Will Dillard get back in the coaches good graces?

Much of the focus around the 2009 Nebraska football team’s linebacker position centers on the younger players.

Remember how Bo Pelini avoided burning redshirts despite being thin at the position? Even when it was enormously tempting. Among those redshirt freshmen looking to make an impact in 2009 are Sean Fisher, Micah Kreikemeier, Alonzo Whaley, and Will Compton.

There are also young players like sophomores Matt Holt and Matthew May that shined when given the chance. Junior Blake Lawrence also gained valuable experience. Senior Colton Koehler also made an impact.

The big question is will senior Phillip Dillard get out of the doghouse? Dillard came to Nebraska as one of Bill Callahan’s prized recruits from 2005 class. He saw sporadic action as a true freshman. Dillard gained a redshirt year in 2006 based on sustaining a season-ending injury in 2006. Dillard split time at middle linebacker with Corey McKeon in 2007 but got in with the good graces of Bo Pelini’s staff by losing 40 pounds. Dillard, however, missed the last four games of the regular season and played sparingly in the Gator Bowl.

It was generally assumed by many Husker fans that Dillard would be a starter (or at least in contention for a starting job) when healthy and emerge as a leader. In spring practice, however, Dillard slipped “down there” on the depth chart. Neither Pelini or linebackers coach Mike Ekeler specified how far “down there.” As for why Dillard fell on the depth chart, Ekeler said: “There's some things that we ask. I'll just leave it at that.”

The question I have is not necessarily will Dillard get back in the starting lineup but will he get back in the good graces of the coaching staff?

By all indications, Dillard seems like a good kid.

From what we as Husker fans have grown to know about Pelini, and Ekeler too, is that if Dillard keeps his nose clean and works hard he will be given every opportunity to compete for a starting job. He has the talent to play and be a key contributor this season. The question becomes will he take the coaches challenge as a rallying point or will he have issues? Either way, it’ll say quite a bit about him.

You can make the argument that for all the good things they did individually, the defense actually played better after Dillard’s injury and Cody Glenn’s suspension. Dillard could still have a nice season, but he's going to have to work his tail off to do so.

Even if he does get back in the rotation I feel his snaps could be limited. Keep in mind, with so many teams in the Big 12 (college football for that matter) running some form of The spread offense, the MIKE linebacker is not on the field as much.

Perhaps the expectations have been raised going into his senior year and this is a challenge. The expectations perhaps include assuming more of a leadership role as a senior, in practice and all during the offseason.Certainly a move like this at the time it was made (during the spring) gives time for Dillard to show the coaching staff exactly where his head and heart are.

The coaches have sent the message. We should find out real soon the effect of the message.