Scott Frost says addition of assistants Matt Lubick and Mike Dawson will help Huskers get better – Omaha World-Herald

LINCOLN On a signing day when Nebraska inked no more scholarship players, coach Scott Frost focused on a pair of recent additions that he believes will make a quick impact his new assistant coaches.

Of course, Frost said during a nine-minute radio interview on Sports Nightly, part of the reason for the fast start of offensive coordinator/receivers coach Matt Lubick and outside linebackers coach Mike Dawson is their familiarity with what Nebraska wants to do.

Both coaches take over in spots that Frost said he considered NUs biggest offseason priorities. The team needed to add offensive weapons at the skill positions and find edge defenders to rush the passer.

Dawson, who was on Frosts staff from 2016-18 as defensive line coach and spent last season with the NFLs New York Giants, will coach the outside linebackers.

We needed to be better at outside linebacker, Frost said. Quite a few of the big plays we gave up last year because we werent in the right places or creating the plays at that spot, I feel great about the guys we have at that position right now. I think having Daws working with those guys will make us better.

With Lubick, Frost said his friend and former colleague at Oregon already knows most of the offense that Nebraska wants to run. Lubick is helping NU become a little bit more organized and a little bit more efficient, Frost said, which can make a difference considering all of the Huskers close games last season. He will probably communicate better on game day and be an asset to quarterback Adrian Martinez and the entire Husker attack.

Hes going to get our guys blocking better, running better routes, I think being more disciplined, Frost said. And hes certainly going to have more talent to work with now with the guys that we brought in.

That includes junior college transfer Omar Manning and Bellevue West product Zavier Betts, both of whom Frost said have NFL bodies. Frost said Betts still has academic work to finish but will be an impact piece moving forward.

I think one of the big things we were missing last year were playmakers on the perimeter, Frost said. With our offense, thats a necessity to make it go the way that we want it to. Its great when, in our opinion, one of the best guys that I saw all year at that position was right down the road from us.

Other quick hits from the interview:

The running back room is relatively thin, Frost said, but the incoming 2020 talent should help behind returning starter Dedrick Mills and redshirt freshman Rahmir Johnson. That includes rushers Sevion Morrison and Marvin Scott, but also receiver/running back types including Will Nixon and Alante Brown. Sophomore WanDale Robinson also showed he could handle carries.

On quarterback signee Logan Smothers: I think were going to get him in here and turn him into a fabulous player.

Frost said hes seen the camaraderie and leadership that Nebraska coaches have been seeking in the weight room during player conditioning. Finally feel like the pervading attitude on our team is what we want, Frost said.

In securing consecutive top 25 recruiting classes without qualifying for a bowl, Frost credited fan support for making an enormous difference. It should improve even more when the talent translates to the field, he said.

We dont want to be about winning signing day, Frost said. We want to be about winning games. Were starting to get the right type of players in the program that hopefully will be able to do that.

On beginning spring practices next month: I hope the teams as anxious as I am, and I think they are.

Frost said Nebraska will continue to look at the transfer portal for a player or two, but wants to avoid building a team that way.

Regarding the one-time transfer rule proposed by the Big Ten, Frost said he sees it as an attempt to start a dialogue for such change across all sports. But, he added, the goal should be to preserve the dynamics of college sports and amateurism.

Sooner or later were going to have to make those decisions, Frost said.

Signee Spotlights: Learn more about each member of the Huskers' 2020 recruiting class

Perhaps 25 years ago, Alante Brown is an option quarterback. Today, hes running option routes in a spread offense. Brown didnt get much hype in the cycle, but he could be a signing day steal. Click here to read more.

Alex Conn is a strong guy who can maul and throw smaller defensive linemen, and he has learned how to play the game at a high level. Click here to read more.

Blaise Gunnerson could do a lot of things at Nebraska.The physical tools size, speed, quickness, natural strength are all there. Click here to read more.

Eteva Mauga-Clements fits Nebraskas no fear of failure mantra quite well. He plays at full speed, takes aggressive angles and this is important has the speed to make up ground on quarterbacks or running backs who bounce a play outside. Click here to read more.

Henry Gray comes to Nebraska a seasoned defensive back. Multi-year starter potential with Gray, with a chance to play early on special teams. Click here to read more.

Jaiden Francois comes up and hits people, he has ball skills like a receiver, and he can help almost immediately on special teams. NUs secondary is stuffed with talent now, and Francois is part of it. Click here to read more.

Jimari Butler's first step and big frame make him a project worth undertaking. When raw-but-talented players from the Southeast figure things out, the results can be difference-making for a defense. Click here to read more.

The Huskers defensive coaches clearly wanted immediate help along the defensive line, and they'll get that with Jordon Riley. He certainly looks the part. Click here to read more.

An 11th-hour add the caliber of Keyshawn Greene is a major boost to a linebacker corps that continues to be remade under coach Scott Frost. Click here to read more.

Nebraska got everything it could ask for in Logan Smothers. He has the physical traits an accurate arm, toughness to absorb big hits and is elusive and explosive as a runner. He's also a coach's son with good grades and leadership qualities. Click here to read more.

Marcus Fleming hits the highest gear really, really quickly and can extend that speed for the duration of a route. He seems to understand that speed is his primary asset, too, because he doesnt spend much time getting fancy after the catch. Click here to read more.

The intangibles are there for Black. He's the longtime vocal leader of a dominant defense. That pairs well with an explosiveness off the line and a versatility that has Nebraska projecting him as a three-down player anywhere across its three-man front. Click here to read more.

Freshman running backs emerge annually on the college scene, and Marvin Scott could be the next one at a position where Nebraska has been craving depth. He's already more physically developed than many of his peers. Click here to read more.

Nash Hutmachers skills as a wrestler will come in handy as a Husker. The sport teaches leverage and positioning, and if Hutmacher hangs in there at nose tackle, hell need that and another thing brute strength. Hutmacher has that, too. Click here to read more.

Niko Cooper will be given a chance to play early and may fit next season into a rotational situation. Click here to read more.

Omar Manning represents one of the most important commits of the Scott Frost era, a sorely-needed, big-bodied wideout who can run go and post routes, commanding doubles and catching the ball over them anyway. Click here to read more.

Pheldarius Payne is a keeper, a quick-twitch, smart defensive lineman who gets into the opposing backfield with intention and haste. He tackles to inflict pain, has quick feet and runs through contact instead of getting grabby with his arms. Click here to read more.

If theres one thing Nebraska needs, it's depth, and depth at safety can go a long way. Ronald Delancy, who fell in love with Nebraska after a visit in the fall, can provide depth right away. Click here to read more.

Sevion Morrison is a big-play back, a long-striding, pretty runner who can go cross country or hit the alley outside the numbers and take it to the house. Click here to read more.

A corner/safety hybrid whos good in press coverage and equally good at getting off receiver blocks to make tackles in the run game. Tamon Lynum is a good tackler, too. Click here to read more.

The barrel-chested Kansan has the strength and agility to thrive in a fast-paced scheme, andhe already has the frame and physical mindset of a quality "Pipeline" producer. Click here to read more.

William Nixon grew up around the game during his father's coaching stops in the NFL. That experience should help him quickly at Nebraska. Click here to read more.

In Zavier Betts, Nebraska will have on day one a receiver who can run those deep go and post routes with long strides and seemingly minimal effort. He couldbe the most naturally gifted receiver Nebraska has had in many, many years. Click here to read more.

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Scott Frost says addition of assistants Matt Lubick and Mike Dawson will help Huskers get better - Omaha World-Herald