Offensive Lineman Jeremiah Sirles

Nebraska Football
Weekly Press Conference
Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Pre-Oklahoma State

On how was Texas was to stop the zone read so well
"I think a lot of it was Texas had a good defensive plan coming in, but a lot of it was ourselves as well. We had opportunities that we didn't execute well on the field. When the offense has an opportunity against a good defense like Texas, you have to be able to capitalize on it."

On what gave Texas the edge
"We were well-prepared going in. You control what you control. They had a good defensive plan going in and we had a good offensive plan going in, and at the end of the day it came down to missed opportunities and missed execution."

On how hard it is to turn the page on a loss
"When you come off the loss or come off the win, you have to treat them the same because if you focus too much on the loss then you don't pay attention enough on the next upcoming game. You have to correct what needs to be corrected from the loss. You have to do that and turn around and get prepared right away. I think this team has the maturity and seniority to be able to do that."

On if it's harder with all the focus on Saturday
"I wouldn't say it's harder. I would say it's more challenging. It's definitely a little more challenging, but that is part of being a football player and becoming a football player at this level is being able to get over that challenge and moving on to the next part."

On if their confidence is shaken
"I wouldn't say it's shaken because everything we want to achieve is still right out in front of us to achieve.  Everything we want is still right out there. One game does not make a season. It's another game. Everything we want is still right out in front of us. If we take care of ourselves the sky is the limit.

On the next two games against Oklahoma State and Missouri
"The next two-game stretch will be a good challenge for us. They are both very good teams, and I think going into these next two games we need to come in well-prepared, well-focused and execute what needs to be executed."

On what they are focusing on in preparing for Oklahoma State
"I think we focus more on ourselves. We focus on getting fixed what needs to get fixed on the offensive side of the ball when it comes to the missed opportunities we had last week, when it comes to taking the right step here, the small things, the details. When we take care of the details in our game and when we take care of everything that needs to be taken care of for us, we're a pretty good unit."

On what they see from Oklahoma State's defense
"They have a very solid front seven. I think that we match up well against them though. I think our offensive line matches up well with them. I think it will be a real pride fight coming up in the trenches this week. Whoever will be able to come out and continually get off the ball and keep going is going to come out on top. I think that is a good challenge for our offense to have this week."

On the goals they set prior to the season
"The big goal was to win the Big 12. That :01 doesn't just pertain to Texas, that :01 pertains to the Big 12 Championship. We still have every opportunity to go back to Dallas and win the Big 12 Championship. That is the big goal that is sitting right out in front of us, win the Big 12 North, and win the Big 12 Championship. This one game didn't take away either of those. We just need to continue to keep going so we can continue to work toward that goal."

On if they look at the loss to Texas as they lost the game or Texas beat them
"Not at all, give all the credit to Texas. They came out and played well. They played and they executed. They had a very good scheme on both sides of the ball. I feel we had a good scheme, but just did not execute as well as they did. They came out and they executed their things and we had our opportunities, we just happen to have missed them."

On how mad they are as an offensive line
"That is how we come out every week. It doesn't have to do with the fact that we're mad or angry. It's the fact that we need to come out and impose our will on another person's unit. That is just kind of the mindset in here with Coach (Barney) Cotton being at the helm of the guys up front.  I think that is a big deal for us to come out and be physical and lead our team."

On how it's different to block for Zac Lee or Taylor Martinez
"You can see the difference on film. When Taylor is in the game defenders are definitely afraid of his legs, but at the same time Zac has a pair of wheels on him as well. He isn't as fast as Taylor, but if he gets out in space, Zac can run a little bit. The defensive line doesn't spy as much when Zac is in the game, but they definitely were still concerned with his running game. It's not like when Zac came in we just went straight to drop back passes. We still incorporated the zone read with Zac Lee in there. I think that is a testament to his skill as well. All of our quarterbacks can throw and run, I feel like we keep defensives on their heels with a triple-threat like that."

On the speculation on which quarterback is a favorite on the team
"When we as an offensive line found out that Zac was going in, I think all five of us went up behind him, patted him on the butt and said all right, let's go. There is a reason they're putting you in, let's go win this game. When Taylor is in there, we're right behind Taylor as well, same thing when Cody comes in. We love all three of them. They all three are great guys. They all three are fantastic quarterbacks. When either one is in the game, there is a reason the coaches feel they need to be put in and they need to be rallied around as well. I feel that we really support all three of them equally."

On the sense when one guy is frustrated
"That is the coaches thing. The coaches have plans and rhymes and reasons for what they do. We do what's called. We block what's called, and we execute what's called. It doesn't matter if it's Taylor behind there calling the signals, Cody or Zac back there. If things aren't working because of a certain thing, it doesn't just fall on one person's shoulders. You might say Taylor couldn't get the run game and all of a sudden Zac is in there and the run game gets going. Well it's not just because Zac is in there that the run game gets going. It really comes down to all 11 guys executing to make everything work."

On how important it will be to control the ball against Oklahoma State
"I think the big thing is just going to be capitalizing on opportunities that our defense gives us. Oklahoma State has a very good offense and whenever their offense comes off the field, we have to make sure that we go and score when we're on the field because their offense is so explosive and they can score quickly. I have full confidence in our defense that they will be able to stop them. We just have to make sure that as an offensive unit when we get our chances we go out there and score."

On if it is easier or harder to practice during fall break
"No, I've been catching up on school work to tell you the truth. During football season it's a lot of stress and things going on between school work and football. These first couple of days I've gotten up early as usual and kind of caught up on all my studies. I wouldn't say it makes it easier or harder, putting a loss behind you is putting a loss behind you. Being an athlete and a competitor, any loss is tough to swallow. Being a college athlete, I really think helps being able to put that loss behind you and move forward. You have to. You can't dwell on a loss for a week or you lose focus on what is in front of you."

On how much pressure they feel to perform at home
"I've been asked this a few times now and I've said the same thing. I feel like there is something about playing here that is different, but I can't put my finger on it. I know that when we're playing on the road it seems like we're playing better and when we're at home it seems like we're so-so, but I don't know what it is to tell you the truth. I know there is something there. I don't know what it is and people ask me all the time - what's the deal - and I couldn't tell you what is going on with the home and away thing."

On if they are worried about failing the fans at home
"You see I don't know, that's the thing. I wouldn't say we're worried about failing the fans because we play for each other. We play for the guys behind us. I love our fans and I love the support that they give us, but I'm worried about the guy next to me and the guy next to him and the guy behind me calling the signals. That is who we really need to worry about in this program."

On if he thinks they will throw the ball more this week
"I think we're going to continue with our offensive scheme. Whatever needs to be done to win the game, Coach (Shawn) Watson and Coach Cotton and Coach (Tim) Beck and all those guys will look and study film and are going to give us a plan in which they think is going to work well against these guys. We just need to go out there and execute whatever they feel is going to help us win the game."