Nebraska Coach Bill Callahan Postgame Quotes

Nebraska vs. Oklahoma State
Postgame Quotes
Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006
Boone Pickens Stadium
Stillwater, Okla.

Nebraska Head Coach Bill Callahan
On Oklahoma State’s performance
“Give them a lot of credit today, they were outstanding in the second half. We just did not respond and make the plays we needed to make in the second half. Give them credit, they are a fine football team, and they definitely deserve the win.”

On his team’s performance
“First of all, our goals are still intact, and we have an excellent opportunity to capture the North. Secondly, we just have to get better. I am not pleased with our efforts today. We can play better, we can coach better and that was pretty evident today. I felt coming into today that special teams was an area that we had to at least match, and we failed to do that. I was not satisfied with our fielding decisions, our coverage and our kicking.”

On second half performance
“We could have responded better. There were flashes of good plays, but other plays where we dropped balls, missed tackles and coverages. I was not satisfied at all with what we did in the second half. We knew they were a great second-half team. Our kids knew that, they just did not respond.”

On Zac Taylor’s performance
“There were instances where our protection could have been better. He got beat up a little bit. Overall, I think he made good decisions, but we need to do a better job of route running for him. Our route running today was not as good as it could have been.”

On Oklahoma State’s running backs
“Their running game was outstanding. I thought their boundary runs were excellent, they captured the corner and the perimeters well on their runs. Their backs were impressive. Savage and Tolsten have quickness and elusiveness.  You got to credit those guys, and we have to get better on the second level.”

On Brandon Jackson’s performance
“He had 182 yards today and two touchdowns. He ran the ball hard and averaged 8.2 yards a carry.  We thought we could come in today and run the ball at them and that plan held up until we got behind. Then we started throwing the ball down the field, probably a little to much.  All in all, I thought he did a great job.”