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

[wildcat_husker]

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

Well yeah, McCaffrey only played in 10 games out of 34 between 2020 and 2021 because he was hurt. Mayfield didn't join until 2022. Rhule was fired five games into the season in 2022.

McCaffrey was traded to the 49ers in 2022.

 

[Tell_Sackett]

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 Key was fine and you could see the talent, but he was also a wasted asset as we just couldn't get him the ball enough.

 

[djw004]

@Faux Sean Callahan thanks for putting into words what I felt during the 2nd half of the Cockeye game.

I was so dejected - and the people around me that know I love this shit were asking why I was so down on the team after this loss as opposed to others...This was the first time my very optimistic yet realistic brain stopped saying "we will figure it out" and went to "what do we have to show for these first 3 years?"

It truly is the first time with Rhule that I just don't see the path...thanks for showing WHY I don't see it. Hopefully another off-season Natty can bring back my irrational confidence.

 

[realbp]

@Faux Sean Callahan thanks for putting into words what I felt during the 2nd half of the Cockeye game.

I was so dejected - and the people around me that know I love this shit were asking why I was so down on the team after this loss as opposed to others...This was the first time my very optimistic yet realistic brain stopped saying "we will figure it out" and went to "what do we have to show for these first 3 years?"

It truly is the first time with Rhule that I just don't see the path...thanks for showing WHY I don't see it. Hopefully another off-season Natty can bring back my irrational confidence.

JFC! Does anyone think the team loses steam if Raiola doesn't get hurt and they beat USC? Penn St. and Cockeye do not happen like that, I guarantee it.

 

[djw004]

JFC! Does anyone think the team loses steam if Raiola doesn't get hurt and they beat USC? Penn St. and Cockeye do not happen like that, I guarantee it.

Raiola wasn't hurt for Minnesota and it looked like a carbon copy of our last 2.

Raiola wasn't hurt for Michigan and we couldn't stop giving up 50 yard runs...

It's almost like at the end of the grind of a season, our defensive woes and weaknesses magnified, they didn't get solved...go figure

 

[TampaBaySkers]

Well yeah, McCaffrey only played in 10 games out of 34 between 2020 and 2021 because he was hurt. Mayfield didn't join until 2022. Rhule was fired five games into the season in 2022.

McCaffrey was traded to the 49ers in 2022.

So in other words - Rhule has not met expectations for six straight seasons - not good

 

[realbp]

Raiola wasn't hurt for Minnesota and it looked like a carbon copy of our last 2.

Raiola wasn't hurt for Michigan and we couldn't stop giving up 50 yard runs...

It's almost like at the end of the grind of a season, our defensive woes and weaknesses magnified, they didn't get solved...go figure

Did you expect 12-0?

 

[djw004]

Did you expect 12-0?

I expect us to not be completely inept at stopping the run in the Big 10 in year 3 of a guy who is from the Big 10. I expect us to have an offensive identity in year 3 that is proven to produce winning results in the Big 10. I expect us to have displayed a buildable foundation that is consistently "leveling up" until we get to where we expect to be.

No one is saying that needed to be perfection. But against the easiest schedule we will see in a long time, I did expect more than a 1 win increase Y.O.Y. I think that's pretty realistic.

 

[realbp]

I expect us to not be completely inept at stopping the run in the Big 10 in year 3 of a guy who is from the Big 10. I expect us to have an offensive identity in year 3 that is proven to produce winning results in the Big 10. I expect us to have displayed a buildable foundation that is consistently "leveling up" until we get to where we expect to be.

No one is saying that needed to be perfection. But against the easiest schedule we will see in a long time, I did expect more than a 1 win increase Y.O.Y. I think that's pretty realistic.

So winning is less important than stopping the run or stopping the run is the only way to win? We were pretty good at stopping the run last year and didn't win more games.

 

[Pepe Silvia]

Rhule has made fatal mistakes in each of his first 3 seasons that have limited the momentum of the program

Sims
Satterfield
Foley
Butler

It seems like every off season is spent being reactive trying to fix past mistakes rather than implementing a vision for where this program needs to be headed

 

[realbp]

Rhule has made fatal mistakes in each of his first 3 seasons that have limited the momentum of the program

Sims
Satterfield
Foley
Butler

It seems like every off season is spent being reactive trying to fix past mistakes rather than implementing a vision for where this program needs to be headed

Some good points in this, but despite all of that the program is moving forward; slowly.

 

[Baron Winnebago]

Rhule has made fatal mistakes in each of his first 3 seasons that have limited the momentum of the program

Sims
Satterfield
Foley
Butler

It seems like every off season is spent being reactive trying to fix past mistakes rather than implementing a vision for where this program needs to be headed

I blame Frost for Sims. The portal was dookie that year for QBs and we had fuck all after Martinez.

Granted I'm not sure Scat could have made Joe Burrow look good

 

[wildcat_husker]

So in other words - Rhule has not met expectations for six straight seasons - not good

You could just call out Rhule for what he has done wrong. There's plenty. You don't have to make things up.

You said he failed to win games with those players and when I said those players weren't there or weren't playing, you moved the goalposts.

 

[realbp]

I blame Frost for Sims. The portal was dookie that year for QBs and we had fuck all after Martinez.

Granted I'm not sure Scat could have made Joe Burrow look good

Running Casey off for Sims was not a great decision.

 

[djw004]

So winning is less important than stopping the run or stopping the run is the only way to win? We were pretty good at stopping the run last year and didn't win more games.

What are you fucking saying? You mean year 2 would’ve been worse than year 3 if all other factors remained the same? Shocker…

In the B1G I think it matters to be physically imposing team, and we shouldn’t be questioning where we stand in that area going into year 4

 

[2010sarenevercomingback]

Running Casey off for Sims was not a great decision.

Casey was injured with a very extended recovery process & wouldn't have been able to do any football stuff until fall camp, and wasn't going to stick around if we brought any other potential starters in. I 100% understand not gambling your first season on whether or not a decent-but-not-great QB has a setback at any point during a 9-12 month rehab (Thompson was also re-injured 3 games into the next season at FAU).

Obviously Sims ended up being the anti-clutch disaster that he was, but it certainly seemed like the higher floor decision at the time.

 

[TampaBaySkers]

You could just call out Rhule for what he has done wrong. There's plenty. You don't have to make things up.

You said he failed to win games with those players and when I said those players weren't there or weren't playing, you moved the goalposts.

What are you blabbering about. He went 1-4 with Christian and Baker as starters and got canned for it. He also turned Cam Newton into a loser.

 

[Tell_Sackett]

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 would 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 not need to bank on major development. Get the question mark answered and you can stil develop the younger guys and the develop the portal guys when they come in.

I agree with the roster management comments. I think the "this coach sucks" takes are just easy, low hanging fruit to pick by fans. Donnie is a good example... I can point to a lot of positives up front other than right tackle. I can also just say we had 30 sacks so fire him. I'm not crazy about Holgs either, but I look at coaching hires that don't work as more of a fit issue versus they are just idiots. JoBu, despite absolutely hating our light fronts, likely outperformed with our talent level through 9 games.... and then absolutely shit the bed.

This year just felt like a collection of talent pulling in different directions. Lacking "Identity" is probably cliche, but we clearly don't have one. Rhule has to get it right...express a clear vision of what he wants to be and execute the plan.

 

[Pepe Silvia]

What are you blabbering about. He went 1-4 with Christian and Baker as starters and got canned for it. He also turned Cam Newton into a loser.

Cam Newton was washed by the time he came back to Carolina. His shoulder was wrecked

 

[TampaBaySkers]

Cam Newton was washed by the time he came back to Carolina. His shoulder was wrecked

Ok so was baker “washed”? Why did Rhule go 1-4 with him as a starter? My bucs are thriving with Baker