Nebraska Coach Bill Callahan

Nebraska Weekly Press Conference
Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2006
Memorial Stadium
Lincoln, Neb.
Pre-Texas

Head Coach Bill Callahan
Opening Statement
“Well we’re busy today. Our players come in a little earlier than usual today because of fall break. They’ll be here at 1:00, and we’ll get a little bit more time to concentrate on (upcoming opponent) Texas as we get prepared. Just a quick opening statement about Texas, I think we all see their excellence in every phase of the game. Statistically they’ve dominated every area across the board. They’re an excellent football team in all three phases, and this is going to be an excellent challenge for our football team. Our players are extremely excited, and we’re anxious to get on the practice field this afternoon.”

On Texas’ defense front four
”I see a tremendous pass-rush ability out of their front four, and that’s going to be a key for us. When we have to throw the football we’re going to need absolutely great protection up front. We’re just going to have to step up the penetration in those particular gaps; but they’re so well-versed coming off the edge. If you watch these guys, they’re so outstanding. They’ve got great quickness, power, range ? everything you look for in a pro defensive end, that’s what they have. And they’ve got great rotation to complement their front-line players, and they do a good job of mixing and matching people in that regard.”

On Texas’ run defense matching up against Nebraska’s running game
”It’s a real stout defense. They’re a type of defense where you’re going to have to earn everything you get. They complement each other well and they’ve got excellent gap integrity, and they play fair. Their front is very solid, but the thing that you notice when you watch Texas on film is that their run support is outstanding. Their safeties come downhill, the (junior safety Marcus and senior safety Michael) Griffin brothers, and they do a great job of filling the alley, coming down into the lane. They’re really a solid group of safeties and corners and I have a lot of respect for their secondary. That is a definite strength of their football team. They can support the run, they can do it from any depth in terms of where they position their safeties at. Their linebackers are outstanding. We’ve got our work cut out for us, that’s for certain.”

On what Ohio State was able to do to beat Texas
”They did some great things and they had some big plays and took advantage of some opportunities early. Of course, (junior flanker) Ted Ginn, when you watch that film, you look at number seven for Ohio State, and you just go ?wow.’ I haven’t seen a guy like that in a long time. Not many guys do that in my eyes, but he really was outstanding. Their whole team, the way that they came off the ball, the way that they pass protected, the way that they made plays in the passing game ? I think it was a good balance, a good game plan and a good attack in how they went after Texas. But I thought Texas was right in there the whole time. That was a great game early on in the season, but I think it would be a different game today.”

On what would be different about the Ohio State-Texas matchup today
”I think it would be different today, there’s no question in my mind. I think both teams are different and getting better, and I think Texas is better today. They have really hit a good stretch here with their win over Baylor, their offense is clicking and in rhythm. They really are outstanding. They have a great changeup with their (defensive) backs, their running game is outstanding ? they’re just balanced across the board, and probably the most complete team that we’ve faced to date.”

On (junior linebacker) Corey McKeon’s status
”He’s day by day. We’ll see where he’s at today and we’ll have a better idea of how he is recovering and what he looks like each day.”

On the comparisons of junior wide receiver Limas Sweed to any other receiver Nebraska has faced this year
”Probably (USC junior wide receiver Dwayne) Jarrett in that respect, in terms of size. I just think he’s got tremendous speed, play-making ability ? the big playmaker receiver that can do it all. They can isolate you, they can do a lot of different things in their package. But he’s very similar to Jarrett, although I think they do a couple of different things with him. He’s a dominant field receiver, he’s a fade receiver, he can get down the field and make plays for them. He can do a lot of things, he’s a great receiver.”

On what being at home means for this game
”Absolutely, we look forward to being at home. This is going to be a tough challenge for our team, but to have the home crowd behind us, this is going to be encouraging, inspiring, and our players want to play well in front of the big crowds on a big game like this. Again, any help we can get is appreciated, believe me.”

On whether Texas is a more complete team than USC
”I wouldn’t say that. I wouldn’t make that comparison. I think they’re a good football team. I think they’re outstanding. I think both teams are outstanding.”

On the importance of this game compared to the USC game
”I don’t think any game is any less important, to put it that way. I think all these games are important. Week by week, as you go through the schedule as a team, you really kind of focus on the bullseye of the particular team that you’re facing. We’ve taken a one-game-at-a-time approach, and we’ve been focused on that one particular aspect of our team goals. That’s the way we are, and that’s the way we’re built in how we prepare. We don’t really get ahead of ourselves, we just kind of focus in on who we’re matched up against next. We’ve got Texas now and it’s at home, finally, and it’s great to be playing a day game. We haven’t played one in five games, and I think the players will adjust slightly because of the early kickoff, but it is good to be home in front of our home crowd.”

On the performance of senior quarterback Zac Taylor during Big 12 play
”We could always be better, there’s no doubt. I would just say that we’ve been in a situation where we’ve been on the road, and it’s tough to make plays on the road in hostile environments, and he’s done some great things and made some great throws. Up at IowaState he made some great throws right before the half. Down in KansasState I thought he did an excellent job leading our club and putting us in position to make some great plays. I think there are some throws he would want back, definitely, but he’s making some great strides, I believe.”

On whether the team will try to emulate the offensive pattern of the last few weeks
”If I have my way, I want to win, whatever it takes, whether it’s running or throwing, more pass, more run, whatever it takes, we’re going to do. We’ve been fortunate, we’ve been able to run the football consistently on the road, and that’s been a real plus factor for us as a team and as an offense. But we’re going to do what we need to do to win. We’re going to play good team offense and we’re going to execute well ? we have to do everything it takes to win, especially in a game where it’s going to take everything like this weekend.”

On his impression of freshman quarterback Colt McCoy
”Good quarterback in so many ways. He manages their offense extremely well. It seems like he really understands the whole concept of what they’re trying to get achieved. He just took off the other night. He just had a great day. Six touchdown passes in one game, that’s phenomenal. And I’ve got a lot of respect for Baylor and what they’ve accomplished and what they’ve been able to do on defense, but they’re hitting on all cylinders right now. He’s a tremendous quarterback.”

On whether being at home will allow for freshman quarterback Colt McCoy to get rattled
”These guys are competitors. Whatever year they’re in, it doesn’t really matter. These kids are so well-coached coming out of high school now, they’re accustomed to the system, and they get into a focus and they get into a stadium and they just play. I don’t think the crowd matters and I don’t think anything really matters to these young kids. They’re pretty comfortable and familiar with what they’re trying to get done, and they have a pretty good understanding of the system. I don’t see this guy getting rattled, he’s a pretty cool customer.”

On whether he could have envisioned such a balanced running attack at this point in the season
”I just try to put the emphasis on all the guys getting their touches and trying to balance the board in terms of what they do well. I don’t even ask for the backs in the game, I just let (running backs Coach) Randy (Jordan) manage the group, and he just plugs them in accordingly as we move along. I’m really kind of oblivious as to who’s in the game when I’m calling some of the plays. So Randy (Jordan) is managing the backs as to what they do best, and he plugs them in with the play call.”

On what advantages the strong running back corps gives the team
”I don’t know if it’s the advantage or not, we just have to get the best production out of our group that we possibly can. Going back to last week, we left some yardage on the field in some of our reads, and I know (running back Coach) Randy (Jordan) is going to discuss that with our running backs and has already done that. But we can be better. I know our group can be better. If it takes one back, two, three, four ? whatever it takes to help us win the game, we’re going to go with that. I don’t know if it’s an advantage or not, we’ll just have to wait and see.”

On the status of senior offensive lineman Greg Austin
”He’ll be practicing today.”

On the contributions made by redshirt freshman defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh
”I think Suh has blended into the rotation well, and has acquired more experience and more confidence with the more playing time that he gets. I think he’s done a great job in every regard, coming in and rotating, and he gives us a big changeup. He’s a big, thick guy, he’s strong, he’s powerful, and he definitely has a presence inside. He can get off blocks, he can make plays, and he’s coming into his own and really coming into his position well and made some progress.”

On who will start at center now that senior center Kurt Mann is healthy again
”We’ll see. We’re just going to go through practice this week, and we’ll come up with a decision at the latter part of the week and decide who will start, and who will play. We’re really glad that Kurt Mann is back in the mix, but we really thought that (junior center) Brett Byford had a great game as well, so for both of those guys, it’s great competition, and it’s good to have two centers that can compete at a very high level.”

On whether junior running back Kenny Wilson will see more game-time action against Texas
”There is no question, we’ve definitely got to give Kenny the ball. I do feel bad about (his lack of action against KansasState). We got into a different flow (against KansasState), and as long as the possibilities exist. If we can create those opportunities for him, that would be great. There’s not question we want to get Kenny in the mix. He’s a quality back and a great guy, and he’s deserving of playing time.”

On how running backs coach Randy Jordan decides what rotation to use
”It’s pretty much based on the play calling. That’s one of the factors, absolutely.”

On Texas running backs (sophomore) Jamaal Charles and (senior) Selvin Young
”They’re good backs. I don’t think we need to expound upon their abilities as excellent backs. For their style of offense, it’s a real complement to both of those players. They’re a gun-run team, they’re ?dotting the I’ some, but they’re primarily in the gun, and to run from the gun, that’s a tough chore, because you’re in single-back offense, where people and linebackers have a focus on you, and you’ve got to be able to break tackles against an extra defender playing down inside. So it’s a real credit to those kids. They’re elusive, they’ve got speed, and they’ve got power. I think they’ve got a good mix and a good change of backs for their system.”

On Nebraska sophomore running back Brandon Jackson’s style
”I’ve thought long and hard about that, and it’s hard to compare him to anybody. I think he’s got his own unique style of running, and he’s elusive, he can break tackles, he’s been a real factor for us there’s no question about that. A lot of Brandon's strengths are not only in the running game but as a pass protector, as a route runner. He’s really a complete back in every sense. I’m extremely proud of Brandon. He’s worked really hard, and he’s had to overcome a lot of difficulties in terms of injuries, so I’m glad to see him have some success. We think the world of Brandon, and he continues to get better and continues to emerge as one of our key contributors.”

On what foreshadowed the success that Brandon Jackson has had this year
”His freshman year, we didn’t get a chance to redshirt him, and he came on very well and contributed to the offense. There were plays that we noticed him on film, if you watched down in Oklahoma there was a couple of plays where he was downfield blocking, and his speed downfield to throw a block was just incredible. He flashed all over the screen, and you can see that type of speed and quality in his makeup. He made a couple of runs down in Kansas State as a freshman when he scored on a draw play, and you saw his ability to elude defenders, make them miss, and also break through tackles. So those two instances pop up in my mind, as well as in the offseason, when you really get a chance to study a guy’s true speed, he demonstrated that."

On the similarities between this week’s game against Texas and the game against USC

“I don’t see this game as anything like USC.  This is a completely different game.  It’s completely different in our minds and in the players’ minds, it’s completely different.  I don’t think there are any similarities, and I think every week you go in with a game plan and you’re facing different problems, you’re looking at different match ups and you’re looking at a whole different defensive structure and coverage.  So this is completely different.  I know it’s different for the defense. They’re facing a spread offense as opposed to an I-back offense.  So it’s very different, different in the way that we’re attacking their coverages, attacking their fronts, and obviously attacking their offense, as well.  I think this is a separate game, this is a completely different scenario than what we were in against USC, or any opponent for that matter.”

 

On the ability that Texas has to interchange players’ positions

“They have a lot of athletes that played running back in high school.  You look back at their profiles, they played running back in high school and have been moved into the secondary because of their athletic ability and athleticism.  But we always try to acquire corners who are multi-dimensional, who have another skill.  Whether it be more physical, whether it be more coverage ability, and then if they can’t then we look at them as a safety.  But we always start at corner first and then move back inside.  That’s what we like to do, but it’s not a fail-proof system.  At times we’ll go out and recruit a safety for a safety’s position, very similar to Major Culbert, and this is an example.  A lot of guys who have played here in the past, talking about (when) Charlie McBride (coached), started at safety and ended up coming down and playing the WILL linebacker and outside linebacker spot.  Philosophically, you like to start outside in or you like to start up and then bring them down, if that’s possible.  So there’s a lot of flexibility in how an individual grows and how he develops and the range of what you can do, but the speed factor is the number one area that we focus on and the athletic ability of change of direction and the ability to cover down as a corner man to man, it’s tough to see in high school football.  So there’s a little bit of a stretch there in terms of evaluation unless you’re seeing a corner that you can evaluate on film that has excellent coverage skills and you see him play a lot of man to man, which a lot of high schools don’t play they’re primarily zone defenses. Or you get an evaluation in a camp where you put them in a camp where you put them through the paces of an evaluation, then you get a pretty good idea of what the players look like through that experience.  And we try to do the best we can in that regard.”

 

On whether the game against Texas is the biggest game in his career at NU

“They’re all big, every game is big in the Big 12.  Every game, every week, every game’s a big game.  And that’s how we’re treating it. It’s just the next game.  We’ve had tremendous focus in that respect and our kids have really concentrated and prepared on who they’re playing next.  And as a player and as a coach, that’s all you can do.  We don’t get too high and we don’t get too low. We just have to keep an even keel in our approach and the way we go about our business.  That’s worked well for us in the last nine of 10 games, so we’re going to continue on with that type of format and that emphasis and that type of preparation.  Every game’s big, there’s no doubt about it. and we’re going out to win the game just like anybody else does.  We don’t make any more of it than what it really is.”

 

On how far this team has come since the game against USC

“I’d say it’s come a long way since last year’s K-State game, the Colorado game and the Michigan game.  I see us competing at a higher level than what we previously had prior to the K-State game.  I see development, I see improvement, I see progress in our players and in our scheme with what we’re asking them to do.  I wouldn’t particularly point out progress from the point of USC. I think we’ve made progress all along.  I think prior to USC, after USC, and as a coach that’s all you look for on a week to week basis is how well you can improve.  That’s a function of our style, to work on things that we can get better at for that particular week.  But that’s the prevailing philosophy, and that’s where we’re at.  I don’t think you really say that the USC game is where all of a sudden we improved. I don’t believe that.  I think there are a lot of good things we did in that game and a lot of things we needed to improve, just like this past week’s game against K-State.  I came away with some things we did really well. I was really proud of the efforts of our players, but realistically we come back and we say, “Hey look, there are a lot of things that we need to shore up, we need to get better at, we need to focus more on in order to reach a higher level,” and that’s a constant.  That’s something that we always preach and talk to our players about, and that’s essentially the goal for the week is trying to improve and take our game to another level.”

 

On freshman cornerback Ricky Thenarse

“When I was talking about corners, he’s one of those guys that I was talking about.  He has corner skills, he also has safety skills, and he’s interchangeable. He has the ability to play special teams and make impact plays on coverage and also the ability to grow and learn as a corner, as well.  He’s progressed, he’s doing well and we’d like to see him get better.  Like all these corners, it’s a tough position to be in when you’re out there on an island playing man-to-man whether you’re an off technique or bump technique, that’s a really tough assignment.  The ability to be tough-minded and come back from a bad play, or come back with a big play like he did at the conclusion of the game, is really a credit to his mindset.”

 

On the tradition of the 800th win

“I think it’s great for the tradition and the pageantry of college football that there are two teams with the 800 wins. And they’re great programs, believe me.  But I think our players, when all is said and done and they get out there and play, I don’t think they’re thinking about that too much.  It’s great to be a part of that, but in their preparation and their ability to go back out and play, there’s a different focus.  And there’s a tremendous respect for Texas and what they’ve done and just the success that they’ve had recently. They’ve done an excellent job.  And Mack (Brown has) done, I think, as fine as a job as you can in college football.  He’s an outstanding person and coach and he runs a classy program, so we have nothing but great things and respect for the University of Texas and their program.”

 

On how well he knows Mack Brown

“I had a chance (to meet Brown) at Wisconsin. I was asked to go down to their clinic when he was the head coach at North Carolina.  I spent a couple days with he and his staff, and they were tremendously hospitable in that regard, and I had the opportunity to sit and chat with him for a bit.  He was outstanding; he was a great guy.  A lot of people who I know who have gone through Texas always enjoy that trip, and I’m talking about pro coaches who go through there.  He’s a classy guy and he’s done a great job and, to his credit, deserving of that championship. It looks like they have another fine team this year.”

 

On Texas’ success with recruiting Texas athletes

“I think they’ve dominated recruiting.  I think they’re now working on their ’08 class. I think they’ve pretty much wrapped up for the year except for a couple guys here and there.  But they’ve dominated Texas recruiting, and to dominate that state is really a tribute to his focus and their goals as a staff.  They have some great athletes down in that state, as you know, because of the population base, and I think they’ve taken tremendous advantage of that.  They’re coaches have done an excellent job of evaluating, I think they have great rapport with the high school coaches. And the high school coaches receive that staff very well and they have a lot of communication and a good thing going in that regard.  But to dominate recruiting the way that they have, I’ve never seen that before.  They basically select. They’re in the selection business instead of the recruiting business.”

 

On the importance of special teams against Texas

“When you compete against a team like Texas, with as fine of athletes that they have, you’re challenged not only in the return game but in the coverage game.  We have our work cut out for us, and each week as we meet as a staff and a team we really put the premium on special teams.  And I say that honestly because when we walk into the team meeting on Sunday, the first thing that’s addressed is special teams.  And then as a team we watch the entirety of special teams together as a team.  When we come in at 1:00 this afternoon our focus will be on special teams for 20 minutes.  Each day begins with that emphasis, so we treat it very importantly around here and we take great pride in our special teams.  We think it’s a winning edge because, let’s face it, whether it’s a fake field goal, a punt where you pin an opponent inside the five or coverage that pins the opponent inside the 20, those are crucial, crucial plays in the game that create field position and the hidden yardage for the success of your team.  It’s not taken for granted. It’s not a phase of football that we kind of brush off to the side. It’s a phase that we have great pride and respect for, and it’s something that we emphasize on a daily basis.”

 

On what specifically needs to be worked on following the game against KSU

“Just going back to our basic fundamentals in our running game, we have to secure our edges a little bit better, and our second and third level blocking has to get better.  (Also,) the ability to get up on linebackers and safeties and really make the break out blocks that our backs need.  We also feel that the backside of our blocking is the most important aspect of our running game, so our backside is always being harped on and always being focused on.  In the passing game, you can never pass protect the ball enough, so that’s something that we really try to hone up in terms of the pickup and the blitzes that we’re facing now.  We’re seeing such a variety of blitzes, and Texas has an excellent pressure package that we have to get ready for, so those are things that we have to get better at on a weekly basis. And they challenge you as a football team because they come up in a lot of different areas.  They come up in the third-down region where if you’re in a one-back set, they’re going to come at you with one more defender than you have to block.  Understanding how all that’s choreographed and then getting to an audible or a check or throwing a hot, that takes a lot of work.  So you’re always trying to improve that facet of your play.”

 

On the possibility of playing Texas again in the Big 12 Championship Game

“We just take this week for what it is. It’s this week and just focus on this game and that’s all we look at.”

 

On the progress that Todd Peterson has made this year

“Well, Todd has the big body that you look for as a receiver.  He’s tall, he’s physical and, above all else, he’s a smart player. He’s an intelligent young man that takes a lot of pride in his practice performance, he prepares very well and he can play the game.  We just haven’t been in one of those years where we’re throwing the ball around a lot, 50 or 60 times, but if we were he’d certainly be a factor in that particular role.  He’s been in a lot of different situations so far this year in the running game and the passing game, so we’re proud of his progress. And as he gets better, you can see him emerge.  At Iowa State he caught a couple balls that I thought were pretty significant, gave us some first downs, but he’s a guy that I have tremendous respect for.  He’s a hard worker, he’s a prideful young man and he’s the epitome of what you look for in a Husker football player.”

 

On whether the game against Texas is more fun to prepare for because of the challenge
“They’re all fun. I enjoy football, so they’re all fun. I don’t care who it is.  It’s great that we’re playing Texas, but I enjoy each and every game that we’re involved in no more, no less than anyone else that we play.”