Notable quotables from Scott Frost's Monday press conference
ByMICHAEL BRUNTZ 19 hours ago
After a tumultuous week that saw four Nebraska assistants relieved of their duties, Nebraska head coach Scott Frost and his team began the work of preparing for its final two games of the season against Wisconsin and Cockeye.
First up for the Huskers is a trip to Madison, where the Wisconsin Badgers -- winners of six straight games -- await for a 2:30 p.m. CT kick on ABC. Frost said Monday that the Badgers have his full attention heading into Saturday's matchup.
"They are hot right now," Frost said of Wisconsin. "I cannot compliment them enough. I have not watched a ton of their offense. more of their defense, but Coach (Jim) Leonhard does a good job with them. It is hard to find holes in what they do. Really hard to scheme because they do a lot of things. You kind of just have to line up and win and they have a bunch of big physical guys in every position and it is tough to win against them. It is going to be an ugly game. It is going to be a Big Ten game in November and we have to do the best job we can against a good team.”
Nebraska will be playing this week with a number of former analysts and GAs handling position groups, and the Huskers looking to carry some momentum into the end of the regular season.
Here's a quick look at some of what Frost had to say Monday:
ON ISAAC GIFFORD REPLACING JOJO DOMANN
“Probably a couple of guys. Depending on what personnel group the other team is in. It could change depending on what type of body we need in there. But there are several guys that are going to have to be ready to go. (Gifford) is a grown up. He is tough. He has done a good job at coming in and learning, and he is a really good athlete so he has bright days ahead of him in football and some of them are going to have to start now.”
ON NEBRASKA'S PAST OFFENSIVE GAMES AGAINST WISCONSIN
“Both years they did a good job at making adjustments to some of the things we did. I have watched some tape and some other people running some of the things we run in those two years and trying to duplicate it and they are good coaches and they have come up with answers with those things. It is not like you can recreate a blueprint.”
ON WISCONSIN'S LINEBACKERS
“They are tough. They do a good job. They use their inside linebackers and outside linebackers in the pass rush. They bring four from different places and five sometimes from different places and all of them run and hit. Everyone runs to the ball and hits. Corners and safeties and linebackers and defensive linemen alike. You have to get a hat on everybody and at the end of the day you have to win on your share of plays and you have to be able to block them.”
ON RON BROWN BEING BACK IN A COACHING ROLE
“Did not get to hear him at practice at all before and now I get to hear the voice again. It kind of takes me back. I hope I have that much energy when I am his age. He certainly has aged well and taken care of himself and brings a lot of energy to everything he does.”
ON HANDLING THE OFFENSE WITH A NEW STAFF
“We are going to try and get the guys in the best plays we can. One thing about the last two weeks is we are playing two really good defenses. We have played a lot of really good defenses already. I think the offense has done some things really well especially considering the type of competition we have played. Obviously we need to score more points to get over the hump in some of these games. These last two weeks will really be a challenge on both sides of the ball, but with the two defenses we are playing we are going to have to try and be sound and execute.”
ON HOW FROST'S INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE CHANGED THIS WEEK
“There is a lot going on. Making moves in the middle of the season is certainly not something I want to do. I care about those four guys so much. I thought it was important we got a head start on looking for some of the people to fill those roles as we go forward. We have that going on right now. We are recruiting right now. Taking a look at the transfer portal right now and trying to game plan for two really good teams. There is a lot going on. I've got good people around me and we are getting through it. Right now our focus is on Wisconsin. Any extra time I get is devoted to those other two things, but we are doing everything we can to get the players ready for this one.”
ON GAME PLANNING FOR THE FINAL TWO GAMES
“Coach Beckton is really good. He has been a huge part in what we have been doing for six years just like all the guys have. Steve Cooper and Steven DeMeo have been around the offense a lot and have a lot of really good ideas. They are both going to be fine coaches. They have been a huge part of that as well.”
ON WHICH COACHES WILL BE WHERE ON SATURDAY
“Steve Cooper will be up. He is full time so he will be up in the box and in my ear. Steven DeMeo is off the field so he is on a listen only in the box. Everything else kind of stays the same. I think we will have Coach Brown down and Coach Verducci down. We have to try and piece it together but we have a good enough team to get ourselves in the right place for Saturday.”
ON THE PLACEKICKING SITUATION
“I felt bad for Chase because I think I saw him miss three kicks in three weeks and a couple of them were in that game. He has been doing a really good job. He is a confident kid. We will put him back out there and let him do his thing and try to make situational decisions as we go.”
ON ISSUES WITH THE SPECIALISTS
“It is funny, I talked to Coach Dawson about it and a couple of other guys on staff and everywhere I have been as a coach and everywhere they have been as a coach the advice you get is, do not say a word to the specialists. They have not had a great year. Certainly some of it we were not expecting at all, but they are great kids and I am sure they will rebound. Sometimes a golfer or a baseball player, you go through a slump and we have had a couple of guys in a slump. It has hurt us, but I do not think there is anything I can necessarily say to get their psychology where it needs to be. I do not think that is necessarily their issue. I think we have struggled a little bit.”
ON WISCONSIN RUNNING BACK BRAELON ALLEN
“It is impressive. Let me tell you, he does not look like a 17-year-old when you watch him. It looks like he has been in college for a long time. Certainly helps that he has a really good line in front of him and a lot of good players around him. Doing the things he is doing is hard to do as a 22-year-old, let alone a 17, 18-year-old. We have our work cut out with him, and I am sure he will be a good player in the league for a long time.”
ON THE RUNNING BACK SPOT
“It is probably going to be a combination of those guys. There is some reps to be had right now. Rahmir (Johnson) has certainly done a good job. I would not be surprised if a guy like Marvin (Scott III) or (Markese) Stepp got an opportunity this week and maybe some other guys. We will have to piece it together. I am excited though. Some of those guys have been doing great in practice and hopefully when they get their chance they will grab it with both hands.”
ON JOJO DOMANN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROGRAM
“He has been great. JoJo has been a huge part. He has been a leader for us. Really seen him develop over the time that I have been here and play at a really high level and also do everything right in the locker room and off the field. Really appreciative of JoJo for how much he has poured into this program.”
ON PLAYING MORE YOUNG GUY IN THE FINAL TWO GAMES
“If the situation is right I would like to see some guys, but the priority is on doing our best to give ourselves a chance in these last two.”