska coach Bill Callahan's only briefly addressed the injury with the media on Wednesday:

"Our hearts go out to Kenny as he tries to rehab from a real tough injury," Callahan said. "This is a real tough circumstance for him. Just when he's seemingly feeling better, this is a tremendous setback for him personally."

Wilson has since undergone surgery to repair his femur and will miss the 2007 season. This is not the first setback for Wilson who was also hospitalized for complications from an infection following off-season knee surgery. The 6-0, 220-pound Wilson had arrived on campus as one of the Husker's most highly-touted recruits after earning junior-college All-American honors at Butler County Community College in Kansas. In 2006 he finished fourth on the team with 335 yards rushing and four touchdowns, while playing behind Brandon Jackson, Marlon Lucky and Cody Glenn.

It is surprising to think that a television could get the best of Wilson given that he was virtually impossible to bring down during Nebraska's fall practices.

Last Year: 9-5, Unranked

Fans Are: Sanguine, like every other spring, but anxious to see if the Huskers can take the next step in 2007.

Expectations: Win the Big 12 North. Beat USC or Texas. Contend for a BCS Bowl.

Questions:

1. What's going on at the running back position?

No one really knows right now, and what in the world happened to all of the depth? Brandon Jackson parlayed a strong second half in 2006 into an early exit for the NFL. Marlon Lucky was hospitalized for a curious medical emergency in February and both Cody Glenn and Kenny Wilson continue to recover from injuries. Lucky and Glenn should be available for the spring, but it might be August before things really clear up.

Whoever wins the job (and stays healthy) should get a lot of work. Nebraska RBs have combined to account for an average of 403 carries over the past two seasons. If Lucky and Glenn are both available, the Huskers will have a nice 1-2 punch. Without Lucky or Glenn, the picture is less clear. Sophomore Major Culbert, a safety in 2006 will start the spring at RB and early enrollee Marcus Mendoza will also get a look.