Huskers Talk About Buffs

Nebraska Football
Weekly Media Luncheon
Monday, Nov. 21, 2005
Pre-Colorado Game

Head Coach Bill Callahan
Opening Statement
Just in terms of where we’re at, we finished our fourth practice yesterday. We’re in the midst of our normal week preparations which begin today. So, today is very much like a normal Tuesday practice and that is the way we are approaching the week. Of course that takes us all the way to Thursday, which will means we’ll travel on Thursday, much like a Friday, and of course Friday will be like a Saturday to our football team. We’re on schedule and we’re excited about the challenge of playing this team this weekend.

On a win vs. Colorado marking improvement of the team
I think it would be big in a lot of senses. I see our team becoming better, being more consistent, closing the gap in a lot of areas, and of course having the bowl game will be a huge advantage for us going into the off-season. I look at it as a real improvement if we would be fortunate enough to be in that situation. And of course, that would gain some momentum going into the bowl game.

On NU’s role as the spoiler
No, not at all. Our motivation is really internal. This is a team that loves to play football and that loves to win. That iss always our goal here and that is always our motivation to win. Our team is of that mindset. We really focus on what we need to do and we really don’t pay much attention to what is out there or what other teams are doing. We really have a good focus that way in terms of our preparation and in terms of where we set our goals in terms of the week. This game is important to us, like it is to them. I know our players are really excited about going out there and playing well. We’re going to have to play well. They’re a good football team in many areas. As I mentioned on the Big 12 teleconference, they are very complete in every phase of their football. They are very consistent, very productive. If you look at them and watch their special teams perform, their specialists are outstanding. Of course when you look on the defensive side, they are highlighted by their rush defense. They are very strong, very solid across the front. They have a lot of weapons on offense with Charles and Vickers and Klatt. Of course their tight ends and wide receivers, are just a very talented group of players.

On playing on the road
We’ve got to put it all together. We’ve got to go out and play with our own mindset that I just mentioned. I know our team will go out and play hard. It’s never been a question of playing hard, just being more consistent. I watched the games this weekend. I watched the Georgia Tech-Miami game and boy was Georgia Tech impressive. The way they attacked on defense and how they competed and the level of intensity that they played at. They played extremely hard. If we can keep playing hard and we can reach that level, anything can happen. That’s all you can ask for as a team and a coaching staff is to get your players to play as hard as they physically can, so that’s our motivation going out there.

On how Nebraska fits in with other teams in the nation on its road itinerary
I think we’re consistent with just about every team in college football. We really compare and contrast what other teams are doing. We feel that we’re right on schedule in terms of what we’ve been doing from a schedule standpoint and what we’ve emphasized on the road.

On Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt
He’s a guy that manages the offense extremely well because he knows where to go with the ball. He is a high-percentage decision-maker which is the essence of a quarterback in the West Coast Offense. I think he’s only thrown six interceptions this year, I may be wrong on that. He handles pressure very well, he’s able to create and complete the progression. I see a number of check-downs in the back, which for a quarterback in this system is tough. I’ve seen him find outlets and get the ball out and make that decision to keep the chains rolling. He’s very productive in that sense, he’s a guy that certainly has a lot of experience and he knows what he’s doing. I’ve seen a number of games where he’s just been leveled and has gotten back up and made big plays. This guy, he’s a proven winner. He knows where to go with the football, he’s not going to throw it up for grabs and he protects it well. Like I said, he distributes the football as well as any quarterback in college football. If you look at their production at the receiver, running back and tight end positions, that ball is going to get sprayed everywhere. That’s a real credit to him and their staff.

On former CU assistant and current NU assistant coach Ted Gilmore
Ted’s done an excellent job here. Overall, in the development of our receiver play. He does have experience, that’s a known fact. We have a pretty good handle on where we need to go with this game. It is a special game for us. You get two weeks to prepare for an opponent and you get an opportunity to prepare. I think overall, you sit back and you’ve got a lot of film and resources to study. This has been a real advantage and we need to take advantage of this bye week come Friday.

On what this game means to both teams
My sense is that it’s important to both teams, it’s a huge game. I look at this situation and had we been fortunate enough to pull out another win or two, we would have been right in the midst of a championship game. They’re a good football team and I think this game is always been important to them. I know how they treat it and I know how they treat it differently than any other game, it’s a red-letter game for them. It’s very important to their team and to their program to compete against Nebraska. And it is important to us, every game’s important to us. I just know that it’s a heightened emphasis over there in terms of their rivalry towards Nebraska. I know that that is very huge in their mindset and their thinking and the way they go about their business in this particular week.

On the Huskers’ bowl position possibly improving with a win
I think our players understand that that’s out there. They know that it could be better. There are no guarantees, we just have to play well and go out there and win. I don’t know what the scenarios are, but there are a lot of teams that have the same type of record that we do. I don’t know how they’re going to work all that out, I really don’t. All we want to do is go out and play well on Friday and hopefully come out victorious.

On the team’s health
Fairly healthy. We had a good week to rest up, although we did get after it last week. We went after it on Tuesday and Wednesday and backed it down some on Thursday. Yesterday (Sunday) we were out in helmets and shorts and tried to get back out into the flow of the gameplan. Today we’re back in pads and will work hard today and tomorrow and then back down on Wednesday and getting ready to travel on Thursday and play Friday.

On the impact of the freshmen
Obviously, we’re a young football team. If you included not only the freshmen that have played, but I think we have five redshirt-freshmen that have played and a number of sophomores, I think that number would tally up to about 29 players in those early classes that have contributed or started for our football team this year. We’re a relatively young team, but we have seniors that have contributed quite a bit to our success, I don’t want to dismiss that. But we are a young team and this bowl practice that is coming up will mean a lot to our team to get those guys consistently better and get them going in all the areas they need improvement in.

On preparing for the road match
We try to create the same environment on the road as we do here in Lincoln. It’s just a matter of making plays. It’s just a matter of eliminating everything else that you need to do externally and just focusing in on what you need to accomplish on the field. It’s really as simple as that. Our guys are excited before a game. They are up, they are jumping up and down and they are anxious to get out onto the field. Once the game’s kicked off, it’s the same thing for both teams. It’s a matter of playing hard and playing as hard as you can for 60 minutes. That’s how we see the game and that’s where you see the road upsets. The players that can come in and meet and exceed the energy level of an opponent. That’s pretty well-documented. You’ve got to have a mindset, a road mentality and I believe our players are getting that. I believe with each game they go on the road are going to get more experience, more knowledgeable and understand that they have to step up and understand how to correct the mistakes. I’d say it’s only getting better.

On Zac Taylor’s health
He’s been fine, he’s practiced every day. He’s ready to go. He’s been very good, he’s practiced all four days. His preparation has been excellent. He’s been up with meeting with Coach Novell and watching film and things of that nature. He’s all set, he’s all ready to go.

On rebounding from their last road performance
I just think we’ve learned from that, I hope we have. I would like to say we have. It’s a matter of going out and competing for four hard quarters. Competing as hard as you can at a very high level. That doesn’t change. I know this will be challenging to our football team. They take football serious, they love football and that’s why they’re playing. We’re very hopeful (that we play better on the road this week).

On the Huskers’ Thanksgiving Plans
Wednesday we’ll visit the local hospitals. Interestingly enough, our players were asking about going out to the local hospitals and Thursday morning we’ll have a team brunch before we have our walkthrough. We’ll fly to Boulder then, and that’ll really consume our day. I hope the players get an opportunity on Wednesday night to visit with their families locally and if they’re from a distance, we’ll do the best to accommodate them as we always have. Thursday we’ll have our Thanksgiving Day meal in Boulder and then we’ll prepare with our evening meetings and we’ll play on Friday.

On Colorado’s loss to Iowa State
I think that like any game that you play in on the road or at home, it comes down to turnovers. If you can take two turnovers and obviously convert on them, it’s going to have an affect on your football team. That’s a lot of points in a big game, in a tight contest. Again, it all comes down to turnovers and how you’re protecting the ball and how you’re capable of taking it away. It’s still the nature of the beast. You have to be able to turn the ball over on defense and secure the ball on offense. That was uncharacteristic of their play, I felt. You have to credit Iowa State, they did a fine job. They played well, it was a great game to watch.

On how the altitude will affect the special teams’ play
I don’t know that the altitude has affected Crosby as much watching that 57-yarder go through the pipes in Ames I don’t think he’s been very affected at all by altitude. He’s 5-of-6 from the 50-yard range. He’s been outstanding and I’m sure it’s a real advantage playing at home, as well. Jordan, we’ll have to get him out there early kicking in the altitude and see what he feels like. We have a lot of confidence in Jordan and a lot of confidence in Sam Koch as well. We feel we have two outstanding specialists and this could be a real game of field position and there are no doubt the specialists for both teams could figure into this.

On the play of Titus Adams
He’s been an excellent player all throughout the year. I think his stats have been up there in the last three games, but all year long he’s played with a consistent effort, he’s played very well. He’s the type of guy that could make a lot of plays for you. Not only in the running game, he can get off blocks and he understands schemes. That’s the advantage of having a senior in there playing with a lot of confidence and experience. I think he’s seen it all in his career. He knows the schemes, he studies offensive blocking schemes. I think Coach Blake has done an excellent job of getting him to play at a very high level. I think all of those factors are involved, I don’t think you can say it’s just one thing. I think there are a lot of things that you can attribute to his play.

On the altitude
You just get in and play. We’ve always approached it like that. You get in there and you play. There is altitude and you’ve got to deal with it. We understand how to deal with it and we just go out and play. It’s like that for every team that goes up there. I think those first few series are important, you get acclimated to the speed of the game. I think that’s important to understand. As you begin the game, it’s a little bit different, but as you get accustomed to it and acclimated, I’m not a specialist, but I do know it does have an effect on your play early. I think substitutions are important.

On Colorado’s tight ends
I think Klopfenstein is outstanding. Normally a tight end will have a minimum of routes that they’ll run. These guys run corner routes, they run vertical stretch routes up the seam, they have the capability of splitting them out and using them as wideouts and running them vertical and produce a mismatch out there against your corners if you’re not prepared for it. They move them around quite a bit. They’re going to find ways to get them the ball. Not only can they throw the ball short in the flats, but they can get behind linebackers on basic crosses. They’re very versatile, very effective. They are not only great route runners, but they’re excellent in terms of their run-blocking and what they’re asking them to do from a run-game perspective. They’re pretty good.

On Colorado’s running back Hugh Charles
He’s got excellent speed. The change of direction and the pure speed that he gives you outside on the edge is outstanding. I think their ability to toss the ball and get it on the perimeter or utilize the screen game of whatever they do with him that speeds shows up. It’s going to be important to put a hat on him and get him to the ground. He’s elusive, he’s quick. The thing that stands out in my mind is that he has a tremendous burst in the hole, that he can elude you and that he can make the quick decision to pull away or separate. He’s very good, he’s excellent, he can run the ball inside as effectively as he can run it outside. He’s an outstanding back.

On the play of the youngsters on the offensive line
I think they did well. I looked at Matt Slauson, Lydon Murtha and of course Chris Patrick and thought they all played well in that game. Notwithstanding, Jared Helming did a very good job as well playing some guard spot in the rotation. We rotated he and Greg Austin a little bit. I thought he did a very good job. I wish he was coming back for another year. He would be a real addition to our football team. I just wish that we had him one more year. This is his fifth year and I don’t think there’s anything we can to do get a sixth year, but if we could, I would. He’s going to be a good player, I hope that he takes it on to the next level. He’s be an excellent developmental candidate in the NFL. He’s strong, he’s physical, he’s got a lot of upside to his game. Those three young tackles, I thought they did a very good job protecting Zac Taylor. For the first game, using those three rotations at that spot.

More on senior Jared Helming
I just wanted to spell Greg Austin a little bit and Jared’s play has allowed him to come up. Not only has he played some left guard, but he’s played some right guard as well. He’s a smart person, No. 1, and that transfers to the field. I just wish we had him one more year. He’s got a lot of physicality that we like. He’s played on our PAT/field goal team, he plays that left guard and he’s anchored down that spot for us in critical situations.