Matt Cavanaugh Quotations

We're going to shake up the backfield a little bit, and give the other guys a chance, too.

We are getting closer every day, we really are. We're going to need every day because we have a ways to go, but I am seeing some signs that they are starting to think like one. They've made strides the last few days and they are starting to take a lot of pride in what they do, so we're on our way.

We have to get the turnovers under control. But it is more than just Tyler -- our receivers have to work back to some balls, our line has to protect a little better. But if we can cut down on turnovers against Nebraska we will have a chance. There are a lot of nuances about the college game that I have to learn as well. It's only two games so it is too early to press the panic button just yet.

Obviously, getting the turnovers under control is a big thing for us this week. I think Tyler was embarrassed by some of the decision-making that went down in the Ohio game. Going on the road against a team like Nebraska that's getting a lot of scores off turnovers and is pressuring the quarterback, he's just got to make better decisions.

I don't know that there's anybody that good, at any position - and I'll speak offensively - including our quarterback.

We just have to convince (Collins) that there's activity at the position other than just throwing your big body at somebody to block him. But he's adapted to it pretty well. He's still working at it, but he's on track.

Going on the road against a team like Nebraska that's getting a lot of scores off turnovers and is pressuring the quarterback, he's just got to make better decisions,

I take credit or blame for a couple of the losses. I thought I called some poor games offensively, and I didn't give our players a chance to execute some plays. ... So, I've got a lot of improvement to make. It's not just the players.

It got pretty hot, pretty smoky, pretty fast in there. There's evidence that they might have still been in there when it was burning pretty hot ... and we are going to catch them.

LaRod had a good summer. We're going to be careful that we don't overload him.

Our receivers have to get back to some balls, and our line has to protect a little better. So there's a lot involved, but if we can go into this game and just cut down the turnovers, we'll have a chance.

We probably should take some more shots down the field. We need to give those guys an opportunity, and Tyler's got to get the confidence that if he puts the ball up, his guy's going to go up and compete for it and come down with it.

We've had a lot less mental mistakes than we had last year at this time, and I think they're starting to understand. A lot of the terminology is identical, with just a few changes, but there's better communication overall.

Tony was gone and it was supposed to be my team in '77. I was the guy who was supposed to carry us. That's why what happened was so devastating.

Rashad has a chance to be a good back -- maybe a special back. He's a big, strong kid who can run people over.

It's been two games. We hit a couple in the first game, but we didn't get any in the second one. So I don't know that we're going to push a panic button yet.

I learned a lot the year we won the Super Bowl in Baltimore (with the Ravens). I made mistakes, but I'm also not usually someone who dwells on the great things that happen, either. I can be critical of myself and the people around me, and I want to improve all the time.

I had no excuses that day. I was healthy. Even now, I know we still would have had to beat Penn State. But if we had won the Notre Dame game and gotten on a roll ...

I really believe if we had won that game, we would have gone all the way.

He's so conscientious. He wants to know everything about every play. He wants to know what every other guy is doing. Sometimes, I have to reel him in a little and remind him he has to worry about what he has to do. But, believe me, I'm not complaining.