Nebraska’s Nelson, Barney will play ‘as much as they handle’

The freshmen wide receivers have made a big impact on the Nebraska offense thus far, and according to offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield, they’re just getting started.

“We’re going to give them as much as they can handle,” Satterfield said of Barney and Nelson. “With young guys, you don’t want to bog them down; we don’t want Jacory who’s extremely fast to be a second slower because he’s thinking about a million different things.”

Barney has been a key starting wide receiver for Nebraska, hauling in 10 catches over the first three games, while Nelson’s expanded role against Northern Iowa came after he sat out the Colorado game on offense. The freshmen aren’t ready for every situation and play call just yet, but they’re getting there.

“We’re trying to make sure they get in on plays and it’s not just getting the ball,” Satterfield said. “It’s getting in and playing football, playing receiver and blocking on the perimeter, things of that nature.”

* The Nebraska defense was unhappy about allowing a long scoring drive to Northern Iowa last Saturday, and defensive coordinator Tony White found more teaching moments on film.

Nebraska’s tackling needed improvement, as did the Huskers’ ability to wrap up at first impact and prevent yards after contact.

“When you go back and look at the tape, you see us making contact or stopping the ball carriers around the line of scrimmage a lot,” White said. “But then they’re just falling forward, we’re overrunning the ball and now a run that goes for one yard is going for four or five.”

With its run-heavy gameplan, Northern Iowa offered a similar look to what Nebraska may face against Big Ten foes in the coming weeks. According to White, that meant NU coaches could evaluate how opposing offenses try to attack them.

“The style of play (was) very similar to what we’re going to see especially in the next couple of weeks, so it was great to get it on the grass and have the guys go through that different kind of adversity,” White said.

* Linebacker Stefon Thompson, an offseason transfer addition from Syracuse, started his first game in a Nebraska uniform in place of the suspended Mikai Gbayor last Saturday.

Thompson played well, White said, but will have to keep working to earn similar playing time moving forward.

“It was good to see him (come back) from his injury, work himself into good shape and learn the Nebraska way that we do things,” White said.