Whipple Discusses Offense’s Spring Progress

Tight ends enjoy being more of a first option in the passing game

Joe Hudson | Mar 30, 2022

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Even though he's the offensive coordinator, Mark Whipple says it's probably a good thing that his unit hasn't consistently held the upper hand during spring ball.

"We've had good battles with the defense," Whipple said after Wednesday's Nebraska football practice, the 11th of spring. "What I've always learned in spring practice is if one side is dominating the other, you probably don't have a good team. But I believe we have a good team because the defense has made plays and the offense has bounced back and handled adversity."

As for the quarterbacks, "they are taking care of the ball better which I thought we were a little loose with the ball earlier," Whipple said. "...Casey [Thompson] has done well. Logan [Smothers] has done well. Chubba [Purdy] has been working a little bit more, so it has been good to see him."

Assistant coach Sean Beckton said his tight ends, though thinned by injuries, are "really excited about being more of a first option" in the passing game.

"We’ve always been third or fourth. Now we've got multiple plays where we're the first option," Beckton said. "So the kids are really excited about that, in particular Travis Vokolek. We want him to have a big year this year. We’re really doing a good job working on the top of his routes, so he can improve his pass skills."

Much more from coaches and players during Wednesday's post-practice media availability is in the links below. Refresh this page for the latest updates. Go here for the HuskerMax discussion. Asterisk indicates item may require a subscription.

Coverage

Husker247

Other non-subscription sources

HuskerOnline | Healthy again, Martin ready to make his mark on NU's offense
HuskerOnline | Thinning NU tight end room helping young players get more reps, confidence
Daily Nebraskan | Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple sees progress during spring practice
Nebraska Athletics | Whipple Discusses Progress In Offensive Position Groups
Nebraska Athletics | Wednesday practice photo gallery

Hail Varsity*

Lincoln Journal Star*

Omaha World-Herald*

Video

Video recaps

Hail Varsity video | Sorensen & Smith
Lincoln Journal Star video | Sipple & Gabriel
Omaha World-Herald | McKewon & Shatel

Photo gallery

Mark Whipple and Scott Frost with quarterback spring practice 2022.03.30 2794 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Coaches Scott Frost and Mark Whipple

Anthony Grant running back spring practice 2022.03.30 3058 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Running back Anthony Grant

Offensive line Henry Lutovsky and Ian Boerkircher and Kevin Williams Jr. and Ezra Miller spring practice 2022.03.30 2901 — Nebraska Athletics photo

O-linemen Henry Lutovsky, Ian Boerkircher, Kevin Williams Jr. and Ezra Miller

Mark Whipple spring practice 2022.03.30 3265 — Photo by Scott Bruhn/Nebraska Communications

Coach Mark Whipple

Ernest Hausmann linebacker spring practice 2022.03.30 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Linebacker Ernest Hausmann

Travis Fisher and Omar Brown cornerback spring practice 2022.03.30 3126 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Coach Travis Fisher and defensive back Omar Brown

Bryan Applewhite and Jaquez Yant running back spring practice 2022.03.30 3274 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Coach Bryan Applewhite and running back Jaquez Yant

Logan Smothers and Hunter Anthony spring practice 2022.03.30 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Offensive lineman Hunter Anthony

Omar Brown cornerback spring practice 2022.03.30 2901 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Cornerback Omar Brown

Offensive line

Scott Frost and Bill Busch 2022.03.30 spring practice 1 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Coaches Scott Frost and Bill Busch

Mickey Joseph spring practice 2022.03.30 2718 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Coach Mickey Joseph

Hunter Anthony offensive line spring practice 2022.03.30 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Pass blocking

Mark Whipple and Casey Thompson spring practice 2022.03.30 2748 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Coach Mark Whipple and quarterback Casey Thompson

Brian Buschini punter spring practice 2022.03.30 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Punter Brian Buschini

Kevin Williams offensive lineman spring practice 2022.03.30 3080 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Offensive lineman Kevin Williams Jr.

DeShon Singleton safety spring practice 2022.03.30 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Safety DeShon Singleton

Travis Fisher 2 spring practice 2022.03.30 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Coach Travis Fisher

Mickey Joseph spring practice 2022.03.30 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Coach Mickey Joseph

Tommi Hill cornerback spring practice 2022.03.30 2853 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Cornerback Tommi Hill

Trey Palmer receiver spring practice 2022.03.30 2731 — Nebraska Athletics photo

Receiver Trey Palmer

Receiver Trey Palmer and coach Bill Busch

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Published Mar 30, 2022

JOE HUDSON

Joe Hudson has operated a Husker-related website since 1995 and joined forces with David Max to form HuskerPedia (later renamed HuskerMax) in 1999. It began as a hobby during his 35 years as a newspaper editor and reporter, a career that included stints at the Lincoln Star, Omaha World-Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer and Denver Post. In Denver, Joe was chief of the copy desk during his final 16 years at the Post. He is proud to have been involved in Pulitzer Prize-winning projects in both Philadelphia and Denver. Joe has been a Nebraska football fan since the mid-1960s during his childhood in Omaha. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in journalism and economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1976. He resides a few freeway exits north of Colorado Springs and enjoys bicycling and walking his dogs in his spare time. You can reach him at joeroyhud@outlook.com.

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