Callahan Sees Improvement in Huskers

Nebraska Football Weekly Press Conference
Nebraska vs. Texas Tech Game Week
Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2004

Head Coach Bill Callahan
Opening Statement
"As I said after the game on Saturday evening, I was really pleased with the performance of our football team. After I had a chance to watch our film and really dissect all the areas on the team, I really came away encouraged. I see a lot of improvement by a lot of individuals across the board. That’s the main thing ? that you see improvement, that you see physical improvement by position in your offensive and defensive lines. You see that type of physical improvement in the way that you tackle and the way you block downfield. I saw a lot of great things by our players in terms of their effort. That’s why I was extremely pleased by what occurred on Saturday. As you watch film as a coach, you can dissect possibly two or three plays in a game that really could have made a significant difference in the outcome. From an offensive standpoint, we had a couple opportunities that had a chance to just put Kansas away, and we didn’t take advantage of those. But those are some of the things I felt during the course of the game, and obviously at the end of the game. It was validated as I watched the film with our coaches and with the players. But I’m really encouraged. I think this team really works hard. We try to max them out everyday, and if they don’t max out, we continue to repeat things and do things until we get it right. That’s what I’m most proud of in this team ? that they do have that ingredient and that attitude to be good, and to do the right thing, and to obviously to produce. With that said, we’re really encouraged. We’re really challenged by this week’s opponent. We’re looking forward to going back on the road and meeting the challenge that’s ahead of us here in the conference play."

On improvement in the offense:
"In the offensive line, I see our offensive linemen taking the proper footwork, executing the proper techniques, finishing plays, getting their landmarks where they should be. I see a rhythm there in our running game that’s really been improved. I’d like to see that continue as we move forward because it will be important down the stretch. I see our running game and the timing in our running game get better. I’m really pleased with that. The other area is pass protection. For a bunch of guys we’ve taken and molded, I think those guys have done as fine a job as I’ve ever been under in terms of transition. To pass block and to do the things that they did the other night, and to give up the amount of sacks that we’ve given up, I think it’s a credit to them. Now we’ve still got to get better, but I see a significant improvement in our ability to pass protect. If we’re going to continue to throw the football, that’s vital. It all starts up front, and I think our guys have done a very good job in that capacity. I look at our downfield blocking ? that’s improving. I look at our ability to cover kicks. I look at our defense; our tackling is getting better. All those types of things ? the little things that you don’t see as a fan because you’re looking at the point of attack ? but the things that you see on the backside of a particular play. To the common fan, it doesn’t mean anything because you’re watching the ball carrier at the point of attack, but those backside blocks are important. The downfield blocks are key. The little things like faking and things of that nature ? those things stand out."

On individual improvements affecting the whole effort:
"We’re climbing. I see that challenge ahead of us getting tougher and our guys accepting the challenge. But if we continue to climb that mountain, and we’re getting better, and if it all culminates like I said, I really felt that the other night, we were on the verge of exploding. I really did, and I know our team did. As you watch the film, and you go through it, and you talk about the plays that were out there. Obviously I’ve got to do a better job, and we’ve all got to do a better job as a staff in fixing some of the things that we’re doing. But overall, I thought it was really good. We’re just two or three plays away, I’m telling you, from being pretty good the other night. Again, we’ll see, we’ll see what happens this weekend. We’ve got a great challenge and a good team. We’re a good football team. They’re a good football team. This should be a heck of a game."

On being ?two or three plays away’:
"Football comes down to two, three, four plays a game. We convey that to our players constantly. You don’t know what play is going to make the difference in a particular game. You don’t know. It may be a short-yardage play that explodes for a touchdown. It may be a third-and-long, it may be a normal down. You don’t know. You’ve always got to be ready. That’s why we always emphasize and put such a premium on finishing plays and going as hard as you can in terms of your tempo because you don’t know what’s going to happen. But if you get everybody on the same page with the same type of attitude and effort, great things are going to happen. That’s what I’m encouraged about. These guys work hard, and you can see the improvement. I know it’s not reflective in the points or in the overall production in the numbers game, but I can’t tell you exactly when that’s going to happen. I sure see the strides individually. Collectively we have to get better."

On the stability of the running game:
"That’s one facet of our play that I think is encouraging as well. I look at our line blocking and some of the plays we produced the other night, and they were excellent. We broke out a few long runs. Our blocking is getting better. We’re doing some different things in terms of our gap schemes. We ran the power the other night, I thought, pretty well, and our zone game continues to get better. So from that aspect, it’s a continuation. You want to have a good mix of your run and your pass. We’re going to continue to run the football. We want balance. We’re trying to achieve balance, and we’re going to continue to work in that regard."

On improvements at the quarterback position:
"I think this is a guy (Joe Dailey) who has really, really tried extremely hard and worked hard at all the little nuances of the game. He’s young. He’s a young guy, and he continues to develop like all of our young arms. All those young arms we have right now are continuing to develop. It’s our job to continue that development in every one of those players. Joe has come a long way since the first time we put a ball in his hands in the spring. Some of the throws he had the other night ? some of the quick-outs, some of the screen passes, the timing ? those were things he has never done before. I know what I see, and I see him improving on some of those small things."

On the development of ?young arms’:
"I think there’s constant competition, and that’s weekly, and it’s reoccurring. And I think for the players’ sake, we’re going to look at all those guys. You put a guy in a slot, and what does it mean? It means they’re still getting reps. Ryan Goodman is getting a lot of repetition. Beau Davis is getting repetition. We’re hoping that Jordan Adams, as he progresses, can add into that mix. Those guys we have, the young players, will continue to develop. We work hard in the post-practice to work on the nuances of their game, so that’s something that’s constant. We’re going to do what’s best for those guys in terms of their development and what’s best for our team."

On Jordan Adams:
"We really felt encouraged by his coming back on the field, and we felt encouraged by what we saw. He’s just taking a little bit more time, but with that surgery, it’s tough to come back. It’s admirable that he’s on the field as it is and doing what he’s done so far. He’s got a long way to go yet, and I’m hopeful that he can regain that strength and stamina to the point where he can get back into the mix."

On the Texas Tech offense:
"It’s a very unique and unconventional type of system. They have an unwavering commitment to what they do. They throw it, and they throw it again, and then they throw it some more, and then they’re going to throw more on top of that. That’s just a philosophical approach that they’re comfortable with. They’ve got a lot of confidence in the players and the system that they have there. Those players have been in that system now for five years, and it’s reflected in what they’re doing. They throw the football all year round down there, not just during the season. It’s a full-fledged commitment in terms of what they do and how they do it. It’s no secret in terms of throwing the football when you’re behind; it does give you that chance and that opportunity to come from behind and to mount a comeback at certain points. They certainly did that a week ago versus Kansas, and I thought they did an excellent job of coming back the way they did and in the style and fashion they did. They threw the ball over the wall, I think, 15 times for over 15 yards in the second half. I think they were 9-for-15 out of those throws, so they continue to push the ball down the field vertically. That was something I thought was pretty well done."

On his role as a new coach:
"I’m just here to do a job. I’m here to do the best I can in terms of our transitional football. We have changed systems, and I’m here to do a job in the respect that we have to transition positively and utilize it to the best of our abilities. I’m really proud of our kids and the way they’ve accepted everything we’ve installed and implemented. Believe me, it’s tough. I’m sure there are throwing coaches across the country who have made transitions and tried to put in new systems, and it’s tough. It’s tough to do, but I’m really proud of our guys, and I’m encouraged by where we are right now."

On production in the return game:
"It is a concern, and not only in that area, but a couple of areas as well in the special teams. I’d like to see us do a little bit better in terms of our field goal production, but the return production can obviously change the field. It can create the short field for you in a lot of regards, but I watched our punt returns the other night, and there were a lot of situations that were fair catch situations where we had to come up, and a lot of situations where the ball was short. In the kickoff return category, there was one bad fielding decision we made. I thought we could have taken a knee in the end zone, but we elected to come out and hit it straight away from the direction of the return. It cost us on that first drive. I would love to see more return. We work hard at it. That’s an area we emphasize and we want to get better in."

On adding to the playbook:
"We continue to put things in that the players can handle. Every play that’s repped in practice is either called or thrown out. I want the players to feel great about what’s being called during the course of a game so they have a clear understanding of what’s expected. There’s a lot of confidence that comes through repetition. We’re about repetition, so we manufacture the game plan according to what our players can do well, and how it adjusts against the opponents. We try to fashion that as smartly as we can and not overload them in any way."

On where he had hoped to be at this point in the season:
"I had hoped to 4-0, and we’re 3-1, and that’s the bottom line. This is a team game, and it’s reflected as such. There are team strengths, and we try to play to those strengths and do what we can do well and put our players in positions to win games. I felt we’ve done that, and we’ll continue to work hard at that. That’s what football is about. It’s a team game. It’s not offense, it’s not defense. It’s a collective effort. I’m all about that. I’m not about splitting the team or building one aspect. It’s a collective effort, and when you start straying away from that, that’s where it can hurt you. I feel great about where we are, and I like where we’re going."

On Texas Tech’s high yardage gain vs. Oklahoma:
"They’re productive. Opportunities exist. It’s execution. It comes down to making plays. Some plays you’re going to hit on, and some plays you’re not. Whether you score from out or you score from the red zone, it’s immaterial; it’s all about whether you score. It comes down to that."

On Barrett Ruud approaching a new career tackles record:
"That’s a great milestone, just from the aspect of his ability to endure the years that he has played football here at Nebraska. You think about the toll it’s taken on his body, and for him to endure that and be as productive as he is, it speaks volumes as a person and a player. What a great milestone that is, and he is surely deserving of that.

I never put anything past our kids. They’ve got great goals, and I think that’s tremendous. I think he can continue to go on and establish a new record for the future. I wouldn’t put anything past these kids. They’ve played very well, and they’ve practiced hard. I can see why he makes the tackles he does because he’s well-prepared. He’s into the game, and he loves football. You see him work and function on the field, and you see a desire to make a play. He has the ability to diagnose a play, an offense, a blocking scheme. He knows where he fits. He knows how to play off other players, and he’s relentless. Even if he’s not there, he’s going to chase the ball, and he’s going to get there. To me, that’s one of the outstanding attributes of his play."

On the defense being on the field for 82 snaps vs. Kansas:
"You never like to see your defense on the field that long. I like to see them be on the field as few minutes as possible. I’d love to be on the field for 40 or 45 minutes, too. But every game is different. Every game takes on its own different course, its own separate entities, so we’ve got to be able to adjust. But we’re trained for the long haul, and so be it. If the offense is on the field for 45 minutes, we’ve got to answer the stamina question mentally and physically for four quarters, just like the defense and special teams do."

On the atmosphere of the first Big 12 road game:
"I really don’t know Lubbock. I’ve heard a lot of instances and stories about Lubbock going down there. I know it’s a tough place, a tough environment to play in. It will be hostile on Saturday night. It’s a night game. I’m sure it will be a tough environment, but that’s part of being a good football team. You have to go down there in a tough environment and be able to function efficiently and effectively and challenge yourself and your team to win games on the road. That’s what the great teams do. And if you’re going to win, if you’re going to challenge for a championship, you have to win on the road. Good road teams have a mentality about themselves that’s very unique. That’s why the Pittsburgh game was important; as dire as the game got toward the later part, we found a way to win. We found a way to win on the road in tough conditions. We’re going to build off that experience and draw off that the best we can."

On the turf playing surface at Texas Tech:
"I’ve never been down there or seen it. I don’t know what condition it’s in, but it doesn’t matter where we play and when we play and what surface it’s on. It really doesn’t matter."

On the all-time series between Nebraska and Texas Tech:
"I have an appreciation and a definite respect for what’s been accomplished. We’re going to do the best we can because that’s all we can control as a team and as a staff and a group. Again, we’re going to do the best we can, and football is changing. I think you all see that across the country. There is a lot of parity across the board in college football, and that’s the nature of the game. Those are the rules by which we play."

On keeping Joe Dailey calm:
"We talked extensively through the film study about poise. I think the big thing is poise at the position. There are going to be some situations that are unraveling at times, and you’ve got to collect yourself and have the best poise you possibly can at that point in time. As we go on the road, we have a saying that you have to keep your poise in the noise. It will be noisy down there, so poise will be a big part of that."

Kevin Cosgrove, Defensive Coordinator
On defending Texas Tech:
"I’ve had to defend teams like this before. Our staff has had experience defending these teams. They do a tremendous job of executing their offense. The number one thing you have to do is try and slow them down. They’re going to get their yards, and we have to do a good job of slowing them down and be very good in the red zone."

On changes made to prepare for Texas Tech:
"There are some changes, but the good news is there’ll be some carry-over from last week. We do have some additional things we’ll have to do, but there will be a lot of carry over."

On the similarities between last week’s preparations to this week’s:
"We were preparing for Kansas. We take one game at a time, we don’t look ahead. They do some things similar, but there is a lot of difference in both offenses."

On pressuring a quarterback in an offensive system like Texas Tech’s:
"The quarterback is very poised. He does not panic when there is pressure on him. He’ll make people miss and get rid of the ball. He’s taken a lot of hits and still comes back. They’re going to get rid of the ball. They have a good drop-back game, a good quick game. They throw a lot of high-percentage passes."

On Texas Tech’s offensive line scheme:
"For their scheme of things, I don’t think there’s any question it helps them. It makes the rush a little bit wider than you normally have if the tackles are in tight. They have a lot of five-man protections, some six-man. I think the biggest thing is it widens the rush out."

On QB Sonny Cumbie’s arm strength:
"It looks pretty good. He’s thrown some deep balls and it looks strong, looks accurate."

On whether the defense can survive being on the field for most of Saturday’s game:
"Absolutely. We’re trained to do that. Dave Kennedy does a great job of training our players. Our kids had a lot left in them after Saturday’s game, being on the field for 82-83 snaps. We’re trained to do that."

On Barrett Ruud:
"Barrett Ruud is as efficient of a linebacker as I’ve ever been around. He’s very smart and always in the right spot. He’s becoming a more physical player, has tremendous range and is just a smart player. He really understands the game and picks things up very well."

On what makes Ruud such a good tackler:
"We work on it a lot. We tackle a lot in practice, so he keeps on improving. His athletic ability always keeps him in a good football position. Bad tacklers are usually in bad position and body control. He has very good body control."

On Texas Tech throwing the football:
"They’ll continue to throw it down the field even if they have the lead. It’s an explosive offense, again you have to control it. Nobody’s going to stop it, Oklahoma didn’t stop it. I don’t care how good the football team is, you have to control it."

On the return of the injured Lornell McPherson and Adam Carriker:
"We’ll need their presence, and we expect both to play."

On if Carriker’s No. 2 position on the depth chart is reflective of his health status:
"It’s a reflection of his health and not being 100 percent. I think he was close last week, and once he is, he’s our starter."

On the punt return game:
"We study it all of the time. When you look at the kicks, we’ve had some pretty good punts against us. They’ve had good hang time, so there really isn’t a whole lot of room to maneuver. The number one thing we want to make sure that gets done is keep possession of the football. Santino (Panico) has done an outstanding job of that in some difficult situations. As he becomes more comfortable back there, then we’ll work more on getting him up the field, and he’ll be more productive."

On whether Cory Ross will continue returning punts:
"Santino does such a great job of catching the ball, and again the number one thing is possession. You’d like to get a first down after possession, I think that will come with experience. But we’re trying to protect Cory a little bit too, with the number of carries he’s getting."

Jay Norvell, Offensive Coordinator
Opening Statement:
"We’re really excited to go on the road and play a quality team in Lubbock and continue to improve and get better."

On Beau Davis moving up to No. 2 on the depth chart at quarterback:
"It’s a reflection of how the guys are working in practice, and it’s really not a reflection on Ryan (Goodman). He’s done a good job in practice, as well. We just think Beau has done some things in practice that merits his position on the depth chart. That doesn’t mean that Ryan doesn’t have to be prepared to play, as well. Both of those kids are prepared to play if they have to, and we’ll continue to work them that way."

On if the coaching staff would like to redshirt Beau Davis this year:
"I don’t think you can really think about it that way. We have guys we brought here to play. Everybody’s on scholarship to help us win. If they can help us win, and they have to play, then we’ll use them. If we don’t have to use them we won’t."

On the importance of time of possession this Saturday:
"I think it’s always important, but sometimes it’s an overrated statistic. We want to be efficient, we want to move the ball. We want to be efficient on third down. We want to secure the ball and we want to put points on the board. That’s the more important thing, that we do that and we move the ball efficiently like we want to, running and passing. And handling our own business on offense, I think that’s what our focus has to be offensively."

On the comfort level of the offense when it’s running the ball:
"I think that we do a lot of things running the ball, as well as passing the ball, that are different and new. We are learning to execute. We don’t look at it as that we’re putting in a specific running offense or passing offense, we have things that we definitely feature and we want to get good at both running and passing the ball. It’s the combination of the two that makes our offense unique. Are we where we want to be? We’re not close to where we want to be yet, but we’re working. It’s the time of the year in the conference where teams get better or they get worse. We want to continue to improve, and we have improved over the past couple weeks in a lot of areas. I think if you watch the tapes you can see that. We just have to continue to shore up certain areas that we haven’t been as good at. It’s really that simple. We want to continue to be excited about our opportunity, to go out and practice and get ready for the game. This is a big game for us, so we’re anxious to get back out on the field today."

On the improvements made by Joe Dailey in practice:
"Joe’s made a lot of improvement in many areas of his play. The one thing that’s important for our entire offense is ball security and third downs. Those are areas that we really have to shore up. I don’t think it’s been any secret that those are the areas we’ve been deficient in. Joe has to do better, and so does our entire offense, of securing the ball and doing better on third down so that we can continue to sustain drives and put points on the board."

On the Texas Tech defense:
"They’re very similar in some ways to some of the teams we’ve already seen. They’ll run an odd package, as well. They don’t really feature it, but they’ll run some of it. We saw some of that last week from Kansas. They do a solid job. They don’t have many senior players, they’re improving much like we are on offense, so it should be a good matchup this weekend. We just need to tie down our play to make sure we perform the way we can."

On coaching players that may not necessarily fit a certain system:
"I respond as I think a coach should. We have players, we’re responsible to coach them and get them better. That’s our job. As we recruit, we’ll recruit a certain player that fits our mold, but this is our football team. We’re here to coach them, and that’s what we do every single day, almost every single minute that we possibly can. And that’s what we’ll do as long as we’re here, and we’ll continue to do it for the rest of this season, and next year we’ll start over again."

On decreasing the mistakes on offense:
"We have to become more patient in our passing game in all areas, such as reading routes, delivering the ball, being more consistent in footwork and drops with our quarterbacks. It’s the same things with our receiver position, being more consistent in route running. So really, it’s an entire unit thing that we have to continue to shore up, and really excel at the details of the techniques that we have to be efficient in. It’s no so much the plays, but it’s the execution of the plays that we have to refine. Every play has a certain specific that has to be mastered to make it work, so that’s what we’re working on. We’re working on the footwork of the quarterback, the routes of the receivers, the pass protection, everything that goes into making plays successful in the passing game."

On Joe Dailey’s understanding of the offense:
"He has a pretty clear understanding of some plays, and then some plays he has to continue to try to master. That’s his charge as the quarterback, and all of our quarterbacks. He has to continue to learn from his experiences every day on the field and in games, and he has to continue to try to rectify areas that he needs to improve."

Linebacker Barrett Ruud
On approaching the Nebraska career tackles record:
"I think about it when people ask me about it. I don’t think a whole lot about it, but I’m sure I’ll think a lot more about it when I get done playing. It’s honestly something I don’t think about very much, except when I’m asked about it. I’m just going about things as usual. It will be nice when it happens, but I won’t think about it very much this year. I’m really busy right now, and I don’t have a lot of time to think about it. Honestly, probably when the season’s over and they show the updated list and I see that I’m on top of it, I’ll be happy."

On Jerry Murtaugh:
"We did a photo shoot before the first game and I got to meet him and he’s a nice guy. We didn’t talk about the record. My dad told me he was a good guy and that he was kind of wild."

On making tackles:
"There are times when you can make a lot of tackles and really not play your best game. Usually, if you make a lot of tackles, it means you’re being productive. Sometimes it also means your defense is on the field too long. Usually, if you make a lot of tackles, you’re not doing too many bad things."

On how he feels physically:
"My body feels pretty good. I’m a little sore this week, but I don’t have any problems."

On who he looked up to when he was younger:
"I always watched a lot of television, and growing up Mike Brown was always a guy who I thought was the best tackler that I’d seen, at least for Nebraska. I always watched the NFL and I saw the marquee guys there, but when I’d come here and watch, I’d definitely pay attention to how Mike Brown used to tackle."

On preparations for Texas Tech:
"You have to be prepared to be really intense for four quarters. A lot of times when you see this team, they’ll be down by 20 or 30 points and then you turn the game on an hour later and they’re tied up or they’re in the lead. Really, you have to play really well for every play, basically, because on any play they can go the distance."

On when he realized the record was attainable:
"I knew Jerry (Murtaugh) held the record when I started, and I knew he held it by a pretty good margin, but it wasn’t something I really thought about much until this year. Maybe toward the end of last year I realized it, because people were saying I had a pretty good shot at it."

On the keys to being a good tackler:
"It’s a combination of preparing well every week and working hard, not only in practice but in the weight room so you stay healthy. It’s also watching a lot of film, and when you play, not taking plays off and always running to the ball."

On what it would mean to hold the record:
"I really don’t know. It will be nice right now, but then I’ll go on to the next game. It’ll be something that I look back on probably and will be a lot happier about when I’m done playing."

On his first career tackle:
"I was a freshman, and it was the first game. I think it was a third down play, and I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I just ran to the ball and tackled the guy. I remember I was pretty excited and that’s about it. I’m actually surprised I remember that, because it’s one of the few that I do remember."

On his favorite tackle:
"I tackled Clinton Portis in the Rose Bowl my freshman year. It wasn’t a great tackle, but I tackled him. That was probably my favorite because he’s a marquee guy and is an All-Pro."

On adjusting to new defensive systems:
"I’m pretty proud of that. It’s tough when you go from system to system. A lot of people get a chance to play in the same system every year, and if I got a chance to play in the same system for four years, I’d know it as well as the coordinators. Now, it’s like you have to re-learn things every year. It makes you respect the guys that played in the NFL that have to deal with this more often and still make the Pro Bowl. I learned a lot last year. I improved more last year than I ever have before in any sport. This year, the coaches have continued to do a good job of teaching you how to play and learning new plays."

On his health during his career:
"I’m lucky that I haven’t had a real serious injury. Like every player who plays a lot of snaps, you’re going to get your dings, and I’ve had those, but it’s just a matter of wanting to play through things. I don’t think it’s something that’s special, because a lot of guys would have done the same thing."

On how he’s gotten to where he is now:
"I’ve always understood football pretty well, and have always had pretty good instincts on where a play is going. I think I’ve always been able to play faster than my 40 time and have always had pretty good football athleticism. I guess there are guys that may beat me in a shuttle run or something like that, but I’m pretty good at stutter steps and stuff like that."

On his demeanor off the field:
"I think I control it pretty well. When I’m not playing, I guess I’m pretty relaxed and hopefully fun to be around."

On potentially breaking the record on the road:
"It’d be nice to break it at home in front of everybody here, but I’m not going to miss tackles in order to do that. Once it happens, it happens. I’d obviously rather do it at home, but I’m not going to complain."

On his senior season:
"More than anything, I realize I’m getting old pretty quick. I can remember things from my freshman year like it was yesterday. Things go by a lot quicker now. It seems like every year things go by quicker, whereas it seemed like I was in high school forever and it seemed like college went by in the snap of a finger. I’m definitely trying to enjoy everything and make the most of my days."

On playing defense in college instead of offense:
"There were schools that offered me as a running back, and I thought I was a better running back in high school. It wasn’t until the playoff in my senior year of high school that I got comfortable playing defense. I was always a lot more comfortable playing I-back."

On how being a running back helped him play defense:
"I think it helped me develop good footwork. Sometimes you look at a linebacker and they’re a little bit stiff. It made me a better athlete, I know that."

I-back Cory Ross
On his play thus far:
"It’s been ?so far, so good.’ I have had an opportunity to do some things with the ball in my hands and have had great blocking, so I’m having fun out there."

On his role:
"I know I wanted to get the ball and contribute to the team, and that’s what I’m doing."

On making strides offensively:
"We have to make strides this week, because they’re going to score some points. We have to be able to score some points, and we haven’t been doing that the last few games."

On controlling the ball against Texas Tech:
"We have to control the ball. Our defense is doing such a great job, but they can only help us so much. We have to be able to help them. We have to control the ball and we have to score some points in order to win this game."

On running back by committee:
"It’s a positive thing. We knew this is how it was going to be and we chose to take that and run with it, and we’re doing a great job with it. You’re more rested and you get a fresh guy in there. He tells us before the game, so we pretty much know what’s going to happen in those first 15 plays."

On being able to move the ball against Texas Tech:
"I think our offense can pretty much move it on anybody. I haven’t had the chance to see the film. I checked out the Oklahoma game and they did a great job on the defensive side of the ball, so I know it’s going to be hard."

On being the underdog:
"We’re an underdog? I didn’t know that. I guess we’ll have to prove them wrong."

On going on the road:
"Road games are always the tough ones and are also the most exciting. When you can win one on the road, your confidence is always high, and that’s our goal is to go down there and win."

On going to Lubbock:
"I heard it’s a hard place to play. I’ve never played there before, so it’s going to be new, but it’s going to be fun."

On the game-winning drive against Kansas:
"Our tempo wasn’t up to par the whole game, but on that drive we felt like we had to get some points. When you see the type of offense we had on that drive, you see we can do some special things, we just have to execute."

On last year’s offense compared to the West Coast Offense:
"It’s pretty different. The schemes are different and there’s a lot of zone blocking. At the same time it feels so much easier because it forces the defense to come out of putting 8-9 guys in the box when you only have 6-7 guys to block them.

"It’s Nebraska and you’re supposed to run the football. That’s where our comfort is. Our pass blocking has been great and we’re almost a full football team now. There are still growing pains and a lot of learning to do."

On finding an offensive rhythm:
"There are a couple of games that will be better than the others. We just have to look at that and learn from it. The last couple of games have been hard on us, but there’s a time where we’re going to explode, and this might be the game where we do that."

On quarterback Joe Dailey:
"The offense has to do it; it’s not on one guy or the next guy. Once we start clicking as a unit, then everything else will. You can do so much with this offense, and we’re doing a great job with it, but we’re going to mess up and we’re going to have low-scoring games. You have to let Joe know that we have his back and that we’re here for him and he knows that. He’s doing a great job and he knows this offense comes with a whole lot of responsibility."

Quarterback Joe Dailey
On playing with poise on the road:
"Coach tells us repetitively to play with poise in the noise. I don’t think we have a problem with that at all, to be honest with you."

On the running game:
"Cory’s done a great job, and the other running backs have done a great job. We’ve rotated three of them in and they’ve all been successful. We come out in so many formations that it opens up so many different options for each running back to make something happen. We can run the ball and throw the ball out of the same set and that makes it difficult for the defense to prepare for".

On what he needs to work on:
"It’s just a matter of staying within the framework of the football game. I try not to get outside of the offense."

On Texas Tech:
"They’re very productive on offense. They’ve led the Big 12 in offense and the way to beat them is to keep the offense off the field and take long drives against their defense. It’s going to be an offensive game, I believe, because that’s how it usually is when you play Texas Tech."

On the game plan vs. Texas Tech:
"We have a great defense as everyone knows, and they’re going to take care of business. I know that if the offense puts up points and doesn’t turn the ball over, we’ll never lose a game. That’s our main focus this week, not to turn the ball over and make big plays."

On playing on the road:
"The focus is less on us and more on the home team when we go away. Nothing really changes, except that we wear white and not red and there’s a bunch of fans of the opposing team cheering for them instead of us."

On improvements that need to be made:
"It’s the same thing every week, and it’s just a matter of eliminating those mistakes during practice. Things in practice have to be fixed and those mistakes will go away."

On the running game vs. the passing game:
"I haven’t been here very long. I’ve been here a year so I know the pass, but I haven’t been around long enough to know the history of it. Cory (Ross) has been here three years so he knows a lot more about it than I do. What he said is true, that we’re known for running the football and running time off the clock and that’s exactly what we’ve done the last few games."

On a breakout game by the offense:
"We’re a few plays away. It’s just a matter of eliminating very minor mistakes and the game could be well in hand. That’s something that’s going to change over time."

On keeping Texas Tech’s offense off the field:
"The biggest thing for us is stopping them on third down and getting the ball back. If we do that and run the ball and throw the ball around, we should be able to put some points up and come away with a win if we hang on to the ball."

On being "the guy" in the offense:
"I handle it the same way as I handle all things in life. This game’s a marathon, not a sprint and it’s true. From week to week I just go about my business and focus on what I need to get done."

On ignoring critics:
"Jammal (Lord) never listened to anyone, and I believe in the same things he believes in?you’re not as good as anyone says, and you’re not as bad as anyone says. You have to believe in what you can do and go about your business. It doesn’t matter when it’s all said and done as long as there’s a ?W’ under our name. That’s really all that matters."

On perceived struggles of learning a new offense:
"It’s a very complex game plan, but we master it. We run it 200 times during the week, so it’s not that we don’t know the system. It’s just little scenarios that come up during the game that have to be flattened out."