Editorial Looking Ahead: What Does Rhule Really Have to Build On Going Into Year 4?

[Hotcarl]

Good. We are a young team, the more proven players we can get in the program the better.

Proven players? Most portal players struck out at the place they’re quitting. And the very few that looked proven, suck here. Looking at you Dane Key

 

[Cash68847]

Weren’t people arguing after the shitty offensive performance against Cincinnati that it was an actual impossibility to throw a deep ball vs the defense they ran?

We need to keep Dylan and get him a couple more receivers in the portal.

 

[ChocaEgg]

Weren’t people arguing after the shitty offensive performance against Cincinnati that it was an actual impossibility to throw a deep ball vs the defense they ran?

Yep, some strong cope

 

[CornFed Gregger]

I remember when we were trying to model our identity after Michigan. Dominate LOS. Stop run and run the ball.

Then we hired a DC who can’t stop the run and an OC who ran an air raid offense for most of his career.

So how the hell should we know what we trying to build this team into, identity wise? 18 months ago we were going be smash mouth win LOS and field position game. Fundamentals, discipline, toughness and execution. Then we decided to do a complete 180 started trying to be like USC or something. And not good USC, shitty Lincoln Riley USC with no defense or run game. Ugh…

So, in short. I suppose I need to see who the new coaches are and what we do in the portal to help me see some clearer direction. Right now seems pretty…

For a guy who talks like he has some vision of Nebraska being a beast, Rhule does seem to be aimlessly throwing shit together. Jeff Simms, Satterfield, Tony White, John butler, Holgerson, & all of the d raiolas.

Did he actually land more NIL support cuz of Penn state? Did everything that has taken place in November eradicate that new NIL support?

I am getting a lot of Carolina panthers vibes with how things are going.

 

[Tell_Sackett]

We need to keep Dylan and get him a couple more receivers in the portal.

That's what we did this year.

I'm somewhat indifferent to Dylan coming back. As I've said for most of the year.... I don't think he was the problem but he really wasn't the solution either given our personnel limitations. I don't think Dylan's skill set matches up with what Rhule wants to do offensively, but you don't turn down legacy 5 star quarterbacks either.

 

[V-Doub]

That's what we did this year.

I'm somewhat indifferent to Dylan coming back. As I've said for most of the year.... I don't think he was the problem but he really wasn't the solution either given our personnel limitations. I don't think Dylan's skill set matches up with what Rhule wants to do offensively, but you don't turn down legacy 5 star quarterbacks either.

Go all the way in on the offensive and defensive line. If you do that I’m fine with keeping Dylan or not, don’t really care either way. QB is one player and that’s easier to replace through the portal than 4-6 offensive and defensive linemen. Focus on the LOS and let the chips fall where they may with Raiola.

 

[V-Doub]

For a guy who talks like he has some vision of Nebraska being a beast, Rhule does seem to be aimlessly throwing shit together. Jeff Simms, Satterfield, Tony White, John butler, Holgerson, & all of the d raiolas.

Did he actually land more NIL support cuz of Penn state? Did everything that has taken place in November eradicate that new NIL support?

I am getting a lot of Carolina panthers vibes with how things are going.

 

[TampaBaySkers]

For a guy who talks like he has some vision of Nebraska being a beast, Rhule does seem to be aimlessly throwing shit together. Jeff Simms, Satterfield, Tony White, John butler, Holgerson, & all of the d raiolas.

Did he actually land more NIL support cuz of Penn state? Did everything that has taken place in November eradicate that new NIL support?

I am getting a lot of Carolina panthers vibes with how things are going.

Keep in mind Rhule had Christian McCaffrey & Baker Mayfield and found a way to lose a ton of games

 

[Herbie]

WILLIS ZERO TACKLE MCHGEHEE FLEXIN HIS NIL. RHULE ERA BABY

Can you dip your dick into my mouth?

 

[Cash68847]

That's what we did this year.

I'm somewhat indifferent to Dylan coming back. As I've said for most of the year.... I don't think he was the problem but he really wasn't the solution either given our personnel limitations. I don't think Dylan's skill set matches up with what Rhule wants to do offensively, but you don't turn down legacy 5 star quarterbacks either.

It was a joke. We need to fortify or lines and coach them up.

 

[Tell_Sackett]

It was a joke. We need to fortify or lines and coach them up.

Sorry, my sarcasm meter is broken.

 

[BorWhiskey]

Every year in CFB there is a sense in concern over graduating players and how we’ll replace them. Whenever you are breaking in a new QB and having to replace a QB that was basically your offensive identity, it will feel like a reset. So while it stinks that this past year didn’t go as we hoped, to me at least, this sense of starting over is entirely on having to get the QB situation figured out again.

I think the DL can be a strength next year even if they don’t add anyone. The right DC and perhaps if we replace Bradden (although I’m not ready to say we need to, yet), we can exponentially build off of the experiences Kade, Popp, Bills, and Keona gained this past year. If they can play violent then I think we have the talent, there.

At LB we never really cycled players. It was Shavers and Wright with a little bit of MWT. But I think everyone feels like Merritt is going to be a good one. And supposedly the staff is high on Jones after seeing him for the year. So, maybe we go get someone good here but I don’t think we need a bunch for us to be much better at this level. Rogers might be ready for Jack, too. The cascading effect of a better DL is what will matter here.

I don’t think anyone is worried with our CBs, even if we shuffle some things around. For example, putting Odem in with Marshall and moving Jones to safety. Hartzog back at NB is probably just as good as what we had with Ceyair playing it out of position. Jamir Conn might also be ready to start at NB next year, too, allowing Hartzog to not have to chase WRs from the LOS.

Rex to Rover and perhaps being replaced by Jones, Benning, or Buford. Or this is where we search for a portal guy. Need a good eraser.

So, on defense, as much as I’m upset about how the year ended (not so much the losses but the hopelessness) I don’t believe it is a reset. We need to get the right DC who brings the right intensity and can make the right changes that fit the roster.

Offensively, the sense of reset after the QB is probably RB. EJ was our offense after Minnesota. But I’ll argue that we won’t have massive drop off there if we actually keep the same approach next year of committing to the run. I do expect us to go after a difference maker here, though.

For the OL we tend to lean on the portal, though. Which, Rhule has stated that he thinks you need three years in a program to mature on the line. So it’s time for us to see some returns on Brix, Taumua, and Gottula. The class that hit the three year mark the year before was Knutson, Sledge, and Macie. But if we don’t see at least one of these hit it’ll be upsetting. I’m hoping given we’re trying to replace 2 IOL players and that’s where we play the best, that we can shape up Preston and Brix into those starters. If not then we need to push folks out, hit the portal hard, and fingers crossed HKT, Tapu, Marks, and Hammerbeck can step up in 2027.

I don’t worry about TE because I haven’t really utilize it beyond a blocking role.

I’m not ready to worry about WRs.

Anyway, overall I’m not calling this a reset. It’s not perfect. Far from it. Too many unknowns we are asking to step into starter roles with big 2023 and 2024 classes. And if we can’t get those players onto the field in their 3rd year then it’s indicative of misses. But I’m not ready to judge them as failures until after we know if they are in the top 55 or not next year.

Portal focus:
- Figure out QB, TJ or a portal guy
- Find a good RB
- Find an OT that either starts or adds depth
- Find a Jack, edge setter to challenge Rogers
- Find a P2 quality LB starter if out there
- If we can find an elite nose, add him but let’s not freak out every time a 300 pounder commits elsewhere
- Find an elite Safety if he’s out there. That Boo guy from TN if he’s not going to be a cancer.

 

[BorWhiskey]

But seriously @HuskerGarrett needs to quit asking for pre-approval from the AD to add a "blood orgy" reaction and he just needs to have the moral courage to do what's right and add it

This is a sore topic for him since Garrett recently was forced into an orgy with some of the staff after the Cockeye game.

 

[Cornicator]

Proven players? Most portal players struck out at the place they’re quitting. And the very few that looked proven, suck here. Looking at you Dane Key

I think its worth while to be disapointed with Key's hands later in the season. He did have some drops. But a lot of his criticsm over lack of production is a bit short sided:

Nebraska couldn't protect Raiola on any 5 or 7 step drops during the Big Ten season. This took away a lot of Dane Key's routes. That's not really on Key. That's on the staff for not protecting their franchise QB better which in turn limited a lot of the offensive weapons on the roster.

 

[ZJSARENOTFREE]

I think its worth while to be disapointed with Key's hands later in the season. He did have some drops. But a lot of his criticsm over lack of production is a bit short sided:

Nebraska couldn't protect Raiola on any 5 or 7 step drops during the Big Ten season. This took away a lot of Dane Key's routes. That's not really on Key. That's on the staff for not protecting their franchise QB better which in turn limited a lot of the offensive weapons on the roster.

I think a lot of that was on Raiola. His drop was way too deep and he seemed to be the issue. Even in the USC game, he seemed to finally not take such a deep drop and he looked better.

 

[SlumpBuster]

- Figure out QB, TJ or a portal guy

We need to stop saying TJ is an option for next year. He's not.

Maybe if it were year two for Rhule and he could weather the storm of a 6 win season but he can't now. He's got to win more next year

 

[whoboppin]

I really dont think its that dire (as long as Raiola comes back). Everyone just keeps forgetting our starting QB got knocked out with 3 1/2 games left. Nebraska was 6-2 and leading USC with at least a potential score when he got hurt. I dont think this was an elite team but we probably would have been 8-4 to 9-3 if he had stayed healthy.

The main issues last year were Tackle and Front 7 on defense. From my POV, Nebraska knew they had to get OT and just werent able to land their main targets. Had they done that, maybe the whole season is different. This needs to be a wakeup call to the NIL people that you can skimp at some positions.

Front 7. I think this is where Rhule can get the biggest blame. Nebraska could have gone into the portal to get some higher level DL portal prospects, but chose not to. I think Rhule just thought he had the guys and that along with his development they would be ready. In reality most were probably a year away.

To me these aren't really coaching issues. These are roster management issues. Nebraska needs to do a better job of identifying what they have, get the money together, and go spend in the portal. With Nebraska small HS recruiting class, i think this is exactly what they plan on doing. I wouldn't be surprised if Nebraska took 12-15 portal guys to signal to some guys that they need to transfer out.

Right now is the most important part of the season or next year. With the portal, go get guys if you think you have some holes. Theres no need to bank on major development. Get the question mark answered and you can still develop the younger guys and the develop the portal guys when they come in.

 

[Poor_and_Stupid]

We need to stop saying TJ is an option for next year. He's not.

Maybe if it were year two for Rhule and he could weather the storm of a 6 win season but he can't now. He's got to win more next year

There is so much shit that has to go right for next year to even have a chance to be successful. I just don’t see it. (Bold, I know.)

Rhule might do enough to give the sunshine pumpers some hope, but I refuse any and all optimism from here on out. I’m not quite there yet, but I’m nearly to “Frost year five” levels of negativity.

 

[2010sarenevercomingback]

I think its worth while to be disapointed with Key's hands later in the season. He did have some drops. But a lot of his criticsm over lack of production is a bit short sided:

I know this isn't the main reason why we brought Key in, but his perimeter blocking was outstanding & helped spring a lot of EJ's runs. After last year's pathetic WR blocking, and with our offense increasingly going through EJ, that aspect shouldn't be overlooked.

 

[whoboppin]

We need to stop saying TJ is an option for next year. He's not.

Maybe if it were year two for Rhule and he could weather the storm of a 6 win season but he can't now. He's got to win more next year

100%. We arent starting Lateef next year. Nebraska is starting Raiola or a transfer portal QB.

LaTeeftards need their heads examined. I think he can be a good QB in the future, but should be 2027 at the earliest.