Tuesday Presser

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[vailhusker]

 

[vailhusker]

Words from Whipple: 'This isn't a thing that you just roll out'​

By BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON 80 minutes ago

In his post-practice meeting with media Tuesday, Mark Whipple jumped right into one of the key points for the Huskers from this past Saturday that he hopes remains.

His team banked some important third downs, going 6-of-11 in the 38-17 win over North Dakota and a good note struck early on a third-and-long completion to Alante Brown on the game's first drive.

The Huskers were actually very good on third downs in the opener against Northwestern in the first half, but fizzled late, going 0-for-3 in the fourth quarter. But this past week Nebraska's offensive coordinator noted his team went 3-for-3 on the third downs in its finishing drives that clinched the game in the final 11 minutes.

One jumps out more than any other: that 31-yard catch by Trey Palmer on third-and-14 from the Husker 7 with just a 7-point lead. Nebraska played downhill the rest of the way, moving past a frustrating first half in which the Huskers rarely possessed the ball.

Looking for some positives? Whipple asked his guys to finish last week. The Husker offense did finish against the Hawks, with 118 yards of offense on 18 plays and two touchdowns in the final frame.


"We talked about it all the time and they certainly did," Whipple said after Tuesday's practice. "But probably bigger than that was how they handled the adversity when Casey (Thompson) threw the pick on third down (in the third quarter). They responded at that point. There wasn't anything like the week before where we got the pick and looked around. Those guys knew what they had to do and talked about finishing. I could hear them on the sideline, and that's what they did.

"That's the real positive part is obviously these guys listen to us and kind of believe in the coaches that are coaching them."

HOW DOES HE FEEL CASEY THOMPSON HAS PLAYED THROUGH TWO GAMES?​

"Getting better. There's a lot of things that we hadn't had reps on. You know, the interception they did a good job. They gave us a look and he saw the linebacker and he did not see the other linebacker that was lining up over the center. The good thing about Casey is when he comes over to the sideline and I ask him what he saw, he says, 'I never saw the linebacker.' And you watch the tape and that's exactly what happened. We hadn't given them that look and that was a good play by their defense on that.
"One of those plays that I kind of say I'd like to have back, but that was kind of one our plays that he liked that throw, and we'd given him a couple looks on it. Just didn't happen. I told him if he keeps throwing interceptions he might lead the team in tackles," the coach cracked. "At least he made a good tackle and I think he showed what kind of competitor he is."
Asked if he takes a deep breath when his QB is trying to make a tackle, Whipple said, "Nah, I'm too mad at the interception to worry about it. I think all the really good quarterbacks kind of get upset with it and go and try to make the tackle."

WHAT DID WHIPPLE SEE AS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN SCORING 31 IN THE SECOND HALF?​

"Well, we didn't have the ball in the first half. We ran (23) plays. We missed a field goal ... If you have the ball (23) plays and score 10 points. In the second half we have the ball – whatever it was, 41 or 42 plays and we score 31. If you can score a point for every other play then I think you're pretty good. We moved it and just didn't finish it and that series with the offsides really hurt us. We jumped offsides on the first down and it became first-and-15 and then we had a third-and-7. If you have third-and-2, you probably have two downs to get it there.
"Yeah, we just didn't have any rhythm. Probably the fewest plays I can ever remember running (in the first half). We're sitting on the sideline, missed the field goal. We had a good drive, then we're saying 'OK, we'll get it back.' They're getting ready for two-minute, we're talking and talking, and then we just never get the ball back. Luckily we got it started in the second half."

FROST HAS TALKED AFTER BOTH GAMES ABOUT COOPERATION. WHAT'S THAT LOOK LIKE TO YOU?​

"Just talking to all the coaches: what Mickey thinks, and some of the guys that way. Who we got in and what we got to do. And Coach Donnie and Coach Frost, and myself obviously. Coach Applewhite with running backs, and certain things that way. So we're talking in between. We're talking at halftime. Talked before the game, during the week right now. 'These are certain plays we like. What are you seeing on that part?' They gave us a couple things that were a little different.
"I really didn't expect them to play that much drop 8 and zone. They've always been a really aggressive team and they changed that up and we made some adjustments as we went that way. At halftime, was a big thing."

HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU VIEW IT TO STAY EVEN KEEL DESPITE ALL THE HIGHS AND LOWS WITH FANS/MEDIAS AROUND NEBRASKA FOOTBALL?​

"It takes time. It just takes time. This isn't a thing that you just roll out. I was just thinking, I think everybody who has pretty much scored a touchdown wasn't here (last year). I mean, you're talking about new faces, you're talking about new coaches – those things. So I'm trying to be the leader of the offense and if I lose my mind I don't think that helps anybody. This isn't a group that you need to (do that). They care and they bounce back. We got really good kids and they're working hard...
"And I've been on that other side of the ball (as an underdog). I was at UMass and played North Carolina State when they had Phillip Rivers. You don't have to say much in those type of games. They're [the smaller programs] going to give a great effort. So I respect those guys on the other side. So that was kind of my other thing was, hey, they got big hearts and it's just part of the game. I think in this day and age you just try to teach respect a little bit more – to your opponent and to your teammates and everything else. I think we took a big step this past week."

ANY MOMENT YOU'D SPECIFICALLY CITE WHERE THE NEWNESS OF IT ALL WAS REALLY OBVIOUS?​

"I've had a bunch of jobs and it's like that all the time. I probably lost most every game I took a new job, you know. The first game when I was a head coach and I was 30 or whatever in 1988, I still remember, I think we scored 14 points on offense and we had two pick sixes by the same guy. I said, 'Geez, this is pretty easy.' Won the game. I've never seen that happen again. ... So just try to stay positive and collected and keep teaching during the game.
"We've had little sessions more with the quarterback and receivers and I think that's helped out a little bit. I was probably a little off by not doing that earlier, where they're in the same room, so they're taking some time together off what they're seeing and what they're doing – teaching football, and I think that's helped with Coach Mick ... and the quarterbacks and those guys."

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF AN UNBALANCED LINE WITH AN EXTRA TACKLE?​

"Not many people do it and then it effects their blitz calls and it makes them think. They've got to have another plan for it. And tackles usually block better than tight ends ... So it's just something that I've done since 1988."

WHAT ARE YOUR EARLY THOUGHTS ON GEORGIA SOUTHERN?​

"I've played Georgia Southern four times. Obviously when Paul Johnson was there, when they played in a national championship, we played them in the second round of the playoffs down there. They have better athletes than they look on tape. That's what I told the players. It's the same kind of thing: this is a big game for them. They've played in a bunch of big games. They play in the Sun Belt, and they have good athletes and guys that can run. So we told them they're going to be a little bit more twitchy or faster than you see on tape. And they have a long standing (tradition), much like Nebraska, they've won five or six national championships that way, and it wasn't that long ago they were pretty good and winning 10 or 11 games and going to bowls.
"I'm 0-2 at Georgia Southern, so I'm glad we're here at Lincoln this week. I'm hoping that will be an asset."

HAS ANTHONY GRANT BEEN WHAT YOU SAW IN CAMP OR HAS HE EVEN SURPRISED YOU A BIT?​

"I think he's been more consistent. That just goes with really good coaching from Coach Applewhite. He's always shown with the times that he's popped a run that way. But I think he's much more consistent in his reads and understanding the plays that way, and really had a good game this weekend and really has had a good start to his career. Proud of him how far he's come."

HE HAD 23 CARRIES LAST WEEK. WHAT DO YOU DO AS A COORDINATOR TO TRY TO GET OTHER TALENT AROUND HIM ON THE FIELD?​

"Well, right now he's the best running back we have, and I felt Ajay – I think he took a step. Gabe had a good week. Jaquez had a good week. So you're going to need those guys. Rahmir is back and forth (at positions). It's good to have depth. You never know what's going to shake out. One carry and the guy can be out, so that's hard to go at this level with just one guys. Try to even reps. Wouldn't probably want (Grant) to have any more carries than that (23) though."

CAN YOU SENSE THE TENSION SURROUNDING NEBRASKA FOOTBALL AND THE STAKES THIS SEASON?​

"I'm in here and I go home. I don't read anything, I don't go anywhere. I don't have time. No, I don't really see it any different than any other jobs. It's a good place on Saturdays. So was Heinz Field and so was McGuirk (at UMass) and so was places in the NFL. But I'm more concerned about the players than anything else. That's the biggest concern. That's the fun part I think at this level is the education piece. I've always felt it's about being a teacher, not just in football, but things in life: classes and people and how to carry yourself.
"So this is as good of a place as any I've been to teach those things."

Words from Whipple: 'This isn't a thing that you just roll out'

Mark Whipple jumped right into one of the key points for the Huskers this past Saturday that he hopes remains. His team banked some important third downs, going 6-of-11 in

247sports.com

 

[vailhusker]

Chinander talks status of defense through two games​

By MICHAEL BRUNTZ 59 minutes ago

Nebraska defensive coordinator Erik Chinander met with the media after Tuesday’s practice as the Husker defense looks for more consistency following its first two games.

Here’s a quick look at the topics Chinander hit on during his session:

— Chinander said freshman Ernest Hausmann did a good job in his first career start — especially having to communicate with crowd noise and the environment of Memorial Stadium.

— Asked his thoughts on the defense after two games, Chinander said the defense hasn’t been good enough.

"Not good enough," he said. "Once again not up to our standard but I feel like this is a young group that is hungry that wants to be good that wants to win and wants to do things the right way. I think that they will continue to get better and better every week and that is the exciting thing with this group."



— Chinander said he is focusing on players making simple plays and doing their jobs this week.

"At halftime a few mistakes we had to get cleaned up," Chinander said. "A few misfits a few things in coverage but for the most part this game never changes. This game is about getting off blocks. It is about tackling. It is about covering. We just need to do our fundamentals. Our eyes had to be right. Everybody has to do their job on every single play. One play at a time for 85 plays in a row. There is not much else to it.”

— Georgia Southern will push tempo and stress Nebraska’s defense through the air, Chinander said.

— Chinander said he liked the rotation Nebraska used along its front against North Dakota, versus the opener. He said he liked what Stephon Wynn Jr., gave the Huskers against North Dakota.

— Chinander said he liked the decision to have Nebraska’s top defense go against the top offense more in practices this week. Chinander said even 10-20 snaps of good-on-good can benefit his group.

— Chinander said calls were late at times in the first half against North Dakota. He credited the opponent’s mixing and matching of personnel with causing the delays, as Nebraska subbed its personnel to match.

“I think we got settled down as the game went along,” he said.

— Chinander on the tackling through two games: "We still missed a few out there," Chinander said. "Unfortunately most of the misses we have had the last couple weeks have led to extending drives. We have to do a better job leveraging the football right now. All levels of the defense — defensive line, linebackers defensive backs everyone has to do a better job leveraging the football. When you leverage the football those missed tackles if you do get a missed tackle they turn into one extra yard instead of five or six or plus so we just need to do a better job at leveraging the football.”

— Chinander called injured linebacker Nick Henrich “a safety blanket” on the field in terms of knowing calls and getting players lined up.

— Chinander said no new Blackshirts were handed out this week.

 

[herbsinator]

Whipple honestly seems like a solid guy based on his quotes there.