ROSSI:
On rush defense:
- Guys up front are controlling their gaps and setting edges
- Linebackers are filling runs
- Made emphasis on working on inside run periods and drills
- Built identity and toughness of their football team
On Tyler Nubin:
- Really good in the run game
- Progressing in the pass game
- Doing a better job at making tackles
- Had to slow down to speed up, went 1,000 miles an hour when he was younger
On going against the OL:
- Invaluable
- Iron sharpens iron
- Going up against good size and talent
- Helping the young DL become better when it comes their time
On DL mentality:
- Most physical spot on defense
- Striking on every play
- DL and CB, you have a little bit more personality at those positions
- They've had experience, growth, and times they haven't played as well
On facing a QB with a different skill set:
- Have to look at every QB differently
- Facing more of a pocket passer
- We're preparing for all the quarterbacks on their roster
On what is clicking with Esezi Otomewo:
- Has natural size and strength when he got here
- Football instincts and reactions has gotten better since he's been here
- Has good instincts, reactions, and anticipations which comes with reps
- Practices hard and plays hard in games
- Boye is playing better as a rusher and in stopping the run
On Val Martin and De'Angelo Malone:
- Similarities in their game
- Can play nose and play 3-tech
- Having two guys that share those skills makes us better
On Jack Gibbens and his instinct:
- He's good and keying in and diagnosing a play
- Able to process things fast
- Has similar skills to a running back, he can find the hole
On DL depth:
- It's up there in terms of number of guys we're comfortable throwing in there
- Deepest he's ever been around (8 guys deep)
- Take a lot of pride in six of the eight guys in the rotation were on the roster last year
- Young group had to work really hard and seeing them play better
- One of the more connected defenses he's had
- Didn't feel they were connected midway through training camp, then had a team meeting
SANFORD, JR.:
On running the ball 23 straight times in a game:
- Did when he was the RB coach at Stanford
- Gonna love your chances if you're in that position, formula to win football games
- Unique game plan each week
- Early down success in throwing the football gave us the ability to run the ball as successful as they did
- Called full assortment of their run plan
- Credit to the guys that were banged up out there playing
- Northwestern is built on physicality on defense, have to be prepared to that
On John-Michael Schmitz:
- He'll play this game for a long time
- He's the glue
- Physically, everything comes so naturally to him
- He has tremendous reach and that helps him at center
- His ability to cut off people and redirect people appears effortless at times
On RB skill sets:
- Bryce is playing really well, fantastic role player
- Has confidence in everything he's doing
- He's a leader
- Irving, everyone holds their breathe when he touches the ball
- His skill set makes teams second guess what they are going to do
On deciding who to give the ball to among the RB's:
- Had convos with Burns and trusts him to get guys in the right positions
- Wants to get all three guys involved in the first 12 scripted plays
- Want to feed the hot hand, but also continue to get the other guys involved
On Northwestern's defense:
- Physicality and confidence
- Defense has been the unit that leads them to Big Ten West titles
- No. 8 nationally in third-down conversion defense
- Secondary is playing very well
On Cole Kramer improving as a runner:
- Every week his pad level gets better
- Never doubt his mindset, ability, and love of his teammates
- Takes his role very seriously
BURNS:
On message to RB room after Trey wasn't coming back:
- RB's gravitated towards culture of football team
- Their turn to tick
- Run behind veteran leaders on the OL
- They are getting better every single day
On Bryce's leadership:
- He's waited his turn for a long time and never complained
- He's become the old head with the two younger running backs
- Helping them progress through their growth
- Really cool to see him lead right now
On going into the game and who might have a hot hand:
- Trusts them all
- Look at the plays that are being called and put them in the best place to have success
- Ky is an old school slasher
- Have a great OL, leadership of that room has really helped the RB's
- Offense is one big unit
Do anything differently in practice as opposed to game:
- Stick with the culture and attention to detail
- Want players to know why they are doing what they are doing
- Play hard while protecting the ball
On creating an environment where everyone cheers for each other:
- Everyone feels like they are a part of everyone's success
- Mo is a selfless leader
- Helps them get better throughout the week and on game day
- It's what this culture is all about
On recruiting Ky Thomas:
- He's a violent, physical runner
- Ky breaks tackles consistently
- Just getting started, will be a special player
- Works hard at the details
On young RB transitioning to college:
- Play within the system is the biggest thing
- Stay within rhythm of the offense
- Take what the defense is giving you
- Takes reps and learning the system they are in
On Mar'Keise Irving:
- Credits other RB's with bringing him along
- He's selfless as well
- Just needs to be the best version of him
- Not going to be perfect, but just get better each day
On working with Cole Kramer:
- Natural ball-carrier
- Working on his pad level and protecting the ball
- He has natural instincts which you can't coach
- Picking things up really quickly
On rush defense:
- Guys up front are controlling their gaps and setting edges
- Linebackers are filling runs
- Made emphasis on working on inside run periods and drills
- Built identity and toughness of their football team
On Tyler Nubin:
- Really good in the run game
- Progressing in the pass game
- Doing a better job at making tackles
- Had to slow down to speed up, went 1,000 miles an hour when he was younger
On going against the OL:
- Invaluable
- Iron sharpens iron
- Going up against good size and talent
- Helping the young DL become better when it comes their time
On DL mentality:
- Most physical spot on defense
- Striking on every play
- DL and CB, you have a little bit more personality at those positions
- They've had experience, growth, and times they haven't played as well
On facing a QB with a different skill set:
- Have to look at every QB differently
- Facing more of a pocket passer
- We're preparing for all the quarterbacks on their roster
On what is clicking with Esezi Otomewo:
- Has natural size and strength when he got here
- Football instincts and reactions has gotten better since he's been here
- Has good instincts, reactions, and anticipations which comes with reps
- Practices hard and plays hard in games
- Boye is playing better as a rusher and in stopping the run
On Val Martin and De'Angelo Malone:
- Similarities in their game
- Can play nose and play 3-tech
- Having two guys that share those skills makes us better
On Jack Gibbens and his instinct:
- He's good and keying in and diagnosing a play
- Able to process things fast
- Has similar skills to a running back, he can find the hole
On DL depth:
- It's up there in terms of number of guys we're comfortable throwing in there
- Deepest he's ever been around (8 guys deep)
- Take a lot of pride in six of the eight guys in the rotation were on the roster last year
- Young group had to work really hard and seeing them play better
- One of the more connected defenses he's had
- Didn't feel they were connected midway through training camp, then had a team meeting
SANFORD, JR.:
On running the ball 23 straight times in a game:
- Did when he was the RB coach at Stanford
- Gonna love your chances if you're in that position, formula to win football games
- Unique game plan each week
- Early down success in throwing the football gave us the ability to run the ball as successful as they did
- Called full assortment of their run plan
- Credit to the guys that were banged up out there playing
- Northwestern is built on physicality on defense, have to be prepared to that
On John-Michael Schmitz:
- He'll play this game for a long time
- He's the glue
- Physically, everything comes so naturally to him
- He has tremendous reach and that helps him at center
- His ability to cut off people and redirect people appears effortless at times
On RB skill sets:
- Bryce is playing really well, fantastic role player
- Has confidence in everything he's doing
- He's a leader
- Irving, everyone holds their breathe when he touches the ball
- His skill set makes teams second guess what they are going to do
On deciding who to give the ball to among the RB's:
- Had convos with Burns and trusts him to get guys in the right positions
- Wants to get all three guys involved in the first 12 scripted plays
- Want to feed the hot hand, but also continue to get the other guys involved
On Northwestern's defense:
- Physicality and confidence
- Defense has been the unit that leads them to Big Ten West titles
- No. 8 nationally in third-down conversion defense
- Secondary is playing very well
On Cole Kramer improving as a runner:
- Every week his pad level gets better
- Never doubt his mindset, ability, and love of his teammates
- Takes his role very seriously
BURNS:
On message to RB room after Trey wasn't coming back:
- RB's gravitated towards culture of football team
- Their turn to tick
- Run behind veteran leaders on the OL
- They are getting better every single day
On Bryce's leadership:
- He's waited his turn for a long time and never complained
- He's become the old head with the two younger running backs
- Helping them progress through their growth
- Really cool to see him lead right now
On going into the game and who might have a hot hand:
- Trusts them all
- Look at the plays that are being called and put them in the best place to have success
- Ky is an old school slasher
- Have a great OL, leadership of that room has really helped the RB's
- Offense is one big unit
Do anything differently in practice as opposed to game:
- Stick with the culture and attention to detail
- Want players to know why they are doing what they are doing
- Play hard while protecting the ball
On creating an environment where everyone cheers for each other:
- Everyone feels like they are a part of everyone's success
- Mo is a selfless leader
- Helps them get better throughout the week and on game day
- It's what this culture is all about
On recruiting Ky Thomas:
- He's a violent, physical runner
- Ky breaks tackles consistently
- Just getting started, will be a special player
- Works hard at the details
On young RB transitioning to college:
- Play within the system is the biggest thing
- Stay within rhythm of the offense
- Take what the defense is giving you
- Takes reps and learning the system they are in
On Mar'Keise Irving:
- Credits other RB's with bringing him along
- He's selfless as well
- Just needs to be the best version of him
- Not going to be perfect, but just get better each day
On working with Cole Kramer:
- Natural ball-carrier
- Working on his pad level and protecting the ball
- He has natural instincts which you can't coach
- Picking things up really quickly
