Was 2025 really an improvement over 2024?

[Irv]

Without Ek Nebraska is probably 5-7

Yep and on the flip side, add Ek to last year’s team and they probably win 8 and then it’s clear the team as a whole did not get better.

 

[Stan Raymond]

No I don't think it was an improvement.

Worst thing is after last season I had hope that we were on the right track and that the next season would be better. I do not feel that way now.

 

[mcgradynu]

The Ek hire is actually what gives me some hope. Because it’s proof that you can change a coach and change the entire nature of a unit. That gives me hope on the lines. And that’s honestly where we need wholesale makeovers. I get the DL was shallow in terms of depth, but we were soft on both lines. We need guys with Ek type energy coaching the lines.

 

[dom91932]

On the field, special teams have certainly improved (thank God). On offense and defense it is hard to see improvement. For me, until the line play vastly improves being at the top of the bottom or bottom of the middle of the conference is our ceiling.

In conference play we gave up an average of 195 rushing yards/game. Only Rutgers and Maryland were worse. On offense it looked like the run game improved, yet in conference we are at 3.9 yards/attempt (13th in the conference) and 133 yards/game (11th). Throw in the pass protection issues with the line and the qb holding onto the ball we had no big play potential other than EJ breaking one. With little exception, the opposing defenses could play vanilla and contain us all game.

When Rhule came in he talked about recruiting athletes and looking at track times and said he could teach them to be good football players. When is that going to happen? For a "developmental program" there hasn't been much development. I guess that's what happens when you have coaches that need to be developed trying to develop players. Where does strength and conditioning fall under all of this? That seems to be one area that has gotten little attention in all of the line discussion.

Bottom line, we need more football players and established coaches than projects. Maybe that's all he could get at Temple or at a decimated Baylor but in the BIG that's only going to get us to the lower half of the conference.

 

[Kaladin]

 

[king_kong_]

We will never have any advantage over an opponent with little Matty the Elf on the sideline

The stats and talent level need to be overwhelmingly in our favor for us to have any chance

 

[ZJSARENOTFREE]

We will never have any advantage over an opponent with little Matty the Elf on the sideline

The stats and talent level need to be overwhelmingly in our favor for us to have any chance

We get it. How many more threads do you want to say the same thing.

 

[Boondock_St_Sker]

 

[Boondock_St_Sker]

Fuck that guy…doesn’t he have a foul call to be mad about?

 

[Poor_and_Stupid]

Special teams significantly better. Which is a red flag to why the whole thing was about the same.

We legitimately could have missed a bowl game if the special teams wasn’t improved like it was. Pathetic really.

 

[gtlacey]

So I think people's brains are getting pretzelled here. We were both worse and better than last year.

According to FPI, pre Raiola injury we were the 28th best team in the country. Which feels right considering we stuck with Michigan and USC who are both top 25 teams.

Post Raiola injury, we performed like the 46th best team. Which based on my eye test, that checks out. Compared to last year when were the 38th best team and the year before we were the 58th best team. And pre- Rhule we were the 70th.

 

[gtlacey]

We legitimately could have missed a bowl game if the special teams wasn’t improved like it was. Pathetic really.

And we also could've been 7-2 and in the top 25 if Raiola didn't get hurt. The what-ifs go both ways.

 

[Poor_and_Stupid]

And we also could've been 7-2 and in the top 25 if Raiola didn't get hurt. The what-ifs go both ways.

Not in our favor most times.

 

[Turn Down for What]

I think Rhule is the best used car salesman on the planet.

This guy sucks.

 

[gtlacey]

Not in our favor most times.

There does seem to be muscle memory within the the program on how to lose. But the last two years have seen some of that get washed away. Long way to go but it’s getting better.

 

[gtlacey]

I think Rhule is the best used car salesman on the planet.

This guy sucks.

He is charismatic and that probably rubs some people the wrong way.

But he doesn’t “suck.” Riley and Frost sucked. Rhule has proven to be slightly above average so far.

 

[wildcat_husker]

He is charismatic and that probably rubs some people the wrong way.

But he doesn’t “suck.” Riley and Frost sucked. Rhule has proven to be slightly above average so far.

I roll my eyes when people call him a used car salesman. He’s not a slimy or dishonest person. Say what you want about the Raiolas but they ended up at Nebraska because Rhule kept consistent with his message and was honest with them.

People compare Rhule to Frost or Pelini’s inability to talk to the media and assume he has to be a used car salesman because he doesn’t come off as a spiteful child.

He might be an average coach. But he’s not a used car salesman.

 

[gtlacey]

I roll my eyes when people call him a used car salesman. He’s not a slimy or dishonest person. Say what you want about the Raiolas but they ended up at Nebraska because Rhule kept consistent with his message and was honest with them.

People compare Rhule to Frost or Pelini’s inability to talk to the media and assume he has to be a used car salesman because he doesn’t come off as a spiteful child.

He might be an average coach. But he’s not a used car salesman.

Totally agree!

 

[Turn Down for What]

He is charismatic and that probably rubs some people the wrong way.

But he doesn’t “suck.” Riley and Frost sucked. Rhule has proven to be slightly above average so far.

Riley’s three years stack up against Rhule’s three years.

 

[SlumpBuster]

Riley’s three years stack up against Rhule’s three years.

Only if you don't consider any nuance at all like what state the team was in when he got there