%20--%3e%3csvg%20version='1.1'%20id='Nebraska_N'%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20x='0px'%20y='0px'%20viewBox='0%200%20163%20152'%20style='enable-background:new%200%200%20163%20152;'%20xml:space='preserve'%3e%3cstyle%20type='text/css'%3e%20.st0{fill:%23FFFFFF;}%20%3c/style%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M159.1,144c-2.3,0-4.1,1.8-4.1,4s1.8,4,4,4s4-1.8,4-4S161.2,144,159.1,144z%20M159,151.2c-1.8,0-3.2-1.4-3.2-3.2%20s1.4-3.2,3.2-3.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.5,3.2,3.2C162.2,149.8,160.8,151.2,159,151.2z'/%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M157.4,145.6h1.4c0.6,0,0.8,0,1.1,0.2c0.4,0.2,0.6,0.6,0.6,1.1c0,0.4-0.1,0.7-0.3,1c-0.1,0.2-0.3,0.2-0.6,0.4%20h-0.1l1.1,2.1h-0.8l-1-2h-0.6v2h-0.8L157.4,145.6L157.4,145.6z%20M158.6,147.7c0,0,0.3,0,0.4,0c0.4-0.1,0.6-0.3,0.6-0.8%20c0-0.3-0.1-0.5-0.4-0.6c-0.1,0-0.1,0-0.6,0h-0.4v1.4L158.6,147.7L158.6,147.7z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M147,0H93h-5v5v35v5h5h5v24.8L55.2,2.3L53.7,0H51H5H0v5v35v5h5h5v62H5H0v5v35v5h5h54h5v-5v-35v-5h-5h-5V82.2%20l42.8,67.5l1.5,2.3h2.7h46h5v-5v-35v-5h-5h-5V45h5h5v-5V5V0H147z%20M150,5v35v3h-3h-7v66h7h3v3v35v3h-3h-46h-1.6l-0.9-1.4L52,75.3%20V109h7h3v3v35v3h-3H5H2v-3v-35v-3h3h7V43H5H2v-3V5V2h3h46h1.7l0.9,1.4L100,76.7V43h-7h-3v-3V5V2h3h54h3V5z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M103,87L103,87L51,5H5v35c0,0,7.8,0,10,0c0,3.3,0,68.7,0,72l0,0c-2.2,0-10,0-10,0v35h54v-35c0,0-7.8,0-10,0l0,0%20c0-2.6,0-47,0-47l52,82h46v-35c0,0-7.8,0-10,0l0,0c0-3.3,0-68.7,0-72c2.2,0,10,0,10,0V5H93v35c0,0,7.8,0,10,0%20C103,42.6,103,87,103,87z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Nebraska Football
Weekly Press Conference
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Monday, Sept. 16, 2019
Pre-Illinois
On the reliance on big plays to score touchdowns
“That’s an interesting question. I would say this, I think big plays definitely help us and as part of our offense I think generating big plays whether it be a run up the middle or a deep pass helps our offense flow and get into that tempo even more. It helps us feel like we have the defense being on their heels. With that being said, I don’t think we need it to have a long drive and score a touchdown, but having big plays help.”
On entering Big Ten play
“Our whole team knows it’s time for Big Ten play and we’re looking forward to it. It’s almost like the start of a new season, we’re excited that we get to start this Saturday.”
On what he knows about the Big Ten entering conference play
“I wouldn’t say it’s something that I didn’t know, but it’s tough, it’s physical and every game is going to be a close one. Every game is going to be hard fought, you can’t take any opponent lightly. It’s pretty evenly distributed and a good all-around conference.”
On the importance of getting the first road win of the Frost era
“I would say it’s very important and it’s something that we aim to do this Saturday. Like you said, we haven’t won on the road yet, and I think we are definitely capable of doing it. It’s time to go out there and get it done.”
On senior wide receiver Kanawai Noa
“He’s a real reliable guy. He’s standup, humble, pretty quiet, a receiver that I can count on, and I think he’s shown progress and stayed persistent. He didn’t get as many opportunities as probably he wanted or I wanted the first couple games, but he’s stuck with it and I think it paid off, and he’ll continue to get better as we progress.”
On Kanawai Noa during the first two games
“He’s not the type of guy to come to me and ask for the ball. He gets it and he’s doing his job to the best of his abilities and that’s something I respect. He wasn’t upset about not getting the ball, he was upset about losing. He understands the bigger picture and he’s in it for the team.”
On what worked better offensively against Northern Illinois
“Having that experience from the week prior, not being able to finish in the third quarter motivated the team coming out, it was a learning lesson. I think we came out and proved that we are capable of finishing a game and completing some drives that were necessary for us.”
On if opposing defenses are more prepared for the Nebraska offense this year than last year
“I wouldn’t say so. I think teams are going to prepare how they want and it’s not something that I’m necessarily concerned about. Some of the teams have shown up in different pictures, different looks than we have anticipated sometimes, but it is what it is. I have confidence in our guys and regardless of what they’re doing we have the ability to execute.”
On going for it on fourth and short
“Whatever Coach Frost is calling, I’m all in for. If that requires me to run it, I’m going to try to the best of my ability to get the first down. I think it speaks a lot to the confidence he has in me in those situations. I don’t take those situations lightly. I go out there and do my best to get the job done."
On being smarter with his body and knowing when to avoid hits
“I would say I’m smarter for sure. I think that was a learning process for sure last year, especially early in the season last year. With that being said, there’s still a lof of times in the game when you need to lower your shoulder and stay in bounds, fight for a few extra yards or whatever the case may be. This year I’m a lot smarter when it comes to that.”
On where the most progress has been on offense
“In general, all of us. I’ve gotten a lot better since the first game, the offensive line has done a great job, our receivers have progressed, more guys are getting involved. Dedrick [Mills] and Maurice [Washington] have done a really good job of getting better out in practice, focusing on what they need to get better at and detailing certain things, and it showed this last Saturday. They are two guys I would say have done a really good job.”
On if preparation changes when playing a team that you’ve played before
“Not necessarily, and something to take into consideration too is that I’ve seen them as well. I wouldn’t say it necessarily plays a factor in my mind as far as how they’re preparing for me. I’m going to go about my usual business and have that memory of playing them the last year, and they might make adjustments and change scheme or change coaches. There are a lot of different factors, but in my mind, I’m preparing the same way and I’m going to go out there and do my job.”
On throwing against a zone defense like Illinois
“I wouldn’t say something changes in my mind, but I have to be focused and dialed in. When teams play zone there are certain windows you have to fit it into, and that’s part of our offense and part of my game. It’s something that I’ll be honing in on this week.”
On the pass to Wan’Dale Robinson in the two-minute drive to close the first half
“It was a little off the mark, I think Wan’Dale made a good catch there. I think we just went out there and executed, something that we practice all the time. There wasn’t a whole lot of thinking. We knew what to do, we’d been in that situation before, and we went out there and played. There are a few passes that I wish I had back throughout the night, but on that drive, I was pleased we were able to get a score.”
On offensive lineman Broc Bando
“Broc stepped up. He was ready to go and that’s just part of how our team is built. You have to be prepared to be the starter and be ready to play, and Broc stepped up in that moment.”
On freshman wide reciever/running back Wan’Dale Robinson
“He’s very dynamic. He can be a running back, a receiver, slot, he provides a lot for us. He’s a lot of different tools. He’s going to continue to get better and it’s only up from here for him. He has a lot of capabilities going forward.”
On leading the team entering Big Ten play
“Every game is going to be important for us and this week is no different. Big Ten play starts and it’s very important to start 1-0. For the guys that have been here and maybe the guys that haven’t, it’s my job to let those guys know that this is the Big Ten. Everyone is going to be good, everyone is going to be solid and you have to come ready to play or else we are going to get beat. We know that we can’t go out and expect to win, we have to go out and perform.”
NU Athletic Communications