With three days until kickoff of the 2009 football season, the Nebraska football team hit the practice field on Wednesday in preparation for their opener against Florida Atlantic on Saturday.
The Huskers practiced in helmets and shoulder pads for a little over two hours on the Ed and Joyanne Gass practice field northeast of Memorial Stadium. Defensive coordinator Carl Pelini addressed the media following Wednesday's workout.
"It was a good day, both sides of the ball" Pelini said. "The communication is getting better. I think a little bit of excitement on the field today. I think everybody is getting ready to play a football game now."
After close to a month of practice under their belt, the Huskers are looking forward to playing against somebody but themselves on Saturday, and that was evident in Wednesday's practice according to Pelini.
"Wednesday of the first game you start to feel like camp is over and you're finally getting into it," Pelini said. "There was a little more bounce in their step today. We had a really good day. Both sides of the football, I think the whole staff is real happy right now."
At the linebacker spot, Sean Fisher, Will Compton, and Blake Lawerece or Mat May are slated to be starting linebackers with the Husker defense takes the field for the first time according to Pelini.
"I think Will Compton at the MIKE. Fish (Sean Fisher) at the BUCK and you will both (Mat) May and Blake Lawerence at the WILL," Pelini said. "That's kind of how the game is going to start, but you'll see some other faces out there. You might see Colton Koehler and Phil (Dillard) at the MIKE and you'll probably see a little bit of Eric Martin at the BUCK."
One of the main focuses for the linebackers on Saturday will be covering FAU's talented tight end corps.
"They've got really athletic tight ends and can get down the field in a hurry," Pelini said. "The good thing for us is so do we. We've been facing that all camp. That's a dilemma that Mike McNeill and Ben Cotton and those guys give us everyday. That's nothing new to us and I think our linebackers are used to facing athletic tight ends right now. They can run and they can catch the ball. They'll get deep in a hurry so you have to be ready for that."
The Huskers will return to the practice field Thursday afternoon. Check back to Huskers.com for more updates on the Husker football team. Kickoff for Saturday's game is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
