Press Conference - 10/19

Q: Have you found that your preferred style of defense is helpful against the quarterback run? You haven't faced the QB run this year, but you DID have a lot of success against Liedner, he didn't run.

MR: Well, we have had A LOT of practice at it. (coaching staff-wise) through the years *chuckles* And, we continue to study it, and I think it's one of those things that you'd just better be prepared for it, be prepared to do a good job. Otherwise, that is what you will see.... It looks bad when the quarterback is faking the ball, and running out there by himself.

So, it DOES take a lot of discipline. And frankly, its all about eyes where they're supposed to be.

It's kinda back to that old wishbone defense. That's where somebody's got the "dive", "quarterback", and "pitch", and it's very disciplined, and one missed assignment means a missed gain.

The other thing about spread defense (spread option defense, spread running defense) is you have to tackle in space. So the amount of athletes you need... there's those guys that are 6' 2" 225 that you could recruit ten of them, and play them at outside linebacker and safety, cause they've gotta be out in space making plays. They've gotta run..

And you see that virtually everywhere in some fashion from about everybody.

note: I assume the last line is about running quarterbacks, and zone-read plays in general

 
I think in light of these comments, I would think it unlikely that Banker gets the boot in the off-season. Riley is a believer in the defensive philosophy, right or wrong.

It is also interesting that their system seems to have evolved in response to Oregon's offense. At least that is what I got out of it.

 
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IA State Husker said:
I think in light of these comments, I would think it unlikely that Banker gets the boot in the off-season. Riley is a believer in the defensive philosophy, right or wrong.

It is also interesting that their system seems to have evolved in response to Oregon's offense. At least that is what I got out of it.
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Banker isn't getting fired by Riley. Riley didn't fire him at Oregon State, and there was a lot of pressure to do so the past few years.

They believe in their philosophy/scheme, they are making it the responsibility of the players to learn it.

 
I know Riley is worried about losing Tommy to injury, but this is kind of ridiculous...
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Q: What about interceptions? I know you guys got 3 against Minnesota, but in general....

MR: Yeah. In general, not as many as we would like. We've had some MISSED opportunities, I would say. In the passing game, first we have to worry about the coverage, then we'll get to the interceptions next. So that's our next big step. And hopefully we are making strides in that area.

Zone teams, (if you are a GOOD zone team, and your vision on the QB, and you have a decent 4-man rush,), those teams get more interceptions, cause their vision is a little different.

When you're playing man-to-man coverage, GOOD man-to-man corners may not get a lot of interceptions, because they are locked in, and basically trying to play the receiver FIRST. And then, react to the ball, and make shure its an incompletion. A lot of really good man-to-man players aren't necessarily going to get a lot of interceptions. And that's where we've been.

Q: (couldn't hear the question)

MR: Yeah. That is definitely for us. Growth for now, and an emphasis in the future. You're not gonna re-invent the wheel right now. So we're still trying to grow in what we're doing, but, ... I will tell you that in the off-season we'll look at playing zone defense a little better.
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Q: At Oregon State had you used a fullback like Janovich?

MR: We had. Back through the years, when we have one. I'll tell you this: I don't think we have ever RECRUITED a fullback. We found them through the walk-on ranks. Almost every one of them we had earned a scholarship, and became a guy that kinda did what Andy's doing. (maybe not with the running ability, necessarily). But, ... throw them a ball in the flat once in a while, lead block, etc. They were always a part of a personnel group that was in the game every week. Maybe 2 or 3 personnel groups, as a matter of fact.

Q: Do you ever see yourself recruiting for that position, or is that a position you would just get from walk-ons?

MR: *shrugs* I don't know.... Yes, we would be interested in recruiting the RIGHT GUY at that position.

What's interesting, anymore, the NFL goes through the same thing. There's NOT a lot of teams that use fullbacks (in college) because of the spread. So you find them different ways. And recruiting them out of High Schools is like that.... I haven't looked at all the places here in Nebraska totally, yet.
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But, finding that guy... it might be in a scholarship mode, it might be a guy that wants to walk on that morphs into that guy for you. Like our backup right now, Harrison Jordan. A walk-on guy that is a good, tough football player.

But at the same time, Yes we would, if it was the right guy. And probably that ideal guy would be that guy that can move from an H-back back into the backfield, and be a fullback for you. I think in an ideal world, in the future, that would be a versatile person that you could get.

 
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