Nebraska
Football
Postgame Quotes vs. Minnesota
Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Minnesota Head Coach Jerry Kill
Opening
Statement
"I'd like to
congratulate the University of Nebraska and their football team, and also with
Coach (Tom) Osborne and all of the things he has done for college football. On
this day as a person who grew up watching college football it is a tremendous
thing he has done, and he will be missed in the college game no doubt about
that."
On Phillip Nelson's
performance/struggles
"I don't think
it has a lot to do with the quarterback, we got beat at the line of scrimmage,
period. Dominated, at the line of scrimmage. There is more than one individual
that had tough day, we got dominated at the line of scrimmage."
On if the game was
similar to Minnesota vs. Wisconsin physically
"I would say, as
I said before I haven't seen Ohio State yet, but I have seen Wisconsin and
Nebraska on film and in the game and they are playing as good as football as
any team in the Big Ten. Nebraska proved that today, they were very similar to
Wisconsin on defense, we don't have any excuses, they just dominated us from a
defensive standpoint. Our defense was asked to do too much on the field.
(Taylor) Martinez threw the football around, he has really worked on his game
and I will compliment him, he did well."
On if there as too
much stress on the defense
"Absolutely, I
think it is a team game and you got to help each other out. You can't go
3-and-out and make your defense (work), certainly against a team that is
averaging almost 500 yards a game. It is a pretty tall task to ask the defense
to do. Up front and our offensive line are giving everything they got, we just
are a little beat up right now. We did everything we could, we fought hard, but
at the end of the day they (Nebraska) did a good job against us."
On if the crowd had
anything to do with the loss
"I don't think
any to be honest. Nebraska has great fans, as you come off the field they
appreciate football. They love football, there is no question it is a great
environment to play in, it really is. If the crowd did anything it should have
helped us to get excited to play. I just think their defense dominated us up
front, with that on the other side of the ball, (Taylor) Martinez's execution
and getting his team in the right plays and calling things at the line of
scrimmage - you could tell he is a older quarterback that has been through the
system. Nebraska has gotten better each week, I don't think there is any
question about that."
On if this game will
help Minnesota going into the offseason
"I think so, I
certainly think we will preach that. I think the nature of the physical game,
we had a lot of guys that got hurt or banged up over the last few weeks,
that is a part of playing a lot of young players. I looked out there today on
offense and at one point we had a true freshman quarterback, and I think three
freshmen wide recievers and a freshman running back. We are just a young
football team and it is hard on those kids, but they are giving everything they
got. I can't say they aren't busting their tail, we wouldn't have gotten this
far. We will keep making improvements and we will keep working with them. It
takes some patience, but again I will give Nebraska credit, out of the teams I
have seen, they are the one team that is improving on a weekly basis, they are
an awfully good team."
On Nebraska defense
"Nebraska is
good upfront, they played double-two techniques which we knew they would do.
They make it tough on you, they play a SEC style defense, they are going to
play cover one and get guys in the box. We had some shots today, we had a lot
of dropped balls which is frustrating. Again it wasn't like they weren't
covering anyone, they made it tough on you to catch the ball. They were running
through slant routes, and things of that nature by playing physical. There is a
reason why they are where they are as a team."
On Injuries
"It's hard for
me to tell, I just came off the field and talked to our players, and then did
radio and now I am here. I know that a offensive lineman that went down, Eddie
Olson, I can't think of all the kids that went out. Some years everything falls
into place, I always say to be really good you have to stay healthy, and the
teams that stay healthy are the teams that can do that. I don't want to take
anything away from Nebraska, I told our kids I have to do a better job, and we
did not execute and do the things we needed to do to stay in the game. The
worst thing we can do is get frustrated with the young team, we need to go back
to work and move forward."
On Taylor Martinez
"I
think that he knows their offense inside and out. I have coached this game for
30 years and I watched him last year, and I think the coaches had a lot to do
with it. But I think he is doing a lot on the line of scrimmage on his own. I
think there is probably a trust factor with him and the coaches. He has a
tremendous amount of confidence while throwing the football, which is built
with his years, plus you add his quarterback coach (Tim Beck), so he has put in
a lot of time. We certainly know he has tremendous athleticism, but I think he
has command of the offense and has good people around him. Anytime you lose
(Rex) Burkhead and you put in somebody else, he just has good people around
him."
