Ameer Abdullah Quotes

Nebraska Football
Weekly Press Conference
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Monday, Nov. 17, 2012
Pre-Iowa

Ameer Abdullah
So., I-back, Homewood, Ala.

On how long it took him to learn how to pass block
"I've always known how to pass block. Of course, it is bigger guys coming and different kinds of blitzes, but I've always known how to pass block. You just have to get more confident that you can pass block against certain people. It's not about knowing how to pass block. I've always known how to pass block."

On how he picks up defensive blitzes and when he started to learn how
"We work on that in the week prior to each certain game. Early in the season, we put an emphasis on pass protection and picking up blitzes. I would say early in the season I got a feel for picking up certain twists, picking up gut blitzes and things like that."

On if it is surprising to him how quick the offense can be in all aspects
"It doesn't surprise me at all. I saw it this summer with all the talent we have at the receiver position. Probably one of the most talented receiver corps Nebraska has ever had. The running back position as well. We have a lot of talent, even with Rex (Burkhead) out and of course. Taylor (Martinez) brings his two-dimensional game with his feet and his arm. It doesn't surprise me at all. If we have an off day running, then I expect the receivers to pick up the slack and vice-versa. It doesn't surprise me at all."

On Braylon Heard in the slot position
"We've started to get him in certain positions to give defenses different looks to try to defend. Braylon is a really good runner. He's a really good slot runner. He almost took one to the house, if he hadn't slipped and he would have been gone. It just shows his talent and what he can do on the field."

On if he's ever played quarterback and if he can play
"I played it in middle school. I can throw the ball and I'd like to think I'm a pretty good thrower."

On if he ran out of room on the half-back pass play
"The guy just wasn't open. If he was open then I was just going to let it fly. I dream of moments like that with the half-back pass, but he wasn't open. If it's not open just eat it so it's not the end of the world."

On if they've been sitting on that play all season
"We all come up with plays like that, but it worked particularly for this week and the defensive fronts that they show and certain looks that we presented them."

On how they've handled the pressure of winning out
"I feel like we've handled it really well. We take each week the same. We take care of ourselves and everything will fall into place and that's what is going to happen. We're just taking care of ourselves because our biggest enemy is us. We're our biggest enemy, so when we take care of ourselves everything else will just fall into place."

On what "taking care of ourselves" entails
"Being assignment sound, being efficient and going hard every play."

On how the short week affects the team's preparation
"We have to do everything a day earlier. Today we will get to the install and everything that we usually do on Tuesdays and Mondays. We just have to be focused and have everybody locked in."

On if Wednesday will give them more time as a team since there are no classes
"Definitely. For me, I'm going to be in the film room putting in more time because it is a short week and I don't have as much time to relax. Wednesday should give us a good chance to watch film on Iowa and see how they stop the run and stop the pass."

On possibly having the chance to play Maryland
"I don't know anything about Maryland football. I can't answer that."

On Ron Brown calling him Mighty Mouse
"My high school head coach used to call me Mighty Mouse as well. He was my high school coach when I was a freshman and sophomore, then he retired. It's not the first time I've heard it. It's alright, I'm not big on nicknames at all, but Coach Brown has a name for everybody, not just me."

On how he takes that name
"It's Mighty Mouse. You've seen the cartoons, he was a really courageous character and he beat all odds. If he thinks that highly of me, then I appreciate it. It is alright I guess."