Senior Safety P.J. Smith

Nebraska Football
Weekly Press Conference
Monday, Oct. 1, 2012
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Pre-Ohio State

P.J. Smith
Senior, Safety
On the celebration of the Wisconsin game, to now preparing for Ohio State
"That is over with and done. We have a big game this week, a big challenge with Ohio State. Like Coach Pelini said, celebrate that win the night after the game. Yesterday we had a different mindset. The game is over, and it is time to move on to this week."

On what Smith expects the atmosphere will be like in Columbus
"It is going to be crazy, it is going to be wild, but it will be fun. We just got to go out there and execute the game plan. I am sure coach will come out with a great game plan, and it will be hyped. We just got to keep our emotions normal and go out and play."

On Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller
"He is a passer and he is a runner. It will be a good challenge to stop him. He is the key to their team, so if we slow him down we will be fine. It will be a hell of a challenge to stop him, but we are all looking forward to it."

On the similarities between Taylor Martinez and Braxton Miller
"They are both explosive running the ball, and they both are good passers. Practicing against Taylor in the spring kind of prepared us to stop Braxton. Like I said before, it is going to be a heck of a challenge to stop him. We need to get 11 guys to the ball."

On the change of preparation between Wisconsin's offense to Ohio State's
"Well they are a spread offense now, Wisconsin was just trying to pound the ball down our throat. They will spread the ball out and by spreading the ball out we will need more defensive backs out on the field rather than linebackers. They will try zone reads with the quarterback in a shotgun, and also quarterback draws."

On if there are similarities between UCLA's offense and Ohio State
"Yeah there is similarities between them, but I don't think they will do as many motions as UCLA did. They will try and spread us out and try to run the ball with the quarterback, like I said zone reads and quick passes."

On how many takeaways Smith thinks the defense could have had against Wisconsin
"Should have had four more. I had an opportunity to get one, Daimion (Stafford) had an opportunity to get one. Missed opportunities. Will Compton had a chance to get one, we should have had a lot more. If we would have gotten those turnovers, the game would have been a lot different. We still came out with the win, but it could have been a lot different."

On what kind of things the defense is emphasizing in practice
"What we do in practice is we all have to tag off the ball, first guy tackle, everybody else comes in and try's to rip the ball away. If the ball is in the air that is a different story, we break to the ball and we have to catch it. Like I said, I had a missed opportunity, I had the ball in my hand and let it go. We just need to be more focused and be more aggressive to the ball."

On if Braxton Miller give the defense opportunities to get turnovers
"I think all quarterbacks give you an opportunity when the ball is in the air, it is just how you go up and play it. It doesn't matter if you are the greatest quarterback in the world, but when the ball is up in the air, it is me versus you. If you are in the right position you can go up and get the ball, knock it down or something."

On if other Big Ten schools will try and motion their players like Wisconsin did
"I talked to Coach Terry (Joseph) yesterday and one of the things that made it hard to realize was the jerseys had a really small number, so we couldn't see who was spreading out and who was coming back in. It seemed like in the first half we were running around crazy trying to figure out where this guy was and where the other guy was. That was because the jerseys messed us up a little bit. Once we came out in the second half we were able to calm down and just play."

On how important it is to come out of the gates faster this week
"Very important, for one we don't have our crowd. Our crowd helped us out tremendously the other night, and we will be on the road in a hostile environment and they will be out to get us. You got to start out on the first play and set the tone, and let them know we are here to take care of business. It will be huge to score on the first drive and then get a three-and-out on the first defensive drive."

On Alonzo Whaley
"Alonzo, that is my boy, He is a hell of a worker. He works hard and gives it his all. Everybody struggles a game or two, even I struggled this last game, so that is just how the game goes. He really didn't disappear this year, it is just the type of offenses we have played, we need more nickel and dime guys out there, and he is our base linebacker. That is just how life goes. There is ups and downs, but the good thing is, is that he never gave up, he is going to keep fighting. He did a hell of a job last game."

On if Smith can relate to Whaley
"Me and Alfonzo sat around and talked about it this offseason. Your time will come and you have to take advantage of it. My career has had its ups and downs, but I am thankful about it because I have learned a lot. Keep going out there and work hard."

On if he wants to win this game for Coach Pelini
"We want to win every game for Bo, and this team, and this state. Our goal is to win the Big Ten, we have come close twice, but getting close doesn't cut it. This is one team that is in our way, but we just got to win. The senior class has been through a lot, we just need to stop messing around and get this win."