Daily Nebraskan

Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Andrew Lamberson Members of the Nebraska football team's offensive line line up in practice Wednesday.

Matt Slauson is in a good mood these days. So are many of his fellow offensive linemen.

After practice on Wednesday, the Nebraska senior guard gasped for air as he stood on the red carpet along the tunnel walk inside Memorial Stadium. But as tired as he was, it didn't take long before he slapped hands with a passing teammate and got in a sheepish pushing fight with another.

No, these days aren't so worrisome for Slauson, along with the rest of the Cornhuskers who line up in the trenches. Slauson said the group has developed a new confidence in the past few weeks, thanks largely to a fresh position coach in Barney Cotton and a little consistency at each role.

"We all know what we're doing now," Slauson said. "We all can play faster."

Part of that has to do with Cotton. The offensive line coach has found ways to get the most out of his players after replacing former assistant Coach Dennis Wagner last winter.

Senior tackle Lydon Murtha said it's a personality thing. Cotton doesn't yell so much - he instructs. He doesn't lecture. He soothes.

Sure, a little scolding is necessary from time to time, but Murtha and his teammates have taken a liking to the new style. Strategy hasn't changed, only attitude. And the by-product has been confidence ­­­- something that fell by the wayside as NU piled up a 5-7 record last season.

"When you have a coach who can really be involved with his players (both) on a personal level and as a coach and a teacher," Murtha said," that makes going out there and grinding every day so much easier."

Another factor is job security, only the tasks don't reap a salary. As a senior, Murtha said he's likely done running around from position to position. He's played all over the offensive line. He's studied profusely and learned all the responsibilities.

Now, he can let the more athletic underclassmen deal with that. Like sophomore Jaivorio Burkes, who's making a name for himself this spring. Or sophomore D.J. Jones, another lineman who could move from guard to tackle or vice versa as the year progresses.

It's all part of the process of moving through the program.

"We've all played enough positions, us seniors," Murtha said. "So if we ever needed to switch, it could happen."

Continued...

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