Press conference notes: Huskers try to make sense of Diaco's comments

For anyone who watched defensive coordinator Bob Diaco’s post-game interview following Nebraska’s overtime loss to Northwestern, it’s understandable if you were left scratching your head a bit.

Diaco had one answer, in particular, that has confounded message boards and social media over the past 48 hours regarding his evaluation of where the defense was at this point in the season.

“There’s no reasonable reason - considering where the defensive program was at - to believe that they should be able to do everything that needs to be done in the game, to win the game,” Diaco said. “The strain was spectacular, right? So we could just go back and look at the game.

“Do you see the strain? Do you see it, or no? Is it just something I’m missing? You can’t play the game like that and win. Right? So the things happened in the game created an impossible circumstance to win.”

Head coach Mike Riley was read that direct quote during his weekly press conference on Monday and asked what exactly he thought his first-year defensive coordinator meant.

Riley didn’t exactly have an explanation, but still gave his support for the job Diaco and NU’s defensive staff have done in transitioning to the new 3-4 scheme this year.

“I think probably he could explain a little bit more about that, what he meant specifically,” Riley said. “But we have obviously tried to make a difference in what we’re doing defensively. We made a structural change. The adaptation of players into the system has been a big job for our staff, and we did it with our goal of being better.

“We are growing to that, but not necessarily past it yet. That’s a pretty obvious look at where we are, I think. As we made this change - staff, system, all that - I can appreciate all the work that’s gone into making those parts work.”

Riley said the defense has done a nice job adjusting to some of the unexpected setbacks they’ve suffered this year, especially some key injuries to starters and top backups.

He said he knows for a fact that the defensive staff does a great job of teaching and preparing the players to win, and said they’re doing a nice job of improving the defense as a whole and the players individually, even if the numbers might now suggest that.

“The statistical part of it is one thing,” Riley said. “What’s going on with our team and the coaching part of it and the work that we’re getting from the players is what see all the time, and I think they’re doing a nice job of growing these guys as a unit and individually. They’re doing everything they can putting those pieces together and getting them ready to go.”

Asked directly about Diaco saying there was “no reasonable reason” that Nebraska’s defense should be able to execute everything within the system “to win the game”, Riley that was by no means a reflection of the coaching staff having a low expectation level for their players and their abilities.

“That has never been any kind of a message that has ever surrounded any of our meetings or what we do as a team,” Riley said. “Program-wise, that’s never been thought of.”

Senior linebacker Chris Weber declined to try and analyze what he thought Diaco meant by the quote. Asked if he felt the players were capable and equipped to do what Diaco was asking of them in order to execute the defense at a high level, Weber answered unequivocally:

“Yeah, that’s what I believe. Absolutely.”

- Robin Washut

The rumors, speculation, and criticism surrounding Nebraska’s program after another frustrating 4-5 start to the season have become unavoidable for Riley and his team.

As the Huskers get back to work this week to prepare for their final three games, Riley said he’s kept a simple message for his players as they cling to keep their bowl eligibility and their coach’s job status alive.

“I don’t try to mediate between maybe what’s going on outside of our room,” Riley said. “I just kind of focus on what we need to do in our room. A message for these guys just in general for their life is the great thing you can do in a tough situation is not be controlled by that situation, but really form your identity for a guy that’s going to continue to work hard and make it better, be the difference maker in all of this.

“We’ve actually preached that from the very beginning, that that’s the way life is and usually in seasons there’s some rough spots. So you’ve got be able to not let those dictate who you are.”

Riley was asked if he’s had any further conversations with new athletic director Bill Moos about the current state of the program and his future at Nebraska.

“What I’ll tell you is that I have talked to Bill somewhat in-depth - not a lot - a couple different times,” Riley said. “The topics will remain between us at this point, but I’ve had good talks with him and been around him quite a bit since he’s been here.”

As he’s done all season, Riley said he fully expects the Huskers to come out to practice on Monday afternoon with a positive mindset and be ready to work towards bouncing back with a win over Minnesota this week.

While there may be a lot of negativity around the program that neither he, his coaches, nor his players are able to control, Riley said he would continue to push his team to focus only on getting better and making most of the opportunities still in front of them.

“I think this is a great time for all of us to not be controlled by our circumstances, but be controlled by the moment of what we get to do,” Riley said. “I’m excited to get back to work with our team this afternoon to get ready to go, and I expect with this group, as we’ve had, great enthusiasm for the work as we get going.”

- Robin Washut

Riley once again opened his Monday press conference with a long list of injuries Nebraska was dealing with entering the week, including one key defensive player already being ruled out for the Minnesota game.

Riley announced that junior linebacker Luke Gifford would miss his third game in a row this week as he continues to deal with a hip injury he suffered against Ohio State.

“Luke Gifford right now doesn’t look like he’s going to play,” Riley said. “He hasn’t improved enough to say anything more than that right now.”

The good news was there is some optimism that redshirt freshman linebacker Tyrin Ferguson could eventually be back in the mix after missing the past two games with a foot injury. Riley said Ferguson was “doing better” and they would monitor his status through the week.

Riley said sophomore cornerback Eric Lee was still going through concussion protocol but they were hopeful he’d be able to get back to work at some point this week. Lee sat out of the Northwestern game after suffering a concussion at Purdue, and Riley said he would have a better update on Lee’s status by Thursday.

Safeties Aaron Williams (neck) and Antonio Reed (knee) both dressed for Saturday’s game but did not see the field, and Riley said they should be ready to practice this week and hopefully play at Minnesota.

Weber was a new name added to this week’s injury report, as he suffered a “stinger” in his shoulder on Saturday but is hopeful to be ready to play this week. Redshirt freshman Ben Stille also injured his groin against the Wildcats but is expected to be OK going forward.

Holder Zach Darlington has missed the past two games due to an unspecified illness, and Riley gave no indication when the junior would be ready to return to practice.

Lastly, Riley said freshman running back Jaylin Bradley could be back at practice soon after missing all last week with a sprained ankle he suffered at Purdue. Riley said they would see what Bradley could do during Monday’s practice and continue to evaluate him from there.

- Robin Washut

Two wins away from regaining bowl eligibility for the 10th straight season, Nebraska forges ahead with plenty left to play for.

Although 2017 hasn’t gone the way the Huskers envisioned, the possibility of a bowl game and one final trip for the seniors remains a carrot dangling in front of the Big Red.

“I think the initial focus is the work that we’re going to do this week,” Riley said, “but I think to not still have (bowl eligibility) out there as something would be kind of denying what’s on everybody’s mind.

“I think that it would be great – and we’ll state it – for our team and for our seniors to fight and get some wins to get bowl eligible.”

One of those seniors in a small veteran group is Weber, who spent his first four bowl trips in Jacksonville, San Diego, Santa Clara and Nashville. Weber said making it to a fifth bowl game would be a good finish to a disappointing final season.

“It is a huge motivating factor,” Weber said. “I want to keep playing. My days are numbered, that’s how I look at it, and so if we can get an extra game, that’s my motivation absolutely.”

In addition to the sentiment of a final game for the seniors, bowl season also spins momentum forward with 15 additional practices that non-bowl eligible teams miss out on. For redshirting and scout team players, the opportunity to get additional work and a head start on spring ball is invaluable.

With the entire team traveling to the bowl game, Riley also emphasized the fun experience and positive atmosphere bowl games provide. The head coach discussed the postseason memories for fans and younger players in new destinations.

But the bowl trips perhaps quite a bit more to the graduating seniors. Weber, a former walk-on from Elkhorn, said it would mean the world to him to have an extra game in the Husker uniform.

“It’d mean everything,” Weber said. “To go on a trip with the guys that I’ve become close with, my teammates, yeah, it’d mean everything.”

- Matt Reynoldson

***Riley said the late-game play-calling was an instance of always wanting to re-do things when you don’t win. He said the first play in OT “had a great shot for a touchdown pass”, but the sack on the screen pass on second down brings a valid question about that call.

***On the fourth-down incompletion in OT, Riley said J.D. Spielman actually drew his defender right to where the ball was supposed to go, and De’Mornay Pierson-El would have otherwise been wide-open for a first down.

***Riley confirmed that freshman Brenden Jaimes will be the starting right tackle for the rest of the season.

***Riley said their message to recruits is just to continue to go forward with what they're supposed to do and go about their business as if nothing has or will change.

***Riley said he hasn't put any more thought into taking over the play-calling duties for the rest of the season.

***Riley said Nebraska has been "better" with penalties, and their struggles are "pretty defined" and "within our control."

***Quarterback Tanner Lee was the only player to talk at the podium during Monday's press conference. He was asked about always talking at the podium no matter if things are going good or bad, and he said: “that’s just part of the deal.” He said it’s his job as a captain to be a leader for the team, and he accepts that talking to the press is part of that responsibility.