Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry provides perspective from his side of the ball before the No. 24 Illini face No. 22 Nebraska on Friday night in Lincoln, Neb., courtesy beat writer Scott Richey:

Why did you dial up the pressure against Central Michigan?

"I felt like the guys up front, they were kind of yearning for that moment. It was really good to kind of unleash them a little bit. Every week the game plan is going to change a little bit based on who we're playing, based on what they can do within the framework of the pocket. Sometimes, we're a little more aggressive on some guys than others. It's just based on game plan. We were able to pin our ears back -- especially on certain downs and distances -- and let those guys get after it."

Will the rotation of cornerbacks/nickelbacks continue on Friday?

"This is all a part of the long-term plan. I said this last week. Everybody wants it now. We live in such a 'right now' society that nobody wants to understand the process is earned. Those guys who came in, they had earned the opportunity to get some reps at pivotal moments during the course of the game. That's going to continue to fare well for us as we continue to progress throughout the season. I made a point early this week and last week that since I've been here, based on the season, we have never finished a season without playing a sixth or seventh (defensive back). Somebody's going to have to step up. The season is long, it's physical. It's just trying to get those guys their feet wet early. They did some good things and, obviously, some things we can clean up, but I was very pleased with some of the stuff I saw on film."

What's allowed this defense to keep opponents out of the end zone?

"People get so caught up in yards and this and that. At the end of the day, you're defending a territory and having a sense of pride about not allowing teams in the end zone. I don't care about yards. I really don't. If you told me a team was going to have 500 yards and they don't score, I'll take that. Now, ideally, I don't want them to have 500 yards, but at the end of the day, the game is about touchdowns. The game is about scoring. If you can keep a team from scoring, you've got a chance to win the game. ... There's been a major harp on, if we want to have a chance to win as a team and play complementary football, we've got to play a different brand of ball. Especially when we get inside that 12-20 yard line."

How do TeRah Edwards and Dennis Briggs Jr. affect the defense?

"TeRah Edwards is an unsung hero. He does all the dirty work. Doesn't get a lot of praise. The addition of Briggs has been awesome. That dude is a terror -- an absolute terror -- inside. This is no recruiting pitch to any portal D-lineman in the future, but that cat is special. I'm so glad he came here. TeRah was a portal kid, as well. The value those two men bring inside for us, I think it makes us very effective. It makes us very strong at the point of attack. Then, obviously, you have those other two guys on the outside (Seth Coleman and Gabe Jacas), and I think we've got a pretty unique and special front when you combine them all together."

What challenge does Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola present?

"That cat's different, man. He is as good as advertised. Obviously, there's a lot reminiscent of Pat Mahomes, but the young man is a big-time player in his own right. For a player that young to come in and command that offense the way he does, he does a tremendous job. ... He's a freshman, but you can throw all that out the window. That dude has been playing the game a long time. He's doing it the right way. His teammates are behind him."