Ben Stille Quote 9-20-21

Nebraska Football
Pre-Michigan State
Monday, Sept. 20, 2021

Press Conference Video

On pass rush this season
“There is obviously a lot more than just sacks obviously hits hurries batted balls. Those are things we were really focused on and another thing that is really preached is just collapsing the pocket and making the quarterback throw it out of a well and not be able to follow through so I think that is another stat that does not necessarily get any glory for that either I think we have been solid especially the first three games. Last game we struggled from a down and distance perspective I think we struggled on third downs as a whole. A lot of that was because we could not get them into third and long and they are really good at executing third and medium and we knew that so a lot of that is just from doing the work on first and second down.:”
 
On navigating the next couple of months mentally and physically
“Yeah I mean I think there has to be a premium on recovery I think that is the only way to have an advantage on any of the teams that we play in the future and through experience I have learned that. Just personally school takes away from recovery that aspect of it the amount of time you have to spend on that and so for me personally just having a lighter load having graduated and whatnot gives me a lot more time to focus on recovery.”
 
On first impression on Michigan State
“Yeah I saw him this morning a little bit kid is very elite. Probably one of the best backs if not the best back we are going to see this season. It is going to take all of us up front to slow him down and that is going to be our goal.”

On thoughts on night game
“Definitely a lot more energy in the stadium so that is always nice. We are pretty used to playing these morning games. Not necessarily the most fun thing to sit in the hotel all day and wait for it but then once you get out on the field it is definitely more electric.”

On Deontre Thomas
“I think honestly that might have been his best game he has played since he has been here. He is an older guy so he has a ton of experience it is not like he does not have a million reps he has got dang near as many reps I mean he has been playing since his true freshman year. I did not even play that year but he played. So I mean he has been playing for a long time and so he is leaning on that experience and it is starting to pay off for him just because he has been healthy and been able to show it. It is something we have seen in practice a lot but a lot of fans and media have not been able to see it so really proud of him.”
 
On penalties
“I think a lot of it is older guys more veteran guys just better technique. When you can rely on your technique and be better than that you are not going to do the things that maybe make you panic and draw those penalties. So I think that is a lot of it really just experience and guys relying on their technique that our coaches teach us.”
On what Ben Stille’s standard is
“I do not know exactly statistically what they had 400 yards offense that is not something we should put as a goal to allow. I think given all their stats and their third down conversion rate for them to only have 23 or whatever it was that is best case scenario yeah we have to get off the field on third down and whatever their conversion rate was over 50 percent is not good enough for us.”
 
On high school coach
“He taught me to love the game he puts a lot into it. I would be surprised if there was another high school coach in the state that puts as much time into it as he does. He puts his life into it year round and just a ton of respect for that and all the work he does to bring those kids and bring the program to what it is today. Before he got there when he was not necessarily a thing and it has continued even after my run and the kids that have been there because of him.”
NU Athletic Communications