Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team continued its preparations for the second game of the season versus the McNeese State Cowboys, as the Huskers practiced for just under two hours Tuesday afternoon at the Hawks Championship Center and outside on the Ed and Joyanne Gass practice fields.

Both offensive coordinator Tim Beck and defensive coordinator John Papuchis met with the media following practice.

Papuchis noted that the guys came out strong today during the first full day of preparation for the Cowboys.

“I thought the guys came out with great energy today, it was the first real day of digging into the game plan and I thought it was a pretty good first day.”

According to Papuchis, the defense played well in the season opening 55-7 victory last Saturday against Florida Atlantic, especially how fast the Blackshirts played on the field.

“Best things that stood out to me after the game was I thought we played fast, I thought the effort was good minus a few plays that we pointed out to the guys,” Papuchis said. “I thought we handled our adjustments well, especially things we haven’t seen after that first series was over.”

The first game mistakes did not worry Papuchis, as he pointed it, it was just the first game of a very long season.

“Like any first game that is how it is going to go, we just have to get better.”

As announced Monday during Head Coach Bo Pelini’s weekly press conference, junior preseason all-american candidate Randy Gregory is expected to miss Saturday’s game due to a minor knee injury. Papuchis mentioned that replacing Gregory won’t be an easy feat, but something the Huskers will have to ‘roll with.’

“Obviously Randy is a good player, and replacing him isn’t easy to do but we have a lot of guys that work hard every single day,” he said. “We are just going to roll with that group.”

According to Papuchis, McNeese State has tremendous speed and will likely try to spread the Huskers out on defense.

“We have a lot of respect for this team, their speed coming in. I think they had a well-coached and executing (offensive) line coming in a year ago.”

 The Huskers will be back on the practice fields Wednesday as the Nebraska football continues its preparations for their second home game of the season against McNeese State on Saturday Sept. 6, at 11:00 a.m. (Central). Fans can tune in to National broadcast on ESPNU.