Camp chatter: Nebraska running backs battle linebackers in pass pro drill; specialists impress

“If both feet are in the air, you’re dead!” Barthel shouted as a back went through a drill that had him stepping over two football pads at full speed, going through a car-wash-style set of plastic talons designed to simulate contact and, at the end, fighting off a staff member’s padded arm. Barthel had the back do the rep again.

Many of NU’s backs — though not starter Emmett Johnson — had to go back and do it again.

The Huskers know what they have in Johnson — the junior possesses, as coach Matt Rhule said Saturday, “pelts on the wall” — so they’re working furiously to develop Johnson’s backups, Mekhi Nelson, Isaiah Mozee and Kwinten Ives, who donned a yellow jersey after recovering from a hamstring injury. Ives tried to take a rep through the car wash, and Barthel said no.

The drill lasted a few minutes before the main attraction, something important enough that offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen wanted to watch.

“This is the real (stuff),” Holgorsen said to Johnson as they walked over to the field encircled by the Osborne Legacy Complex. “Pass pro.”  

Again, Johnson has mostly earned the coaches’ trust in this area. Barthel wants his backs to pick up a blitzing linebackers without overcommitting themselves or simply catching the defender coming at them.

“Front foot forward, great base, back foot (anchored),” Barthel said to Mozee, clearly still learning the physical and technical components needed to do the job. Barthel was tough on Nelson, too, who seemed banged up for a moment before jumping back in the drills when Barthel wondered if he was going to take a rep.

Nelson’s first rep didn’t go well. Barthel wasn’t pleased and Nelson walked away in frustration. He came back with a solid rep after that.

“Much better!” Barthel said.

NU’s linebackers, as one might expect, got the better of most reps, although Conor Booth stoned walk-on linebacker Derek Wacker. Husker linebacker Jacob Bower put a mean spin move on one of the NU running backs, while Vincent Shavers, compact and powerful, lifted multiple backs toward Barthel, who was playing quarterback. Barthel tried using hard counts to test his backs. More than once, they flinched for what would be a false start penalty.

It's an athletically impressive group, though. Mozee is a taller back, closer in height and weight to what Gabe Ervin was when he arrived at NU, before putting on arguably unnecessary weight. Nelson is leaner but likely weighing north of 200. Ives, out of practice, has lost a pound or two. He’s playing catchup. Kenneth Williams is solid in drills and may be NU’s No. 4.

Barthel has the group working hard, seeking the best reps for a game just 16 days away.

“Pro rep!”

More sights and sounds from NU's camp: 

SEEN and HEARD: “Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!” yelled Barthel as his players jogged off a grass outdoor field for work on the smaller one with artificial surface. “Gotta hydrate.”

SEEN: Shawn Peed, COO of Sandhills Global, taking in practice wearing an “1890” polo. With him was a group of grade-school guests.

SEEN and HEARD: The onlooking kids, clad in Husker gear, peering across the length of an outdoor field watching the quarterbacks. “There’s Dylan! I see Dylan! He’s the tallest!” one told his friend, pointing to Dylan Raiola. “He looks so much like Patrick Mahomes,” the friend replied.

SEEN: Kickers Kyle Cunanan, Tristan Alvano and John Hohl all attempting field goals on one half of the indoor field. All continued to put the ball between the uprights with regularity from as far out as 46 yards during the open session. Long snappers Kevin Gallic and Aidan Flege along with holder/punter Kamdyn Koch were also working in the area.

SEEN: The offensive line working in its standard spot on the south end of the indoor field. As contact has ramped up during camp, so have the collisions between linemen at one of Nebraska’s deepest positions. Senior Turner Corcoran wasn’t seen during the open portion of practice but the group otherwise appeared full go, with no yellow or green jerseys around.

SEEN: Fewer yellow injury jerseys around the practice field than in recent weeks. Linebackers Roger Gradney and Pierce Mooberry rode on stationary bikes while running back Kwinten Ives (hamstring) took part in some individual work. Freshman receiver Jackson Carpenter also moved around in a yellow top.

HEARD: The hollow thud of the football springing off of Kyle Cunanan’s right foot from the center of the 25-yard line. The sound bounced off the metal walls of the sparsely populated indoor practice field as most of the action unfolded outside. At the same time, John Hohl and Tristan Alvano stood at the five-yard line, kicking off tees without taking steps toward the ball. Only a swing of the leg sent the footballs through the suspended uprights 15 yards away.

Punters Archie Wilson and Kamdyn Koch walked horizontally across the field, splitting the red N on the 50-yard line as they practiced punt operations. One walked backward and spun the ball toward the other, simulating a long snap. The receiver of the snap found the laces of the ball, and dropped it at his foot, stopping short of actually punting. When Wilson and Koch reached the sideline, they switched roles and worked their way back the opposite direction. Moving west to east, the ambipedal Wilson dropped the ball at his left foot.

SEEN: The short, choppy steps of receivers around cones as assistant wideouts coach Andrew Verboys ran a drill. Daikiel Shorts observed from a few feet away, occasionally stepping in to give specific instruction.

The circular cones were arranged to form a trapezoid. One at a time — Dane Key was first in line — receivers ran with unnatural steps and high knees diagonally between cones. When they got to a cone, they lowered their center of gravity and shortened their steps as they rounded it. Verboys called out instructions as the players cycled through.

“Toes up.”

“Drop it off a cliff.”

After each receiver had gone through the cycle, another round of the drill began with a new wrinkle. As players rounded the cones, Verboys flipped a tennis ball toward them, forcing them to keep their eyes up as they completed the drill in the opposite direction from where they started.