USC Coach Pete Carroll Teleconference

Nebraska Weekly Press Conference
Pregame vs. USC
Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006
Memorial Stadium

Pete Carroll

USC Head Coach

Teleconference from Los Angeles

 

On the game

“We have a terrific opponent coming in this weekend.  Nebraska’s really been catching fire over the last year.  They’ve started the season as well as you can start it out.  I’m sure their confidence level is high.  They’re well-equipped, well-coached and physical.  They’re used to playing in front of big crowds, so this won’t be too big a deal for them.  They’ll be a great opponent for us and a very challenging home opener.”

 

On Nebraska’s offense

“They’ve done everything they’ve wanted to do.  They have great balance between run and pass, more so than they had last year.  The running backs are all averaging more than six yards a carry.  This is a well-designed offense.  The scheme they use is one we recognize as top-notch stuff.  They did a good job getting it installed.  We have great respect for it.  We can see that the design is there, the players are there to make plays, Zac (Taylor) is playing well, and they’re ready to roll.

 

On Zac Taylor compared with the top quarterbacks in the nation

“I think he’s right there.  He’s obviously the best he’s been.  He’s got stature, a good arm, a control of the offense, the ability to get into and out of plays as they need to.  He’s obviously smart and physically capable of what they do.  When they do move him, he throws well on the move.  He’s a big-time NFL prospect at quarterback.”

 

On USC’s perspective of the game

“Every one of these games we play is enormously important for us.  There isn’t such thing as ?just another game’.  We recognize we only get a few of them in a year, and only six of them at the Coliseum.  These are enormous events of us, because we’ve been able to maximize the respect it takes to play an opponent like Nebraska through our preparation.  This is a great ballgame for us.  Games like these get you ready to play your conference schedule.  We’ve already played a huge game on the road, and now we need a huge game at home to get comfortable with all our new kids, because we’re going to have to keep coming back and doing this all year.  It’s a monumental opportunity for us.”

 

On Nebraska’s defense

“We’re really concerned about their ability to rush the passer.  They killed everybody they went against last year.  They have a great pass rush, and that can minimize the passing game if they can do it again.  It hasn’t been necessary in the first two games this year, but we know that they have the ability to put the heat all over you.  They’re well-designed, very sound and play with great effort, so it will be a challenge for us.”

 

On Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky

“He’s a really good football player.  There was no question that he would be able to play on any level.  He’s very talented.  He can run physically and run on the edge and catch the ball nicely.  We know a lot about him because we saw a lot of him when he was growing up, and he’s a fine prospect to get.”

 

On USC’s highlights against Arkansas

“We had good balance across the board.  We had good special teams.  Our offense moved the ball well.  They didn’t turn the ball over once.  The defense got five turnovers.  We’ve played right within the style we’ve always counted on.  We’ve always been a very effective turnover team for all the years that we’ve been here, so to come out of the chutes and to get after the ball like we did and the offense to have enough regard for it (ball security) that they didn’t turn it over once is a huge accomplishment for us.  To play in that setting, with 72,000 going crazy with a young quarterback and running back and not get thrown off by it is a big accomplishment for us.  We played a good, sharp first game, but this is now.  We’re happy to get through it and excited for this first game at home.”