DL Thad Randle 6-0½ 270

We aren’t able to watch much of fall practices at Nebraska, but we attended drills on a daily basis, and found ourselves watching mostly the defense line. As it turned out, it made sense - NU’s front four was a picture of teamwork, toughness and playmaking ability.

In watching Randle, a redshirt freshman, we saw a kid who took to coaching, had a terrific first step and stayed low through the chute and contact. Randle is a small defensive tackle; there’s no way around that. But he uses his hands and he could be a tough assignment in spot situations for offensive lineman. Whether Randle lines up inside at the nose, or finds himself at end on rush down situations, watch for defensive coordinator Carl Pelini, who said he had a hard time redshirting Randle, to use the Texas native as a big-play weapon.

As Randle gets more time in the program and perfects technique, he could be an every-down lineman. For now, he’s a change of pace whom we suspect may have a big spring game on the second or third teams. Needs: More experience and the chance to make big plays.

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Communication and execution improved in Wednesday’s practice for the Nebraska football team, defensive coordinator Carl Pelini told reporters after the Huskers’ roughly two-hour workout on the grass fields north of Memorial Stadium.

“Really good day,” Pelini said. “Both sides of the football. The whole staff is happy right now.”

NU’s defense turned the corner on its mental execution at just the right time. The Huskers will trot out two redshirt freshmen – Sean Fisher and Will Compton – and a sophomore – Mathew May – as its starting linebacker trio for Saturday’s season-opener vs. Florida Atlantic, which runs a complex, pro-style offense.

Fisher, Compton and May are about as green as linebackers could be.

“Anytime you’ve got young guys out there, there’s a little bit of anxiety on their part and the coaches’ part,” Pelini said. “But we talked to our guys going in. Communication has to be better. Our leaders who have played before – the safeties, the d-line, the corners – they’ve got to be talking back and forth with those guys. That’s what we saw today, and that’s what pleased us.”

The middle of the field should be a busy spot for Florida Atlantic’s offense. The Owls like to send wide-body tight ends down the seams, and receivers on short crossing routes. Both are prime responsibilities of the linebackers and safeties.

Pelini is aware of FAU’s advance strategy. NU has an effective weapon, of sorts, in combating it.

“They’ve got really athletic tight ends that get down the field in a hurry,” Pelini said. “The good thing for us? So do we. So we’ve been facing that all camp, the dilemma Mike McNeill, Ben Cotton and those guys give us every day. That’s nothing new for us. I think our linebackers are used to facing athletic tight ends.”

A handful of true freshmen could see the field Saturday for the Huskers. BUCK linebacker Eric Martin is the most likely candidate, but defensive back Andrew Green, defensive end Jason Ankrah and defensive tackle Thad Randle might play as well. Randle, an undersized spark plug from the Houston area, hasn’t been mentioned much in camp, but could factor into a pass rushing package for NU.

“He’s got a knack for it,” Pelini said. “He’s got fast feet and great speed off the ball and those are what you look for. The other things you can teach.”

NU will have a shortened practice Thursday and a walkthrough Friday.

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