CINCINNATI – Head coach Scott Satterfield, defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt, quarterback Brendan Sorsby, and cornerback Logan Wilson met with the media on Tuesday to preview Thursday’s game vs. Nebraska.
The Battle Sports Kansas City Classic will take place a GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The game kicks off at 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Head Coach Scott Satterfield
Opening Statement
“Welcome to our brand new facility. This is incredible. It's a good little setup in here. We’re excited about opening up the season. Our first game is against Nebraska, Coach Rhule is in his third year and has always done a really good job throughout his career. Nebraska last year was able to make a bowl game, their first bowl game in nine years, and obviously had a lot of momentum heading into the offseason. For this first game, an interesting game in a neutral site at Arrowhead Stadium, it is going to be a great atmosphere. We're excited about playing somebody. When you've been practicing against each other for this long, you’re ready to see a different color jersey. Although it’s the same jersey color that we are used to. Anytime you open up the season with a team like Nebraska, a team of on the verge of being a top 25 team, you have to bring your best game. Certainly, everybody has to be in mid-season form when you're playing this game. I think coming out of camp, we're healthy. As healthy as we’ve probably ever been coming out of camp. I think Aaron Himmler and Coach Niko [Palazeti] did a great job this summer and when we were heading into camp, being very intentional with our guys, their health and how we set practice schedules throughout camp in order to get our guys to this point. We're heading this game with pretty much everybody that we want to be heading this game with. I just owe those guys a lot because of what they did downstairs, getting these guys ready to go.”
On how difficult it is for a coaching staff to navigate what you're going to see in week one
“I think it’s certainly very difficult. Hence why we didn't even do a preseason voting or ranking order in the Big 12. Every team has so many new faces. We're probably, on average, I would say, low 20% compared to every team in the country. Obviously, some are in the mid 40s, but a lot of people are going to have that 20-mark, We’re also opening up a season against a team that made some changes in coordinators. They have a new special teams coordinator. The defensive coordinator was there but not calling the defense. Dana Holgorsen [Nebraska Offensive Coordinator] was there, he called the last part of the season. There's a lot of things that are unknowns as you head into the game. Then when you talk about Nebraska, 10 starters returning. So, there's a lot of newness in this first game. One thing that you do in the early part in the game, for probably for both sides, is you have to get a feel for what they're doing. On all three phases, how are they doing things? And then we have to make adjustments off of that. That would be critical once we get into this game.”
On what has been of importance going into the third year leading the program.
“For us, we're all about building a program. Obviously, we've been moving up in the trajectory when you think first year, second year, hopefully this year is better, and it should be. We have a better team. Anytime that you're taking over a program, you want to increase the win total, you want to increase the quality of players that you're bringing in. It takes a while to get your chemistry and your culture set within a program, that doesn’t just happen overnight. This is a big year for us. College football is as competitive as ever right now. And for us, opening up against a team like Nebraska is great for our team. It helps us know where we're at as we get ready for Big 12 play because it's going to be a year where you have to be ready to go at every single week with the teams that we're playing. You just don't know what each team's going to have. We know in the Big 12 conference, we know how competitive it'll be and this is a great way to start season out.
On what Nebraska position group has impressed him the most
“Well, I think for them on defense, their secondary is where their starters came back. As we watch Nebraska film, you can see those guys play and see how good they are. They're really good players. I think two of them were named captains this past weekend, but up front for them, there's some new players, D-line-wise. Several guys from last year are not playing this year. So, there's going to be some guys maybe we're not as familiar with that'll be up front that we really don't know much about. Offensively, they were able to bring in some transfers, particularly receivers. You can go back and watch them at their previous school, because those guys were some good players. But what are they going to do within this school? What are they going to do in this scheme? How are they going to be utilized? That remains to be seen. Obviously, that's why you don't truly know, until you get in these games and start figuring out how are they going to try to use them, and what holes they going to be at. I do know they're talented. I do know that they can run, they have size. They're going to be a physical team. Anytime you've heard Coach Rhule talk, he says how he wants his team to play physical, try to be a bully and those type of things. That's the kind of game. This will be a physical contest. There's going to be a lot of that going on out there. We have to match that physicality.”
On the nation unanimously choosing Nebraska to win
“Obviously you're going take any kind of motivation you can get. Our guys know how many people will pick us to win this game. They don't really know what we have inside this building, only we do. From practicing each other, how we've been able to train all summer and come into camp. Our guys have a lot to prove. I think about the guys that play a lot now, like Dontay Corleone. He's got a lot to prove this year. Also, a guy like Joe [Royer], where he came back for a reason. So we have a lot of guys in this in this building, whether they're returning starters or guys that just got here, they have a lot to prove. What better way to prove it than against the team that many people picking against us.”
On if winning the first game helps live up to the expectations set by previous teams
“I certainly think that it would help, if you win this game. It's the first game of 12. It's a team that's very recognizable nationally, a team which everybody thinks is going to have a great year. So, yeah, absolutely, to go get a W in this game would start to set you up. It’s not a make-or-break game, though. When we get to Big 12 play, we want to be very competitive and go to Dallas. That’s been our team's goal. No matter what happens this week, we're going to get ready for week two. Obviously, we're going to do everything we can, this week, to go out and get a big win, because it would be huge for our team and our confidence as we move forward.”
On preparing for Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola
“He certainly is going to grow. He was a freshman. So, in year two, he's going to be a lot more comfortable, not just in college football but the surroundings and all the things that come with it. He's done all of that for a year now. with Holgorsen being there the last month of the season and really getting a feel for him, I think they'll build off that as they head to the offseason. I would anticipate him being a lot more comfortable in his surroundings and his environment. They will certainly try to go out and upgrade some receivers, bring in some top talent that are obviously a quarterback's best friend. He's got some dudes to throw to out there. I would anticipate him being a really good quarterback. I think he was the number one quarterback in the country, maybe coming out. So, he certainly has all the talent in the world to make all the throws. It'll be a great challenge for our defense to try to confuse them a little bit, try to make them force the ball in some places. We have to be ready to go for anything that may try to do and put up
On college football opening at a neutral site
“If it's a home game, I'd rather be playing here in Nippert, for sure, in your own stadium, with your people. It's interesting. I've been a part of games before where you play at neutral sites. There's not an advantage for the opponent. They're [Nebraska] three and a half hours away. We're about eight hours away, so they're a little bit closer. So I think the surroundings are new. We're both going to be in new hotels. We're both going to be having to deal with that. In that respect, it's the same. There's no advantage either way. It comes down to who's going to come out of this. The best game plan, who's going to execute, who's going to play the cleanest game.”
On Nebraska’s wide receiver Dane Key
“He’s a really good player. I remember him in high school, when he came out as number one. He's got great size, and that presents a problem if you're that big. He's played a lot of college football in the SEC. So, he’s not going to be phased by anything our DBs will try to do to him. He’s got a really good combination of size, speed, play making, ability and experience. I think he'll be one of the top receivers that will play this year. A great challenge for our DBs, to know where he's at and try to be physical with him. Sure, he's going to get some catches, but now we have to go and get him down on the ground. One of the big challenges is making sure we're keeping everything in front and not letting guys get behind us. I think that's obviously very important for us.”
On the media not talking about Brendan Sorsby as a top quarterback in the Big 12
“That's up to them, the people that are looking at film. It’s up to our offense and Brendan to go out and play well. So, they will be mentioned. If it was after the seventh game last year, sitting there 5-2, he’s probably going to be mentioned. I think it's up to him and our offense to go out and play well and for him to make the correct decisions, and the receivers to make plays for him. If that happens, then people will start mentioning him. He’ll be mentioned with some of the top quarterbacks in our conference. And I think if that's the case, then he’ll be mentioned as one of the top quarterbacks throughout the country.”
On the pressure to play for a conference championship
“I feel pressure every single year to go out and put a product on the field. So, to me, I put a ton of pressure on myself and our program to go out, play well, and get our guys ready to play. We've said throughout the camp that the sense of urgency has been there, knowing that we're playing a team like Nebraska. To come out, play as hard and be the best we can. That's what we have to do. If we do that, we'll see what happens at the end of the game. But it's the same amount of pressure from me.”
On the level of competition in the Big 12 after the Iowa state vs. Kansas State game
“Yeah, it’s hard. That’s a rivalry game for them. That's rather the two of the better teams in our conference. Until you start playing a bunch of games and we start seeing how guys are and how they match up, I don't think you put a whole lot of stock in it. They're going to be two of the best teams in our league. We know that they have experienced quarterbacks coming back. That’s a tough game to start season off with. Matt Campbell and Iowa State feel a lot better about themselves having won that game. Kansas State feels like they have to play a little bit better and harder as they go through the Big 12 season. But in the Big 12, it's going to be very competitive. There's going to be a lot of teams in it. One loss will not hurt you in the Big 12. Two may not hurt you either in the Big 12. But you still need to be able to get there. It’s going to be extremely competitive. Whoever can play the best ball and stay the healthiest throughout down the stretch will be the difference.”
On the starting running back competition
“We’ll play all our guys, probably at least a series, and then we'll see who's got the hand, who sees it the best, who’s got a great feel, who's making plays, and then they’ll be the ones to play the most. It’s been very competitive. All the guys made plays in camp and broke tackles. They caught the ball in backfield. It was protected well. That’ll be a great battle to see. Who’s going to get the most carriers and who's going to get the most playing time.”
On how the new facility has helped prevent injuries throughout the off season/camp season
“Yeah, it's a huge piece of our program. Now with the recovery aspects that we have in this building, it’s so easily accessible. The cafeteria that's right here, and man they are putting out some great food for our guys all camp long. It certainly has to help us. Aaron [Himmler] and Coach [Niko Palazeti] they do a great job of being in tune about each one of the guys, how much recovery they need. We force the recovery on the guys. It is readily available for our guys, and they're taking advantage of it too. I think that that's a huge piece in it as well. I think it's had a huge impact on our team already.”
On less injuries throughout camp
“No, there hasn't been. With the practice schedule that we've set, we've had days off. We've dialed the practice back; we've had to push practice hard and tackle a lot more. We've done a really good job of really spreading that out and allowing guys to recover and not have that magnet injury that takes over the top where they're going to miss time. Our guys did a really good job with that on top of being able to get the recovery. I think those two combined really helped.
On if playing on grass makes a difference
“Yeah, I'm sure its probably opinion based when you talk to a certain player. I don’t think it matters a whole lot unless the grass is slick and you can't stand up like slipping all over the place. That matters. Obviously, turf has a much better grip. I don’t know if it’s going to rain or not on Thursday night, but I hope not. You would think early this season, grass, it should be pretty good. It shouldn’t be a factor.”
Defensive Coordinator Tyson Veidt
On Nebraska’s wide receivers
“Well, they've got a couple really good returners as well and have brought in a couple of new guys. Anytime you've got depth at wide receiver combined with a really good quarterback, that presents challenges naturally for the defense. We're going to have to certainly do a great job handling those guys in the pass game. They're big and physical blockers too, so they also added dimension in the run game.”
On Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola
“Obviously the opener is somewhat like that always in this day and age, it's even drastically different because of the older or newer guys that everybody inevitably adds to their program. So you're looking at Kentucky video and Cal video to look at those other two wide outs that are naturally really good players. You do have 13 games on Nebraska, but you're trying to sort out what they did a little bit later in the year rather than earlier. But you're still looking at everything, so there's a lot to all of it. But yes, he's certainly a very good quarterback. He started 13 games as a true freshman, which is difficult to do in any position, especially that position. Big, strong, and can really throw the football, makes really good decisions for them. So we've got our work cut out for us.”
On which position group is poised to have a big game on Thursday
“Naturally we start up front. To me, that's where my mind always goes in any football game. So I believe our guys have the ability to impact the game up front, and that's really our down guys and our linebackers. That's really where the bulk of our experience resides as a defense. So those guys have had the great fall camp. We're healthy there, and we're excited to let those guys perform for sure, so that that would be really the group. Those two groups, absolutely.”
On redshirt senior defensive lineman Dontay Corleone
“You always hope that seniors have their very best year in their last year. Dante has certainly worked very hard to put himself in position to do that. He is a great leader for us, and we're excited to have him completely healthy and practicing with us every day and without a doubt, we're very excited for his senior year.”
On cornerbacks Logan Wilson and Matthew McDoom
“We love both of those guys. Not big guys, like you said, so we'll have to do a great job on our end too, because they do special teams stuff for us as well. So we're going to have to spell those guys here and there. We've just got to pick the right situation, the best situation for whomever that is coming in for both of those guys as well. We've got some other guys that have prepared well, and we feel like compliment those guys in different parts of the game too. So like other positions, will have to do a great job rotating there too, because simply, you know, it's a lot of work to play corner for every single snap of every game
Quarterback Brendan Sorsby
On starting the season vs. Nebraska at a neutral site
“I really don't have a choice, so it doesn't necessarily matter what I want. Obviously, you know, you'd like to have a game to settle into the season and get ready and then play Nebraska down the road. But that's not what we're doing. So, we have to be ready to go from the first snap of the game. I know I feel really good about this group of guys, and I'm excited to go attack Nebraska and see what happens.”
On what he learned from last year’s game vs. Pitt
“We jumped on them early, and then we just kind of fell asleep in the second half. Couldn't execute, couldn't do anything right. So, if we get out to a fast start against Nebraska, then we just got to keep the foot on the gas and keep going.”
On facing Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola
“I feel like, whenever your competition level is higher, you're more intrigued to go out there and play better and prove that you're one of the best in the country. That's my job, is to go out there and prove why I believe that I'm one of the best, and go out there and show I am.”
On the general public favoring Nebraska in Thursday’s game
“We obviously feel like we can go in there and compete with anybody and win any game. So we haven't really paid too much attention to it, or talked about it much. But it's our job to go in there and prove ourselves right, and go in there and find a way to win a game. We're not paying too much attention to it, but definitely use it as motivation, for sure.”
On what he takes from the good start to last season compared to the struggles the team faced in the final five games
“I would just say, find the good that was still in those bad games. Obviously they weren't up to the standard that I would like to play at, but just find the good in them. Then take the good and then try to flush the bad and try to be as good as possible every single snap. I think the experience that I got from last year in the system will be a huge benefit for me this year. And I feel a lot more comfortable, I feel like Satt trusts me a lot more. So it'll be a fun year, for sure. It's my job to just go out there and execute the plays that he calls, but I feel really good about this group of wide outs and running backs and the O-line in front of me. So it's my job to just go out there and trust what he's calling and just trust what I'm seeing and let her rip.”
On the wide receivers
“The depth that we have, they all have their different traits. A lot of them can run, and a lot of them have different aspects to their game. Some of them are a little bit smoother runners. Some of them are a little bit faster down the field. Some guys can go up and make plays. Some guys are more contested catch guys, so just stuff like that. We'll find out more this season as we go week to week and see what these guys can truly do in game. But we feel great about the group.”
On Nebraska’s secondary
“They're a physical group, top to bottom defensively, it's their brand. It's our job to find ways to get our guys the ball in space. It's going to be tough to tackle for the first game of the season. That's just how it is. So we got to do our best to get the ball in space and make guys miss. But they're a talented group of DBs and a talented defense in general. So it's our job to go out there and execute.”
On the biggest changes he’s seen in the offense this offseason
“I would say the depth that we have. I think there's a lot more guys that can go out there and help us win games. I don't think they're going to be able to key in on any one particular person. I like to think that I've grown in the offense as well, just comfortability and I was joking about being a veteran, but I kind of am now going on my fourth year. So just overall comfortability in game, and just going out there and letting it rip, and letting the fans see what our guys can do.”
On tight end Joe Royer
“I'd like to think so, I think he's the best in the country. So hopefully our offense can give him some more one on one matchups and stuff. Hopefully defenses won't be able to kill him as much. If they do, then we'll take the ball elsewhere. Obviously he's a really good tight end and a phenomenal player, so it's my job to get him the ball and let him do what he does, because if I do that, then he will have a break out year.”
