Huskers Chat about Wildcats

Nebraska Football
Weekly Media Luncheon
Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005
Pre-Kansas State Game

Head Coach Bill Callahan
Opening Statement
“Just to start with to begin this media conference, I just want to point out that we are not at all happy about where we are, what has transpired, what has taken place over the weekend. This staff, our players, our program are disappointed ? bitterly disappointed about what occurred. We’re going to do everything we can this weekend to rectify it. Several situations have been addressed during the course of the weekend, and all I can tell you is that we will work hard. We are working hard to correct the error in our game. It is not to my standard, and despite what anybody else thinks out there, it’s not my standard the way we are existing right now as a program. We’re very disappointed. We’re very disappointed in terms of assignment football, very disappointed in terms of how our players have come out and put the effort into a game like we had this past weekend. We’re looking forward to this weekend to rectify the error in our game.”

On changes on the depth chart
“In the offensive line, we’re going to start two freshmen. We’re going to start Matt Slauson at right tackle. Seppo Evwaraye has been ruled out of this weekend’s game. He may come back; it may take a miracle to bring him back, but so far from what I can understand, he is out. Slauson will be the starter. Lydon Murtha will be the starter. Cornealius Fuamatu-Thomas has been ruled out, so I’m really proud of those two kids stepping up ? Murtha and Slauson. They are tough guys. They are young guys. They’re willing, and they’ve put in a lot of hard work. I’m anxious to get on the field with them and work with them today. They are two guys who want to step up and want to help this football team. They’re in a tough position. Let’s face it, you’re a young tackle in the Big 12 playing a starting role. It’s awfully tough.”

On Offensive Lineman Seppo Evwaraye’s injury
“They tell me his foot is bothering him, so he has a foot injury. He’s been ruled out for part of that.”

 

On the game against Kansas
“I think No. 1, from an assignment standpoint, we weren’t nailed down from an assignment perspective. Knowing what to do and knowing how to do it is key. Knowing what to do in simplistic fashion and form is instrumental to have any type of success. We were not there from an assignment standpoint. That’s what bothered me most coming out of Saturday’s game. There’s no excuse. You can get physically mismatched. There are going to be times where you’re going to get beat. That’s football. But to not know what to do at times, that’s bothersome to the head coach and obviously to our players because they take that to heart. They see the error, and they know it’s correctable. One guy can break the play down, so we all have to be on the same page, and we all have to do a better job in that respect.”

On younger players getting opportunities to play
“Slauson and Murtha are playing because of injury. Those guys are playing because of injury. Let me be clear about that. We have two starters who are out at the offensive tackle position. They are out. They have been ruled out medically. These are young players who are stepping up.”

On running backs Marlon Lucky and Cory Ross
“We’ve always held Marlon in high esteem. We want to feature Marlon as many ways as we can. I would tell you that we haven’t had the rhythm or the time or the drives or the amount of reps and plays to get everybody involved. We’d love to get Marlon more involved in what we’re doing.

Cory [Ross] has done a very good job for us. I do not want to diminish what Cory Ross, who is a captain of this football team, what he has done for this football team and the efforts that he has put forth to help Nebraska offensively and help Nebraska football. I think that is a huge disservice, and I think that we discredit him as a person and a player in this respect completely if we don’t acknowledge that. He is everything that I look for in a player. I think he is special. He has made a lot of plays in his career here. He has made a tremendous amount of plays this year on the practice field as well as the game field. We’re trying to do everything we can to get him more involved, but we think Marlon has a bright future. He works hard. He’s maturing. He’s getting better with progress. There is progression, so I’m optimistic about Marlon Lucky.”

On his disappointment with Saturday’s performance
“I was disappointed with where we’re at because we expect more.  Our expectations are higher.  Our expectations going in week in and week out are very high.  We have a very high standard here.  We’re trying to reach maximum performance on a weekly basis.  Those are our standards and we can get disappointed if we don’t reach them.  We’re not discouraged.  We’re disappointed.  And that’s a big thing."

On comparing this season to the 2004 season
“Every game, and I’ve said this week in and week out, every game is different.  Every game has its own set of circumstances.  This week’s game is going to be different.  It’s going to be different than last week’s game.  They’re different.  When you start comparing weeks and months and years, everything is different.  All I can do is focus on the immediate future.  That’s all I can control.  I can’t control what’s going to go on three weeks from now and two years into the past.  All we can focus on is our preparation and our ability to get ready for KansasState.” 

On the direction the program is heading
“I would tell our fans to have great confidence in our players because our players have tremendous resolve.  They’re disappointed because they want to play better.  And they have worked very hard and they have shown a lot of signs throughout the year that they are competitive.  They have fight.  They’re going to do everything they can to win the game every time they walk onto that field.  So I feel confident about where we’re at with our team in terms of where they’re at and how they’re progressing.  Did it manifest itself on this past Saturday?  No.  But futuristically, I like the way kids are improving, I like the things I see in certain areas of our program from special teams, some of the things on offense, where defense is headed.  I see positive things in our players and I know our players care.  I have a lot of them come up to me afterward and tell me that they would do anything to turn the tide and make it a better situation.  So internally from a unity aspect I feel that the attitude is there.  I feel like our players' confidence is there, we've just got to put together a win.”

On blocking what people are saying
“I do block it out.  I block it out everyday.  I have to in order to maintain my focus and our staff's focus and our team's focus.  I don’t listen to very many people when it comes to program management.  I have a few close friends I talk to and that’s it.  People that have been through the ringer and they understand this profession and this business and that’s just the way it is.  Our players need to focus on their preparation.  They cannot get involved with the peripherial opponent.  They cannot get distracted by anything but getting prepared for a game.  Anything else is pure conjecture and speculation.  They can control their future in the next two games.  And that’s where we’re headed.”

On Nebraska’s progress with the offensive transition
“I think when you have an offense that’s geared toward a certain style and you flip it and start to try and get into a different wide open attack, it takes time.  It takes time to get your protection, to get the people that you want in, to protect the way you want to protect.  And I see positive signs in that transition.  I see our receivers playing better.  Their route definition is clearer.  It’s much more precise than I’ve seen.  Have we caught the ball every time?  No.  But I see us getting better in the way that we have defined our pass offense.  We have a clear understanding conceptually of what to expect in the adjustments that come with that.  And it’s tough.  And pass protection is tough.  We want to be a better run team, but we have not had the opportunity to do that.  We’re working toward improving that aspect, but I would tell you that the flipping of the culture is different in that you’re working with an option-based offense and personnel and you’re transitioning into a Pro-Style, a multiple run-pass oriented offense.  It’s different.”  

On how long it will take to adapt to the new offense
“I don’t know.  It’s hard for me to put a target date on anything because I want to be able to take it a week at a time and see where we’re at.  That’s all I can evaluate because there are so many things that factor in.  And you’ve got to be able to adjust.  Whether it’s injuries, whether it’s moving a player, whether it’s developing a player; there are a lot of different dynamics involved.  I guess that’s a good question for somebody else.”

On Nebraska’s goals at this point in the season
“I believe we have two games left to improve ourselves and get in a position to be in a good bowl situation and go somewhere for the holidays and really benefit from the entire bowl experience; whether it be recruiting, whether it be extra practices, exposure or what have you, it’s all positive.  I think a bowl opportunity is a great reward for a lot of hard effort for these players and what they’ve done and what they’ve put forth in terms of their efforts in the off-season, what they did this summer, what they did in training camp and what they did this season.  It hasn’t been perfect but I know we’re a much closer team than we were a year ago.  I see progress.  I see it internally.  It’s hard for the fan our there because it’s all measured in wins and losses, but I see progress and I see improvement steadily.  Was I pleased last weekend?  No.  I want to make that point.”

On whether there is still room for improvement
“I think there’s always room for improvement.  I think you always can get better.  I think you can always find a way to improve a technique and to improve the play of a particular player.  That’s our challenge week in and week out, day to day.  We have our own goals for each practice so each player has a clear understanding of what’s expected, what we’re working on and how to get better.  If you don’t go into practice with that kind of approach, I think you’re kidding yourself.  You’re not going to improve.”

On whether a win will relieve external pressure
“We want to win.  That’s the bottom line.  It’s a win business.  I think it would be great.  The bottom line is that you have to win.  Our players are committed to doing everything they can to win.  I see it in their work ethic.  I see it in their preparation and I see it clearly on a day-to-day basis on the practice field.  They’re committed to winning.  It’s a deep commitment.  These kids care.  They’re concerned.  They voice their displeasure when they see something’s not right and that’s what you want from your team.  They know that it wasn’t good on Saturday.  So a win obviously would benefit everybody.”

On the lack of intensity against Kansas
“I think there was intensity.  I think if you turn the film on, I don’t think it’s fair to say there was a lack of intensity.  I don’t think if you watched the film and you compared it to another game, if you just watch collectively what players were doing, I don’t think you could say that there was a lack of intensity across the board.  I don’t think that’s true.  You turn the film on, there are players busting their hump to get to the ball, running routes, pass protecting, coming off the ball on the run game.  So to make a flat statement that we were not intense, maybe a position or two had a moment or two where we didn’t have the focus or the concentration, but an overall lack of intensity I didn’t see on film.  I didn’t see a clear lack of not wanting to play hard or fight or compete.  I didn’t see that.  I don’t think that’s fair to say just one collective lack of intensity.  You turn the film on and you go through it with our players like I did on Sunday through all three facets and you won’t see that.  You’ll see some breakdowns.  You’ll see error.  But you won’t see lack of intensity.  That game was close.  It got close to 17-15 in that game and we didn’t finish it.  That’s the bottom line.  The games that we have been in the last four losses, we have not started fast but we have come back.  There has been intensity.  If you don’t have intensity, you are not going to come back.  You’re going to roll over and die.  I don’t see these kids doing that.  These kids fight day in and day out.  Are we the most talented team?  Hey, we do the best we can.  And they understand we’ve got to be on the screws, that we’ve got be at a high level of effort.  If we’re not there, if we’re not at that level there’s a chance that you can falter.  I don’t care who you play.  I don’t care if it’s the No. 1 team in the country or the bottom team, there’s always that chance.  That’s why you’ve got to prepare yourself diligently for the competition and that’s just the way it is.  That’s football.”

On losing the last three games
“Let me say this again.  The Missouri game we didn’t play well in.  The Oklahoma game, our kids competed.  They competed all the way through the fourth quarter.  This past game we competed hard deep into the third quarter and we lost it right at the tail of the fourth quarter.  Our guys have competed hard.  Our guys have not finished in the fourth quarter.  We have got to become a better fourth quarter team.  That’s the team that we want to be.  I’m talking about a fourth quarter football team that wins games in the fourth quarter.  That can come from behind and win or can hold onto the lead and put a team away.  That’s the kind of team that we want to be.  That’s what we’re working at.  That’s what we do everyday.  That’s what we emphasize day in and day out.”

On KansasState’s losing record
“I see a good football team.  I see a team that we have great respect for and that’s where it begins.  It begins with respect and you have got to respect the opponent that’s coming in here.  And we respect anybody that we play that’s on our schedule, whether they have a winning record, whether they have a losing record.  Because when you tee it off, it doesn’t matter.  What matters is that you’re going as hard as you can and playing to your ability and trying to achieve an optimal level of performance.  That’s all we care about.”

On KansasState quarterback Allan Evridge
“I think he’s tremendous.  I think he’s got a lot of ability.  He’s a player that’s got drop-back pass instincts.  He’s really well-versed in what they’re trying to accomplish from a system perspective.  He’s a tough guy.  I’ve seen him knocked around out of the pocket, in the pocket.  He’s got a steadiness and poise about his play.  He doesn’t get rattled.  He knows where his progressions are.  He’s got a quick release.  I like everything about him.  For a young player, he’s going to be terrific in years to come.  He’s an excellent quarterback.”

On initially trying to recruit Evridge
“When I first got here I made that call and tried to get him to switch his commitment, but he was pretty much solid and locked in and didn’t want to go through another turn of events.  We weren’t fortunate enough to make that swing in the last couple weeks of recruiting.”

On how the season is affecting recruits
“Nothing that I’ve heard from out committed players, and we’re continuing to recruit players from across the country.  They’re coming in this weekend.  So I think players look at schools and programs for what best suits them and where their opportunities lie and where they can get a great education and play ball.  Everybody is different and everyone is looking for different things."

On Zac Taylor’s performance at Kansas
“I wish you could see what I see on a coach's film because he’s got tremendous poise and toughness in the pocket.  And I’m sure he would tell you that he would like to have a few plays back, but I tell you what, here’s a guy that sits in the pocket and does an outstanding job of avoiding pressure and steps up and makes reads.  He’s very focused.  I don’t think it’s fair to evaluate his play and his performance.  He was under duress.  It’s hard to be objective about his performance because he was under duress and he did try to make plays when he was harassed and he did.  And you turn on the film and you watch this guy and see that he’s done so many great things to keep plays alive and to keep himself alive in the progression.  I can’t say enough good things about him.  He’s been good for our team.  He’s been an excellent leader and here’s a guy who gets rocked and never says a word.  He comes right back into the huddle and makes the next call and nothing phases him.  I’m really proud of him and what he’s been able to withstand and accomplish in the short time he’s been here.”

On whether he’ll play quarterback Harrison Beck
“I’m going to do what’s best for our football team.  Every decision that I make will be made in terms of what is best for our club and for our team.  I think it’s a team decision.  I think that we’re trying to do what’s best for our team to achieve our goals.  I know Harrison (Beck) is a team guy and I would never question his loyalties to our program and our team.  I think we all understand that we’re battling and we’re fighting as best we can.  I hope he doesn’t have to play because that would tell me that we’re holding up and things are going well and that Zac (Taylor) has been injury free.  I don’t like to go there too often because I like to think that we’re going to maintain where we’re at.”  

On the difficulty of playing tackle in Nebraska’s offense
“I think tackle is a tough position to play due to the quality of match-ups that you face week in and week out.  You’re facing the best pass rushers and those guys are normally experienced players and they know the position and the situation that they’re in, especially in third-down situations.  And it’s tough.  It’s tough for a freshman, but we’re doing the best we can and our guys are going to continue to compete.  I’m really proud to have those two guys in the lineup and I think they’ll do a good job.”

On the remainder of the season
“I’m positive. I’m optimistic.  I’m looking forward to this weekend and the following weekend and we’re going to do everything we can to pull off two victories.  That’s our goal and that won’t change and that’s what we’re focused in on and that’s how we want to approach this.”

On losing seniors versus retaining a lot of young experience
“I think we’re a young football team.  I think we’ve got a lot of young players and we’ve played a lot of them.  Newcomers are going to make some errors.  And is it acceptable?  No, not at all and they’re accountable.  We’re all accountable; players, coaches, everyone.  So we’re trying to do the best we can to correct that and trying to get more experience and confidence in these young guys and get them going.  We’re going to miss these seniors.  I think we’ve got about 21 or 22 seniors and this will be their last game here at Memorial Stadium and they’ve done a lot.  They’ve done a tremendous amount of contributing to our football team.  They’re great kids, every single one of them.  I couldn’t be more proud of this group of seniors and what they’ve had to go through and what they’re going through right now and how they’re battling adversity.  I’m really proud of this group.”

On punter Sam Koch’s national recognition
“I think he’s getting recognition now.  He’s been nominated as a Ray Guy semifinalist and I believe that in itself is a great compliment to his efforts.  He’s been outstanding in every respect.  He’s really helped this football team and he’s going to have a bright career for himself.”