‘On me’: Joseph absorbs blame for Nebraska loss

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska interim coach Mickey Joseph took full duty for his group’s efficiency in a 49-14 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday, repeatedly saying in his postgame information convention, “That is on me.”

Joseph was promoted to interim coach final Sunday after Scott Frost was fired following a 1-2 begin to the season. All through the week, Joseph promised he would carry extra vitality and enthusiasm to this system and had his gamers get again to the fundamentals at follow — whereas additionally eradicating the black shirts which can be a trademark of the protection.

However after their first offensive sequence led to a landing, nothing went proper for the Cornhuskers. Oklahoma dominated in each space, as Dillon Gabriel threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns whereas Eric Grey had 113 yards dashing and two extra scores.

The identical tackling points and missed alignments plagued the Nebraska protection, whereas the offensive line had a tricky time defending the quarterback, making it tough to achieve any rhythm on offense. Oklahoma completed with 4 sacks and 9 tackles for loss.

“That is on me, not my gamers, not my assistant coaches,” Joseph stated. “I’ve received to do a greater job, and I’ll. I’ve received to simply accept duty for it, and I’ve. We have eight video games left, and we will get able to win some video games.”

When requested what he may have finished in another way in his first week as head coach, Joseph stated, “I suppose I did not do sufficient final week to get them prepared. We have to do some particular person work, some extra drill work subsequent week, much less group work and get some fundamentals straightened up.”

Joseph received his gamers again to tackling once more throughout follow, one thing that had not been taking place beneath Frost. He stated he plans to do extra tackling work in the course of the upcoming open date, earlier than Nebraska will get into the center of its Massive Ten schedule.

As well as, he desires to provide youthful gamers extra reps and would take into account shaking up the depth chart if these gamers are deserving of extra enjoying time. As for whether or not he plans to make any adjustments to the teaching employees, Joseph stated, “I can not see that proper now.”

To make sure, the complete week was difficult for Joseph and his gamers. Joseph, a former Nebraska quarterback, had been on employees for lower than a 12 months as receivers coach. In the meantime, gamers needed to say goodbye to the top coach who recruited them. Among the many three gamers made out there for postgame interviews, none blamed Joseph for what occurred Saturday.

“Coach Joseph did an unimaginable job all week,” linebacker Nick Henrich stated. “Gamers had been those enjoying the sport on Saturday, so we have to purchase into what he says and proceed to work and consider in him, and I do know this group believes in him.”

Throughout Frost’s tenure, Nebraska had a behavior of shedding shut video games. Too many shut video games. Nebraska was 5-22 in video games determined by one rating or much less in his four-plus seasons as head coach. That features a closer-than-expected 23-16 loss to Oklahoma a 12 months in the past.

So to go from so many shut losses to not even being shut Saturday appeared significantly distressing. Joseph stated the efficiency shocked him. Defensive again Myles Farmer stated it felt like issues had been going Nebraska’s manner on the outset, earlier than the sport received out of hand.

“You are going ask me all these questions that I actually do not wish to reply,” Farmer stated. “However on the finish of the day, you are not in right here with us. You are not at follow with us. We have to maintain enjoying soccer, mainly.”

The 35-point margin of victory is tied for Oklahoma’s largest within the sequence since 1990. It additionally snapped a streak of 13 straight losses by single digits for Nebraska.

Athletic director Trev Alberts, who declined a request to remark, stated throughout his information convention final Sunday that Joseph would have a possibility to interview for the head-coaching job.

A supply near Joseph stated he believed the coach can be given a good shot however that the rest of the season would basically be an on-the-job audition.

With that because the backdrop, in the course of the Fox pregame present exterior the stadium followers began chanting, “We wish City!” as former Ohio State coach City Meyer sat on the set.

It doesn’t matter what occurs sooner or later, Joseph desires to verify his gamers stay targeted on the eight Massive Ten video games remaining.

“If you happen to’re taking place at this level, you ain’t meant to play soccer,” Farmer stated. “You bought to maintain enjoying, received to maintain your head up.”