Huskers' Suh fresh for fall practice

As it turns out, missing spring practice wasn't all bad. In a sense, it was a "luxury," according to Ndamukong Suh, who was sidelined following knee surgery.

When the Nebraska football team put on pads for the first time during fall camp earlier this month, he was eager to go. "I hadn't been in pads for eight months," he said.

The junior defensive tackle would have preferred to practice in the spring, of course, particularly with a new coaching staff and new defensive philosophy. But at least he was fresh this fall. And he did what he could to stay involved in the spring, including standing alongside Carl Pelini as much as possible.

Pelini is Suh's position coach as well as the new defensive coordinator.

During fall camp, "I really haven't had any trouble with my knee," said Suh. "And I think I've picked up the defense quite well. I did get a lot of mental reps going through spring ball."

During the spring, he would stand near Pelini, envisioning what he was supposed to do.

"I wasn't focused on every single play. That's just human nature," Suh said. "But I would say at least 90 percent of the plays I'm going through and saying in my head, since I know the call, ’Oh, Stein (Ty Steinkuhler) has to do this move; he has to do that.' That's just the way I went about it.

"Now that I'm out here, I'm doing the same thing. I get the play-call in the huddle. I run through it in my mind real quick once I know which side of the ball I'm on, and then I just have to execute it."

The defense has changed under Pelini, so what Suh has to execute is often different than what he had to execute last season, when he was credited with 34 tackles. "There are differences, definitely differences," said Suh. Regardless of the differences, however, success begins up front.

Going into preseason practice, Nebraska was experienced there, with the top four tackles returning, flanked by four veteran ends. But Kevin Dixon was dismissed prior to the start of practice, and Steinkuhler has been forced to miss practice time because of back problems, creating uncertainty at the position.

Suh isn't concerned, however. Young players, such as redshirted freshman Jared Crick, have stepped up. "He's always been good, always been athletic, worked hard," Suh said of Crick. "To come up and work with the 1's and go against (Matt) Slauson and (Mike) Huff and actually do some big things and hold his own . . . It's not necessarily a huge surprise, but I like seeing that from him."

Plus, Steinkuhler knows what he's doing, even if his practice has been limited.

"It's just a time thing. He's going to be 100 percent," said Suh.

"He came back the other day and was running through things, talking to me like we always do, just making sure we're both on the same keys, getting done what we need to get done."

Suh can empathize with Steinkuhler, a senior.

"I know what he's going through with his injury because I've had it myself," Suh said.   

Suh made the most of the situation in the spring, staying involved as best he could. Slauson helped him do that. "He was talking trash to me all through spring, ’I'll wait for you in fall camp,' " said Suh. "Now we're going against each other, as well as (against) Huff.

"They're pushing me. And I'm pushing them. That's the way it's supposed to be."

From his point of view, it's all good.



Mike Babcock is a freelance writer who covers Nebraska football.