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Nebraska Football
Pre-Iowa
Monday, Nov. 23, 2020
Press Conference Video
On the team’s mindset after Saturdays’ game
“We got to be constructive about what went on Saturday and then just turn the page and move on to the next game. These weeks go by fast so capitalizing on every day, preparing the best of our ability every day, is going to put us in the best position to succeed on Friday.”
On the opportunity to get back on the field Friday
“Every game is a blessing. I think we all saw first-hand on Saturday how precious this game really is with Colin Miller and what went on there. So, regardless of a short, long week, we're excited to get back out on the field.”
On his message to younger players on the team who are going through similar situations that he experienced
“It's tough. It's not easy. But adversity sharpens men. Adversity makes men. And just because it's not going the way you envisioned it going doesn't mean that it's not for you or it's not still there for you to take. So just stick the course, continue to be hypercritical of how you can get better, how you can prepare better, how you can lock in more in different ways and continue to just trust the process.”
On the struggles on third down
“When it's third and short, I think the real problem’s on first and second down. We’re not getting them in third and longs, so that's probably the biggest issue right there. Just everything in between, just the details on getting pass rush, trusting our pass rush lanes, covering down on defense, making it hard for them on first and second down to convert on third down.”
On what’s hard about defending the run in the Big Ten
“The Big Ten is a run-first league. We got some of the biggest offensive lineman, biggest tight ends, big fullbacks and talented running backs across the whole league. So you got to be sound in your run fits. You got to play more physical than them on defense and you got to get them out of their game plan, what they want to do to you, which is run the ball vertically down your throat. We struggled with the stretch in the past, so it's really just the whole run game. Being able to stop and adjust to anything that they're giving us and that we're able to punch them back.”
On what’s tough about defending the stretch play
“You just got to be gap sound. You got to set a tight edge. Everyone's got to be in their interior gap. We got to have a guy on the backside and then we also have to be able to stop the reverses and anything coming out on the back end. So, it's just it's just being gap sound, being good at football and getting vertical and being more physical than them.”
On his favorite Thanksgiving food
“I love steak and mashed potatoes. Not a big turkey guy. I'm willing to try some new turkey, but I'm a homegrown just steak and mashed potato guy.”
On what has made the rivalry against Iowa intensify in the last couple of seasons
“Iowa’s a big game just because they’re our border. It’s Nebraska versus Iowa. It’s the Heroes Game. There's a trophy. But at the end of the day, it's two football teams going at it and one’s going to end up on top and one’s not. We really want to end up on top this year. We're doing everything in our power to prepare this week to be that team on top.”
On what has made the rivalry against Iowa intensify in the last couple of seasons
“They’re going to try and run it down our throats. They’re going to try to out physical us in all three phases of the game. They're going to try to punch in the mouth and then keep us down. And we're going to be trying to do the same thing. So not being discouraged if they get us or if we get them. Just staying levelheaded and playing four quarters of a good football.”
On if he sees the same run game in practice that he sees on Saturdays
“We are ramping it up. It’s tough to bang during the week when you know guys are banged up from the game on Saturday. Definitely this week more than in the past weeks we're being as physical as humanly possible. We're throwing our bodies out on the line. We're preparing ourselves not only mentally, but physically, more than I think we have before based off of how practice went today. We're doing everything in our power to set ourselves up for success on Friday.”
On what the team can do Friday to turn the outcome in its favor
“We all want to win. We just want to win. And the fact that it's Iowa this week and that we are coming off a not so great game, it just makes it that much like the passion is going to be there and the anticipation is going to be there. It’s going to make it that much sweeter when we come out on top on Friday. Coming off a low week and then getting a dub is amazing, but then there like a rival and a Hero Game would mean a lot. So that's what we're striving for, that's what we're preparing ourselves for, and that's what we're hoping for.”
NU Athletic Communications