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Nebraska Football: Nate Gerry Gets Ready To Get Back On The Field

By Oliver Vandervoort

Dec 27, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Nate Gerry (25) looks across the line during the first quarter against the USC Trojans in the 2014 Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Nate Gerry (25) looks across the line during the first quarter against the USC Trojans in the 2014 Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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While some were worried about the way the Nebraska football team looked on defense from time to time against Fresno, those fans are forgetting the Huskers were shorthanded.

The Cornhuskers were down two safeties, thanks to injury and the suspension of Nate Gerry. When the Nebraska football team takes the field on Saturday, Gerry will be leading the defense out there.

That’s certainly a good thing for a defense that will have its hands full with a Wyoming offense that is multi-faceted. For those who are expecting Gerry to be back to full strength and looking like the best defender on the field, lower your expectations.

The Nebraska football coaches have even said Nate Gerry isn’t going to be at full game speed. Defensive coordinator Mark Banker talked to KLKN TV about where the safety is, headed into his first game of the 2016 season.

“I mean, he really isn’t up to game speed at all,” Banker said. “He hasn’t played a (full) game since Rutgers. I mean he will know what to do and how to do it, but we will have to see that. He will have to sharpen up his tools a little bit, but it’s good to have him back.”

The “no full game since Rutgers” comment points to Gerry having been ejected from the Iowa game and the bowl game against UCLA because of the NCAA’s rules on Targeting. Because of those ejections, the Nebraska football team talked a lot over the offseason about changing the way the Huskers tackle.

Still, for the third straight game dating back to last year, a player was ejected (Luke Giffords) from the game for targeting. That’s what Nate Gerry will be coming back to. At the same time, Banker has made it clear the return of the starting safety is going to be a boon for his team.

“It will be good as long as he continues to communicate correctly,” Banker said. “To me, a noisy defense is a very good defense. If your defense can continue to talk and chatter before the play and during the play, you’ve got a chance.”

If Nate Gerry has learned from his experiences last year and from whatever caused his suspension for the first game this year, it could be a special season for him. The Nebraska football team should count itself lucky he has a game to get ready before Oregon comes to town.

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