Holt attempts to fill predecessor Swift’s shoes

Nebraska football offensive coordinator Shawn Watson doesn't sound worried about replacing his passing attack. The coach was awfully calm for a guy who was being asked about replacing two receivers who accumulated more than 1,700 yards last season. Watson showed no concern.

Not with Niles Paul around.

"Oh, he's the man," Watson said.
Watson wasn't shy about singling out the wide receiver. Either was Paul's position coach, Ted Gilmore.

With Paul's exceptional play in practice and fellow experienced wide receiver Menelik Holt by his side, coaches say the duo has made it easier to replace Todd Peterson and all-time reception leader Nate Swift.

"Niles Paul is playing at a level higher than they were," Gilmore said. "I'm very excited. If it's any indication, he's going to have a big year."

Paul will be an important target for new quarterback Zac Lee. The two quickly struck up a friendship when Paul arrived in 2007.

"Since I got here, Zac and I have been cool and have been playing catch," Paul said. "We're tight."

It's expected that Lee will look Paul's way often as the junior is Nebraska's most experienced returning receiver.

But Paul said Lee should be comfortable with all of his receivers.

"He knows what we can do and he trusts us to make him a better quarterback," Paul said.

Lee will also have Holt, who caught five passes four different times in 2008. Holt has been working as a slot receiver this fall.

"I want to master the inside route-running," Holt said. "Every day there is something you can attempt to learn."

The senior said he thought that just knowing the plays would be enough when he first came to Nebraska.

Now, he knows better.

Holt said it took him three years to really get comfortable with his route-running and his ability to read coverage.

"Last year when I was on the field, I learned a lot about coverages," Holt said.  "It really makes you that much better of a player."

Gilmore  said there is no timetable for a player to learn run routes based on coverage.

"Some kids are just instinctive," Gilmore said. "Some have to work at it."

Gilmore cited Swift and Peterson as prime examples of this.

"Nate and Todd with all the success that they had, didn't have it in the beginning," Gilmore said. "The last two years they understood it very well."

Now the two are vying for roster spots in the NFL - Swift with the Broncos and Peterson for the Jaguars.Holt holds the two former Huskers in high regard, particularly Swift.

"I try to emulate Nate a lot," Holt said. "He was a crafty person."

Holt said Swift was the one who showed him the ins and outs of the receiver position and what he could do to get open. He's texted Swift several times since the beginning of camp.

The junior said he even has a recent training camp photo of Swift fighting for a ball in the mud.

Holt said that Swift's actions in the picture didn't surprise him, because that's the type of player he is.

"Nate was a big role model for a lot of people on this team," Holt said.

But where Holt and Paul differ from their predecessors is their ability to stretch the field.
Holt said the offense has consistently worked on the deep ball in practice.

"This year, it's definitely a big part of our pass game," Holt said.

He said Lee has an arm that can put the ball all over the field. Unlike some of the other routes, Holt said he won't have many problems creating separation on a fly pattern.

"We're not going to throw if it's not one-on-one," Holt said. "If you can't get open against one other guy, you shouldn't be on the field."

michaelschaefer@dailynebraskan.com