Here is a full recap of Nebraska's weekly press conference here at Memorial Stadium, as the Huskers get ready to take on Minnesota this week.
***Mike Riley is up.
***Riley said Saturday’s loss to Ohio State started out bad and progressed “into a really bad day. There’s no getting around it.” He said it fell apart in the fact that NU was “frantic” defensively and the fundamentals and assignments fell apart as a result.
***Riley said the offensive struggles have been an issue for weeks now, and that’s the big chore this week going forward. The problems started well before the Ohio State game.
***Riley said the focus this week defensively will be playing sound and with great leverage, which were lacking all night vs. OSU. They need to “re-emphasize the way we play” defensively.
***Riley said they know what this team is capable of doing, and the challenge now is getting back to playing at that level. They haven’t been perfect all year, but they’ve played some good football and need to get back to that.
***Riley said they’ve gone back to “day one” stuff on special teams because of some of the decisions the units made in that game. He mentioned Tre Bryant catching the kickoff on the sideline and being stopped at the 5 as the prime example.
***Here is an update on what Riley had to say about Tommy Armstrong
***Along with the quarterback updates, Riley said Jerald Foster has a chance to return to the lineup and play this season. Foster has already redshirted in his career, so Riley said this was already "a lost season" for him and it's not like they would be wasting a year of eligibility.
"If he's healthy enough to play this year, we want to make sure he feels confident and ready enough to play," Riley said.
***Riley said they would have to know either way on Armstrong by Thursday for him to have a chance to play vs. Minnesota.
***Riley said Armstrong likely won’t practice tomorrow but hopefully will be at practice with the coaches.
***Riley lists Dedrick Young and Chris Weber as linebackers dealing with injuries.
***Riley said Tanner Farmer is "getting closer" to returning. Knevel also getting better.
***As for jumpstarting running game, Riley said he'd like to establish two "identity runs" he can repeat throughout the game and run well. Riley said no matter what you are trying to do offense: "you have to block guys."
***Hindsight being 20/20, does Riley wish he would have played one of those true freshmen on the offensive line? "Maybe." He said he would have definitely consider more knowing how things have played out.
***Riley said Tuesday's practice will tell a lot about how this team moves forward. On how his team bounces back from a loss like Ohio State: "You don't exactly flush it. It's not that easy."
Riley added: "I've got a lot of faith it's going to be a good reaction. We need to rely no older guys in our program... I don't think I have to play team psychiatrist."
***One positive is that Riley didn't think it was an issue of a lack of effort against Ohio State. It was just not executing and numerous mental and physical mistakes.
***That's all for Riley.
***Jordan Westerkamp is now up.
***Westerkamp said Armstrong is "doing well" and was mostly upset that he wasn't able to finish the game. "We're hoping for the best."
***Westerkamp said it was tough to see Armstrong getting carted off, especially because they didn't know any specifics on his status. Watching him come back onto the sideline was a big relief.
***Westerkamp said they're in a similar situation last year when Armstrong missed the Purdue game. Obviously they want Tommy out there, but it's the next man up and they'll rally behind Fyfe if they need to.
***As tough as last week's loss was, Westerkamp said NU must follow the 24-hour rule and put the game behind them.
***Westerkamp said Darlington was the "Swiss Army knife" for the Huskers and can do it all.
***Westerkamp said Minnesota's defense was "super fast and athletic", though they might not be the biggest defense NU has faced.
***Westerkamp said Fyfe was always relaxed in the pocket and was a better runner than some give him credit for. He said they'll be behind Fyfe "100%" if he starts.
***That's all for Westerkamp.
***Kieron Williams is now up.
***Williams said the defense "didn't play like ourselves" vs Ohio State. He still thinks they're a great defense and one of the better defenses in the Big Ten, and their goal is to show it this week.
***Williams compared the challenge of Minnesota this week will be more like what they faced vs. Wisconsin.
***Williams said Fyfe "is a very accurate guy" as a passer and "is going to put the ball in the right spot at the right time."
***Williams said it was important to watch the film of the OSU game because you have to learn from it and get better from it.
***Williams said he wasn't worried about the "emotional stamina" of this team because "we're all grown men" and can lean on each other for support to get through hard times.
***That's all for Williams.
That wraps up the up-front portion of today's press conference. Much more to come later.
***Mike Riley is up.
***Riley said Saturday’s loss to Ohio State started out bad and progressed “into a really bad day. There’s no getting around it.” He said it fell apart in the fact that NU was “frantic” defensively and the fundamentals and assignments fell apart as a result.
***Riley said the offensive struggles have been an issue for weeks now, and that’s the big chore this week going forward. The problems started well before the Ohio State game.
***Riley said the focus this week defensively will be playing sound and with great leverage, which were lacking all night vs. OSU. They need to “re-emphasize the way we play” defensively.
***Riley said they know what this team is capable of doing, and the challenge now is getting back to playing at that level. They haven’t been perfect all year, but they’ve played some good football and need to get back to that.
***Riley said they’ve gone back to “day one” stuff on special teams because of some of the decisions the units made in that game. He mentioned Tre Bryant catching the kickoff on the sideline and being stopped at the 5 as the prime example.
***Here is an update on what Riley had to say about Tommy Armstrong
***Along with the quarterback updates, Riley said Jerald Foster has a chance to return to the lineup and play this season. Foster has already redshirted in his career, so Riley said this was already "a lost season" for him and it's not like they would be wasting a year of eligibility.
"If he's healthy enough to play this year, we want to make sure he feels confident and ready enough to play," Riley said.
***Riley said they would have to know either way on Armstrong by Thursday for him to have a chance to play vs. Minnesota.
***Riley said Armstrong likely won’t practice tomorrow but hopefully will be at practice with the coaches.
***Riley lists Dedrick Young and Chris Weber as linebackers dealing with injuries.
***Riley said Tanner Farmer is "getting closer" to returning. Knevel also getting better.
***As for jumpstarting running game, Riley said he'd like to establish two "identity runs" he can repeat throughout the game and run well. Riley said no matter what you are trying to do offense: "you have to block guys."
***Hindsight being 20/20, does Riley wish he would have played one of those true freshmen on the offensive line? "Maybe." He said he would have definitely consider more knowing how things have played out.
***Riley said Tuesday's practice will tell a lot about how this team moves forward. On how his team bounces back from a loss like Ohio State: "You don't exactly flush it. It's not that easy."
Riley added: "I've got a lot of faith it's going to be a good reaction. We need to rely no older guys in our program... I don't think I have to play team psychiatrist."
***One positive is that Riley didn't think it was an issue of a lack of effort against Ohio State. It was just not executing and numerous mental and physical mistakes.
***That's all for Riley.
***Jordan Westerkamp is now up.
***Westerkamp said Armstrong is "doing well" and was mostly upset that he wasn't able to finish the game. "We're hoping for the best."
***Westerkamp said it was tough to see Armstrong getting carted off, especially because they didn't know any specifics on his status. Watching him come back onto the sideline was a big relief.
***Westerkamp said they're in a similar situation last year when Armstrong missed the Purdue game. Obviously they want Tommy out there, but it's the next man up and they'll rally behind Fyfe if they need to.
***As tough as last week's loss was, Westerkamp said NU must follow the 24-hour rule and put the game behind them.
***Westerkamp said Darlington was the "Swiss Army knife" for the Huskers and can do it all.
***Westerkamp said Minnesota's defense was "super fast and athletic", though they might not be the biggest defense NU has faced.
***Westerkamp said Fyfe was always relaxed in the pocket and was a better runner than some give him credit for. He said they'll be behind Fyfe "100%" if he starts.
***That's all for Westerkamp.
***Kieron Williams is now up.
***Williams said the defense "didn't play like ourselves" vs Ohio State. He still thinks they're a great defense and one of the better defenses in the Big Ten, and their goal is to show it this week.
***Williams compared the challenge of Minnesota this week will be more like what they faced vs. Wisconsin.
***Williams said Fyfe "is a very accurate guy" as a passer and "is going to put the ball in the right spot at the right time."
***Williams said it was important to watch the film of the OSU game because you have to learn from it and get better from it.
***Williams said he wasn't worried about the "emotional stamina" of this team because "we're all grown men" and can lean on each other for support to get through hard times.
***That's all for Williams.
That wraps up the up-front portion of today's press conference. Much more to come later.
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