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Nebraska Football
Pre-Illinois
Monday, Aug. 23, 2021
Press Conference Video
On if it feels like game week
“It does. You can just feel it on the team. The team is ready to get after it and I think it is a long time coming. I think everyone is ready to really get their focus on Saturday.
On adjusting to a new tackler
“It really doesn’t matter. Those two guys communicate. Honestly sometimes I do not know who is on the left side of me they are rotating so much. Everybody rotates. I will be going with the twos sometimes I will be going with the ones. It is kind of like a mix so I do not think there is going to be issues at all with the left tackle. I think both guys are capable.”
On taking a step up physically
“Yeah last year I played about 285 and right now I weighed in at 307 so I am playing like 22 pounds heavier. Duval has been doing a good job in the weight room. We will see Saturday. We have a great defensive line and they have been getting the offensive line ready and I cannot wait to see the defensive line go against someone else except each other.”
On the rotating offensive line
“It is similar. Coach Austin he is always looking to see if somebody is maybe a little bit better at another position. It is like a trial and error. But right now I think the guys that are rotating are at the spot they need to be and I think we are looking good for the game this Saturday.”
On the significance of the Illinois game
“The most important game is Saturday. I think that has been stressed on the team. We cannot get ahead of ourselves. We got to go one game at a time and Illinois. We have been since the Rutgers game last year. We have had our eyes on Illinois. It is the biggest game because we have been preparing for the last eight months for this game. Like I said I think the team is excited and confident going into this game Saturday.”
Advice for guys playing their first road game
“Just treat it like practice. Coach Frost does a great job turn up the music and putting us in high pressure situations while we are tired. Honestly from my experience the game is almost easier than practice so they should not get too worked up. They should honestly the next two days put in the work and Saturday will just be a breeze for them.”
On defensive players getting Blackshirts today
“Yeah, I think especially from my standpoint you go against those guys day in and day out and you can see the work they put in and for them to be honored by a Blackshirt is very special. I started at defense, so I always strived for that Blackshirt but as O-line, just a lot of respect. Those guys deserve the Blackshirts they got and they put in a lot of work and nothing but good vibes for them.”
On having the big game of the day
“Like you said a lot of eyes are going to be on us but I think ultimately we just got to treat it like a game and say ‘Hey we have been preparing for this for the last eight months so let’s get after them.’ I think that is all there is to it.”
On Cam Jurgens
“Cam Jurgens is the dude. He works hard. He is gritty. He is the definition of what a pipeline player should be and for me just to be next to him I feel extremely honored. He elevates my game as well. In the offensive line room we got all these definitions of what a pipeline is and he fits every single category. He is just the dude.”
On the offensive line leaders
“Those guys like you said Trent (Hixson), Broc (Bando), and (Matt) Sichterman they have meant a lot because they have been through a lot of coaching staffs. The transition they know the offense better than anybody else because they have been here the longest and honestly they have been great leaders on the team for especially me and the younger guys just being able to instill what Coach Austin is trying to get across to the offensive line. Every day you come in and it is just awesome. Their leadership for us.”
On Matt Sichterman getting a start
“Definitely. I think that is awesome. There is nobody more technical. There is nobody that pays more attention to detail than Matt Sichterman. He is a workhorse and for him to be able to start I think is a testament to him and his work ethic. I am super excited to see. I think he is going to be a great lineman this year and I cannot wait to see what he does this Saturday.”
On offensive identity
“Four or five yards a play. We are going to go downhill. We are going to move the ball and when we move the ball we are going to move a pass on them. I think our biggest identity is just moving the line of scrimmage two yards every single play and able to give Adrian the time to throw. Just hard-nose football.”
Emphasis on penalties
“Penalties have been huge this fall camp. Last year we had a lot of holding. Me false-starts but every single time if you do a penalty in practice you have to pay extra and the guys will really get after you so it helps change your mindset of like this means a lot. We’ve put a lot of stress on penalties especially false-starts this year and I know it is going to be better this year.”
On how they “pay extra”
“Running lifting push-ups and stuff. After practice you run a couple gassers which is not very fun when you had a two and a half hour practice out in the heat and you have to go run more especially in knee braces. But you pay an extra bill if you have a penalty in camp.”
On “paying extra” in the past
We have done it in the past but it has been more of an emphasis. It has been more severe penalties. Maybe last year we did like fifteen pushups. Now it is like a conditioning set.”
NU Athletic Communications