New Nebraska coach seeks more physical team

LINCOLN, Neb. — Scott Frost often harkens to his playing days in the 1990s when the Tom Osbornecoached Nebraska teams used brute force to impose their will on overmatched opponents. Three national championships in four years validated that way of doing things.

Upon his return as the new coach, Frost found a team that had gone soft — something apparent to those who watched a 4-8 season in 2017.

Frost’s winter strength and conditioning program was, by all accounts, extremely taxing and went a long way to get the players in better shape.

Now Frost is using spring practice to toughen them up.

“We’re going to try to keep the guys healthy,” he said, “but we need to learn how to be physical.”

Frost said he ramped up the amount of contact in practices during Central Florida’s 13-0 season 2017.

He said that decision was based on advice he received from Osborne last summer.

Across the sport there has been a move toward less contact in practices.

For now, Nebraska is going against the trend.

“It’s definitely why a lot of guys play football,” linebacker Will Honas said. “They love the physical aspect, and it’s good to get the pads popping.”

“It brings the best out of everybody,” running back Greg Bell said.

Frost said he has been impressed with how the players have responded, especially the offensive line.

“I’m seeing them start to get some movement up front and get us some yards coming off the ball,” he said, “and that all comes down to the weight room. It has been that way (traditionally) in Lincoln, Nebraska, for a long time, and we’re going to keep pushing the envelope there.”

Tackling remains a concern for a defense ranked among the worst in the nation last season.

Two years ago, Nebraska paid the Seattle-based company Atavus $100,000 to consult coaches on how to implement rugby-style tackling, an experiment that lasted a year.

Frost did a doubletake when a reporter asked whether he had considered hiring a consultant.

“Tackling consultant? Hey, they pay us good money to coach,” he said. “If we don’t know what we’re doing, then they probably need a different coach.”