So… Where do we go from here?

[David Webb]

Need 2 x TE because we only have LL and he is average.

Need 2 x WR to replace Key and Hunter

Cunnanen doesn't have a big leg and isn't a great PK

Markway returns from injury so hopefully he helps the TE room. You think hunter is transferring as there is no way he’s dumb enough to go to the draft?

 

[ChocaEgg]

Markway returns from injury so hopefully he helps the TE room. You think hunter is transferring as there is no way he’s dumb enough to go to the draft?

I could see draft for NH. If he stays then we only need 1 x WR.

Relying on an oft-injured Markway to make any sort of contribution is partially why we are in this predicament to begin with.

 

[Irv]

We really have to rethink whether Dana is the answer at this point in the 21st century.

We are 58th in the country in scoring offense vs power conference teams.

For comparison, Cockeye is 47th.

 

[nscottie]

I feel like the talent eval has been good for skill position, but man the line on either side is just so bad

Good point but is the line problem bad evaluation or a byproduct of being out bid for the few decent players in portal? Could be combination of both.

 

[SlumpBuster]

Good point but is the line problem bad evaluation or a byproduct of being out bid for the few decent players in portal? Could be combination of both.

Probably both.

 

[HCFord1]

Need 2 x TE because we only have LL and he is average.

Need 2 x WR to replace Key and Hunter

Cunnanen doesn't have a big leg and isn't a great PK

You’ve got LL coming back and he is better than average. He’s our current starter and has been really good this year. Markway coming back (maybe 🤞🏻) along with Carter Nelson (don’t give up on him), Ingwerson, and Sorensen coming in. Is your suggestion that we should have 7 scholarship TEs on the roster?

Where is Hunter going?

Cunanan doesn’t have an elite leg but he’s accurate. He’s been the best we’ve had a PK in quite some time, there’s no need to replace him.

 

[ChocaEgg]

Good point but is the line problem bad evaluation or a byproduct of being out bid for the few decent players in portal? Could be combination of both.

It's not even about being outbid. Top portal OL (at least OT) straight up don't want to play for us. That won't change if we keep Donnie around. A good OL coach hire is our best chance at getting some impact OL out of portal.

 

[Ext. 55]

It’s because he hasn’t delivered as many wins as they feel like they deserve. They are entitled to nothing short of perfect QB play from our team because of the amount of money they don’t pay towards the program.

In their minds the best path forward is to create an unbearable pressure cooker for our coaches and players, start booing the team at home, fire everyone on staff, replace everyone on the team, and cheer when our own players get injured because they don’t like the way they’re playing. All because we have *checks notes* the best record since 2016.

These aren’t serious people. You wouldn’t ever tolerate them in real life and you certainly wouldn’t give them any responsibility to oversee the development of anyone else. They’re just angry at something and when Husker football can’t be their perfect escape from their real life misery, they attack it with all of their pent up rage.

 

[Tsakoi]

We will know if Rhule is serious when we see who gets jettisoned from the roster. The roster is bloated with dead weight.

Do we really need to keep holding a spot for:

Blye Hill?
Demetrius Bell?
Jeremiah Charles?
Kwinten Ives?
Tristan Alvano?
Maverick Noonan?
Brice Turner?

Injuries suck, but if it's been two+ years and you are never available then go find it somewhere else and let's get some dudes with properly working joints.

Also, we really don't need any more "projects". When I saw that DB from Okie Light was a possibility even though he's a giant project my heart sank because we have had too many of those and none of them have worked out.

Added note: Hartzog will not be the safety answer to stopping the run next year.

 

[Blbmeb]

Agreed, but also need:
2 RB (EJ gone and no other P2 backs on roster)
2 TE
2 WR
3 LB (included 2 x Jack)
1-2 S
1-2 CB

I'd also like to get a good kicker. Don't trust Cunnanen. Will also need a QB if Dylan decides to take his talents to south beach or eugene

Looks like you just need a new team to root for.

 

[skersker]

If we beat Cockeye, which we won't, Rhule needs to find a few scapegoats on his staff to cut. In my opinion, Satterfield is already on the way out due to his contract. So you have a chance to bring in a hybrid TE/OL coach who could help Donnie if Rhule decides to keep Don.

I could also see Dana moving on by his own accord as a mutual partings. But I feel that's less likely.

Defensive side is more tough to figure out.

Its really difficult to cut Butler after only being DC for one year. His scheme can work, but like Bo Pelini, his scheme works when everyone is top tier caliber talent at all levels. If your entire scheme relies on specific players hitting their specific assignment and making the play, then its not a good scheme for college football players.

So lets say Butler stays then. Williams, the DB coach, can stay. The DBs have been playing well regardless of a few key injuries. Year 2 will be his biggest determination.

LB coach? Honestly, hard to determine as well. For every time you think LBs play well, they don't the next drive or game. But they've been consistent. But not consistently saving us either. No one on the LB core has been a standout these last few years. They've been good, but not great.

Bradden, the DL coach. The DL this year has looked bad. No pass rush nor run defense. Seems like this group is the biggest WTF all season. But we also knew it was going to be a biggest WTF when Robinson and Polar Bear left. But how can you look at this group and not wonder, where did we go wrong the last few years to bring this horrible line this year? That can't be the first year coach's fault?

So that leaves Phil Snow. What does he do exactly? He came in as an advisor/associate head coach to help Rhule, but other than a few small things in terms of the general team's play, what has looked better? Nothing against Phil Snow, but this is your scapegoat for the defense side of things. He did his job that he was brought in for, but now its time to make a change here. This is where you need to bring in an experienced 'run defense coordinator' to help the DL and LB crew to stop the run game.

As far as NIL, focus on the lines for new talent. Especially a true NT and a DT or two.

It is not difficult to cut butler

He’s fucking atrocious

He’s not even semi interesting to listen to in pressers either

Guy sucks

 

[shats basoon]

It's not even about being outbid. Top portal OL (at least OT) straight up don't want to play for us. That won't change if we keep Donnie around. A good OL coach hire is our best chance at getting some impact OL out of portal.

Rocco Spindler came here

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Rocco Spindler came here

Is he good? I wouldn't call him great by any means

 

[shats basoon]

Is he good? I wouldn't call him great by any means

Yeah I’d say so. And he was a top OL transfer. Elijah Pritchett too

 

[ChocaEgg]

Rocco Spindler came here

He's been good, or at least better than the other guys we have, but was a backup at ND. He is also an IOL, not an OT.

 

[shats basoon]

He's been good, or at least better than the other guys we have, but was a backup at ND. He is also an IOL, not an OT.

The guy who started 14 games for Notre Dame was a backup?

 

[dom91932]

In year 4, given what little improvement and development Rhule has seen in this program thus far, if he wants to compete for true success, then something along this needs to happen:


4. Forge new, physical identities on O and D which requires you to dump your existing systems (i.e., Rhule/Satterfield’s O that we are still running and the ridiculous 3-3-5 D that has proven to suck). Build your new identity to succeed in the B1G. This doesn’t require new coordinators.

This is crucial. Regardless of system/scheme, without greatly improved play and physicality on both lines everything else is just spitting into the wind.

 

[ChocaEgg]

The guy who started 14 games for Notre Dame was a backup?

Wasn't he a backup until the dude in front of him got hurt?

 

[BradWesley]

 

[David Webb]

Wasn't he a backup until the dude in front of him got hurt?

He came out of 2023 fall camp as the starter and lost his spot to start 2024. Regained it due to injury.