Scott Frost Quotes - 10-25-21

Scott Frost
Nebraska Head Coach

On the keys to Nebraska being more successful in the red zone
“I think you just have to be able to run base stuff and get it in. You just have to be able to block away just speaking for us. I cannot speak for everybody. Our basic stuff has to be a little better so we get more yards on just our basic stuff, which just means we need to block a little better, run a little better. You always go into a game with some schemes to try to scheme something into the endzone. Obviously there was a nine overtime game in the league. I do not think you ever have enough for something like that. You cannot have 20 of those, or you are wasting a lot of time practicing on that, so it really comes down to just being efficient at what you are doing and being a little better at it. There are good defenses in the league though.”
 
On the setup for the bye week last week
“As a staff we got a lot of time to watch them (Purdue). Obviously then we watched the Wisconsin game yesterday several times and it helps. I thought the guys have more of a spring in their step again. They were a little worn down and tired. That is natural with eight straight weeks and starting a week early. So I think it was good for our guys just to get refreshed.”
 
On how he is feeling after the bye week
“Refreshed. Got some great rest. Excited to get back after it.”
 
On the new rule in overtime (switching to two-point conversions)
“It made for an interesting game. I had anxiety watching that game. You would run out of things to call. Both good teams, and somebody had to win and somebody had to lose. You know they are trying to shorten a game, and then they got a nine-overtime game, but that is the rules you know. It was good for us as a coaching staff to see that, just to make sure we can be ready for it.”
 
On Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez
“He is good. He is going to be 100 percent. He has been dealing with quite a bit of stuff and fighting through stuff, and he is a warrior for doing it. He will be a full go.”
 
On Purdue's passing game testing Nebraska's secondary
“Deontai (Williams) will be back this season. I do not know when. You always want to have everybody up when you are playing a team like this. They are going to throw a lot of stuff at you. You have to be ready. You have to be disciplined, and they've got some good players everywhere, but definitely a receiver that can beat you. So we have to have eyes on him and cover well and try to get to the quarterback. I think Purdue had a good chance Saturday. I think they turned it over five times. It is hard to win that way. So I do not expect we will get that same effort from them. I expect them to come in ready to go. Another good Big Ten team. It will be a battle.”
 
On Purdue’s performance against Iowa
“There’s a lot of good teams in the league and every week any team can win. It usually just comes down to a few plays here and there. Purdue made the plays in the game for sure. Everything just went the right way for them for sure. It was a great game and we have to expect that same team to come here, too.”
 
On facing talented players like Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis
“He’s a good player and definitely one of the better players that we have played. I think that he has good guys around him, too. They're pass rushers, too. I’m really impressed with their linebacker, number six (Jalen Graham). They’re a good defense and have become one of the better defenses in the league, in my opinion. You really have to watch where Karlaftis is all the time and account for him. We have to battle and do the best that we can do.”
 
On Husker freshman defensive back Marques Buford Jr.
“He’s doing well. He’s one of those kids who came in mature and ready to attack. I always say that's the mark of a freshman that's going to play early. It’s not necessarily talent, but how quickly they grow up and become adults and good teammates, and he came in that way. I’m excited about him right now and in the future.”
 
On redshirt freshman offensive lineman Brant Banks
“Brant’s back, which is good. It's always good to have more guys that have played and can do it. We’ll see where he factors in moving forward.”
 
On freshman tight end Thomas Fidone II
“I’m really excited about Thomas. He’s still shaking a little bit of rust off. He’s missed a lot of reps and some of the stuff that we’re doing. When he's ready to play and gives us as good or better of a chance to win as the other guys, then he will be out there. He’s got a really bright future and we’ll see how quick that comes.”
 
On ground covered on the recruiting trail and being on the road again
“All the coaches hit the road. I went to a high school and to a game. The response was awesome. I was just talking to Barrett Ruud about it this morning. He’s stuck mostly locally. The response we got from coaches and administrators and students. I think that people are really proud of this team and watching this team. The response and reaction that coaches said they got on the road. It’s really tough recruiting without being able to go out and evaluate and get in front of coaches and getting into high schools. We needed this and it's a good first step.”
 
On if it’s reassuring to have positive feedback even if the wins haven’t been there
“That’s encouraging. We beat ourselves up pretty bad. We’ve come up just an inch short too many times, but when I look at it the progress is obvious. The team is playing hard and playing more physical. We are bigger faster and stronger. There are some areas we need to fix, but I think people are recognizing the type of team we have and the level we are playing at. It’s up to us to make the plays when it counts to get over the hump.”
 
On if there is a mental hurdle the team has to overcome
“I think that’s pretty accurate. Human beings are habitual. When you are used to winning, I think winning becomes a little easier. When you aren’t there yet, I think it’s a little harder and maybe you are waiting on it to happen instead of making it happen. I do think that little bit of extra confidence of knowing it’s going to happen rather than hoping could probably take us to the next step. We are trying to be as psychological with the guys as we can, but they believe how good of a team they are. It’s just a matter of making the play when it counts and when it matters the most.”
 
On if he is ever tempted to push the mad button
“I’m tempted in here sometimes. No. We don’t let you guys into practice for a lot of reasons and that’s one of them because we do hit the mad button sometimes. I hit it on Wednesday. I put them in a lot of situations Wednesday simulating the game just to try to help them experience that a little more. Not that we haven’t done that before, but we just continue to try and put them into competitive situations. This one matters, can we count on you when it counts. We did a lot of really good things. We did a couple dumb things. I wasn’t happy about it. There is a time and place for that, and certain coaches we have on staff are better at it than others, but they are getting the players to play hard. This team believes how good they are and we have another really good opponent coming in here, so we get another chance.”
 
On if it’s productive to lose it on game day
“I think in general I don’t want to comment on anyone before me, but I think in general a team takes on the characteristics of its leader. Leaders that are players. Leaders that are position coaches and leaders that are head coaches. When leaders aren’t staying cool, it’s hard for the team to stay cool. Game day is the time you should feel confident in the preparation. You should feel ready and that’s probably when you should be your calmest while being really fired up to win.”

NU Athletic Communications