Coordinator Wednesday 11/9 Presser

[vailhusker]

 

[vailhusker]

Quick hits as Mark Whipple updates Casey Thompson, Nebraska QBs​

Zack Carpenter • InsideNebraska
Publisher
@Zack_Carp

Nebraska (3-6 overall, 2-4 in Big Ten) continues its stretch of difficult conference games this weekend as it travels to Ann Arbor to play undefeated No. 3 Michigan (9-0, 6-0).
The Huskers may be without the services of Casey Thompson for the second straight game as he continues to deal with a nerve injury to his throwing hand. What is Thompson's status and who will be Nebraska's starting quarterback against the Wolverines?
Huskers offensive coordinator Mark Whipple gave updates on Thompson and the Husker signal callers on Wednesday during his weekly press conference:

Casey Thompson update​

>> Whipple said Thompson's injury has gotten "a lot better" this week. It is unclear whether or not Thompson has practiced this week, but it sounds like he has not.
>> Thompson has not taken any reps throwing the ball this week.
>> Thompson has been engaged at practice and in meetings this week. So Whipple says that he is at least mentally prepared to play, especially considering Thompson's experience as a Power 5 starting quarterback.

Chubba Purdy and Logan Smothers​

>> Whipple has "a lot more confidence" in Chubba Purdy and Logan Smothers now than he did before. He said they are each coming off "their best week of practice."
>> Whipple: "Chubba's been a lot more consistent throughout. But I told Logan, 'I have a lot of respect for you.' It's not easy to start a game and be third (on the depth chart), but he stepped up during practice. And he's continued that. He's certainly been around here longer than Chubba has, but both of those guys have gotten great support from their teammates."
>> On Purdy and Smothers: "This is the biggest step of their career."

Offense against Minnesota​

>> Whipple said the Huskers weren't as aggressive at the end of the first half as he wanted them to be. If Nebraska had Thompson, it likely would have pushed to score more.
>> Some dropped balls "in crucial situations" and Purdy's interception were points of emphasis that Whipple said made a key difference in the loss.
>> Whipple: "If we catch the last one, we've got a minute and 10 (seconds) left on the 30-yard line with a chance to win the game. I'd take that this week when you have a backup quarterback."

InsideNebraska - Quick hits as Mark Whipple updates Casey Thompson, Nebraska QBs

Huskers offensive coordinator Mark Whipple answered questions from the media on Wednesday.

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[vailhusker]

Quick hits from Nebraska DC Bill Busch ahead of No. 3 Michigan​

Steve Marik • InsideNebraska
Staff Writer
@Steve_Marik

Nebraska (3-6 overall, 2-4 in Big Ten) continues its stretch of difficult conference games this weekend as it travels to Ann Arbor to play undefeated No. 3 Michigan (9-0, 6-0).
Jim Harbaugh's Wolverines are coming off a 52-17 road win over Rutgers, a game they trailed 17-14 at halftime. Harbaugh's team outscored the Scarlet Knights 38-0 in the second half to earn the lopsided victory.
Nebraska's defense will be up against another strong rushing attack, as Michigan's ranks first in the Big Ten in yards per game (250) and fourth nationally. The Wolverines' running back who's gaining Heisman steam, Blake Corum, is rushing for 131.89 yards per game, third in the conference and seventh nationally.
The Huskers defense will attempt to limit Michigan's run attack without its second-leading tackler in safety Myles Farmer. Farmer was cited early last Sunday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence and has been suspended for the Michigan game, according to head coach Mickey Joseph. The Huskers' interim head coach released a statement:
“I was informed on Sunday morning of an incident involving Myles Farmer this weekend Myles is a good young man, but understands he used poor judgement and made a mistake on Saturday night. The result of poor judgement and mistakes is consequences and discipline. In addition to penalties he may face through the legal system, Myles is suspended for this week’s game at Michigan and will be subject to internal discipline.”
On Wednesday, interim defensive coordinator Bill Busch met with the media to discuss his unit ahead of Saturday's 2:30 p.m. contest:

Bill Busch isn't worried about whether or not his unit is going to be ready to roll​

Putting it plainly, not many are expecting much from a Nebraska football program staring at a road trip to No. 3 Michigan after dropping three straight games.
But Busch knows he has a group of players who love to play college football. While everyone is writing off the Huskers — including Vegas, which has Nebraska as nearly 30-point underdogs — Busch is still going to put 11 guys on the defensive side of the ball and give the Wolverines their best shot.
"We have a bunch of guys who don't flinch, which is a testament to their character and how they handle things, so it's impressive how they go about their business," Busch said.

Busch never likes to ranks players, but Corum is one heck of a running back​

"I never want to name and rank someone, like he's one, two or three," Busch said. "But I know this — there's no one better. He might be even with some people, but there's no one better than what he is. So my respect for him is very high."
The 5-foot-8, 210-pound Corum has rushed for over 100 yards the past six games and is coming off a win over Rutgers where he gained 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 5.45 yards per carry against a stout Scarlet Knight defensive front.
Busch said Corum's durability stands out, as well as his cuts — he doesn't miss many of those.
"Obviously, we have our hands full. We're kind of used to that now, seems like every week we have our hands full with someone of that nature," Busch said.

Look for Phalen Sanford and DeShon Singleton to get reps with Farmer out​

Farmer had been playing his best football recently and had a career-high 14 tackles last week against Minnesota.
"Myles, I felt, has made a dramatic improvement in tackling. He had 14 tackles, and I had him in on 26 other ones that he was involved with," Busch said. "Losing him is a big piece of us and it's going to hurt us."
But the defensive coordinator also said Farmer made a mistake off the field, and it's a very serious one.
"We know how impaired driving has affected people throughout the world, and he's very serious about it. He knows he made a mistake," Farmer said. "We're not taking it lightly and we'll handle it the right way. It's being handled internally."
Busch declined to say who exactly will start in Farmer's place, but added Sanford and Singleton will be two options. Jaeden Gould, a 6-2, 200-pound true freshman from New Jersey, has been getting reps with the second team this week.
With Farmer out, keep an eye on nickel Isaac Gifford, who has a safety background. If Gifford plays in more of a safety role at the third level, Javin Wright or Omar Brown could replace Gifford at nickel, too. Wright played some at nickel last week against Minnesota and recorded a tackle.

Why is Sanford, a walk-on, playing over other scholarship safeties?​

The reason Sanford has played this season is because he's earned it, Busch said.
"He's done an incredible job with work ethic. He played a lot in the Purdue game when Buford went down with the injury. So he deserves the credit for why he's playing," Busch said. "It wasn't like a well-that's-all-that's-left situation. He's earned the right to be in that spot."
Busch went on to tout Sanford's athletic ability. The Dundy County-Stratton grad and former Hastings College Bronco is one of the more explosive athletes on the team in terms of speed and jumping ability.

Gifford has quietly been one of the top players on defense​

When the season started, the coaches wanted to see who would grab the starting nickel spot between Gifford and Chris Kolarevic, who has since moved back to inside linebacker to help with depth.
It didn't take long for Gifford to win the job, and now the 6-1, 200-pounder from Lincoln Southeast High School is fourth on the team in tackles (52) and tied for second in tackles for loss (four).
"I think the game slowed down for him, he's done a nice job," Busch said. "He's really getting the run fits, he can cover tight ends man-to-man and has a high football IQ."

Michigan rushed for 418 yards against Penn State. Considering the talent the Nittany Lions have, that's "disturbing" to Busch​

Penn State isn't a pushover. The Nittany Lions have a top-50 rushing defense nationally. So for Michigan to rack up over 400 yards on the ground, Busch was impressed after he flipped on that game tape.
"The part that was disturbing to me about it was, the talent level that was on the other side of the ball. Penn State is an extremely talented football team, they're not missing out on their players," Busch said.
Busch complimented Michigan's diverse run schemes. Last week against Rutgers, the Wolverines mainly stuck to zone blocking along the offensive line. But don't be surprised to see multiple O-linemen pulling in gap schemes with counter, power and pin-and-pull.

Nebraska is big-time underdogs at The Big House, but Busch isn't letting that change how he prepares his unit​

The defensive players are up for the challenge. They've been in the football offices and in the meeting rooms just as much as as they were at the beginning of the season.
"They're in the hallway, they're around, they're watching film together, they're constantly coming into the room. If we're in a meeting, they'll come in, stick their head in. They're constantly preparing themselves to play on Saturday," Busch said. "We're not watching Hoosiers or something before the game. We're just going to get 11 guys out there, line up and pay defense."

InsideNebraska - Quick hits from Nebraska DC Bill Busch ahead of No. 3 Michigan

Nebraska interim defensive coordinator Bill Busch met with the media to discuss his unit ahead of the Michigan game.

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[Saudi_aurora]

lol Whipple looking like he was just told "run... the fucking... ball"