NU football team readies for summer training

It all starts in the summer. At least, that's how Ndamukong Suh sees it.

Team chemistry proved vital last season when Nebraska faced the high-powered offenses of the Big 12 Conference. Suh said it was developed during summer practices.

"It's still not there 100 percent," Suh said following the Red-White Spring Game. "That's how teams win championships – they have great chemistry. So that's something we'll need to work on."

NU players will return to campus at the beginning of June to resume intense conditioning and drills. Suh said the 2008 team began to develop its identity during this time.

"That time is the hugest," he said. "That's where I think we made our biggest gain last year. Everybody knew what they had to do, and we went into our skills and drills during the summer, and we made our biggest strides in those practices."

Though coaches aren't permitted to run practices, players organize drills and workouts during this time.

"We were just doing our own stuff, and that's where I think we make our biggest growth," Suh said. "Everybody was pushing each other since there were no coaches around telling us what to do."

Extensive work with Nebraska strength coach James Dobson during the summer also helps better prepare the team for fall camp.

"It will be big just to get in shape and get stronger as a whole," said quarterback Zac Lee after the Spring Game. "It's really important. Hopefully everybody just works their butt off and we can get what we can get out of it."

In his post-game press conference, coach Bo Pelini said he's confident that his players know what is expected of them during the summer.

"They know, because we've already been through that," Pelini said. "Coach Dobson helps guide them, and they kind of organize things on their own. There's enough experience there and enough guys that they know exactly what's being asked of them going into fall camp."

Though spring ball presents a good sense of what NU is working with in terms of personnel, there are still several questions that require answers.

The wide receiver position was deep in talent but thin on experience entering the spring. The suspension of expected starter Niles Paul on April 13 following his arrest for a DUI presents more opportunities for younger talent.

Antonio Bell and Chris Brooks stepped up in the Spring Game, and NU will expect incoming junior college receiver Brandon Kinnie to make an immediate contribution in the fall.

There's also the return of redshirt freshman Khiry Cooper, who played baseball this spring and will return to football at the beginning of June.

The situation at linebacker will also continue to develop over the summer and into fall practice. At this point, only Will linebacker Blake Lawrence has come close to securing a starting spot, but he suffered a concussion on April 8 – his third in the last 12 months.
Lawrence is expected to recover in time for fall camp.

Young linebackers Sean Fisher and Will Compton showed promise this spring and will compete for starting spots this summer and fall.

The summer will also be an important time for senior Phillip Dillard, who saw a significant decrease in playing time this spring.

Summer workouts also provide incoming freshmen a chance to get into the weight training program and better prepare to make an impact in their first season.

NU has a number of newcomers who could potentially see playing time, including I-backs Rex Burkhead and Dontrayevous Robinson and defensive end Jason Ankrah.

"You've got some spots where guys aren't experienced, and you've got guys that need to step up, and that's always a concern," Pelini said. "You've got the whole offseason and the whole summer to get that right, plus 29 more practices before you'll suit up for the first time.

"I think we're where we want to be right now, and we've just got to keep it going in that direction."

maxolson@dailynebraskan.com