Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule
***Rhule said it will be “an honor” to have the 1995 Nebraska team in attendance for Saturday’s game vs. Michigan. He said the challenge for the Huskers would be to play well enough to make those guys proud.
***Rhule said Nebraska’s kicking game must improve. They obviously need to stop kicking it out of bounds, but the coverage must be better as well.
***Rhule said Michigan’s 15-ranked rushing offense, led by dual-threat QB
Bryce Underwood, provided “a lot for us to work on” this week in practice. While there are different coaches than the last meeting in 2023, “their core philosophies are the same.”
***Rhule didn’t know how to answer a question about whether the first three non-conference games had adequately prepared Nebraska for Big Ten play. He thought the overall process, encompassing the offseason, regular-season practices, and the games themselves, all combined to make NU a better team.
***Rhule wasn’t sure about the challenges involved in preparing for a game without a head coach, like Michigan is doing this week with HC
Sherrone Moore suspended.
***Rhule confirmed that
Javin Wright and
Malcolm Hartzog would be “ready to go” and “will be out there” against Saturday. Neither played vs. Houston Christian. Defensive linemen
Elijah Jeudy and
Gabe Moore both got dinged up vs. HCU, but would be fine for Michigan.
***One reason why Nebraska’s offense has executed so well the past two games, Rhule said, was how clean they’ve played. He said NU had committed very few drive-killing penalties so far this season.
***Rhule said his players “really wanted to wear the all-red” uniforms and also sport
Terence “Bud” Crawford shirts on Saturday. He said the Crawford shirts were
Dylan Raiola’s idea, and the Huskers ran with it.
***Rhule attended the Crawford fight on Saturday night. Part of the trip was for his wife’s birthday, and he said it was a “really cool” experience. He said Crawford was “really happy” that Rhule and A.D. Troy Dannen were there.
Rhule has been to plenty of big-time sporting events, and he called Crawford’s fight “the greatest I’ve ever been to.”
***Rhile said Nebraska would play a lot of ranked teams this season, starting with Michigan on Saturday. That’s part of the deal playing in the Big Ten, he said.
Talking redzone offense, Raiola’s strides, and DB success
***On NU’s redzone struggles, Rhule said some of it is player execution and not getting the ball where it needs to go. It’s also a matter of the staff drilling those situations more in practice. That will be a priority this week.
***Rhule said Raiola was ready for the spotlight entering his second Big Ten season. He thinks Raiola is “working at a high level,” but it will come down to everyone else on offense doing their part as well for Nebraska’s offense to be successful.
***Rhule said Michigan defensive coordinator
Wink Martindale would bring “elite pressure” in “multiple ways.” He said Martindale was one of his favorite coaches because of how creative he is in getting after the quarterback.
***Rhule said facing
John Butler’s defense every day in practice would help Raiola and the offense know what to expect on Saturday. He said Raiola has opened every Tuesday practice for the past two years “with a zero blitz in his face,” so he’s used to pressure. “He’s more than ready.”
***Rhule said Raiola’s understanding and command of the offense was a significant luxury for Nebraska’s coaches. Raiola’s ability to read pre-snap looks, check into better plays, and adjust protections changed the dynamic of how NU calls plays.
***Rhule noted that “everything Dylan went through last year was the first time.” From opponents, game situations, and stadium atmospheres, Raiola is much more experienced with all that comes with being a Big Ten quarterback. “This will be game 17 for him. Dylan will just get better and better and better.”
***Rhule said it’s been “amazing” having
Phil Snow on NU’s staff. Outside of his father, Rhule said, “I don’t think anyone’s had a bigger influence on me than Phil… He’s just knowledge and wisdom with no agenda.”
***Rhule said
Ceyair Wright’s embraced the chance to move inside to nickel with Hartzog out. He said Wright was “one of the smartest guys I’ve coached.” Rhule also called
Marques Buford one of the best leaders he’d ever been around.
Across the board, Rhule had nothing but praise for his secondary’s play. He said Nebraska had good coaches and elite buy-in from the players.
***Rhule said
Rex Guthrie might be one of Nebraska’s top future NFL prospects. He said an NFL scout asked him specifically about the redshirt freshman safety last week.
