Huskers Getting Ready for Physical Test

Mickey Joseph and players comment on challenges posed by No. 17 Illinois

Contents

1. Coverage
2. Video
3. From the other side
4. More info

Nebraska is preparing for a test of its toughness in Saturday's game against Illinois, and Mickey Joseph says he has seen improvement in the Huskers' physicality.

"It's gotten a lot better," Nebraska's interim head football coach said Tuesday. "I like where they are right now. It has to be up there because Illinois is a physical football team, so we have to match that physicality."

The 17th-ranked Illini have one of the nation's top defenses statistically, and the offense is powered by the country's leading rusher, Chase Brown. 

"They're not disguising anything," linebacker Eteva Mauga-Clements said. "They're seeing who's tough, who's physical."

Nebraska's challenge on defense is heightened by the loss of linebacker and co-captain Nick Henrich, who injured a knee during the Oct. 15 game at Purdue. Joseph confirmed Tuesday that Henrich is done for the season.

More from Tuesday's game-week press conference is below. Refresh this page to see the latest additions to the coverage. Items with asterisk may require a subscription. Go here for the HuskerMax discussion.

Coverage

Non-paywall

• Husker247 | Mickey Joseph press conference quick hits
• Husker247 | 'We'll be ready to go,' Husker QB says of matchup against top-ranked Illini defense
• Husker247 | Casey Thompson highlights the accountability he sees Joseph instilling
• Husker247 | Trey Palmer's growth at WR since LSU transfer stems from opportunity, Mickey Joseph says
• Husker247 | A satellite camp that wasn't so long ago (but sure seems it) comes to mind with this Husker-Illinois week
• On3 | Mickey Joseph confirms season-ending injury for Nick Henrich
• Associated Press | Joseph comments on unsigned recruit
• Daily Nebraskan | Nebraska offense confident in preparations for nation’s top defense
• Quotes | Joseph, Corcoran, Thompson, Washington, Magua-Clements, Nelson
• Omaha World-Herald | Sam McKewon recap (video)

More sources

• Omaha World-Herald* | Receiver Marcus Washington facing off against familiar foes
• Omaha World-Herald* | Casey Thompson wants Mickey Joseph to stay
• Omaha World-Herald* | Refreshed Nebraska finding reasons to believe in Big Ten West contention
• Omaha World-Herald* | Notes: Tommi Hill is 'coming along' in his new role as wide receiver
• Lincoln Journal Star* | Blitz meetings led by Raiola helping Husker QB Thompson feel comfortable
• Lincoln Journal Star* | Practice report: How Oklahoma loss changed Huskers
• Lincoln Journal Star* | What is Nebraska's plan if opponents begin to double-team Trey Palmer?
• Lincoln Journal Star* | Amie Just: 4 takeaways from Husker Tuesday, including an awkward moment
• Hail Varsity* | Huskers Look to Match Illinois' Physicality out of Bye Week
  
• Hail Varsity* | Phalen Sanford Wanted to Test Himself, Now He's Playing Beyond his 8-man Roots
• HuskerOnline* | Five things we learned from Nebraska's press conference

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Video

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From the other side

• Illini Inquirer | Coach quotes: What head coach Bret Bielema said about Nebraska
• Illini Inquirer | Coordinator quotes: What Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. said about Nebraska
• Illini Inquirer | Coordinator quotes: What Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters said about Nebraska
• Associated Press | Word Is Out About Chase Brown; Illinois Wants Volume Turned Up
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch | The Athletic's Ari Wasserman says Illinois football 'has MAC-level talent'

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More info

• Neb. depth chart
• Flip sheet
• Pregame notes: Neb. | Illinois
• HuskerMax game page
• Practice schedule
• KLIN/HuskerMax reports
• NU roster
• 2022 schedule

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