Pre Illinois Press Conference - Head Coach Mike Riley

Nebraska Football
Weekly Press Conference
Monday, Sept. 25, 2017
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Pre-Illinois

Head Coach Mike Riley
Opening Statement
“All right, welcome everybody. I thought I’d give you a little bit of an update injury-wise. Somebody asked me about Aaron Williams. He actually got hurt on that play where he was ejected. But he is OK I think to play this week. Tyrin Ferguson is working to get back. I don’t know for sure yet, we’ll see how he is today. Tre Bryant is doing the same thing. He might do a little more than he has done, but we don’t know where he will be. David Knevel should start working, don’t know if he is ready to play yet. Marcus Newby won’t be. Josh Kalu won’t be. Cole Conrad is coming back. We will see where he is today. Stanley Morgan, we are hoping he is better today. I haven’t seen him yet today. I hope he gets better. Bryan Reimers has got a hamstring, so it is going to be slow going this week. Matt Farniok is maybe able to do some stuff. He is going to have a big club on him. He has got a cast and they are going to put a gigantic fist. He can’t hold, that might be a bonus.

So that’s that, and then game summary. We played a lot of good defense. I think that it was nice to see as actually after the first series we had a pretty good identity. Our rushing defense was outstanding. I think they had 68 total yards, 194 total. Their longest run of the game was 13 yards. Their longest pass was 19. They were 3-of-12 on third down, and they had 12 first downs. It is hard to win with those kind of stats. So it was a good game defensively. Offensively, obviously our highlight was our runners. Devine [Ozigbo] had 105 yards and had a 4.2 average. Mikale [Wilbon] had 79 yards and a 5.6 average. And then we were sparked for sure with where we are offensively. To have a spark with a punt return was a big deal the other day. It put us in that scoring field position that made a big difference in the game. It was interesting, we had three new guys playing the outside linebacker position on one side. Ben Stille and Sedrick King and Alex Davis kind of shared that spot almost evenly. I don’t remember exactly, but it was all around 17, 18, 19 plays each in sharing that spot. I thought that our defensive staff, Coach Diaco and the group, he used them wisely in situational football during the game. So they did a nice job. Luke Gifford had one of his very best football games as a Husker. Dedrick Young II and Chris Weber were really good solid players for us. Carlos Davis was a physical force, both in playing the run and rushing the quarterback. Lamar Jackson had a good game, getting better as we go. Antonio Reed is getting more comfortable playing and doing a nice job. Kieron Williams went in on a moment’s notice. I guess after nine plays or something that Aaron played and did a nice job for us in the game.

Nick Gates and Jerald Foster played well on the offensive line. Mike Decker and Brenden Jaimes did a nice job. So we’re pleased with those two new starters there. De’Mornay Pierson-El made a big play in the punt return and made some nice catches. JD Spielman, I think is going to be a real good player. The more and more we can feed them the ball, he can make plays for us. Devine [Ozigbo] and Mikale [Wilbon] and then Drew Brown had another good day. He’s been really, really solid. He mis-hit the first kick-off, I think the ball was falling off of the tee when he hit it. But he has been as consistent as I’ve been around at kicking the ball.

The issues we have, we have to balance out our offense. Not the other way. We don’t necessarily have to have more attempts, we just have to be more effective in all parts of the passing game. We did pretty well on third down the other day, and we did well on both sides of the ball. That’s just going to be important to us to get better overall in the passing game. This week is going to be another great week of preparation, our kids were great last week. And we have a lot of moving parts with new players. I thought it was a good week of preparation. And it ended up into a game that was hard, and I really appreciated the resiliency of our team. We responded through the preparation and the mental outlook and toughness on the game. I think we responded to adversity in a way better way.

Now we’re going to get to play another Big Ten opponent, it’s a huge game for us. So it’s going to be a week of focus, getting everybody locked into playing again and getting physical. It’s going to be a physical football game and play a smart football game. It’s fun to see situations like on the punt return where guys avoided a clip or avoided a block that would have negated a play. It’s fun to see Luke Gifford, although he might have liked to score a touchdown at the end, to take a knee and just finish the game out after his interception. It’s fun to see guys make smart choices in football. Kind of the opposite of what happened on the interception return. We had two penalties on the play. And those guys aren’t as used to blocking in those situations, so all of a sudden rules click in where you can’t block below the waist or you obviously can’t block in the back, so we hurt ourselves in that way. It’s part of the process of playing, and that’s why I said we have to get ready to play physical and be smart as we play football. You always have to be prepared to be able to recover from something that happens in the game, and you always have to expect it to be hard. We should know that way by now, the way the games have done and the way we have had to play. The expectation for this to be a three-hour 27-minute competition is very, very important as we go into it. So our focus with our team is continuing growth of each player and excitement for the preparation of the week. I’ve always thought that the best thing to do is play a game and hopefully have won it, and get back in the vacuum of another week hopefully having the previous game’s experience be good for your growth. I’m hopeful that will happen, that we will have a good week of practice and we can use what happened in the game and get better from it. We will try to live in that vacuum of getting ready for one game. Our job and our total focus is on the preparation of our team for this week.

I know you will ask the question about the short week, we’re not really concerned with it. We adjusted our day yesterday to be with our players and review the game. And to give them a little bit of a stretch/weight workout just to get the previous game out of them a little bit. We’ll go into pretty much a regular routine. We have to squish today together a little bit, it’s a little bit of a normal down and distance plus a little bit of third down offensively. So we’ll go with that. This is our day four practice today, it will be a little longer than our normal Monday workout will be. But it won’t be as long as what would normally happen on Tuesday. We have to get all the stuff in so we squish it together a little bit today and we’ll be onto a normal schedule from here on out. Looking forward to getting started today with our team, later on this afternoon. They’re coming in a little bit later than normal, 4 p.m., and we will have a little bit later practice today. Just to give the coaches time for that extra preparation that we need in what is a short week. But we don’t expect it to affect us. We will just get ready to go and play and we will be ready to go and play.”

On Nebraska’s running backs
“We spent some time last night and this morning talking about those two players and how we’re going right now. We’ll have to see. We also inserted Jaylin Bradley in there, I think he got five or six carries, which is good. But I think if everything is the same, if Tre [Bryant] is not involved in this at this time, then we will probably start Mikale [Wilbon] and play those guys pretty evenly this coming week.”

On Nebraska’s defense
“I’m excited about the growth and excitement in the defense with the defensive players. I think that they are excited about what they are learning. I think they are definitely getting better. I think the idea of playing team defense is definitely catching on. The idea of each guy doing his job and being good at it and locking into each play is a tremendous focus by the coaches on each play defense and it’s been fun to see that growth and it’s also fun to see that excitement in what they’re doing and in getting better. There are lots of new faces that are playing a part in that, like I mentioned, three outside linebackers at one position. Sedrick King played probably more than he ever has since we’ve been here, and of course Ben Stille switched positions Wednesday. He played a little bit before, goes in and he plays solidly. And like I said also I thought the coaches did a nice job of utilizing those three players situationally in the game. Alex Davis, more in a pass-rush situation, and the other two guys, first and second down. It was well-done. So it’s neat to see those guys. We have some real stability on the inside with Chris Weber and Dedrick Young II, I think that that’s real good for our team. Our front is, I think getting better. Those guys that are relatively new, the Davis twins [Carlos Davis and Khalil Davis] are playing this much and are getting more and more used to what they can do in this defense. Even though they maybe didn’t get any sacks, they made some impactful plays in the passing game, rushing the quarterback. All of that is good to see.”

On Joshua Kalu’s injury
“We would like to say day-to-day, but I would say our most hopeful thought is week-to-week. If he is indeed out, which, I think he is, unless something’s different in the next couple days, then I’m hopeful for next Monday.”

On Chris Jones’ injury
“I have not had any new discussions with Chris. I think that when that time might come, that he might be healthy to play, then we’ve got something to talk about. Until he is actually got to a point where he may be cleared, which we do not have that point today, then there’s no reason for that discussion yet.”

On the Illinois quarterback situation
“I think it’s kind of like last week. We only saw the guy for maybe one play, so I think in general as you’re getting ready, you have to be ready for what either one of them might bring which is a little bit different. We will prepare for either what they have done or what they might do or what might be in their history, and then hopefully be able to adjust to the quarterback or quarterbacks that might play in the game.”

On helping quarterbacks reduce interceptions
“The first thing that we try to do is decide what is the best way to help him with that. One of the things I would say for sure is that we did a little bit better job of it as we protected him better last week. Now he made one error in the decision on throwing the ball that was a dramatic error that cost us a touchdown. But for the most part, besides that, in the areas that we wanted to control first, the protection was better. So we’ve got to continue to do that and we’ve got to be very, very thoughtful in the protection and the routes that we put into the game and prepare him best for the choices he can make and the defenses he’s going to see and where the ball should go. So a lot of that has to do with continued work with his preparation. These are the routes that fit into Illinois’ coverages, this is where, when you see if the ball should go. So its quick decisions and then really, really good, both protection and route running. We’ve had through all the years, we’ve had quarterbacks have these issues for sure. And the best way to do it is not necessarily simplify it but really condense, and really get down to the choices at hand, and when you have a look, make the throw. And we’ve got to be really good, like I said, both in the protection of what we’re doing and in the patterns that we’re running.”

On reading the defense
“I think there’s a couple of ways to look at progressions for quarterbacks and one of them is just an order of openness. If you’re open I’m throwing it to you. The defense plays a role in that for sure, and a lot of times you can eliminate you by the coverage right away. If you see a safety rolled over to the top of you, and a corner sitting right there, then you’re out, I’m going to No. 2. So it’s really an order of being open. The other thing that’s always a great clue and sometimes it just determines very specifically early where the quarterback is going to go, by where the safety is. Here’s a pattern, this is going to be your progression, if the safety is over here, we’re working over here, 1-2-3. If the safety moves back over to this side, we can look this side, 1-2-3. And so we try to give him that, and so seeing it, and the guys being right in what they’re doing right in the route and of course the protection working together. We’ve had probably too many situations where he has been disrupted with protection. Not necessarily sacked but disrupted that then caused the ball to be bad. So we’ve got to help him in some ways and we’ve got to be very defined on what we can do with the football in a progression of basically, being open.”

On the best quarterback at reading defenses he has coached:
“It’s hard for me to separate the guys. Probably through the course of his career, Sean Mannion (Oregon State quarterback, 2010-14) was really good at it, and we had Sean from the time he was a freshman. But I could not separate them all as seniors. (Oregon State quarterbacks) Matt Moore and Derek Anderson, from when they got there to their senior years…Matt wasn’t dissimilar (to Tanner Lee), he threw a lot of interceptions his first year. I think one game against Arizona at halftime, he was 28-32 at halftime and not one ball hit the ground. They were all caught (laughs). We’ve had issues, but they’ve all got better as they got older and they got more in the system.”

On where he thinks Tanner Lee needs to improve:
“Well, I think, obviously, choices for one thing. I think it was actually a vertical route that he has thrown tremendously well since he got here and he has thrown a million times probably in his life.  But, it was more of a condensed field, the ball was in the middle, they did not have to expand quite as far to get on the receivers, so then the defender has less room to defend. He got underneath it he didn't put enough... so much of the ball everybody talks about arm strength. A lot of throwing is about the right ball with trajectory. And so he missed on that. And so the kind of ball that you throw and basically that's all in it. And then so I think choices, you asked the number one thing, it's choices with the football. And then the other thing that he can do is don't make a bad play worse. I think that when a guy wants to make a play, and frankly when we are not doing as well as we want to, then you tend to force things. The first interception on third down, you know, they jumped into coverage on him that surprised him and then that ball should have been, at the worst for us, should have been a throw away, then punt. That's the way that was working, all of the sudden they jumped into coverage, it wasn't good for the route. He didn't have time to step into the throw, to throw it with good trajectory as he threw it anyway. And that would have been the perfect time to bail out of here and just go for the punt. Let's punt the ball. A quarterback has to understand that there are... not every play... someone is going to get beat sometimes in pass protection, sometimes the receiver is going to get covered, and it's not there and now all of the sudden something is coming and things are starting to break down. It’s not going to be a great play, don't make it worse. That's where a lot of times a quarterback can make his worst decision."

On Antonio Reed

"I think he is playing with more confidence. I think that as he plays more now, he'll get used to playing with one hand, you know, I think that you can tell that he thinks about that, but I think he's getting more and more over that, and I think Antonio will be a really good player. I am really excited about his growth, and I am not happy about the circumstances but I am glad he is playing in the games, because I think he will get better and better."

On other defensive backs returning to the lineup

"We will have way more flexibility as we get healthier in the same way with what we can do. Getting to nickel packages right now with us is pretty thin for us right. So as we get healthier and everything else stays stable, we'll get better, we'll have more options with how to use people in the defense."

On the offensive line

"I was impressed with the mentality going into the game with that group. That group stayed pretty quiet all week. And I really didn't know what that meant, you know what I mean? I didn't know if that meant these guys are beat or they're going to come out fighting and they came out fighting. And they did it with a couple new faces in there which is impressive. They stayed with it, I think that...you know, in a good recipe for a win, the part that they played in it was very good as to what this team can look like. Running the ball to win at the end is a good thing to be able to do. So, that mentality as we go forward, if we can build on that, and like I said if we an balance it out with not necessarily more often but more efficient passing game we're going to be better and better."  

On having freshman Brenden Jaimes start as a tackle

"It has been rare in our life, in college football for an offensive lineman to play as a true freshman. We recognize this kid's ability and kind of his unfazed mentality of playing with our team when we started camp. It was impressive. So we noticed him right away as being different, that's why we kept him, even though we didn't expect him to be active, that's why we kept him on the travel squad, kept him working with the varsity. We recognize that in him. Most of the time at that position they not only need some physical work, and frankly Brenden (Jaimes) could have used a year of getting bigger. But as far as how tough he is, his athletic ability, how smart he is, he's been able to prove that he can play, and he did a nice job the other day. But, most of the time we have found them to need both the learning and physical development. I think Michael Philipp played as a true freshman. I think Issac Seumalo played as a true freshman, but there has not even been a handful for us through the years." 

On Michael Decker 

"I was really impressed with Mike. I liked how, we all liked, how analytic he was on the sideline with information, this is what they're doing, he was smart, he played tough. He got his first, real long-time experience. I'm proud of him and excited for him." 

On the balance 

"That's a good question, I think that... if you want to address the quarterback part of that and whether or not you make a change in quarterback. I think that with our situation this year with basically, we had the benefit of Tanner having played in games, but we hadn't had anyone that had played in a game for Nebraska. So, we did a physical evaluation, mental one throughout spring and fall camp and felt like he won the job, which he did during that time and I think for those reasons, both his experience and his ability, and I think his ability to learn that he is our best opportunity to play well. So we've got to do our part with him in the coaching and the development all around him, so he can really utilize his abilities that way. We, however, like to keep the door open for competition as it goes.  I think that you saw a good example of that with Devine (Ozigbo). You know Devine, had all that stuff about not playing and a guy that has played. I told him this even a couple weeks ago. He'll have an opportunity so be ready for it. And so I was really proud of him for how he approached it, because like I told him and the team yesterday, he played like he's been practicing. He's been practicing real well. We have all seen those situations where a guy gets disappointed and he focuses on the disappointment, and you know if it was my own kid I would call it pouting. But, he never did that. He just practiced hard, prepared himself and then he played a good football game the other day. So we would like so say that as guys practice, that the door for competition is open and it was evident that he was ready to play with Tre (Bryant) being out and us finding that opportunity to play him, we took advantage of it." 

On what was keeping Devine Ozigbo out 

"I think that I wouldn't even say there was a hole, and I have repeated this many times. We had three better backs than we did a year ago, and they're all the same now. We had to make a choice with where they were. The initial choice for the first game was to say Tre Bryant won the job, and we are going to give you the ball and let you play. And that, right or wrong, that worked out pretty well. And then in the second game Tre gets hurt, and we go to the next step which is Mikale (Wilbon) and he played well. Then we got into a situation where we felt Devine was ready to go and we should give him that opportunity and maybe we didn't approach it exactly like we did back at the first game. We let these guys play and both have a significant impact on the game. Mikale averaged 5.6 yards per carry, and Devine gained 105 yards. That's a pretty good day."

On what discussions he will have with the team about the upcoming schedule

"You know we really don't.  I really don't go any further than this week. I think the main focus for our team, obviously is getting better. So this week of practice will be about Illinois preparation and everybody at their job getting better. We have some obvious areas that have been good that we want to keep good or get a little bit better. We have some areas that we need some work in that I have already mentioned, the passing game in particular. And then there is always that growth in football. You know I went through the night before the game a couple weeks ago about playing smart football and all the choices that come up in a football game. So, we want to be that team that makes the right choice on a punt return when you're doing that 10-yard line rule. We want to be the team that makes the right choice bringing the ball out of the end zone or not. We want to be that team that makes a good choice on the fair catch. We want to be that team that makes a good choice on beating the block on a kick-off, not running around the block, but beating the block so we can make a tackle. We want to be that team that is continually making smart choices and that part of it never stops. Because there's always great examples in a game of good choices and not so good choices. And that's the beautiful thing about coaching football, because as guys grow and learn and you have a team of guys that are willing to learn to make good choices in all those situations you'll get better."

On Illinois head coach Lovie Smith 

"I think that they are in that program that is trying to build, and as I see this league, they're a good example of this team that is building into the competition. The Big Ten has been rising, the bar has been set by people probably though the years. I guess most recently wherever Ohio State is thought of. They kind of set the bar up there. I have mentioned this before, that I have seen this happen. Back then it was the Pac-10 when Pete Carroll was at USC and all the sudden they took off and all of the sudden you either had to rise up and get better or get left in the dust. You know that's where everybody in the league has to get better to do that, and so I think as we go you'll see more and more teams being more and more competitive. You've seen Indiana do that, you're seeing Purdue do that this year. Your're seeing people...that's happening. And so the competition will just rise and that will be the case with Illinois."

On first-down plays
"I've always thought of first down as a 50/50 down, you know, that can change a little bit according to your team and and/or your approach and/or what's happened. For us, where we were in the previous game and how that went and the deal we were going to be heavier by design on first down with the running game. You know, like I said, it can be dictated by a number factors as you look at it. But, in general, in my life, first down is 50/50. I like it that way.