Here is a full recap of Nebraska's final weekly press conference of the season today at Memorial Stadium.
Head coach Mike Riley is scheduled to meet with reporters around 11:30 a.m.
***Riley is up.
***Riley said Nebraska had an 8-to-1 advantage in explosive plays against Maryland, which he said was one of the biggest differences in the game.
***Riley said Ryker Fyfe played with poised, produced, managed the game and "didn't have any drama" on the field.
***Highlight players from Saturday were Banderas, Akinmoladun, Aaron Williams, Reed, Cotton, Morgan, Westerkamp, Terrell Newby, Gates, McNitt, Simpson, Weber, Domann, and Lindsay.
***Riley said Tommy Armstrong is getting better but still questionable right now. He's definitely improved, but not sure if he's improved enough yet. Guessing they'll know by the end of tomorrow's practice.
***Riley said Ryker Fyfe broke bone in left wrist, had surgery, pin put in, possibly play. Same scenario as Armstrong. Will wear brace on left hand, can throw. Still TBD how he'll be able to execute.
***NU will get Zack Darlington ready and have packages ready for him if necessary.
***Stanley Morgan got "dinged" vs. Maryland and is under concussion protocol. Drew Brown is also progressing well through concussion protocol and will kick tonight at practice. Dedrick Young is improving from an ankle injury but Riley is not sure what Young will be able to do tonight.
***Riley said "I don't know" when asked who will take the No. 1 snaps at QB tonight. They think both Armstrong and Ffye will "be able to do something" in practice and they'll also give Darlington some snaps. He said they'll know more about the QB situation after tonight and a lot more after Tuesday's practice.
***Riley said they've talked about getting somebody ready behind Darlington in case of an emergency, and guys like Lamar Jackson (who played some QB in high school) have been brought up. They're still hoping they won't have to go there.
***Riley said Devine Ozigbo is the "healthiest he's been" this season. Riley said Newby has played the best ball of his career the past month and Tre Bryant has elevated his game while Ozgibo has been out. Ozigbo was available to play vs. Maryland.
***Riley said Bryant took advantage of the opportunity with Ozigbo out, and at this moment Bryant is ahead of Ozigbo in the rotation. If it stays that way will depend on how this week of practice goes.
***Riley said with the offense so questionable right now NU will need it's best defensive performance of the season on Friday. He said the defense must be very sound and disciplined with how much Iowa uses play-action and misdirection runs.
***Regardless of who the quarterback is, Riley said they obviously won't get as much production out of the QB run game. However, they won't take that element out of the offense entirely.
***Riley said he has a great level of comfort with both Armstrong and Fyfe to be pocket quarterbacks.
***Riley said Nebraska has to still be balanced as much as possible this week even with all the question marks, and they know Iowa is going to try and take away the running game first and foremost.
***Riley said Nebraska is viewing this week "as a championship game."
***Riley said Bryant has always shown great ability as a runner and receiver, but what has really improved over the course of the year has been all the other aspects of the position. Bryant's pass blocking, ball security, and overall knowledge of the offense have all gotten noticeably better.
***That's all for Riley.
***Jordan Westerkamp is now up.
***Westerkamp said he would consider Iowa Nebraska's No. 1 rivalry at this point. A big reason is how competitive the series has been the past few years.
***Westerkamp said Armstrong is still watching film and he "lives in the training room", so there are no worries over whether Armstrong will be ready to go mentally.
***Westerkamp said Iowa "always has the toughest linebackers they play" every season. He said that makes it tough on slot receivers like him. He said Iowa's linebackers play extremely hard and "fly all over the field."
***That's all for Westerkamp.
***Kevin Maurice is up.
***Maurice said you have to understanding at this point in the season that everybody is tired, sore and hurting, and you have to toughen up mentally and finish strong. "If you're not hurting by now, you're not doing anything."
***Maurice said the defense knows full full that stopping the run is the biggest key of all against Iowa, and the Blackshirts are preparing for the challenge this week.
***Maurice said he does not like playing on Black Friday and have a day less rest this week. The good news is they can sit back and watch football on Saturday. The bad news is they have to focus on football and hold off on Thanksgiving this week.
"It's tough for the fat boys. That's our favorite."
***Maurice said he was first one to miss a tackle on Maryland's 92-yard touchdown pass. He said he doesn't think he'll have to do any punishment at practice tonight. "I hope I don't have to do anything."
***That's all for Maurice.
That wraps up the up-front portion of today's press conference. Much more coming soon.
Head coach Mike Riley is scheduled to meet with reporters around 11:30 a.m.
***Riley is up.
***Riley said Nebraska had an 8-to-1 advantage in explosive plays against Maryland, which he said was one of the biggest differences in the game.
***Riley said Ryker Fyfe played with poised, produced, managed the game and "didn't have any drama" on the field.
***Highlight players from Saturday were Banderas, Akinmoladun, Aaron Williams, Reed, Cotton, Morgan, Westerkamp, Terrell Newby, Gates, McNitt, Simpson, Weber, Domann, and Lindsay.
***Riley said Tommy Armstrong is getting better but still questionable right now. He's definitely improved, but not sure if he's improved enough yet. Guessing they'll know by the end of tomorrow's practice.
***Riley said Ryker Fyfe broke bone in left wrist, had surgery, pin put in, possibly play. Same scenario as Armstrong. Will wear brace on left hand, can throw. Still TBD how he'll be able to execute.
***NU will get Zack Darlington ready and have packages ready for him if necessary.
***Stanley Morgan got "dinged" vs. Maryland and is under concussion protocol. Drew Brown is also progressing well through concussion protocol and will kick tonight at practice. Dedrick Young is improving from an ankle injury but Riley is not sure what Young will be able to do tonight.
***Riley said "I don't know" when asked who will take the No. 1 snaps at QB tonight. They think both Armstrong and Ffye will "be able to do something" in practice and they'll also give Darlington some snaps. He said they'll know more about the QB situation after tonight and a lot more after Tuesday's practice.
***Riley said they've talked about getting somebody ready behind Darlington in case of an emergency, and guys like Lamar Jackson (who played some QB in high school) have been brought up. They're still hoping they won't have to go there.
***Riley said Devine Ozigbo is the "healthiest he's been" this season. Riley said Newby has played the best ball of his career the past month and Tre Bryant has elevated his game while Ozgibo has been out. Ozigbo was available to play vs. Maryland.
***Riley said Bryant took advantage of the opportunity with Ozigbo out, and at this moment Bryant is ahead of Ozigbo in the rotation. If it stays that way will depend on how this week of practice goes.
***Riley said with the offense so questionable right now NU will need it's best defensive performance of the season on Friday. He said the defense must be very sound and disciplined with how much Iowa uses play-action and misdirection runs.
***Regardless of who the quarterback is, Riley said they obviously won't get as much production out of the QB run game. However, they won't take that element out of the offense entirely.
***Riley said he has a great level of comfort with both Armstrong and Fyfe to be pocket quarterbacks.
***Riley said Nebraska has to still be balanced as much as possible this week even with all the question marks, and they know Iowa is going to try and take away the running game first and foremost.
***Riley said Nebraska is viewing this week "as a championship game."
***Riley said Bryant has always shown great ability as a runner and receiver, but what has really improved over the course of the year has been all the other aspects of the position. Bryant's pass blocking, ball security, and overall knowledge of the offense have all gotten noticeably better.
***That's all for Riley.
***Jordan Westerkamp is now up.
***Westerkamp said he would consider Iowa Nebraska's No. 1 rivalry at this point. A big reason is how competitive the series has been the past few years.
***Westerkamp said Armstrong is still watching film and he "lives in the training room", so there are no worries over whether Armstrong will be ready to go mentally.
***Westerkamp said Iowa "always has the toughest linebackers they play" every season. He said that makes it tough on slot receivers like him. He said Iowa's linebackers play extremely hard and "fly all over the field."
***That's all for Westerkamp.
***Kevin Maurice is up.
***Maurice said you have to understanding at this point in the season that everybody is tired, sore and hurting, and you have to toughen up mentally and finish strong. "If you're not hurting by now, you're not doing anything."
***Maurice said the defense knows full full that stopping the run is the biggest key of all against Iowa, and the Blackshirts are preparing for the challenge this week.
***Maurice said he does not like playing on Black Friday and have a day less rest this week. The good news is they can sit back and watch football on Saturday. The bad news is they have to focus on football and hold off on Thanksgiving this week.
"It's tough for the fat boys. That's our favorite."
***Maurice said he was first one to miss a tackle on Maryland's 92-yard touchdown pass. He said he doesn't think he'll have to do any punishment at practice tonight. "I hope I don't have to do anything."
***That's all for Maurice.
That wraps up the up-front portion of today's press conference. Much more coming soon.
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