Offensive coordinator Matt Lubick and other members of the Husker football team and staff met with the media Tuesday to discuss preparation for this week’s game against Minnesota.
Lubick spoke on the growth of the team over the last couple of weeks and where it comes from.
“I’ve been happy as far as guys striving to get better every day and focusing on daily improvement,” Lubick said. “The last two games have been two of our better games, especially in the run game and blocking. It’s in practice paying more attention to detail as players and coaches. It’s a combination really of all position groups and coaches working a little bit harder and doing the best we can.”
Lubick discussed his appreciation for the leadership that quarterback Adrian Martinez gives the team both on and off the field.
“The way he handled when Luke (McCaffrey) started the Penn State game, that rubbed off on everybody,” Lubick said. “That’s not natural when a starting position gets taken away from you for people to react that way. It shows a lot about him as a person. And that’s how he is. His leadership, to me, grows each week. After the Iowa game, he went after the game had an emotional talk to our football team about what we have to do to win and our team responded. It was one of the best passionate talks I’ve ever heard in the locker room.”
Talking about the opening drive of the second half of the Purdue game, Lubick noted the impact that drive had on the outcome of the game.
“That drive was huge for us for a whole bunch of reasons,” Lubick said. “It gave us some momentum back. We controlled the clock. We didn’t turn the ball over. It was just us executing, which we have had issues with this year, but the last two games we’ve been better. I think guys are really focused on that and that’s a step in the right direction.”
Despite Minnesota not playing their last two scheduled games, Lubick said the Huskers continue to prepare the same as usual.
“As far as preparing, we treat it like any other game,” Lubick said. “We do have some film on them. I know they’ll be prepared, and we know we’re going to get a heck of a challenge and a heck of a contest. And they’re going to be physical, and I’m sure they’re excited to come down here and our guys are excited as well.”
The Huskers and Gophers kick off in Memorial Stadium on Saturday at 11 a.m. (CT). Television coverage will be provided by BTN or FS1 and radio coverage will be provided by the Husker Sports Network.
