[rl]Nebraska began its fall practice session Tuesday morning, the first of 28 practices the Huskers will have over the next 45 days until the Red-White series Oct. 13-15. Darin Erstad met with the media Tuesday afternoon to discuss what's in store over the next month and a half.

***Erstad said he's going to be much more involved in coaching the offense this year to allow Mike Kirby to handle his third-base duties more easily.

"I'm going to take over calling the plays offensively," Erstad said. "I'm taking over the base-running stuff and I'm going to be a lot more active in the hitting side of things. I want to make sure some things are cleaned up.

"It's putting people in position to succeed. Coach Kirby at third base, he needs to be able to see what's going on on the field. He needs to see where base runners are or what a catcher is doing or what a pitcher is doing instead of worrying about what he's going to call next. I just want him locked in on that position and excel at that... Just to free up some of his time, I can fill in some of those spots and bring some things to the table."

***Erstad said Colton Howell, previously used as a reliever, will be transitioned into a starting role.

"We can always go back and make him a reliever if that's what it is," Erstad said. "But we see his secondary pitches starting to come and we see him as a weekend type of arm."

***Erstad confirmed that pitcher/first baseman Austin Christensen and shortstop Wes Edrington have left the team, each to focus on schoolwork.

"There is a point in everyone's life where baseball is not as important, where you need to move on," Erstad said. "Austin felt like he hit that point, so he's going to get his teaching degree closer to home in Iowa. Wes Edrington, similar type of thing - he's so big in the community and giving back, and with his major being a challenging one, he wanted to focus on that part of his life."

***Utility player Matt Leuty, catcher Nathan Chunn and outfielder Nik Miroshnichenko left the team searching for more playing time.

***The Huskers practiced at 5:45 Tuesday morning and will continue to do so all week. With the Lincoln Saltdogs still in town, Nebraska has to share Hawks Field. The Huskers will also use the indoor facilities.

***Erstad confirmed that pitcher Jake Hohensee underwent Tommy John surgery and is out for the year. Jake McSteen missed nearly the entire 2015 campaign with a shoulder injury but is in a throwing program now.

***Jesse Wilkening, Taylor Fish, Brady Childs and Ben Klenke are competing for the catching job.

"Taylor obviously has a leg up because he's been here for what seems like six years," Erstad said. "He understands coach Silva's signs, the tempo of how to get signs in, how to handle our pitchers."

***Erstad named Jake Placzek, Scott Schreiber, Alex Henwood, Angelo Altavilla, Cole Klemke and Luis Alvarado as players who could factor in at third base.

***Erstad said he thought Ryan Boldt played well in his summer season and displayed some of the best defense in the country. The homers weren't a big part of his game yet again, but Erstad believes that will change.

"The power numbers weren't there yet, but it's in there," Erstad said. "It's going to come. When it comes, I don't know. But Ryan is healthy and he's going to be just fine."

***Pitchers Max Knutson, Reece Eddins, Garett King, Nate Fisher and Jake Meyers will all be limited in their throwing after their summer seasons.

***Erstad said the Huskers' numbers from summer leagues "weren't as positive as you'd like to see." There were bright spots, but Erstad said the team has to get a lot better.

***With 15 new players this year, there will be no costume game during the Red-White series like Nebraska had last year. Erstad considers each practice too important.

Click Here to view this Link.