Here is a full recap of Nebraska's weekly press conference from Memorial Stadium on Monday, as the Huskers get ready to open Big Ten play this week at Illinois...
***Jordan Westerkamp is now up.
***Westerkamp said it will be fun to go back to his native Illinois and play at his dad's alma mater. He also noted that he played three state championship games at Illinois' stadium and won all three games.
***Westerkamp said he expects "a ton" of family and friends at the game, roughly 30 people.
***Westerkamp said it will be great to get De'Mornay Pierson-El back in the mix at wide receiver, even though he joked he won't be happy giving up his role as the punt returner. He said Pierson-El has been working very hard to get back on the field since his injury, and he should be poised for a great rest of the season.
***Even though NU is 2-2 right now, Westerkamp said the experiences the Huskers have had already this year will only help them going into Big Ten play. Westerkamp said the team is confident and excited heading into league play.
***Westerkamp said some of the procedural penalties being called this season are being called tighter than they have been in previous years. He said he doesn't like to look backwards, but there were some penalties this year that weren't called much last season.
***That's all for Westerkamp.
***Mike Riley is now up.
***Riley said said the Southern Miss win was one of those games that didn't play out how they wanted it to, especially with kicking FGs instead of scoring TDs. He said they played better than the score indicated, but they let USM hang around too long and had second half mistakes, and it nearly cost them.
***Riley said NU has far less "missed assignments" offensively last week than they did vs. Miami.
***Riley said turnovers, the failed onside kick recovery, the last blocked FG, the pass defense and the number of penalties were the biggest concerns from the game.
***Riley said Andy Janovich was one of the brightest spots for NU in the game. "He's just a really good football player."
***Riley said Nebraska going 4-of-14 on third downs offensively played as big of a part as anything in the lack of red zone production.
***Riley said Janovich's role could be increased as time goes on, adding that he's had seasons where a fullback has caught 50 passes in a year. Riley said he thinks
***Riley said it's "positive" with Pierson-El's return, but he's not ready to say he's cleared to play this week. He said the danger is overusing him too early, but they hope to work him in in some capacity.
***Riley said both Josh Banderas and Vincent Valentine are "possible" to play this week. He said they'll know more as the week goes on.
***Riley said the running backs need to have better vision in finding cutback lanes. He said they missed a lot of opportunities to cut runs up field and left yards on the field, especially in the red zone.
***Riley said he's never seen injuries plague so many college football teams as they have already this season, and that Nebraska was obviously "living it" as well. He said he's had talks with NU's strength and conditioning staff to evaluate what they're doing and making sure they're not doing too much. He said they've already scaled back their practice intensity through the week during the season, only going "fast" on Tuesday and Wednesday in an effort take some of the wear and tear on players.
***Riley said the value of the walk-on program has been clear with how many walk-ons have stepped up and played big roles for the Huskers with so many scholarship starters missing time.
***Riley said Marcus Newby and Jack Gangwish are "50/50" to play this week. Riley said it's not surprising that Gangwish has recovered so quickly, but they won't know for sure on his availability until they see how he responds this week in practice.
***Riley said they are evaluating what they're doing schematically on defense to best use the players they have while also game planing against opposing offenses. He said there have been times in games where players lose confidence when adversity hits and they let one bad play turn into more bad plays by trying to overcompensate.
***Riley said the best way to deal with a defense that is struggling with confidence is "a review of fundamentals". He said by working on the details and little things, it can correct problems and allow players to execute better on the field, which in turn will build confidence back up.
***Riley said Freedom Akinmoladun is "becoming a force" as a pass rusher at defensive end.
***Riley said the staff will go "game by game" in approaching their first run through the Big Ten. Since every team will be a new opponent, they can only rely on old game tapes as film from this season.
***Riley said Illinois' offense looks pretty similar even after the coaching change. He said QB Wes Lunt has been very efficient and has some solid weapons around him. He said it's going to be a game where NU needs to be "accountable" with what Illinois is doing with the tailback while making sure not to give Lunt easy throws.
***Riley said Terrell Newby is NU's most versatile back, but the disappointment is that they haven't gotten the screen game going like they had hoped. He said Imani Cross plays a nice change of pace, and they've tried to get Devine Ozigbo more involved. As for Mikale Wilbon, Riley said as he continues to learn the position (aka pass protect) he could become a similar weapon to what Newby is right now.
***Riley said watching Janovich run "was fun, wasn't it?" He said the opportunities to run the fullback won't always be there like they were last week, but there should be more chances to get him involved. He said they're going to look at different ways to keep getting Janovich the football going forward.
***Riley said it's been a three-year deal with his teams that they've been better on third and long than they are on third and short. "It's like, 'Oh no, here comes third and one," he joked. He said they have to figure out how to be more effective in third and shorts, as they can't continue to rely on keeping drives alive on third and longs.
***That's all for Riley.
***Maliek Collins is now up.
***Collins said he personally didn't like the way the defense played vs. USM, especially the lack of pass rush from the d-line in passing situations.
***Collins said he's told Akinmoladun "he better make those plays" when he gets one-on-one matchups because teams are focusing on Collins.
***Collins said getting Pierson-El back makes him really want the defense to force more punts in order to get DPE the ball.
***That's all for Collins.
***Chris Weber is now up.
***Weber said this week will be like it's always been for him, as he'll continue to prepare like he's going to start with Banderas' status up in the air.
***Weber said the defense's confidence is still good, and that from watching film they've seen a lot of their problems are a result of their own mistakes. He said if everyone does their jobs a lot of the issues will be corrected.
***Weber said Southern Miss had a lot of ways to use the running backs vs linebackers in the passing game, and he expects Illinois to try and create similar matchups this week. He said getting that experience will help the linebackers defend it better in the future.
***Weber said a lot of people might have written of Nebraska's defense after four games, but they see the start of the Big Ten as a "new beginning" to show what they're all about.
***That's all for Weber.
***Jack Gangwish is now up.
***Gangwish said he's hopeful he can play this week, and that he's "chomping at the bit" to get back onto the field.
***Gangwish said Akinmoladun has developed really well over the past few weeks, especially with learning the finer points of the defensive end position. He said Freedom has a very bright future and he's excited to see how he develops.
***Gangwish said the defense has obviously had its share of issues, but he thinks the confidence is still there. He said the key was players having a short memory after bad plays and not letting things snowball out there.
***Gangwish said he's "extremely excited" for the start of Big Ten play. He said the non-conference games are fun and a chance to get your feet wet, but the conference slate were "the money games".
***Gangwish said he's gradually been able to keep his upper body strength up during his recovery from his elbow injury. He said he's tried to push it to get back, which the S&C staff probably hasn't liked, but he feels good about the progress he's made.
***Gangwish said he wanted to be back for the Miami game, but had to accept that his injury was going to take longer to heal. To be cleared, he said it's basically up to the doctors to decide where he is in his recovery. "I'm doing my best, I promise."
***Gangwish said Janovich "is one of the most humble, hard-working and diligent guys I've ever had the pleasure of working with." Asked if he was happy to see Janovich finally get his opportunity, Gangwish said "You're damn right."
***Thats all for Gangwish.
***Jordan Westerkamp is now up.
***Westerkamp said it will be fun to go back to his native Illinois and play at his dad's alma mater. He also noted that he played three state championship games at Illinois' stadium and won all three games.
***Westerkamp said he expects "a ton" of family and friends at the game, roughly 30 people.
***Westerkamp said it will be great to get De'Mornay Pierson-El back in the mix at wide receiver, even though he joked he won't be happy giving up his role as the punt returner. He said Pierson-El has been working very hard to get back on the field since his injury, and he should be poised for a great rest of the season.
***Even though NU is 2-2 right now, Westerkamp said the experiences the Huskers have had already this year will only help them going into Big Ten play. Westerkamp said the team is confident and excited heading into league play.
***Westerkamp said some of the procedural penalties being called this season are being called tighter than they have been in previous years. He said he doesn't like to look backwards, but there were some penalties this year that weren't called much last season.
***That's all for Westerkamp.
***Mike Riley is now up.
***Riley said said the Southern Miss win was one of those games that didn't play out how they wanted it to, especially with kicking FGs instead of scoring TDs. He said they played better than the score indicated, but they let USM hang around too long and had second half mistakes, and it nearly cost them.
***Riley said NU has far less "missed assignments" offensively last week than they did vs. Miami.
***Riley said turnovers, the failed onside kick recovery, the last blocked FG, the pass defense and the number of penalties were the biggest concerns from the game.
***Riley said Andy Janovich was one of the brightest spots for NU in the game. "He's just a really good football player."
***Riley said Nebraska going 4-of-14 on third downs offensively played as big of a part as anything in the lack of red zone production.
***Riley said Janovich's role could be increased as time goes on, adding that he's had seasons where a fullback has caught 50 passes in a year. Riley said he thinks
***Riley said it's "positive" with Pierson-El's return, but he's not ready to say he's cleared to play this week. He said the danger is overusing him too early, but they hope to work him in in some capacity.
***Riley said both Josh Banderas and Vincent Valentine are "possible" to play this week. He said they'll know more as the week goes on.
***Riley said the running backs need to have better vision in finding cutback lanes. He said they missed a lot of opportunities to cut runs up field and left yards on the field, especially in the red zone.
***Riley said he's never seen injuries plague so many college football teams as they have already this season, and that Nebraska was obviously "living it" as well. He said he's had talks with NU's strength and conditioning staff to evaluate what they're doing and making sure they're not doing too much. He said they've already scaled back their practice intensity through the week during the season, only going "fast" on Tuesday and Wednesday in an effort take some of the wear and tear on players.
***Riley said the value of the walk-on program has been clear with how many walk-ons have stepped up and played big roles for the Huskers with so many scholarship starters missing time.
***Riley said Marcus Newby and Jack Gangwish are "50/50" to play this week. Riley said it's not surprising that Gangwish has recovered so quickly, but they won't know for sure on his availability until they see how he responds this week in practice.
***Riley said they are evaluating what they're doing schematically on defense to best use the players they have while also game planing against opposing offenses. He said there have been times in games where players lose confidence when adversity hits and they let one bad play turn into more bad plays by trying to overcompensate.
***Riley said the best way to deal with a defense that is struggling with confidence is "a review of fundamentals". He said by working on the details and little things, it can correct problems and allow players to execute better on the field, which in turn will build confidence back up.
***Riley said Freedom Akinmoladun is "becoming a force" as a pass rusher at defensive end.
***Riley said the staff will go "game by game" in approaching their first run through the Big Ten. Since every team will be a new opponent, they can only rely on old game tapes as film from this season.
***Riley said Illinois' offense looks pretty similar even after the coaching change. He said QB Wes Lunt has been very efficient and has some solid weapons around him. He said it's going to be a game where NU needs to be "accountable" with what Illinois is doing with the tailback while making sure not to give Lunt easy throws.
***Riley said Terrell Newby is NU's most versatile back, but the disappointment is that they haven't gotten the screen game going like they had hoped. He said Imani Cross plays a nice change of pace, and they've tried to get Devine Ozigbo more involved. As for Mikale Wilbon, Riley said as he continues to learn the position (aka pass protect) he could become a similar weapon to what Newby is right now.
***Riley said watching Janovich run "was fun, wasn't it?" He said the opportunities to run the fullback won't always be there like they were last week, but there should be more chances to get him involved. He said they're going to look at different ways to keep getting Janovich the football going forward.
***Riley said it's been a three-year deal with his teams that they've been better on third and long than they are on third and short. "It's like, 'Oh no, here comes third and one," he joked. He said they have to figure out how to be more effective in third and shorts, as they can't continue to rely on keeping drives alive on third and longs.
***That's all for Riley.
***Maliek Collins is now up.
***Collins said he personally didn't like the way the defense played vs. USM, especially the lack of pass rush from the d-line in passing situations.
***Collins said he's told Akinmoladun "he better make those plays" when he gets one-on-one matchups because teams are focusing on Collins.
***Collins said getting Pierson-El back makes him really want the defense to force more punts in order to get DPE the ball.
***That's all for Collins.
***Chris Weber is now up.
***Weber said this week will be like it's always been for him, as he'll continue to prepare like he's going to start with Banderas' status up in the air.
***Weber said the defense's confidence is still good, and that from watching film they've seen a lot of their problems are a result of their own mistakes. He said if everyone does their jobs a lot of the issues will be corrected.
***Weber said Southern Miss had a lot of ways to use the running backs vs linebackers in the passing game, and he expects Illinois to try and create similar matchups this week. He said getting that experience will help the linebackers defend it better in the future.
***Weber said a lot of people might have written of Nebraska's defense after four games, but they see the start of the Big Ten as a "new beginning" to show what they're all about.
***That's all for Weber.
***Jack Gangwish is now up.
***Gangwish said he's hopeful he can play this week, and that he's "chomping at the bit" to get back onto the field.
***Gangwish said Akinmoladun has developed really well over the past few weeks, especially with learning the finer points of the defensive end position. He said Freedom has a very bright future and he's excited to see how he develops.
***Gangwish said the defense has obviously had its share of issues, but he thinks the confidence is still there. He said the key was players having a short memory after bad plays and not letting things snowball out there.
***Gangwish said he's "extremely excited" for the start of Big Ten play. He said the non-conference games are fun and a chance to get your feet wet, but the conference slate were "the money games".
***Gangwish said he's gradually been able to keep his upper body strength up during his recovery from his elbow injury. He said he's tried to push it to get back, which the S&C staff probably hasn't liked, but he feels good about the progress he's made.
***Gangwish said he wanted to be back for the Miami game, but had to accept that his injury was going to take longer to heal. To be cleared, he said it's basically up to the doctors to decide where he is in his recovery. "I'm doing my best, I promise."
***Gangwish said Janovich "is one of the most humble, hard-working and diligent guys I've ever had the pleasure of working with." Asked if he was happy to see Janovich finally get his opportunity, Gangwish said "You're damn right."
***Thats all for Gangwish.
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