Tight End Mike McNeill

Nebraska Football Weekly Press Conference
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009
Memorial Stadium - Lincoln, Neb.
Pre-Baylor

On ball-security drills
“We’ve got to hang on to the ball. Obviously that’s what cost us the game and we need to work on it. I’ve never seen that many and obviously it’s quite a lot. It almost got to the point where you’re like, really, is this really happening, another fumble, another turnover? Obviously we’ve got to do a better job of holding on to the ball.”<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

On if a spark can come from one player or if it’s bigger than that
“I think overall one play can spark the offense, which can be done by anyone, but obviously we’ve got to execute the offense better. The turnovers are killing us, but I think a big play here or there obviously can spark the offense at anytime, kind of like against Missouri when Niles (Paul) made that touchdown catch and that kind of got things rolling. I think one player can do it.”

On if one player needs to step up vocally
“I don’t think it’s necessarily that. I think a lot of times it’s just the way you practice and doing it by action. I don’t think you necessarily have to say something. Obviously it helps to have a vocal leader, but at the same time, you can just show people how to do the right thing by the way you practice and the way you handle yourself.”

On if he’s been frustrated with a lack of receptions
“We’re just going to keep running the offense. I don’t know that I’m going to become the focal point of the offense. Obviously like I’ve said, I like getting the ball, but I like winning games. I’d like to see the ball just because that’s something I like. I like catching the ball, but that’s not what we’re going to run the offense on. We’re not going to just base the offense on me.”

On if it has been tough scoring only 17 points in the past two games
“Obviously it’s tough. I’d be lying if I said we were happy. We’re not happy with the way we’re playing. You also got to look against Iowa State, we played pretty well offensively. We turned the ball over, which is what hurt us, but we put up a fair amount of yards. We were moving the ball, we were playing well. We know we need to play better and we will. We just need to put it all together and just play football.”