LINCOLN – The Nebraska football team passed the midpoint of 2006 spring drills Monday with a two-hour practice in half pads inside the Hawks Championships Center. The workout was the eight of 15 practices leading up to the April 15 Red-White Spring Game.

Following the end of practice, Defensive Coordinator Kevin Cosgrove addressed the media, which had a variety of questions regarding an NU defense looking to replace four starters.

"I think we have guys who can make plays," Cosgrove said. "We’re flying to the ball. I see improvement in some of the younger guys who haven’t been on the field as much as the starters. I just like the attitude and the way we’re going about business."

While the Huskers lost plenty of experience at defensive tackle to graduation in three-year starter Le Kevin Smith and two-year starter Titus Adams, seniors Barry Cryer and Ola Dagunduro should step up in 2006 after receiving ample playing time last season.

"We should be strong up front," Cosgrove said. "We have a lot of returning starters back. We lose our two inside guys, but Barry (Cryer) and Ola (Dagunduro) have played a lot of football. Barry has made a lot of strides in the off-season. He’s gotten stronger, and he’s playing at a different level right now. I’m really impressed with those two inside guys.

The safety position is another area that Cosgrove singled out as showing marked improvement, as senior Andrew Shanle and junior Tierre Green look to replace former Huskers Blake Tiedtke and Daniel Bullocks.

"I’m also impressed with (Andrew) Shanle and Tierre (Green) are doing a lot of good things. They’re getting downhill faster and getting solid coverage. We’re still working hard to get them better, but I see the safeties improving. For having two new guys back there, if they keep coming around, I’ll be very happy."

Nebraska takes Tuesday off before returning to the practice field on Wednesday with an afternoon workout.