Breaking Raiola is returning

[Herbie]

Elite level tweet

 

[11husker23]

Elite level tweet

As long as they post clips of Foley yelling Foley things I'll be entertained enough to not kill myself for a little while.

 

[11husker23]

How does.he know I do that?

 

[Bootleg11]

This is my educated guess on the "why" of keeping Raiola. I'm not trying to justify or even support it, because I'm personally not a fan.

#1. Rhule wants to run the ball. And run it effectively. Rhule believes in IZ & Power/Counter. He's run those run schemes at every stop.

#2. Raiola played at Wisconsin, where they run the holy shit out of Power/Counter, and IZ.

#3. We run very little Power/Counter this year, mostly IZ. My guess, is they're on the same page of theory of running the ball, and how to run ball.

Just my guess.

Also a pretty good chance he was turned down by someone hence the delay in this getting out

 

[alt f4]

SO, what was our OL problem under Frost? Was it the OL coach or was it S&C, or was it a combination of both? I remembered when Frost hired Greg Austin, we all thought it was a descent hire and I can't believe that the OL would be dogshit under 2 different OL coaches unless it was Frost who was dictating how to coach the OL vice letting the coach do their thing. Who knows, maybe during Raoila's interview with Rhule he mentioned how his hands were tied under Frost/Whipple and wanted to do this vice that, but was over ridden and Rhule agreed with the different approach would've led to more success. I'm not going to start panicking thinking that the sky is falling like some taters in this thread.

S&C is a huge problem.

If I, at 200 lbs can stand at arms length in between an 320 lb OL and a 300 lb DL trying to fight and push both at arms length from getting at each other, there is a serious strength issue.

I know the Combine/Pro Day bench press isn't a huge indicator of football strength, but it does show overall strength and weight room dedication. Since bench press is a universal, everyone does it lift and the first lift most people will start with on day 1 in the gym, it shows strength and workout ethic.

Look back over the last 5+ years of results in this at combine and pro day. It's horrible.

 

[Bootleg11]

Elite level tweet

Probably a good point

 

[Tsakoi]

I'm not super excited about the hire, but I'm not ready to trashcan Raiola either. There is just too much we don't know.

Did targets higher on his list tell Rhule "no"?

Do the linemen on the team like Raiola?

Did someone in the NFL vouch for Raiola to Rhule?

I don't know if any coach could have gotten much out of our Oline last year. The line had a new position coach, new OC, injured dudes returning only to be injured again, new center, positions switches and then abruptly switched back because of injury, TRANSFERS THAT WEREN'T PICKED BY RAIOLA (rumors that he wasn't thrilled with us taking Anthony), then the transfers didn't even help improve the line...one was hurt and the other was not great, new boss week 3, Benhart might be living and breathing without a functioning brain, entire recruiting class is from NE (so we didn't get to see him hit the road much).

Just so much there and probably more that I'm forgetting. Doesn't seem like a great situation to be a position coach.

 

[Bootleg11]

I will defend Raiola for last years o line. New offense, injuries, best OL ineligible and you can’t expect a guy to break 2-4 years of bad habits in 1 spring and 1 season, especially while installing a new offense.

 

[ChocaEgg]

S&C is a huge problem.

If I, at 200 lbs can stand at arms length in between an 320 lb OL and a 300 lb DL trying to fight and push both at arms length from getting at each other, there is a serious strength issue.

I know the Combine/Pro Day bench press isn't a huge indicator of football strength, but it does show overall strength and weight room dedication. Since bench press is a universal, everyone does it lift and the first lift most people will start with on day 1 in the gym, it shows strength and workout ethic.

Look back over the last 5+ years of results in this at combine and pro day. It's horrible.

 

[Huskers633]

I love the Rhule hire. And with these coaching hires I've chose to trust him and his process as I saw what he did at Temple and Baylor. However, Raiola is a real headscratcher. I mean, has Raiola even been out recruiting this year? We haven't heard anything about him on the recruiting trail.

 

[Lionsfan93]

I just don't see any upside to keeping Raiola.

Did he get the OL to perform last year? No.
Does he have recruiting connections with JUCOs? No.
Does he have recruiting connections in talent rich HS? No.
Does he have guys he could bring in through the portal? No.
Is he known as an energetic recruiter?  No.
Does he have extensive coaching experience at this level or higher?  No.
Is he known as being a great teacher?  No.

LOL!!!! Are you serious? I hate that I have to continue to preface this, but I am not necessarily a fan of this hire. I wasn't a fan of it when Frost made it, and I sure don't love it now either. But you cannot possibly answer half of the questions that you just asked about him.

Relax people. Is it the hire that we all were wanting? No. But it is a hire that makes a lot of sense in a lot of ways (as @slattimer has pointed out). Not only does he likely have the same/similar philosophy as Rhule for running the ball, but he fits the mold of the young, grinder that Rhule is also looking for.

Do I like the hire? No. Do I understand the hire? Yes. Do I trust Rhule? Yes. Take a deep breath.

 

[skerfan]

I dont know what is going on here. Rhule was the guy I was hoping for even before he got fired from Carolina. Every single day since his opening press conference I have gotten less excited about what is going on. Very underwhelming so far but I guess we will see in October.

 

[...TrueColors...]

I will defend Raiola for last years o line. New offense, injuries, best OL ineligible and you can’t expect a guy to break 2-4 years of bad habits in 1 spring and 1 season, especially while installing a new offense.

The German really hurt this team if we are being honest. If you can get an OL that is:

LT - Teddy
LG - Cork
C - Nouilli ????
RG - Luto
RT -????

I think you’ll be in decent shape.

 

[MtnHusker]

I'm not super excited about the hire, but I'm not ready to trashcan Raiola either. There is just too much we don't know.

Did targets higher on his list tell Rhule "no"?

Do the linemen on the team like Raiola?

Did someone in the NFL vouch for Raiola to Rhule?

I don't know if any coach could have gotten much out of our Oline last year. The line had a new position coach, new OC, injured dudes returning only to be injured again, new center, positions switches and then abruptly switched back because of injury, TRANSFERS THAT WEREN'T PICKED BY RAIOLA (rumors that he wasn't thrilled with us taking Anthony), then the transfers didn't even help improve the line...one was hurt and the other was not great, new boss week 3, Benhart might be living and breathing without a functioning brain, entire recruiting class is from NE (so we didn't get to see him hit the road much).

Just so much there and probably more that I'm forgetting. Doesn't seem like a great situation to be a position coach.

Also there is no financial risk in keeping Raiola as we were already going to be paying him whether he coached here or not. If he isn't cutting it as an O Line coach this spring Rhule can fire him and find a replacement. Could this be a case where saving some money would give us more coin to make a run at a DC like Leonhard?

 

[CybrrMonky71]

We are a game 2 loss to a Deion from being a completely dead program with zero chance of resurrection
Let Thst sink in
If We start the year 0-2, will anyone even show up for the season opener of the Rhule era?
CU can end us
I fear they might bc Deion seems to be doing everything right (& CU has no $ to pay him or players) & we seem to be doing everything wrong & burning stacks of cash.

 

[...TrueColors...]

Also there is no financial risk in keeping Raiola as we were already going to be paying him whether he coached here or not. If he isn't cutting it as an O Line coach this spring Rhule can fire him and find a replacement. Could this be a case where saving some money would give us more coin to make a run at a DC like Leonhard?

I hope we aren’t shopping at Big Lots for an OL coach.

 

[...TrueColors...]

We are a game 2 loss to a Deion from being a completely dead program with zero chance of resurrection

Oh fuck off

 

[Fargo Husker]

I will defend Raiola for last years o line. New offense, injuries, best OL ineligible and you can’t expect a guy to break 2-4 years of bad habits in 1 spring and 1 season, especially while installing a new offense.

Honest question because I know you are a coach and I have 0 coaching experience...what are you expectations this year then for the OL/Raiola when we have ANOTHER new offense and injuries will inevitably come up too? It seems like rinse-repeat from last season.

The German really hurt this team if we are being honest. If you can get an OL that is:

LT - Teddy
LG - Cork
C - Nouilli ????
RG - Luto
RT -????

I think you’ll be in decent shape.

I agree with this in theory, but I'm not sure I can put any trust in Teddy staying on the field until I actually see him play one-third of a season without getting seriously injured.

 

[Fargo Husker]

We are a game 2 loss to a Deion from being a completely dead program with zero chance of resurrection
Let Thst sink in
If We start the year 0-2, will anyone even show up for the season opener of the Rhule era?
CU can end us
I fear they might bc Deion seems to be doing everything right (& CU has no $ to pay him or players) & we seem to be doing everything wrong & burning stacks of cash.

Holy dramatic, Batman...

 

[Drue629]

At least Frost gave us false hope.