Breaking Dana Holgerson Joins NU Staff As Consultant - “Role Will Evolve As Season Goes On”

[JankTheTank]

Part of me wonders if this all just window dressing. I like that we are bringing in someone new to possibly jump start a stagnant offense, but I'm starting to be skeptical.

Did they do this just as a way to prevent the 1890 donations from drying up? We had some momentum and 5 wins but now we are on a 3 game skid and people are starting to hide their checkbook, so let's slap a fresh coat of paint on our jalopy and see if we can keep the money flow from totally stopping. The idea is we will bring in some names people know and make it look like we are doing something then against USC we will trot out the same predictable nonsense.

I don't like being this negative, but it is on my mind.

What makes me doubtful about this is that if that is Rhule’s honest intent, he’s only buying two weeks of goodwill, then knowing he’s back to where he was after USC. That’s a very short term escape from the situation that effectively accomplishes nothing, and would seem very out of character for someone who seems to stubbornly hold himself to long term approaches.

Now I can maybe see a reality where there was earnest intent to turn a corner here and the results don’t really show up. Maybe Satterfield is still calling plays, and implements whatever Holgorsen and Co have developed on a play or two, but otherwise thinks of those as trick plays before reverting to his old habits. Or anything new causes procedural penalties due to the players not being well versed in it. Or Rhule brought them in for legit insight, but only nudges things by an inch instead of the full yard that is really necessary.

But I also think Rhule is smart. He has shaken up his staff and/or scheme after two years at both Temple and Baylor, and those decisions were followed by much improved results. Something we honestly don't have data on is what sort of in-season changes is he willing to make at the college level, or how effective those results can be in a two week implementation window. Having Holgorsen and Snow come in at all in the middle of the season sets a new precedent in several regards.

 

[Baron Winnebago]

Where were you when you realized that Rhule was just chubbier Pennsylvanian Frost?

 

[dom91932]

What makes me doubtful about this is that if that is Rhule’s honest intent, he’s only buying two weeks of goodwill, then knowing he’s back to where he was after USC. That’s a very short term escape from the situation that effectively accomplishes nothing, and would seem very out of character for someone who seems to stubbornly hold himself to long term approaches.

Now I can maybe see a reality where there was earnest intent to turn a corner here and the results don’t really show up. Maybe Satterfield is still calling plays, and implements whatever Holgorsen and Co have developed on a play or two, but otherwise thinks of those as trick plays before reverting to his old habits. Or anything new causes procedural penalties due to the players not being well versed in it. Or Rhule brought them in for legit insight, but only nudges things by an inch instead of the full yard that is really necessary.

But I also think Rhule is smart. He has shaken up his staff and/or scheme after two years at both Temple and Baylor, and those decisions were followed by much improved results. Something we honestly don't have data on is what sort of in-season changes is he willing to make at the college level, or how effective those results can be in a two week implementation window. Having Holgorsen and Snow come in at all in the middle of the season sets a new precedent in several regards.

I agree-I think it's a legit effort and he's made changes in the past.

Rhule is smart and smart enough to know that if this is just a stunt and things remain the same going forward (especially if we go 0 for November again) there will be no goodwill remaining from anyone.

It seems reasonable to think that the current top offensive players and the top recruits, their family members, or their agents and handlers are in "prove it" mode and have gotten word to Rhule that he needs to quickly fix/make changes to that clown show offense or they're transferring or not coming here.

One of the things Rhule talked about when he first came here is that he knew what it takes to be ready to play and succeed in the NFL. If that is still one of his selling points to recruits then he can't leave this offense or staff members in place that can't get the offense prepared for the first series of the game, let alone the NFL.

 

[nja13]

What makes me doubtful about this is that if that is Rhule’s honest intent, he’s only buying two weeks of goodwill, then knowing he’s back to where he was after USC. That’s a very short term escape from the situation that effectively accomplishes nothing, and would seem very out of character for someone who seems to stubbornly hold himself to long term approaches.

Exactly this. Any positive vibes momentum we get from the Holgorsen hire will last single digit days then be erased by whatever the outcome of the USC game is. This is not about shoring up 1890 support.

I think we all agree that Holgorsen is not going to come in here and transform the offense during a bye week, but another tweak he could help with is disguising intent. So many people on here said we tip what play we are going to run by our formations and personnel. That seems like something that can be fixed in a bye week if they indeed identify that as a problem.

 

[...TrueColors...]

Our OC has been completely figured out. Defenses and opposing DC's know pretty much everything we are going to do pre-snap. We need a completely new OC mind who can call plays and scheme well enough to not be the most predictable offense in CFB. Square peg, round hole, does not work. Being so simple and easy to read, does not work. 2 or 3 well designed plays to counter what a defense is loading up on a game, is not nearly enough. We need better OC coaching.

That doesn't mean we don't need better talent, or execution. But our players are constantly put into situations that are lose/lose - it is a disgrace how badly our OC has done. Even at .4 mil that would still be 400K more than he is worth.

Let's hope Holgerson can push for adjustments these last 3 games, because as is, our offense is near the worst in CFB. And we have way more talent than that. Should be a top 50 offense at least, even given some talent holes.

I agree with 99% of this post. What I’ll say though is I am not accepting “talent” as a reason for this shit performance.

It’s not fair to hire a guy that every piece of data says sucks and then blame the kids.

 

[BIG TONE SOPRANO]

Hearing Satt only tight ends now. Glenn is “OC.” Dana running game plan. He can’t officially call plays 😉

 

[Sous Chef]

Where were you when you realized that Rhule was just chubbier Pennsylvanian Frost?

On my couch watching UCLAbia kick our asses.

 

[Kaladin]

Hearing Satt only tight ends now. Glenn is “OC.” Dana running game plan. He can’t officially call plays 😉

thank you Satt for your service

 

[Milo-of-Croton]

Hearing Satt only tight ends now. Glenn is “OC.” Dana running game plan. He can’t officially call plays 😉

with Holgerson’s help, this is a huge improvement.

 

[Herbie]

Holgs first day watching sats offense

 

[Havoc34]

Hearing Satt only tight ends now. Glenn is “OC.” Dana running game plan. He can’t officially call plays 😉

Is he effectively the highest paid TE coach of all time?

 

[tman87]

I agree with 99% of this post. What I’ll say though is I am not accepting “talent” as a reason for this shit performance.

It’s not fair to hire a guy that every piece of data says sucks and then blame the kids.

Oh, I agree. We have enough talent to only have one or two losses. The OC in particular (I don't need to mention Special Ed teams), has just been horrid, and he has always been horrid wherever he has OC'd.

We of course do need better talent - which was basically what I was getting at with that. But we have plenty enough to be a one or two loss team right now. That is the disservice that Satt has done to the offense.

 

[...TrueColors...]

Oh, I agree. We have enough talent to only have one or two losses. The OC in particular (I don't need to mention Special Ed teams), has just been horrid, and he has always been horrid wherever he has OC'd.

We of course do need better talent - which was basically what I was getting at with that. But we have plenty enough to be a one or two loss team right now. That is the disservice that Satt has done to the offense.

I agree and I think what we would say is we need more talent to get to where we ultimately want to be; which is being a playoff team. But there is no talent excuse to be at an “acceptable” level this year.

 

[tman87]

I agree and I think what we would say is we need more talent to get to where we ultimately want to be; which is being a playoff team. But there is no talent excuse to be at an “acceptable” level this year.

100% agree.

 

[LWFloridaHusker]

Hearing Satt only tight ends now. Glenn is “OC.” Dana running game plan. He can’t officially call plays 😉

Hey Satt, look at the bright side. You're the highest paid TE coach in the nation!!

 

[stonesak]

If Holgerson is coming up with the game plan and "suggesting" plays, then I'm fully back on the Rhule train. I don't see us losing another game unless the Big Ten screws us over.

 

[brnred1989]

Regarding Dana here are my thoughts:

It would be in Rhule’s best interest to hire Dana and let him make any offensive staff changes needed. If Rhule really wants to turn this around he needs to let his coordinators cook IMO.

If Rhule doesn’t make changes to the following coaches - ST, WR, QB, TE, RB, and OC; I’m going to be incredibly pissed off and out on Rhule as a coach here. Could you imagine Rhule not allowing Dana to adjust the offensive staff? Let’s say Dana tells Rhule that we need to change “our coaches at WR, QB, TE, RB, and that I want full control of the offense as the OC”. What if Rhule doesn’t agree and Dana tells Rhule to politely “pound sand”, and Rhule has to run it back with all the same coaches. Rhule’s tenure would effectively be OVER before year 3 even began 😂.

I THINK most of us will be highly upset, disappointed, and discouraged IF the position coaches mentioned above aren’t changed and if Dana isn’t brought in as the OC. I can’t see really any scenario where Rhule runs it back with our current OC/TE, ST, RB, WR, and QB coaches. To me Rhule is at the point of no return regarding making massive offensive staff changes, as well as changing his philosophies on high $$$ NIL to HS kids and using the portal aggressively. Running it all back without massive changes will effectively end any remaining goodwill Rhule has with a majority of the fanbase IMO.

 

[BIG TONE SOPRANO]

If Holgerson is coming up with the game plan and "suggesting" plays, then I'm fully back on the Rhule train. I don't see us losing another game unless the Big Ten screws us over.

Is he that good?

 

[Benard Thomas]

Is he that good?

Compared to Satterfield he is

 

[brnred1989]

Regarding Dana here are my thoughts:

It would be in Rhule’s best interest to hire Dana and let him make any offensive staff changes needed. If Rhule really wants to turn this around he needs to let his coordinators cook IMO.

If Rhule doesn’t make changes to the following coaches - ST, WR, QB, TE, RB, and OC; I’m going to be incredibly pissed off and out on Rhule as a coach here. Could you imagine Rhule not allowing Dana to adjust the offensive staff? Let’s say Dana tells Rhule that we need to change “our coaches at WR, QB, TE, RB, and that I want full control of the offense as the OC”. What if Rhule doesn’t agree and Dana tells Rhule to politely “pound sand”, and Rhule has to run it back with all the same coaches. Rhule’s tenure would effectively be OVER before year 3 even began 😂.

I THINK most of us will be highly upset, disappointed, and discouraged IF the position coaches mentioned above aren’t changed and if Dana isn’t brought in as the OC. I can’t see really any scenario where Rhule runs it back with our current OC/TE, ST, RB, WR, and QB coaches. To me Rhule is at the point of no return regarding making massive offensive staff changes, as well as changing his philosophies on high $$$ NIL to HS kids and using the portal aggressively. Running it all back without massive changes will effectively end any remaining goodwill Rhule has with a majority of the fanbase IMO.

Very good article here which is where informed my response from.

Jeremy Pernell: Is a Staff Shakeup on the Horizon for Nebraska Football?

Full disclosure, I had an article based around this topic written over three weeks ago. I planned on waiting until the end of the season to publish it. Well, ev

www.si.com