Northwestern University Athletics
Monday Press Conference: Minnesota Week
11/13/2017 4:35:00 PM | Football
Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach and seniors Justin Jackson, Tyler Lancaster and Kyle Queiro joined the media in the Nicolet Football Center to discuss the Wildcats' upcoming game versus Minnesota at Ryan Field on Nov. 18.
Opening Statement...
Players of the week. Offensively, Bennet Skowronek. As you guys saw, had a career night, awesome night by him. Made a lot of big catches, none more so than the catch in the corner of the end zone contested. Big play maker was Blake Hance. That's three weeks in a row now Blake has played probably his best football of his career. To get out there and provide that protection that Clayton needs, he was outstanding. Jordan Thompson was very active on Saturday. He was our defensive player of the week, and Trent Goens was our defensive big play maker with his three sacks. Charlie Kuhbander was 5-5 and our special teams player of the week, and is off to a great start here in his career. Practice players were Corey Acker for offense and Troy Hudetz for special teams and Jason Goosen, one of our young o-linemen we moved over to d-line last week and gave a great effort to try and simulate the big guys on Purdue's front. So goose was our defensive player of the week.
Real special family as our honorary captains this week. Chairman of the board Lanny Martin and his wife Sharon will be our honorary captains. I'm excited to have them be a part of the weekend. It was great seeing Lanny a couple weeks ago out in Lincoln and now to have him be a part with his wonderful wife, just a great Northwestern family and obviously chairman of the board, excited to be a part of the weekend.
Getting ready for senior week here. Obviously always an emotional time for our seniors, and they've got to use that the right way, which I know that they will. Getting ready for a team that probably played their best game of the year last week against Nebraska.
On Minnesota...
They ran it really well. I thought Croft played great. They took advantage of some things schematically, got him in some one-on-one situations. He did a great job in the zone-read scheme. Smith is, here we go again, another great back in Big 10 play. No doubt our defense will have their hands full, not only with Smith in the back field but also the 100-yard kick return to start the game off was a big momentum gain for them. Really impressed with the way is playing, very physical, very sound with what they do. Similar in structures in ways to Iowa, very physical team.
On being ranked in the CFP...
It's always great to be nationally recognized. I think that's earned now with the CFP. I think it's the only ranking quite frankly that matters. I think the other ones are great for fans to talk about but a lot of it's going to be the Blue Bloods for the first two months, no matter what happens, just to get clicks on websites, and I get that and I think that every college football coach and player gets that. And then when you get to the CFP it starts talking about your strength of schedule, who you've played, how you've played most recently, and opportunity in front of you. You just have to keep winning. People say "should there be more playoff games?" There already are. The whole month of November is a playoff. From my standpoint, I think this is as fun of a time as to be a college football fan as ever. Because every game, once you get to November, counts in the playoffs. We're obviously out of that, for the year. I get that. To be nationally recognized is positive, but that only happens because you win games.
On being ranked at the same time as NU Men's Basketball...
I think it's great. It shows commitment from the university. To give us the opportunity to have two fists in the fight. From a football specific standpoint, we get out of the game late, and I get a chance to go see a lot of our donors and some of our former players that played in the 80's. We stand upon their shoulders because they didn't have the type of support we have right now. We'll never forget that, as long as I'm the head coach we will never forget those guys that came before us that paved the way through hard times to allow us to continue to be in the Big Ten. To continue to be able to compete. But it's commitment from the university. I think our staff, football specific, has done a really good job of recruiting the right guys to the program. Our guys have continued to work to get better. I think it's outstanding from a basketball standpoint. Fired up for Chris and his guys, his staff is outstanding. We're very close friends, not only myself and Chris but our staffs are very close. To see that type of success is awesome.
On the defensive backs vs. Purdue...
What did we give up, 13 points? I think you win a lot of games when you give up 13 points. I could give a rat's behind about yards. I've been well quoted that stats are for losers. So, stats are for losers. The most important thing is score. Score more than your opponent. They took a lot of hitches.
On Godwin Igwuibuike and Kyle Quiero...
I think Godwin and Kyle have really grown. I've really been impressed with their maturity. I think they've done a terrific job leading these last couple years. They learned from some great ones too, and their fortunate for that. They're both playing at a high level. Both guys I think are just outstanding teammates and have very bright futures. I think both are going to get an opportunity and if they get an opportunity I think they're both going to play for a long time on Sundays. Because they've got different skill sets, but they've got Sunday talent, and definitely Sunday attitude and work ethic. Excited to have them for a couple more games, and just very thankful for what they've brought to our program. Godwin a guy that was very heavily recruited that had some other programs coming at him late and he stayed committed. Our relationship started there and it hasn't changed. Kyle just is a family affair there. I had the privilege of coaching both he and his brother Cam, and his mom and dad. It's been great. It seems like yesterday that I walked into his house in a jersey. It's an emotional week for me. I go back with a lot of these guys to starting the recruiting process when they were 15, 16 years old. To see the men that they've become while going through our program, I'm really proud of them. They come from great families, so we're a big leg up when they first get here. Very proud of the men that they've become and excited not only for the last few games with them but also excited for their futures.
It goes way too fast. It's one of those things, when you have your first team meeting, and we talk and set the team room up where our freshmen sit, you can't hear this clear enough, this is going to go faster than any other aspect of your life. You've got to start it and you've got to attack it and don't wait your turn, because before you know you're going to wake up and it's going to be Senior Day. When I talk to the seniors today, the group kind of came together and went "wow, this went really fast." It's a little bit different having three more games, this one plus two. I think as we go through this next, whatever amount of weeks together, it will hit them more emotionally. No matter what you've got to use that emotion the right way. I know there's coaches in the past, throughout the country, that won't have a senior day because they're afraid of the emotion being a distraction. I look at it the other way around. I think that it's a positive emotion. I think it's more for our guy's families this weekend, and their sacrifice and dedication. If you're a parent, and you raise a young man to raise a Northwestern student-athlete you have to check the box for a job well done. How special of a job have you done as a parent and loved ones, because it takes everyone in the family, the whole tribe, to raise a young man. To see the families on Saturday, we have a reception at my house Saturday night after the game, and it's always a fun time to see all those families again. It goes back to the relationship that we started so many years back.
On the team's grinding, and if he thought the team might stop...
I didn't have that fear at all. None whatsoever quite frankly. Sometimes you will go through it, and embrace it, and you won't get the results. That happens too. A couple years back I thought we had that. We never lost the team. We lost games, a lot of one score games, but we never lost the team. I don't think that's in our guys DNA. I just don't. I don't think there's give up. At least in my 18 years here, I haven't seen a guy give up. Ever. I just don't think that's a Northwestern man, I don't think that's what a Wildcat is about. I don't think that's the kid of guys we recruit. I say that, but that trap is real easy to fall into. I just think collectively as a group, I don't envision that ever happening here.
On Skowronek being able to go up and get balls...
Congratulations on the parental lottery, getting the genetics to be tall. I think just charges the ball well, he's got good timing. He's the kind of guy who made those type of those plays in high school too. So this is nothing new to us as a coaching staff to see him make these types of plays. And he's a true sophomore. Another young guy out there making big plays.
On Tyler Lancaster...
A guy that we thought was under recruited, which was fine by us. We had no problem with that. A great student, high, high academics coming out of high school. Was a guy that we thought had great size. We had him come to camp, to see. I thought there was going to be no problem with him being an o-lineman I wanted to see if he could be a d-lineman. He came to camp and just dominated. I don't know who he went against but he dominated them. It may have been Jack Fitz I don't know, a 13-year old, but he killed him. He did it so fundamentally sound, that we walked up and had our post-camp meeting and said we're offering him as a d-lineman. Marty's wrapped up and coaching all the other kids in camp, so I brought Tyler and his mom and sister up to the office and said listen, we're going to offer you a scholarship, what position do you want to play. He's like I'll play anywhere. So I'm like "cool, we're going to offer you as a d-lineman" and he's like "alright, sounds good to me." I said if it doesn't work out, we'll move you to o-line, but that's what I see you doing. I think he's a prospect for both on Sunday. The guys that come through here, the scouts, they love his size, they love his strength. Some of the teams have liked him as a d-tackle prospect and others think he should grab that ball again and snap it. And I said I'll make sure and tell him that after the year. He's going to be a guy who I think will play on Sunday for a long time.
On what differentiates if a guy should play on defensive or offensive line...
I don't care. That's their decision not mine. It doesn't matter. That's beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I don't want to speak for Tom Cable who I had the privilege to work for, but Tom's synonymous with taking long, athletic d-line tight end guys and moving them to o-line for the Seahawks. He's a great d-lineman for us. He's an All-Big Ten lineman for us. Nobody's moved him. He's been a force on the inside for us all year. That's why we've played him there and he's had a great career. To say that he couldn't be an All-Big Ten o-lineman, I think that he could too. The head coach played defense, so that's the way it goes.
On the linebackers improvement...
I think it starts with Brett Walsh. I think Brett has had an outstanding season. I think he has done a terrific job leading. I don't think he gets any of the credit, outside of our building, which is fine by Brett. There's been more flash plays and more statistical plays by Paddy and by Nate, but that's just my stats are for losers deal. I think Brett has been absolutely outstanding. It's been really fun to watch. I'm real proud of him, I'm really happy for him, and he has just grinded. He has maximized every ounce of everything he's got. And he's not only doing it with the line backing corp but his leadership with the rest of the defense has been as good as I've had here. I'm really proud of Brett. He's done a great job.
On the fourth-and-one...
I don't care. You can ask me a question about it but I don't care. I don't really care about criticism. If it worked, I'd be a hero. It didn't work. We didn't block well at the point of attack. If we targeted the right way it would've been a big play. Criticisms are for message boards. I don't care. Period. Actually, you can put an exclamation point. Nor will I ever care. Although I do care if they show up on Saturday and cheer loud. I hope they do. If they don't, find a quarter and call somebody who cares.
On defending the read option...
Number one, you've got to fit gaps right. You've got to be sound with what you're doing and have coordination between the front and the back end. You're going to have a lot of one-on-ones, so you're going to have to tackle well. They do a really good job with their run-pass option off of that if your back seven gets involved. They do a really good job. Kirk does a really good job. When we were studying for him at Western Michigan, we were really impressed with what they had been doing offensively there. Obviously pick it up and put it over in Minneapolis. He's an outstanding coordinator. I've known him for a long time. He's an outstanding coach, does a great job with the quarterbacks. They do a lot of glance too, so they're going to look over and see what you do. You're going to have to defend them the whole length of the field, and you're going to have to defend all eleven because they get the quarterback involved not only in the run game but also with the RPO's.
On Minnesota's offense...
Like I said maybe a month ago when we were talking about the lack of sack totals, and teams all they did against us the first month was throw RPO's, there was really no drop back. It makes it a little hard, because you're getting a run read from the o-line. The d-line has got to be really sound with what they're doing. You've got to make teams one dimensional. If you allow teams to run the ball with those RPO's, it really gets challenging to stop. It's no secret in our league, typically when you stop the run you've got a good chance to be able to win football games regardless of what you do offensively. I anticipate that we're going to have as hard of a challenge as we've had all year, from Minnesota with what they're doing schematically. Number two, how they're doing it. Three, who they're doing it with. I think they're very talented on offense. We thought that a year ago. I thought those backs were as good as anybody that we saw, and now that they've kind of settled in on the quarterback, I think they're matching their calls to what his skill set is. I think they have really good team speed on the outside with the receivers, so great challenge for our defense.
On if it helps that they played Minnesota last year...
Maybe big picture schematically. But you do different things with your talent, and they're doing a good job matching their calls and their schemes in all three phases to what their talent is and I think their talent is outstanding.
On defenses loading the box...
It's the same thing that Michigan State did. I think it's the other way around. I think it's what I just said. You've got to make teams one dimensional. You got to pick your poison. We play a couple teams that have defended us differently, and that's why you go in with a plan. You've got to make adjustments to your plan as you go along. I heard Jeff's quotes after the game, they made a decision to play us a certain way, and that was their decision. We had to adjust offensively and I think Mick did a great job of it. Outside of maybe a couple plays that maybe we'd like to have back, I think we were pretty efficient in what we were doing. In the run game, we were a block away on about 12 runs. Our o-line has got to be better there. Primarily inside. Our two guards and our center have to be better in their one-on-ones to be able to be sure that we are able to be efficient. And we weren't in that area. Those three guys have got to play much better this week if we expect to have any semblance of a run game. I thought the two tackles played well enough for us to win.
On this being a special team...
I think it's our seniors first of all. They've created a great brotherhood in that locker room. They own our squad. A lot of guys have been through different things on and off the field. Different roles. It's been really fun to watch all of those guys go throughout their career. And they've just done a terrific job. I think you see it with how we play, I think you see the enthusiasm for each other, I think you see the brotherhood. We've got some outstanding older teammates that have laid a phenomenal legacy for the future. For them the future is now, they've got three guaranteed left as a senior class, with none guaranteed individually because of the nature of the game. They've done a really good job. Very thankful for them.
On P.J. Fleck adjusting to the Big Ten...
I just look at the last month as a blank the week before. That was last week and then everything here through today. I've seen a team that's improved. Any time it's your first year, the first however many months it's just getting to know each other. It's base, foundational stuff. The same thing football wise. Over time, the players and the coaches get to know each other. For the coaches they get to know the strength of their players. Then you start to be able to build game plans and schematics to the strengths of what your guys do well. That's a great credit to him and his staff. They've done a really good job of matching what they want to do and how they want to do things, a lot like Jeff last week, but then tweaking it to what their players do best. I think that's the mark of great coaches. I think last week and now this week they're two really good hires for both institutions, and two guys that are going to do a great job.
Student Athletes
On the speed of the season…
Tyler Lancaster: Yeah and you're so focused each week – you know, this game, this game, this game, it's just that one week of game, and they fly by – you know I didn't even realize that this would be this is the last home game until after the last game, 'cause the last game is what I was focused on last week so you know it really came fast – especially from the beginning of the season – we had captains' meetings and coach Fitz said hey we're gonna be at the last one before you know it. And it's already, before you know, it so it's just it's kind of bittersweet you know, at any end.
On his position…
Tyler Lancaster: Yeah so I pretty much strictly played at offensive line in high school. I played D-line every now and then just to get a big body in there, take somebody out. But I thought I'd be an offensive lineman. But you know my dream was to play college football and so as soon as I set my eyes on Northwestern and this was the prize you know I got a few smaller offers here and there. Recruiting started to pick up especially after I went to the opening in Oregon. But by that time I already had come to the camp at Northwestern and I think Brad North committed the day before and so like they already had a bunch of offensive linemen for my class and so they tried me a deal on you know Coach Long saw me broad jump and it was a nine four and he was like wow we don't have DBs that can do that (imitating coach's accent)and … so they gave me a chance and they offered me and he asked you know what I want to play and I said whatever will get me on the field, so… yeah that's pretty much it.
Do you think D-line is more athletic than O-line?
Tyler Lancaster: I do absolutely. You know offensive line, you know you gotta wear every brace known to man. You're gonna just stump around you know D line you got to be quick off the ball, agile, athletic. You know, I'm not saying offensive linemen aren't athletes exactly, but, uh, but I do think you have to have the better athleticism as a D-lineman.
On Saturday, Fitz was talking about the grinding that this team does, and then he said we we didn't get the return on that right away, but they didn't stop. what kept you guys going when you did not get the return?
Tyler Lancaster: You know, I think it started with the leadership. We dug ourselves a hole in the beginning of the season, and you know we just all made a conscious decision to pull ourselves out of it. And you know the younger guys, they're gonna follow what we do, so if we continue to have a positive attitude as we did, we just continue to show up and have Pat and I practice. So as soon as we were in that hole, it started with the leadership, we knew we could pull ourselves out of it so we did.
What does it mean to be ranked in the top 25, especially after your start that you had they give you a little extra incentive to keep it going?
Tyler Lancaster: I don't look at rankings at all. We know what we have in our locker room. We know what we have in this room and whatever they think of us outside of it, doesn't change anything.
On the speed of the season…
Justin Jackson: yeah for sure I think a lot of times I'm really the courier kind of just trying to you know get your feet wet you know do all the right things and then when you get older you kind of enjoy a lot more and I know all of us have already been enjoying this year and it just flew by so… It's a tough thing because obviously you don't want this brotherhood to come to an end but it has to, so I think for all of us it's just really enjoying those moments.
On the speed of the season…
Kyle Queiro: Yeah I can agree to that, especially in terms of finally getting to a position in which I feel like I'm making a larger impact and influence feels like I finally gained my grounds and got past just getting my feet wet, and then you know, you blink and you're towards the eleventh and twelfth games of the season. So I've just got to do with the most of what I have left.
Purdue threw 61 times on Saturday. that's the most any team has thrown against you this year. what was that like in the defensive backfield facing that?
Kyle Queiro: You know honestly I wasn't that happy because you know throughout a bunch of times I didn't feel like I got enough opportunities myself. But a lot of those throws were check downs and dump throws I think he threw the ball 61 times, 398 or so yards - it's like six yards in attempt and all completions a little bit over 10 yards in the 10th mostly just check downs and then run for a few yards after that. The longest completion was 35 yards which that may have been that may have been the fake punt I mean could be mistaken but either way I'm just saying a lot of it was you know some dinka nd dunks so with what the defensive line in the front seven find the way that they're playing we need to understand that we're gonna get a lot of passes from a lot of teams. Sspecially in this season towards the second half teams have constantly just abandon the running game. They only ran the ball for 40 yards and less than two yards a carry so with that understanding we know on the back on the back half of our team that we're gonna get attacked and we have been all year, and you know, it doesn't help our stats, but in a way numbers are for losers because we only gave up 13 points as a whole, so.
On Saturday, Fitz was talking about the grinding that this team does, and then he said we we didn't get the return on that right away, but they didn't stop. what kept you guys going when you did not get the return?
Kyle Queiro: Yeah I can agree to that. In the DB room more specifically, Goblin and I, we were just having a just a basic conversation that we have just in the locker room with a lot of DBs around. We were just talking about how we have the decision at this point in this junction in the season, we can win out or we can end up allowing some of our early stifles to keep us from a bowl game and keeping us from having the type of season that we already imagined that we would have. So with that we just made the decision. And I don't think necessarily a lot of things changed, we just did what we did better and harder because we realized that it wasn't getting it done at that point in time so all you could do is just keep going.
What did you think when the #1 jersey was awarded to Tyler?
Kyle Quiero: Duh. It seemed like a no-brainer - a guy who embodies everything that you know we talk about in this program, and walks the talk as well if he even talks. I mean he it's mostly just by his actions and a guy who's been a leader on this defense since day one for sure. So it seemed pretty obvious for me.
What did you think when the #1 jersey was awarded to Tyler?
Justin Jackson: Yeah I mean I think everyone knew that he, and saw the way he worked not only just throughout his career but like going in his last year the type of work he's putting in the offseason it's just like it's a no-brainer he's definitely the leader when the leaders are on defense no leader of our defensive line which is probably one of our best performing groups. And he's just I mean worked from a lot of adversity throughout his career like a lot especially early on a lot of adversity, and he just worked through that and always had a positive attitude, and always just been a great teammate, so I think it was pretty obvious.
With four targeting calls against teammates this year, has your style of play been affected?
Kyle Quiero: That's actually a tough question to answer because on one end, you know, coaches and players talk about, you know, we want to play free without constrictions, and just allow us to make plays because that's the things that we've been doing our whole lives. But we just understand that the stipulations and regulations, boundaries that are now on our game and it's for the betterment of it, so with that you just kind of take it and understand it and try to play within, you know, that structure. With the play on Montre on Saturday that was kind of a tough call, or just a tough case, because as the long sniper caught the ball, he was already starting to slide down, you know you're not supposed to hit a defenseless receiver above the shoulder pads, but that was only one of the only areas that you could hit him because he was already sliding down on his legs. So I mean I'm not necessarily sure what he could have done in that situation, and I don't think anybody's necessarily been just irate over the rulings, just man sometimes wrong place wrong time and we're trying to be football players but we're also trying to be safe, so.
What does it mean to be ranked in the top 25, especially after your start that you had they give you a little extra incentive to keep it going?
Kyle Quiero: Unfortunately, I might say the opposite as a senior, and you know a potential leader in the in the defensive back group. You know I just challenged our guys in our room that you know, this is gonna be our last opportunity as seniors and we want to go out not only on top every single week but also just put Northwestern on the platform even further for our further endeavors, years to come, and just continue to gain respect for the program. … and coach Fitz talked about, you know, potentially getting bored with winning, just… I wanted to make it clear that it needs to be, it needs to be a habit, so.
What does it mean to be ranked in the top 25, especially after your start that you had they give you a little extra incentive to keep it going?
Justin Jackson: I guess I'll mediate between those two. On the one hand, yes, I do like it, it's awesome to put, you know, our program on that platform, and really see all the work, you know, that we have been putting in come to fruition. But, you know, like Tyler was saying. No one believed this before and now all of a sudden people believe in us again. I get it doesn't matter to us, like because we always believe in ourselves, and we always put that work we've been putting the work in, and it's just kind of [that] we're seeing it more on Saturdays now.
What was the deal with being "bored with winning"?
Kyle Quiero: Yeah that was that was a little something after the game, in terms of you know we weren't as quick to you know jump around and do our dances and stuff like that. And I don't know that's just something that I guess he caught his attention and immediately he want to nip that in the butt and that it just needs to be an infectious contagious name that you know it's hard to win in the big ten and we need to continue doing it.
Any interaction between ranked basketball and football teams?
Justin Jackson: I talk to 'em a little bit. I mean yeah I think they're really excited. Obviously they had a great year last year, and they're trying to pick up you know where they left off. It was really cool today they're ranked right away like this just does a lot respect for the program, so you know people think they're going, I think they know that they can be really good this year and obviously we saw that and in didn't lose much - you know, we lost so a few key role players but like our solid core is back so I think they're expecting a really big year from themselves so, it just reflects that. … I'm around Brian, Vic, Scottie all those guys, Gavin, we see him and train room out here in fueling station so it's good that we're back on the winning end too, because uh early in the season some people had labeled us as a basketball school so… just want to point that out. They know who they are.
Clayton on Saturday talked about the end coming and how this was a special group of guys and we've heard that over the years it's a special group of guys. What makes this group so special?
Tyler Lancaster: I mean it's the relationships we've built. I can treat, like most guys are here for five years together. You know everyone argues that they're the closest group, but you know I'm gonna argue that we have the closest group. We do everything outside of football together and you know, we're here all day together but, you know, I think it's just the personalities that we have You know, we're all so different and we're also from different backgrounds and very diverse, but you know, we came together really well and formed a brotherhood from the start so I think that carried over, over these five years.
[Justin Jackson initially showed confusion over the question, seemingly concerned that Clayton Thorson was pondering the end, which prompted laughter and his own relief when the question was clarified]
Clayton on Saturday talked about the end coming and how this was a special group of guys and we've heard that over the years it's a special group of guys. What makes this group so special?
Justin Jackson: I've been a part of four teams here and yeah, I definitely grew to like this, as close as we've been, and I think he's shown it on the field. Like you know, we had a tough start, but like we all believed in each other and every single time we go out there on Saturday, like we all have that belief in each other like on the same side of the ball, and I think that's helped elevate our team.
Opening Statement...
Players of the week. Offensively, Bennet Skowronek. As you guys saw, had a career night, awesome night by him. Made a lot of big catches, none more so than the catch in the corner of the end zone contested. Big play maker was Blake Hance. That's three weeks in a row now Blake has played probably his best football of his career. To get out there and provide that protection that Clayton needs, he was outstanding. Jordan Thompson was very active on Saturday. He was our defensive player of the week, and Trent Goens was our defensive big play maker with his three sacks. Charlie Kuhbander was 5-5 and our special teams player of the week, and is off to a great start here in his career. Practice players were Corey Acker for offense and Troy Hudetz for special teams and Jason Goosen, one of our young o-linemen we moved over to d-line last week and gave a great effort to try and simulate the big guys on Purdue's front. So goose was our defensive player of the week.
Real special family as our honorary captains this week. Chairman of the board Lanny Martin and his wife Sharon will be our honorary captains. I'm excited to have them be a part of the weekend. It was great seeing Lanny a couple weeks ago out in Lincoln and now to have him be a part with his wonderful wife, just a great Northwestern family and obviously chairman of the board, excited to be a part of the weekend.
Getting ready for senior week here. Obviously always an emotional time for our seniors, and they've got to use that the right way, which I know that they will. Getting ready for a team that probably played their best game of the year last week against Nebraska.
On Minnesota...
They ran it really well. I thought Croft played great. They took advantage of some things schematically, got him in some one-on-one situations. He did a great job in the zone-read scheme. Smith is, here we go again, another great back in Big 10 play. No doubt our defense will have their hands full, not only with Smith in the back field but also the 100-yard kick return to start the game off was a big momentum gain for them. Really impressed with the way is playing, very physical, very sound with what they do. Similar in structures in ways to Iowa, very physical team.
On being ranked in the CFP...
It's always great to be nationally recognized. I think that's earned now with the CFP. I think it's the only ranking quite frankly that matters. I think the other ones are great for fans to talk about but a lot of it's going to be the Blue Bloods for the first two months, no matter what happens, just to get clicks on websites, and I get that and I think that every college football coach and player gets that. And then when you get to the CFP it starts talking about your strength of schedule, who you've played, how you've played most recently, and opportunity in front of you. You just have to keep winning. People say "should there be more playoff games?" There already are. The whole month of November is a playoff. From my standpoint, I think this is as fun of a time as to be a college football fan as ever. Because every game, once you get to November, counts in the playoffs. We're obviously out of that, for the year. I get that. To be nationally recognized is positive, but that only happens because you win games.
On being ranked at the same time as NU Men's Basketball...
I think it's great. It shows commitment from the university. To give us the opportunity to have two fists in the fight. From a football specific standpoint, we get out of the game late, and I get a chance to go see a lot of our donors and some of our former players that played in the 80's. We stand upon their shoulders because they didn't have the type of support we have right now. We'll never forget that, as long as I'm the head coach we will never forget those guys that came before us that paved the way through hard times to allow us to continue to be in the Big Ten. To continue to be able to compete. But it's commitment from the university. I think our staff, football specific, has done a really good job of recruiting the right guys to the program. Our guys have continued to work to get better. I think it's outstanding from a basketball standpoint. Fired up for Chris and his guys, his staff is outstanding. We're very close friends, not only myself and Chris but our staffs are very close. To see that type of success is awesome.
On the defensive backs vs. Purdue...
What did we give up, 13 points? I think you win a lot of games when you give up 13 points. I could give a rat's behind about yards. I've been well quoted that stats are for losers. So, stats are for losers. The most important thing is score. Score more than your opponent. They took a lot of hitches.
On Godwin Igwuibuike and Kyle Quiero...
I think Godwin and Kyle have really grown. I've really been impressed with their maturity. I think they've done a terrific job leading these last couple years. They learned from some great ones too, and their fortunate for that. They're both playing at a high level. Both guys I think are just outstanding teammates and have very bright futures. I think both are going to get an opportunity and if they get an opportunity I think they're both going to play for a long time on Sundays. Because they've got different skill sets, but they've got Sunday talent, and definitely Sunday attitude and work ethic. Excited to have them for a couple more games, and just very thankful for what they've brought to our program. Godwin a guy that was very heavily recruited that had some other programs coming at him late and he stayed committed. Our relationship started there and it hasn't changed. Kyle just is a family affair there. I had the privilege of coaching both he and his brother Cam, and his mom and dad. It's been great. It seems like yesterday that I walked into his house in a jersey. It's an emotional week for me. I go back with a lot of these guys to starting the recruiting process when they were 15, 16 years old. To see the men that they've become while going through our program, I'm really proud of them. They come from great families, so we're a big leg up when they first get here. Very proud of the men that they've become and excited not only for the last few games with them but also excited for their futures.
It goes way too fast. It's one of those things, when you have your first team meeting, and we talk and set the team room up where our freshmen sit, you can't hear this clear enough, this is going to go faster than any other aspect of your life. You've got to start it and you've got to attack it and don't wait your turn, because before you know you're going to wake up and it's going to be Senior Day. When I talk to the seniors today, the group kind of came together and went "wow, this went really fast." It's a little bit different having three more games, this one plus two. I think as we go through this next, whatever amount of weeks together, it will hit them more emotionally. No matter what you've got to use that emotion the right way. I know there's coaches in the past, throughout the country, that won't have a senior day because they're afraid of the emotion being a distraction. I look at it the other way around. I think that it's a positive emotion. I think it's more for our guy's families this weekend, and their sacrifice and dedication. If you're a parent, and you raise a young man to raise a Northwestern student-athlete you have to check the box for a job well done. How special of a job have you done as a parent and loved ones, because it takes everyone in the family, the whole tribe, to raise a young man. To see the families on Saturday, we have a reception at my house Saturday night after the game, and it's always a fun time to see all those families again. It goes back to the relationship that we started so many years back.
On the team's grinding, and if he thought the team might stop...
I didn't have that fear at all. None whatsoever quite frankly. Sometimes you will go through it, and embrace it, and you won't get the results. That happens too. A couple years back I thought we had that. We never lost the team. We lost games, a lot of one score games, but we never lost the team. I don't think that's in our guys DNA. I just don't. I don't think there's give up. At least in my 18 years here, I haven't seen a guy give up. Ever. I just don't think that's a Northwestern man, I don't think that's what a Wildcat is about. I don't think that's the kid of guys we recruit. I say that, but that trap is real easy to fall into. I just think collectively as a group, I don't envision that ever happening here.
On Skowronek being able to go up and get balls...
Congratulations on the parental lottery, getting the genetics to be tall. I think just charges the ball well, he's got good timing. He's the kind of guy who made those type of those plays in high school too. So this is nothing new to us as a coaching staff to see him make these types of plays. And he's a true sophomore. Another young guy out there making big plays.
On Tyler Lancaster...
A guy that we thought was under recruited, which was fine by us. We had no problem with that. A great student, high, high academics coming out of high school. Was a guy that we thought had great size. We had him come to camp, to see. I thought there was going to be no problem with him being an o-lineman I wanted to see if he could be a d-lineman. He came to camp and just dominated. I don't know who he went against but he dominated them. It may have been Jack Fitz I don't know, a 13-year old, but he killed him. He did it so fundamentally sound, that we walked up and had our post-camp meeting and said we're offering him as a d-lineman. Marty's wrapped up and coaching all the other kids in camp, so I brought Tyler and his mom and sister up to the office and said listen, we're going to offer you a scholarship, what position do you want to play. He's like I'll play anywhere. So I'm like "cool, we're going to offer you as a d-lineman" and he's like "alright, sounds good to me." I said if it doesn't work out, we'll move you to o-line, but that's what I see you doing. I think he's a prospect for both on Sunday. The guys that come through here, the scouts, they love his size, they love his strength. Some of the teams have liked him as a d-tackle prospect and others think he should grab that ball again and snap it. And I said I'll make sure and tell him that after the year. He's going to be a guy who I think will play on Sunday for a long time.
On what differentiates if a guy should play on defensive or offensive line...
I don't care. That's their decision not mine. It doesn't matter. That's beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I don't want to speak for Tom Cable who I had the privilege to work for, but Tom's synonymous with taking long, athletic d-line tight end guys and moving them to o-line for the Seahawks. He's a great d-lineman for us. He's an All-Big Ten lineman for us. Nobody's moved him. He's been a force on the inside for us all year. That's why we've played him there and he's had a great career. To say that he couldn't be an All-Big Ten o-lineman, I think that he could too. The head coach played defense, so that's the way it goes.
On the linebackers improvement...
I think it starts with Brett Walsh. I think Brett has had an outstanding season. I think he has done a terrific job leading. I don't think he gets any of the credit, outside of our building, which is fine by Brett. There's been more flash plays and more statistical plays by Paddy and by Nate, but that's just my stats are for losers deal. I think Brett has been absolutely outstanding. It's been really fun to watch. I'm real proud of him, I'm really happy for him, and he has just grinded. He has maximized every ounce of everything he's got. And he's not only doing it with the line backing corp but his leadership with the rest of the defense has been as good as I've had here. I'm really proud of Brett. He's done a great job.
On the fourth-and-one...
I don't care. You can ask me a question about it but I don't care. I don't really care about criticism. If it worked, I'd be a hero. It didn't work. We didn't block well at the point of attack. If we targeted the right way it would've been a big play. Criticisms are for message boards. I don't care. Period. Actually, you can put an exclamation point. Nor will I ever care. Although I do care if they show up on Saturday and cheer loud. I hope they do. If they don't, find a quarter and call somebody who cares.
On defending the read option...
Number one, you've got to fit gaps right. You've got to be sound with what you're doing and have coordination between the front and the back end. You're going to have a lot of one-on-ones, so you're going to have to tackle well. They do a really good job with their run-pass option off of that if your back seven gets involved. They do a really good job. Kirk does a really good job. When we were studying for him at Western Michigan, we were really impressed with what they had been doing offensively there. Obviously pick it up and put it over in Minneapolis. He's an outstanding coordinator. I've known him for a long time. He's an outstanding coach, does a great job with the quarterbacks. They do a lot of glance too, so they're going to look over and see what you do. You're going to have to defend them the whole length of the field, and you're going to have to defend all eleven because they get the quarterback involved not only in the run game but also with the RPO's.
On Minnesota's offense...
Like I said maybe a month ago when we were talking about the lack of sack totals, and teams all they did against us the first month was throw RPO's, there was really no drop back. It makes it a little hard, because you're getting a run read from the o-line. The d-line has got to be really sound with what they're doing. You've got to make teams one dimensional. If you allow teams to run the ball with those RPO's, it really gets challenging to stop. It's no secret in our league, typically when you stop the run you've got a good chance to be able to win football games regardless of what you do offensively. I anticipate that we're going to have as hard of a challenge as we've had all year, from Minnesota with what they're doing schematically. Number two, how they're doing it. Three, who they're doing it with. I think they're very talented on offense. We thought that a year ago. I thought those backs were as good as anybody that we saw, and now that they've kind of settled in on the quarterback, I think they're matching their calls to what his skill set is. I think they have really good team speed on the outside with the receivers, so great challenge for our defense.
On if it helps that they played Minnesota last year...
Maybe big picture schematically. But you do different things with your talent, and they're doing a good job matching their calls and their schemes in all three phases to what their talent is and I think their talent is outstanding.
On defenses loading the box...
It's the same thing that Michigan State did. I think it's the other way around. I think it's what I just said. You've got to make teams one dimensional. You got to pick your poison. We play a couple teams that have defended us differently, and that's why you go in with a plan. You've got to make adjustments to your plan as you go along. I heard Jeff's quotes after the game, they made a decision to play us a certain way, and that was their decision. We had to adjust offensively and I think Mick did a great job of it. Outside of maybe a couple plays that maybe we'd like to have back, I think we were pretty efficient in what we were doing. In the run game, we were a block away on about 12 runs. Our o-line has got to be better there. Primarily inside. Our two guards and our center have to be better in their one-on-ones to be able to be sure that we are able to be efficient. And we weren't in that area. Those three guys have got to play much better this week if we expect to have any semblance of a run game. I thought the two tackles played well enough for us to win.
On this being a special team...
I think it's our seniors first of all. They've created a great brotherhood in that locker room. They own our squad. A lot of guys have been through different things on and off the field. Different roles. It's been really fun to watch all of those guys go throughout their career. And they've just done a terrific job. I think you see it with how we play, I think you see the enthusiasm for each other, I think you see the brotherhood. We've got some outstanding older teammates that have laid a phenomenal legacy for the future. For them the future is now, they've got three guaranteed left as a senior class, with none guaranteed individually because of the nature of the game. They've done a really good job. Very thankful for them.
On P.J. Fleck adjusting to the Big Ten...
I just look at the last month as a blank the week before. That was last week and then everything here through today. I've seen a team that's improved. Any time it's your first year, the first however many months it's just getting to know each other. It's base, foundational stuff. The same thing football wise. Over time, the players and the coaches get to know each other. For the coaches they get to know the strength of their players. Then you start to be able to build game plans and schematics to the strengths of what your guys do well. That's a great credit to him and his staff. They've done a really good job of matching what they want to do and how they want to do things, a lot like Jeff last week, but then tweaking it to what their players do best. I think that's the mark of great coaches. I think last week and now this week they're two really good hires for both institutions, and two guys that are going to do a great job.
Student Athletes
On the speed of the season…
Tyler Lancaster: Yeah and you're so focused each week – you know, this game, this game, this game, it's just that one week of game, and they fly by – you know I didn't even realize that this would be this is the last home game until after the last game, 'cause the last game is what I was focused on last week so you know it really came fast – especially from the beginning of the season – we had captains' meetings and coach Fitz said hey we're gonna be at the last one before you know it. And it's already, before you know, it so it's just it's kind of bittersweet you know, at any end.
On his position…
Tyler Lancaster: Yeah so I pretty much strictly played at offensive line in high school. I played D-line every now and then just to get a big body in there, take somebody out. But I thought I'd be an offensive lineman. But you know my dream was to play college football and so as soon as I set my eyes on Northwestern and this was the prize you know I got a few smaller offers here and there. Recruiting started to pick up especially after I went to the opening in Oregon. But by that time I already had come to the camp at Northwestern and I think Brad North committed the day before and so like they already had a bunch of offensive linemen for my class and so they tried me a deal on you know Coach Long saw me broad jump and it was a nine four and he was like wow we don't have DBs that can do that (imitating coach's accent)and … so they gave me a chance and they offered me and he asked you know what I want to play and I said whatever will get me on the field, so… yeah that's pretty much it.
Do you think D-line is more athletic than O-line?
Tyler Lancaster: I do absolutely. You know offensive line, you know you gotta wear every brace known to man. You're gonna just stump around you know D line you got to be quick off the ball, agile, athletic. You know, I'm not saying offensive linemen aren't athletes exactly, but, uh, but I do think you have to have the better athleticism as a D-lineman.
On Saturday, Fitz was talking about the grinding that this team does, and then he said we we didn't get the return on that right away, but they didn't stop. what kept you guys going when you did not get the return?
Tyler Lancaster: You know, I think it started with the leadership. We dug ourselves a hole in the beginning of the season, and you know we just all made a conscious decision to pull ourselves out of it. And you know the younger guys, they're gonna follow what we do, so if we continue to have a positive attitude as we did, we just continue to show up and have Pat and I practice. So as soon as we were in that hole, it started with the leadership, we knew we could pull ourselves out of it so we did.
What does it mean to be ranked in the top 25, especially after your start that you had they give you a little extra incentive to keep it going?
Tyler Lancaster: I don't look at rankings at all. We know what we have in our locker room. We know what we have in this room and whatever they think of us outside of it, doesn't change anything.
On the speed of the season…
Justin Jackson: yeah for sure I think a lot of times I'm really the courier kind of just trying to you know get your feet wet you know do all the right things and then when you get older you kind of enjoy a lot more and I know all of us have already been enjoying this year and it just flew by so… It's a tough thing because obviously you don't want this brotherhood to come to an end but it has to, so I think for all of us it's just really enjoying those moments.
On the speed of the season…
Kyle Queiro: Yeah I can agree to that, especially in terms of finally getting to a position in which I feel like I'm making a larger impact and influence feels like I finally gained my grounds and got past just getting my feet wet, and then you know, you blink and you're towards the eleventh and twelfth games of the season. So I've just got to do with the most of what I have left.
Purdue threw 61 times on Saturday. that's the most any team has thrown against you this year. what was that like in the defensive backfield facing that?
Kyle Queiro: You know honestly I wasn't that happy because you know throughout a bunch of times I didn't feel like I got enough opportunities myself. But a lot of those throws were check downs and dump throws I think he threw the ball 61 times, 398 or so yards - it's like six yards in attempt and all completions a little bit over 10 yards in the 10th mostly just check downs and then run for a few yards after that. The longest completion was 35 yards which that may have been that may have been the fake punt I mean could be mistaken but either way I'm just saying a lot of it was you know some dinka nd dunks so with what the defensive line in the front seven find the way that they're playing we need to understand that we're gonna get a lot of passes from a lot of teams. Sspecially in this season towards the second half teams have constantly just abandon the running game. They only ran the ball for 40 yards and less than two yards a carry so with that understanding we know on the back on the back half of our team that we're gonna get attacked and we have been all year, and you know, it doesn't help our stats, but in a way numbers are for losers because we only gave up 13 points as a whole, so.
On Saturday, Fitz was talking about the grinding that this team does, and then he said we we didn't get the return on that right away, but they didn't stop. what kept you guys going when you did not get the return?
Kyle Queiro: Yeah I can agree to that. In the DB room more specifically, Goblin and I, we were just having a just a basic conversation that we have just in the locker room with a lot of DBs around. We were just talking about how we have the decision at this point in this junction in the season, we can win out or we can end up allowing some of our early stifles to keep us from a bowl game and keeping us from having the type of season that we already imagined that we would have. So with that we just made the decision. And I don't think necessarily a lot of things changed, we just did what we did better and harder because we realized that it wasn't getting it done at that point in time so all you could do is just keep going.
What did you think when the #1 jersey was awarded to Tyler?
Kyle Quiero: Duh. It seemed like a no-brainer - a guy who embodies everything that you know we talk about in this program, and walks the talk as well if he even talks. I mean he it's mostly just by his actions and a guy who's been a leader on this defense since day one for sure. So it seemed pretty obvious for me.
What did you think when the #1 jersey was awarded to Tyler?
Justin Jackson: Yeah I mean I think everyone knew that he, and saw the way he worked not only just throughout his career but like going in his last year the type of work he's putting in the offseason it's just like it's a no-brainer he's definitely the leader when the leaders are on defense no leader of our defensive line which is probably one of our best performing groups. And he's just I mean worked from a lot of adversity throughout his career like a lot especially early on a lot of adversity, and he just worked through that and always had a positive attitude, and always just been a great teammate, so I think it was pretty obvious.
With four targeting calls against teammates this year, has your style of play been affected?
Kyle Quiero: That's actually a tough question to answer because on one end, you know, coaches and players talk about, you know, we want to play free without constrictions, and just allow us to make plays because that's the things that we've been doing our whole lives. But we just understand that the stipulations and regulations, boundaries that are now on our game and it's for the betterment of it, so with that you just kind of take it and understand it and try to play within, you know, that structure. With the play on Montre on Saturday that was kind of a tough call, or just a tough case, because as the long sniper caught the ball, he was already starting to slide down, you know you're not supposed to hit a defenseless receiver above the shoulder pads, but that was only one of the only areas that you could hit him because he was already sliding down on his legs. So I mean I'm not necessarily sure what he could have done in that situation, and I don't think anybody's necessarily been just irate over the rulings, just man sometimes wrong place wrong time and we're trying to be football players but we're also trying to be safe, so.
What does it mean to be ranked in the top 25, especially after your start that you had they give you a little extra incentive to keep it going?
Kyle Quiero: Unfortunately, I might say the opposite as a senior, and you know a potential leader in the in the defensive back group. You know I just challenged our guys in our room that you know, this is gonna be our last opportunity as seniors and we want to go out not only on top every single week but also just put Northwestern on the platform even further for our further endeavors, years to come, and just continue to gain respect for the program. … and coach Fitz talked about, you know, potentially getting bored with winning, just… I wanted to make it clear that it needs to be, it needs to be a habit, so.
What does it mean to be ranked in the top 25, especially after your start that you had they give you a little extra incentive to keep it going?
Justin Jackson: I guess I'll mediate between those two. On the one hand, yes, I do like it, it's awesome to put, you know, our program on that platform, and really see all the work, you know, that we have been putting in come to fruition. But, you know, like Tyler was saying. No one believed this before and now all of a sudden people believe in us again. I get it doesn't matter to us, like because we always believe in ourselves, and we always put that work we've been putting the work in, and it's just kind of [that] we're seeing it more on Saturdays now.
What was the deal with being "bored with winning"?
Kyle Quiero: Yeah that was that was a little something after the game, in terms of you know we weren't as quick to you know jump around and do our dances and stuff like that. And I don't know that's just something that I guess he caught his attention and immediately he want to nip that in the butt and that it just needs to be an infectious contagious name that you know it's hard to win in the big ten and we need to continue doing it.
Any interaction between ranked basketball and football teams?
Justin Jackson: I talk to 'em a little bit. I mean yeah I think they're really excited. Obviously they had a great year last year, and they're trying to pick up you know where they left off. It was really cool today they're ranked right away like this just does a lot respect for the program, so you know people think they're going, I think they know that they can be really good this year and obviously we saw that and in didn't lose much - you know, we lost so a few key role players but like our solid core is back so I think they're expecting a really big year from themselves so, it just reflects that. … I'm around Brian, Vic, Scottie all those guys, Gavin, we see him and train room out here in fueling station so it's good that we're back on the winning end too, because uh early in the season some people had labeled us as a basketball school so… just want to point that out. They know who they are.
Clayton on Saturday talked about the end coming and how this was a special group of guys and we've heard that over the years it's a special group of guys. What makes this group so special?
Tyler Lancaster: I mean it's the relationships we've built. I can treat, like most guys are here for five years together. You know everyone argues that they're the closest group, but you know I'm gonna argue that we have the closest group. We do everything outside of football together and you know, we're here all day together but, you know, I think it's just the personalities that we have You know, we're all so different and we're also from different backgrounds and very diverse, but you know, we came together really well and formed a brotherhood from the start so I think that carried over, over these five years.
[Justin Jackson initially showed confusion over the question, seemingly concerned that Clayton Thorson was pondering the end, which prompted laughter and his own relief when the question was clarified]
Clayton on Saturday talked about the end coming and how this was a special group of guys and we've heard that over the years it's a special group of guys. What makes this group so special?
Justin Jackson: I've been a part of four teams here and yeah, I definitely grew to like this, as close as we've been, and I think he's shown it on the field. Like you know, we had a tough start, but like we all believed in each other and every single time we go out there on Saturday, like we all have that belief in each other like on the same side of the ball, and I think that's helped elevate our team.
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