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Breaking Viva Las Vegas: Vegas Bowl v Utah: Game Notes, Depth Chart, etc
- Thread starter Faux Sean Callahan
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Schedule detail
Theres one opt out
I thought I'd read both of their starting OTs were opting out
I think it was assumed they were opting out, not officially announced. There is one that is official.
Williams finna have a career day before he jumps in the portal. Jah bless
Dean is Deaning again -
Gotta be HARD to type with the fag gloves on.
Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen
***Holgorsen said TJ Lateef (hamstring) has “been kind of slowly working his way back into it” this week in practice. They’re being very cautious with him and allowing him as much time as possible to fully recover.Holgorsen admitted he was disappointed to not have Lateef 100% during these bowl practices, but he’s still getting in plenty of throws and mental prep.
***Lateef’s “calmness and his eagerness to take (the offense) over” have stood out to Holgorsen more than anything. “It’s killing him that he’s not practicing now because he wants the reps. He just loves the game.”
***Based on past experience with young QBs, Holgorsen said he sees advantages in bringing in other younger players behind Lateef and also adding a veteran starter-level QB through the portal. “You just evaluate them and find the best fit. Like I said, January 2 is going to be crazy.”
***Holgorsen said Jalyn Gramstad was getting plenty of snaps in practice and that this was the first opportunity for Marcos Davila to take “meaningful team reps” with the top offense.
***On what Nebraska might want in a transfer quarterback, Holgorsen said NU was evaluating everything and seeing “what’s available.” His focus remains on getting Lateef and the offense ready for the bowl game, and then “it’s going to get kind of crazy for a couple weeks” once the portal opens.
***Holgorsen said, above all, “you get the best player you can.” From there, he’ll “mold” the offense around what the quarterback can and can’t do.
O-line talk and replacing Emmett Johnson
***Holgorsen didn’t want to speak on Raiola’s decision but wished him well in his future. He said that starting QB transfers were “the new norm” in college football and that many teams were dealing with them right now.***On Raiola’s development, Holgorsen said he was “a great player,” and there were times when the offense was “heading in a really good direction.” He added that there were other times “when we weren’t.”
***Holgorsen said he spoke with Raiola about his future for “a couple of days” before Monday’s reports. Then Raiola was gone. He declined to provide further details on those conversations.
***On new OL coach Geep Wade, Holgorsen said he had an impressive body of work as a coach, teacher, and “as a human.”
“I think we’re going to work together very good.”
***Holgorsen said he had “a lot of respect for Donnie” Raiola. While they ran the ball well, pass protection issues affected how he called the offense. Holgorsen praised Raiola’s development of guys like Justin Evans and Elijah Pritchett and said the o-line did a lot of things well. “But it’s got to be better.”
***Holgorsen said Nebraska’s running backs were “excited” for the opportunity to step up and fill Emmett Johnson’s shoes. “Those running backs are getting a lot of reps and are excited about their opportunity… Now it’s those young guys’ turn.”
He said the motto for the running back room going forward was, “What’s next and who’s next?”
***On Utah’s defense, Holgorsen said he had “a lot of respect” for their program and head coach Kyle Whittingham. With this being Whittingham’s last game, he expects the Utes to play with their hair on fire for him.
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Running back Isaiah Mozee
***Isaiah Mozee said this month “means a lot to me” to have the opportunity to step up and replace Johnson. He said Johnson “helped me a lot” this season and “taught me the ropes” of playing running back in the Big Ten.***Mozee said this season was “definitely humbling” after having to learn running back and wide receiver. He said he understands the offense much better after preparing at multiple positions.
***He said he had to put on weight after moving to full-time running back. He’s around 208 pounds now and expects to stay at RB going forward.
***Mozee said all of the running backs were pushing each other this month, and that would continue into the offseason.
***Mozee said Nebraska was embracing the need to improve after two bad losses to Penn State and Cockeye. He said NU’s defensive line had practiced very well during bowl prep.
***Mozee thinks he’s “pretty special” as an open-field runner, but he still must improve his pass blocking and overall physicality.
Offensive lineman Tyler Knaak
***Tyler Knaak said it was “kind of a surreal moment” when he learned Nebraska would face his former team, Utah, in the Las Vegas Bowl. He’s been texting former UU teammates about the game, and some Ute players are still among his closest friends.***Knaak is working at right guard this month with Rocco Spindler out. He’s played tackle and guard, and he loves both. He’ll play wherever his coaches need him, but he said guard was a “more physical position … And I like to hit people.”
***On Wade, Knaak said: “We love Geep. Geep has amazing energy. He brings swagger to the room… We’re all going to miss Coach Raiola… But bringing in Coach Geep has been amazing.”
***Knaak said Raiola believed in a “really historical technique” to o-line play. With Wade, he said it was more of a “universal … less specific” approach to blocking. He thinks NU will “blend it all together” to start before fully shifting to Wade’s approach.
***Knaak said players coming and going was “the world that we live in these days” in college football. He said the game changes more every week, and, as a former transfer, called the portal “a brutal world” for players.
He said some players “chase a program” and want to play for a school, while others are more interested in financial gain.
***On Whittingham’s retirement, Knaak grew up watching him coach at Utah and build that program. He congratulated Whittingham on an amazing career and fully expects the Utes to be fired up and ready to play for him in his final game.
“I expect nothing less than their whole team to be rallying behind him.”
***Knaak said Dylan Raiola was “big news” within the team. He said some guys “took it really hard,” but they know Dylan and his family were “making the best decision for themselves.”
He said the Huskers continue to rally around Lateef, calling him a “great guy” who brought “QB1 energy” to practice, games, and even the weight room. “I’m excited to see how he flourishes in this moment.”
Offensive lineman Elijah Pritchett
***Pritchett said this season had been “a lot of ups and downs,” but he feels like he’s made “tremendous improvement on and off the field” at Nebraska.He felt like he settled in more with every game he played, especially in Big Ten play.
***Pritchett said Wade and Lonnie Teasley had been “tremendous additions to the room,” and the o-line immediately connected with them. He said Teasley actually recruited him at South Carolina out of high school.
***After seeing Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor catch a pass, Pritchett said he told Hologrsen: “I’m going to need one.”
Wide receiver Dane Key
***Dane Key said Dylan Raiola was an example of players doing what they had to do ” for what’s best for themself.” He said there weren’t any hard feelings, and Nebraska will continue to move forward.***Key said the Huskers had rallied around Lateef since Raiola’s injury, and that hasn’t changed this month.
***Key, Raiola’s former roommate, said their friendship was “deeper than ball,” and they just talked on the phone yesterday.
***As a former transfer, Key said the portal was “a dangerous game” for players. He said players can find better situations, but “the grass isn’t always greener.”
***His advice to players entering the portal was to listen to coaches and people who weren’t in it for themselves. He said Matt Rhule was a coach who was honest and only wanted what was best for his players.
***Key said Utah was “pissed that they have to play us” in the Las Vegas Bowl instead of going to the College Football Playoff. He said Nebraska must be ready to match the Utes intensity.
Running back Mekhi Nelson
***Mekhi Nelson said bowl practices have been “great” for him to get a chance to step up, though Johnson left “big shoes to fill.” He said Johnson taught him “how to be a pro off the field” and emphasized the importance of the little things to success.***Nelson said he’s known running backs coach EJ Barthel since he was 15 years old, and Barthel has been an invaluable resource for him as he pushes to be Nebraska’s new No. 1 back.
***Nelson said his vision, speed, agility, and acceleration were his strengths as a runner. He still must improve his pad level and catching, and also bulk up.
***Nelson said the competition at running back right now was “just a bunch of dogs in there.” He said none of the backs can “have a bad day” because they’re always pushing each other.
***Nelson said Dylan Raiola was his “brother,” but it was a “next man up” situation for Nebraska. He said Lateef was “dynamic” and “creates more opportunities for our offense.” That allows NU to run plays that “we may not have been able to get to this season” under Raiola.
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😂 Awesome. Hope they dial something fun up just for fun. Why not? It's a bowl game!
Wade plans to build a unit based on identity of toughness
Wade joined the Huskers after a successful stint at Georgia Tech, bringing his own approach to coaching the offensive line. In his first week, Wade emphasized the fundamentals, toughness and work ethic he learned throughout his coaching journey, from stops at Appalachian State to Georgia Tech. He said building relationships with his players is a top priority, and he aims to mold the line into one of the hardest-playing, fundamentally sound units in the country.“I tell the kids all the time, I’m going to coach you,” Wade said. “The only time I really get after you is if you’re not giving your best effort. If we can be the hardest-playing unit and be fundamentally sound, we’ll win a lot of games.”
Wade has been assessing the current roster and says the young players have impressed him with their work ethic and desire to win. He believes fresh eyes and a new approach can help unlock the full potential of the offensive line while continuing Nebraska’s tradition of strong line play.
“Kids, they want to win. They’re tough. They work their tails off,” Wade said. “I told all the young coaches, let me evaluate these guys. Don’t tell me anything about them. Give everybody a fair shot. It’s an honor to be here, and relationships are the most important part of all of it.”
Related: Radio Rundown: Dannen addresses Rhule’s staff shake-up, NIL, Nebraska basketball’s hot start & more
Wade knows recruiting will be crucial to getting what he wants out of the room
Wade stressed that recruiting the right players and earning their trust are central to his philosophy. He believes players perform at their highest level when they respect and trust their coach, and he’s committed to fostering that environment with Nebraska’s offensive line.“I hope I told them, I promise you I’ll earn your trust, but that’s what it’s all about,” Wade said. “If a player can trust you, he’ll play his butt off for you. We are going to play hard. We are going to play nasty. Coach Rhule has earned that trust, and the players play hard for him, and my job is just that group.”
Wade said recruiting and developing offensive linemen at Nebraska is about relationships and toughness. Drawing on his experience at Georgia Tech, he stressed that the line requires patient, organic development and attention to every rep, both in practice and the weight room. Cross-training players for multiple positions and prioritizing natural centers are key to building depth and flexibility.
“We’re at Nebraska, where we should organically do it,” Wade said. “Every rep is a bank so it’s reps, it’s weight room. It’s getting bigger. I tell the kids all the time to be the best you can be, you’ve got to work on your deficiencies, not what you do good.”
Quick Hits
***Wade said he’s emphasizing toughness and fundamentals, “We can be the hardest playing unit, and my job is to coach them on the fundamentals.”***He pointed to relationships as key in recruiting and development, saying trust with players is critical for them to perform at their best.
***Wade said signing natural centers is a priority, “Center is hard to teach, so we focus on recruiting those guys, not making them.”
***He also pointed out that he did indeed try Runza Tuesday night.
Wtf does this mean? Sure doesn't sound very good.
***Knaak said Raiola believed in a “really historical technique” to o-line play. With Wade, he said it was more of a “universal … less specific” approach to blocking. He thinks NU will “blend it all together” to start before fully shifting to Wade’s approach.
***Knaak said Raiola believed in a “really historical technique” to o-line play. With Wade, he said it was more of a “universal … less specific” approach to blocking. He thinks NU will “blend it all together” to start before fully shifting to Wade’s approach.
My thoughts are basically don't try to teach an old dog new tricks overnight. Our OL has learned one technique all year, or a lot longer in a many cases, depending on how long the player has been here
Don't want to overwhelm them, or make them worse by trying to do too much or something they’re not accustomed to
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I get that. Should have been more specific. This part:
***Knaak said Raiola believed in a “really historical technique” to o-line play.
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