Indiana University Athletics
Quoted: Indiana vs. Nebraska
10/10/2016 7:36:00 PM | Football
By: Charlie Duffy
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana football players and coaches met with the media Monday for the Hoosiers' weekly press conference leading into Saturday's 3:30 p.m. kickoff against No. 10 Nebraska.
Each week we will compile five quotes and storylines recapping the previous game and previewing the upcoming one.
Head coach Kevin Wilson: "Great team coming in, top-10, 5-0, historically one of the premiere brands in college football. Our team is getting better. We've got a chance, if we play well, to be a fourth quarter team again, great opponent, great challenge. We just need to keep working to get better."
For the third consecutive weekend the Indiana football team will clash with a top 25 opponent. IU has not hosted Nebraska since 1978, a game in which Nebraska was victorious. The Hoosiers have not beaten two ranked teams in the same season since 2003, and have not knocked off two ranked teams at home since 1950.
Senior offensive lineman Jacob Bailey: "They are a Nebraska defense. They are big, fast and play with a bunch of pride. This will be a great challenge and we look forward to an opportunity to redeem ourselves. They will get our best shot."
Nebraska comes into this weekend's matchup yielding just 347 total yards per game. More impressively, they have surrendered a measly 17.6 points per game, good for 15th nationally. IU put up solid numbers against an elite Ohio State defense last week on the road, but will need to execute better this week. The Huskers give up over 150 yards per game on the ground, something the offensive line will look to exploit.
Wilson: "Nebraska does not turn the ball over, they do not give up big plays, and they have great balance on offense. So, again, they'll be a really tough challenge."
Through five games this season, Nebraska has conceded just three scoring drives of three plays or less. It takes, on average, about seven plays to put up points on the Huskers, a direct correlation of the defense limiting big plays. The offense has committed only six turnovers while forcing 10.
The Huskers average 472.6 yards of total offense. The yardage is nearly a 50/50 split between the run game and the pass game. They average 234.2 yards per game on the ground, which is 23rd nationally and 238.4 yards through the air.
Junior linebacker Tegray Scales: "The younger guys are doing an outstanding job. They have great coaches. Week-in and week-out they are gaining confidence which has allowed them to play faster. That is important as the season goes on."
Freshman cornerback A'Shon Riggins earned his first career start against the Buckeyes. He came away with his first career interception as well as the defensive players of the game honors. Freshman defensive back Marcelino Ball is third on the team in tackles. With sophomore safety Jonathan Crawford looking more confident in his second year, the defensive backfield looks to be strength for the Hoosier defense for years to come.
Defensive coordinator Tom Allen: "Any time a quarterback can run it and throw it effectively, it creates a challenge for any defense. Tommy Armstrong makes Nebraska go, and he has a tremendously strong arm. Last week's prep of J.T. Barrett will help, but he creates some different challenges as well."
Nebraska runs a very similar style of offense to that of the Ohio State team IU faced last weekend. Nebraska is a ball-control, smash-mouth football team. Three players have seen at least 59 carries on the season: Terrell Newby, Devine Ozigbo and Tommy Armstrong. Newby leads the team with 327 yards on the ground. In addition, Armstrong is 76/129 (58.9%) on his passing attempts for 1,151 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions. The Hoosiers were able to limit Barrett to under 100 yards passing last week, making the Buckeye offense incredibly one-dimensional.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana football players and coaches met with the media Monday for the Hoosiers' weekly press conference leading into Saturday's 3:30 p.m. kickoff against No. 10 Nebraska.
Each week we will compile five quotes and storylines recapping the previous game and previewing the upcoming one.
Head coach Kevin Wilson: "Great team coming in, top-10, 5-0, historically one of the premiere brands in college football. Our team is getting better. We've got a chance, if we play well, to be a fourth quarter team again, great opponent, great challenge. We just need to keep working to get better."
For the third consecutive weekend the Indiana football team will clash with a top 25 opponent. IU has not hosted Nebraska since 1978, a game in which Nebraska was victorious. The Hoosiers have not beaten two ranked teams in the same season since 2003, and have not knocked off two ranked teams at home since 1950.
Senior offensive lineman Jacob Bailey: "They are a Nebraska defense. They are big, fast and play with a bunch of pride. This will be a great challenge and we look forward to an opportunity to redeem ourselves. They will get our best shot."
Nebraska comes into this weekend's matchup yielding just 347 total yards per game. More impressively, they have surrendered a measly 17.6 points per game, good for 15th nationally. IU put up solid numbers against an elite Ohio State defense last week on the road, but will need to execute better this week. The Huskers give up over 150 yards per game on the ground, something the offensive line will look to exploit.
Wilson: "Nebraska does not turn the ball over, they do not give up big plays, and they have great balance on offense. So, again, they'll be a really tough challenge."
Through five games this season, Nebraska has conceded just three scoring drives of three plays or less. It takes, on average, about seven plays to put up points on the Huskers, a direct correlation of the defense limiting big plays. The offense has committed only six turnovers while forcing 10.
The Huskers average 472.6 yards of total offense. The yardage is nearly a 50/50 split between the run game and the pass game. They average 234.2 yards per game on the ground, which is 23rd nationally and 238.4 yards through the air.
Junior linebacker Tegray Scales: "The younger guys are doing an outstanding job. They have great coaches. Week-in and week-out they are gaining confidence which has allowed them to play faster. That is important as the season goes on."
Freshman cornerback A'Shon Riggins earned his first career start against the Buckeyes. He came away with his first career interception as well as the defensive players of the game honors. Freshman defensive back Marcelino Ball is third on the team in tackles. With sophomore safety Jonathan Crawford looking more confident in his second year, the defensive backfield looks to be strength for the Hoosier defense for years to come.
Defensive coordinator Tom Allen: "Any time a quarterback can run it and throw it effectively, it creates a challenge for any defense. Tommy Armstrong makes Nebraska go, and he has a tremendously strong arm. Last week's prep of J.T. Barrett will help, but he creates some different challenges as well."
Nebraska runs a very similar style of offense to that of the Ohio State team IU faced last weekend. Nebraska is a ball-control, smash-mouth football team. Three players have seen at least 59 carries on the season: Terrell Newby, Devine Ozigbo and Tommy Armstrong. Newby leads the team with 327 yards on the ground. In addition, Armstrong is 76/129 (58.9%) on his passing attempts for 1,151 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions. The Hoosiers were able to limit Barrett to under 100 yards passing last week, making the Buckeye offense incredibly one-dimensional.
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