Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White meets with the media on Tuesday ahead of the matchup with Purdue.
Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White met with the media Tuesday as the Huskers continue preparations for Saturday’s matchup with Purdue.
Here’s a quick run through of what White had to say about his crew:
— White said he’s most proud of the chemistry that’s developed between the coaching staff and the players this season. He said the sidelines erupted when James Williams made his sack against Northwestern.
— White said Matt Rhule frequently works with the scout teams, and White credited Rhule with saying they needed to find a way to get Williams on the field. He said players on the demonstration team are now working hard to follow in Williams’ footsteps.
— Safety Marquise Buford is working his way back from a knee injury, and joked that Buford has “fresh legs.”
“He’s talented. The more you see him out there — he can run, he’s twitchy and he’s a vet…he’s a ball guy. If you get him in the right position and get him seeing the ball, he’s going to intercept the ball,” White said.
— White said Nebraska wouldn’t be able to be playing as good of defense against the rush if Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher and other weren’t doing extra and doing things that don’t show up until you watch the film. He also included Jimari Butler int hat group as well.
— He said what are considered “Air Raid” teams now have more of an emphasis on the run game than what they may have had previously. He said Purdue does a nice job of putting its own spin on a traditional Air Raid.
— White said he’s never been around a program that moves pieces around as much as Nebraska does. He cited Justin Evans-Jenkins and his performance Saturday as a good example of versatility in the program.
“That’s on a different level of being prepared,” White said.
— On Isaac Gifford’s tackle in the third quarter: “That’s probably going to go for 20, 30, 40 yards if not a touchdown, and that young man made a helluva play — probably the play of the game,” White said.
— White said cornerback Tommi Hill has upped his maturity this season and he’s performing well on the field because of it. “He needed some hard coaching and some belief in him,” White said.