Nebraska Football Notebook

Tuesday practice report

LINCOLN  --  With its season opener against Western Michigan only 11 days away, the Nebraska football team continued preparations for its first game in a 2 1/2-hour practice Tuesday afternoon on the grass practice fields.

"We did a little bit of everything," coach Bo Pelini said. "We did some early-down stuff. We finished up the practice with some two-minute work on both sides and put them in a couple of different situations. It was a good practice. We got a lot of work done.

"We keep installing defensively, and we're still putting in a couple new things there, and the same with the offense. Things are going well."

The Huskers continue fall practice Wednesday with another two-a-day session. They are scheduled to practice from 9-11 a.m. and then continue with an afternoon practice.

Update on Blue

Nebraska cornerback Anthony Blues continues rehabilitating his knee injury, but isn't likely to be available for the entire season. That could mean a redshirt season for the sophomore as he's not listed on the Huskers' 105-man roster for preseason practices and couldn't start working out with the team until Monday at the earliest.

"You don't want to rush him back," Pelini said of Blue. "Who knows? He's missed a lot of football and, as time goes by, it becomes increasingly apparent that it's probably better to let him rest and get his feet back underneath him  --  for us and for him."

Pelini said Blue has made progress in the past few weeks and has gotten "over that hump."

"When he's going to be 100 percent, I don't know," Pelini said. "I don't think we'll have him for the year, but I think he's going to make it back to 100 percent.

"For a while, that was a little bit questionable. He's doing well now."

Still up for grabs

Pelini said that the battle for several starting positions continues even as fall camp has moved into its third week.

"There are a lot of positions up for grabs," Pelini said. "We want to play a lot of guys, too. We're developing our depth. We're going to rotate our guys. Nothing's really solidified yet.

"I can tell you that Joe Ganz is going to be our quarterback  --  I can tell you that."

Pelini added that Lydon Murtha will probably be a starting tackle, but said that's about it for no-brainers.

"Some of them are more set than others," Pelini said. "But there's still some good competition going on."

Captains and Blackshirts

Pelini said that he hasn't handed out Blackshirts yet and that he doesn't have a specific timeline on that. He also addressed the issue of team captains.

"That's still up in the air," said Pelini. "Our captains are probably going to be on a game-by-game basis and we'll elect permanent captains at the end of the year."

Pelini then said that's the system he believes in, but added that the matter is not 100 percent settled and that it will be discussed by the team's Unity Council.

Husker huddle

—  Of the four freshmen yet to be cleared to join the team, Pelini said it appears two players have a chance to make it before classes start Monday at UNL. "I'm just waiting for a little bit of information to come to us," Pelini said. "It's pretty complicated on each guy."

—  Pelini said reserve defensive tackle Terrence Moore is out anywhere from 1-2 weeks with a knee injury, making him questionable for the Aug. 30 season opener against Western Michigan. Meanwhile, backup safety Major Culbert is day-to-day with a high-angle sprain.

—  Pelini said co-No. 1 running back Roy Helu continued practicing in a green jersey Tuesday, but appears to be improving. "We should have had him out of it today," Pelini said. "He has a sore shoulder. I talked to him out there today and he's feeling a lot better."

—  Asked about the talented crop of quarterbacks in the Big 12, Pelini said he's especially been impressed by Sam Bradford of Oklahoma and Chase Daniel of Missouri, but also said he hasn't seen everyone. Added Pelini: "I can tell you I'd take our guy. He's my favorite."



 -- Staff and wire reports