Bye week helps Armstrong regain health

By Brian Rosenthal / Huskers.com

Tommy Armstrong Jr. admitted that if Nebraska had played Saturday, he likely wouldn’t have.

“Probably not, honestly,” said Armstrong, the Nebraska senior quarterback. “I was kind of banged up a little bit."

Good thing, then, the Huskers had a bye week.

That’s true for many players who've been ailing after four weeks of fall camp and five straight weeks of games.

It’s especially true for arguably Nebraska’s most important player on offense.

“We’re going to have tough games ahead, but you’re only as strong as your quarterback,” Armstrong said Monday. “There’s a lot of people that say if you have a tough quarterback you have a tough team. So I want to be a tough S.O.B. and have those guys follow me. Get out there and no matter what, let those guys know I’m going to work my tail off to win games for them.”

Nebraska (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) rose to No. 10 in this week’s Associated Press poll – the Huskers’ first top 10 ranking since 2011 – despite sitting idle.

Skeptics will point to the combined 10-18 record of Nebraska’s first five opponents. Only one, Wyoming, currently has a winning record, and ironically, that’s been the Huskers' most-lopsided victory to date.

What’s it all mean?

Nebraska coach Mike Riley points to a quotation he recently read.

“Growth is not an option or a luxury, it’s a necessity.”

That really hit home to Riley, he said, regarding his football team.

“We’ve got to keep on the rise,” Riley said at his weekly news conference. “We certainly haven’t been always pretty, but I like our team a lot in what we’ve done and how we continue to play throughout the game. Our team has kept its poise and played our best ball in the fourth quarter.”

Nebraska has outscored opponents 78-6 in the fourth quarter, a testament to strong conditioning and strong mental makeup.

As for coming out of the gate?

“I think I’ve got to remind them it’s not against the rules to score more in the first (quarter) and get something going,” Riley said.

Nebraska, which travels to Indiana (3-2, 1-1) for a 2:30 p.m. game Saturday, made good use of its bye week, Riley said. The Huskers practiced three times and, in an abnormality from regular game weeks, went through a Sunday practice in which they went through next week’s game plan full-speed but without contact.

Armstrong, in a walking boot last week, participated in that workout after missing last week’s practices. He said he was injured on the horse collar tackle, a 15-yard penalty that spurred Nebraska on its go-ahead touchdown drive against Illinois.

“I fought through that game,” Armstrong said, “but this bye week helped me a lot.”

Wide receiver Alonzo Moore, who missed the Illinois game with a shoulder injury, also improved over the bye week and practiced Sunday. He’s expected to play against Indiana.

Other notable players are still questionable or doubtful for Nebraska’s first game against the Hoosiers in 36 years.

Wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp (back) and tight end Cethan Carter (elbow) aren’t on this week’s depth chart, and Riley said both are doubtful to play. Guard Tanner Famer, who’s not played since leaving the Sept. 24 game at Northwestern game with an ankle injury, is questionable.

“I think tomorrow will tell a big tale about Tanner,” Riley said, “about him being ready or not.”

Running back Devine Ozigbo (ankle) is doubtful, and tackle David Knevel (ankle) will play and is expected to start.

Riley said he feels good about the depth at running back, with starter Terrell Newby and backups Mikale Wilbon and freshman Tre Bryant, if Ozigbo can’t play.

“I think Mikale has shown some good stuff and improvement all the time, and I think Tre Bryant is a good player,” Riley said. “I even made note of the fact, not knowing about Devine, that we needed to get Tre back more involved. It’s hard to play four running backs.”

Riley said he noticed a “mature” team during the bye week, one that wasn’t resting on its laurels or comfortable with its current position.

As for the lofty No. 10 ranking, Riley embraces it. He and his team, though, are ready to prove they’re capable of more.

“What really sets the table is the fact is we’ve got to keep our blinders on and not pay too much attention out there about the rankings or anything,” Riley said, “and just focus on our team getting better and getting ready each week to play our best game.”

Reach Brian at brosenthal@huskers.com or follow him on Twitter @GBRosenthal.