11:43 a.m.: Pierre Allen has been getting a lot of love from the Nebraska football staff lately, and defensive coordinator Carl Pelini threw a little more his way Friday.
Pelini called the defensive end “a different football player” -- buoyed by some work done on his knee last winter that allowed him to attack his lifting and become more explosive and physical.
And now the senior can play the way he likes to play -- with a fury.
“I like to press his buttons,” Pelini said. “I get him mad and he gets going. Then the defense kind of takes on that nasty attitude that he has.
“Great young man -- he’s a great guy off the field -- but he just plays with a fury. I love seeing that. And hopefully that’s going to become a signature of our defense.”
Pelini touched on a little bit of everything at the Big Red Breakfast. A few other comments of interest:
> Pelini said NU had a more physical and competitive camp than he has ever seen in 20 years of coaching. “We pushed them. I really felt like we pushed them to their limits. And they responded well.”
> Kenny Anderson, a sophomore walk-on from Millard West, has emerged as the fifth defensive end behind Allen, Cameron Meredith, Josh Williams and Jason Ankrah. “We’re very proud of Kenny and how he’s prepared himself. Quite honestly, we throw him in there and there’s not much dropoff. He’s physical enough to handle the run and he does a great job of pass-rushing.”
> On the Wednesday announcement of Big Ten divisions and schedules for 2011 and ’12, and what looks to be a tough first year in the league for the Huskers: “As a coach, you look at that schedule and it excites you just to see the matchups you’re going to have. I love challenges, and that schedule gives you one every week almost.”
> The quarterback mystery survived the last public appearance by an NU coach before Saturday night, even though Pelini told a crowd of almost 300 that he would be glad to talk about offensive matters. “There’s only one question I can’t, and won’t, answer.”
> Pelini said the Huskers’ focus and state of mind are very good heading for the first kickoff. “I think right now there’s just a quiet confidence. There’s not a lot of bragging, there’s not a lot of predictions. Just a quiet confidence.”
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