Week 3 v Houston Christian: Depth Chart, Game Notes, etc

[vailhusker]

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[SOHusker11]

Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen​

***Holgorsen said Nebraska’s offense was “in-phase from the beginning” against Akron, but the lost fumble and turnover on downs were “ugly finishes.” However, he said NU’s fourth drive “was the most frustrating thing of the whole night.”

He said it was “inexcusable” not to finish after those quick-change situations. He said their goal was to score on 70% of their drives, but they only hit 66% for the second week in a row.

***Holgorsen said there was “a lot of energy” on the sideline, which he thought was “outstanding” in a game like that. “There were a lot of people having fun playing football. That’s what it’s all about.”

***Holgorsen said Dylan Raiola was “feeling it pretty good’ on his last drive in the third quarter. From there, it was all about “getting the attention of the backups” to uphold that standard. “That’s how you end up with a score like that.”

***Holgorsen said they didn’t have any set stats for Raiola against Akron, but “it’s important for every quarterback to hit that number (300 passing yards). Next will strive to hit 400.”

***Holgorsen said the offensive line put NU in position for big gains with its run-game scheme. Again, he credited the backups for keeping it going and thought the o-line “played their best game.”

Holgorsen talks young standouts on offense​

***Holgorsen said TJ Lateef “has a chance to be a really good player.” Saturday night was the first time Nebraska had seen him play “live” here, and he showed that “the moment wasn’t too big for him.”

“He does bring a different element to the game with his running ability… For the most part, he did an excellent job.”

***Holgorsen said head coach Matt Rhule was doing “an excellent job of keeping people’s attention” and maintaining a level of intensity in practice while preparing for an inferior opponent.

***Holgorsen said Luke Lindenmeyer “just keeps getting better” and was “a security blanket for Dylan.”

“I’m just proud of him as a human. From a football perspective, he’s doing a great job.”

***Holgorsen said Quinn Clark had made plays like his touchdown catch quite a bit in practice, calling it “a spectacular play.” He said Clark would play more and more as his development continues.

***Holgorsen added that Lateef, Clark, Carter Nelson, Keelan Smith, and Isaiah Mozee all “took a step in the right direction” against Akron.

Defensive coordinator John Butler​

***Butler said Nebraska’s secondary has “played well together” as a unit, utilizing a variety of schemes and coverages. He thought the unit had “played very well” and was “one of the strengths of our good.”

***Butler said getting a shutout meant “nothing” to him. “We’re trying to play to a standard.” They played to that standard “at times” vs. Cincinnati and then most of the game vs. Akron. He’s primarily focused on points, yards, and explosive plays.

***Butler said the defensive line was “a work in progress,” citing a combination of performance, schemes, the timing and execution of blitzes, and containing the quarterback run. Overall, he thought the run defense “got better” as the Akron game went on.

On Pietrzak, McCullough, and Buford​

***Butler said Kade Pietrzak played DE and DT vs. Akron, and “he went out there and made plays.” He said Nebraska’s defensive ends and tackles were “very, very similar” in his scheme. The goal was to continue finding guys who consistently make plays/

***Butler said Pietrzak has “great DNA when it comes to being a football player.” He said all great defensive linemen “have something off about them, in a good way… You look at Kade, and he has that look about him.” Butler said Pietrzak would be “a steady member” of the d-line rotation going forward.

***Butler said Dasan McCullough must “continue to embrace that role for us,” where he does a little bit of everything on the defensive line. He’s happy with McCullough’s production to this point, and it was Butler’s job to put him in positions to keep making plays.

***Butler said Marques Buford has “been here for a long time,” and Nebraska found “a pretty good role for him” as an “eraser” at deep safety. Having veteran leadership like Buford would be critical as the season progresses.

***Butler said Houston Christian would run the ball early and often, utilizing some RPO concepts. However, the focus this week would remain on Nebraska executing its defense and “you executing your fundamentals, playing hard as hell, and playing together.”

 

[SOHusker11]

Offensive lineman Rocco Spindler​

***Rocco Spindler said this year had been “flying by… But it’s been awesome.” He’s relishing every opportunity he gets, and games at Arrowhead and Memorial Stadium had him saying, “Wow, I actually get to do this.”

***Spindler still believes Nebraska’s offensive line “can be great,” but that will come down to every lineman trusting the process and continuing to “play five as one.”

***Spindler said NU’s offensive line has “played pretty good, we just have to keep building on it.” They meet with the running backs once a week on Wednesdays to go over what they’re seeing and figure out what they can do better.

***Spindler said Pietrzak’s play as a freshman has been “incredible.” He admitted that he initially looked forward to going up against a true freshman in practice, but that changed once he saw how talented and physical Pietrzak was.

***Spindler said he liked Nebraska’s jumbo 12 package with Turner Corcoran as a tight end because of how effective it is in the running game. He wouldn’t say if Corcoran could be used as a receiver, but confirmed Corcoran was capable of doing so if needed.

---

Defensive lineman Elijah Jeudy​

***Elijah Jeudy said getting Nebraska’s first shutout since 2009 meant “a lot” to the defense, especially with so many young guys helping finish it off.

***Jeudy said Pietrzak’s breakout game was “probably one of the highlights of my season so far.” He said Pietrzak “sparked a lot of good things” in camp, and “the whole team saw it.”

***Juedy said the entire defensive line took a significant step forward vs. Akron, including playing much faster than they did vs. Cincinnati. Playing faster, getting off the ball, and being more physical are his personal points of emphasis this week.

***Jeudy said Rhule’s spirited halftime speech was all about upholding the “standard” of finishing games and not letting up.

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Offensive lineman Gunnar Gottula​

***Gunnar Gottula said the competition at left tackle was all about “iron sharpens iron.” They’re always pushing each other on and off the field through “daily competition.”

***Gottula credited his physical and mental maturization for helping him take the next step as a player this season. “I feel like another year under my belt has just helped me a lot.”

***Gottula said there were some “long days” during the winter and spring as he recovered from offseason surgery. There was a light at the end of the tunnel once he started getting back on the field. The key was “trusting the process,” as that was the first time in his career that he’d missed extended time with an injury.

***Gottula said it’s been “super fun” to line up next to Corcoran as a jumbo TE. “That’s my guy… It’s extremely effective. He does a great job.”

---

Wide receiver Jacory Barney​

***Jacory Barney said the punt return team was “blocking at a high level” against Akron, but he’s “got to take one to the crib. I expect more.”

He said Nebraska wants to be the best special teams unit in the country, and that motivation starts with coordinator Mike Ekeler. “He’s got juice. I’ve got juice. It’s like having someone just like me out there.”

***Barney credited NU’s trainers for getting him ready to play last week while nursing an ankle injury from the Cincinnati win. “Even if I’m banged up a little bit… if I can go, I’ll go.”

***Barney said Terence “Bud” Crawford connected with the team when he led the Huskers onto the field before last year’s Colorado game. “It’s good to have guys like that… It’s good to have Bud on our team.”

----RW

Quarterback Dylan Raiola​

***Raiola said he wasn’t aware of breaking David Humm’s consecutive completions record (20). “We’re 2-0. That sounds even better.”

***Raiola said the biggest change from last season to now is that guys aren’t worried about what happened or what could happen. “We’re just worried about right now.” He said Rhule’s fiery halftime speech hit home with the team. “He just challenged us, and we answered the call.”

***Raiola said there were “two instances” he’d like back where the offense got inside the five and didn’t score. “That’s two weeks in a row that’s happened. That’s unacceptable.”

***Raiola said playing at home was all the motivation Nebraska needed to get up for a game, even an 11 a.m. kick vs. an FCS opponent. “It’s all about playing for us and our standard. There’s really no excuse not to play to our level.”

***Raiola said he “tries to stay a day ahead of everything” during game weeks. That starts by immediately reviewing the game film on Saturday night. That way, if anything comes up during the week, he’s ready to adjust as needed.

***Raiola said his in-helmet communication depends on the offense’s tempo. He’ll get the entire play call when NU huddles, but there isn’t much contact when they go no-huddle.

Linebacker Marques Watson-Trent​

***Marques Watson-Trent said the defensive front seven “made tremendous improvement” from Week 1 to Week 2, especially with their aggressiveness and physicality.

***Watson-Trent said the biggest transition early on this season has been getting rid of some “bad habits” he had with little things on and off the field. Big ones for him were maintaining proper weight and handling the workload that comes with Nebraska’s practices.

***Watson-Trent said Javin Wright’s story and the adversity he’s overcome “is second to none… It’s been fun learning from him, growing with him, and growing with each other.”

***On Pietrzak, Watson-Trent said: “Man, I love him. He’s so fun to watch.” Seeing Pietrzak’s work in practice be rewarded with his breakout game vs. Akron was one of the highlights of the night.

 

[vailhusker]

Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen​

***Holgorsen said Nebraska’s offense was “in-phase from the beginning” against Akron, but the lost fumble and turnover on downs were “ugly finishes.” However, he said NU’s fourth drive “was the most frustrating thing of the whole night.”

He said it was “inexcusable” not to finish after those quick-change situations. He said their goal was to score on 70% of their drives, but they only hit 66% for the second week in a row.

***Holgorsen said there was “a lot of energy” on the sideline, which he thought was “outstanding” in a game like that. “There were a lot of people having fun playing football. That’s what it’s all about.”

***Holgorsen said Dylan Raiola was “feeling it pretty good’ on his last drive in the third quarter. From there, it was all about “getting the attention of the backups” to uphold that standard. “That’s how you end up with a score like that.”

***Holgorsen said they didn’t have any set stats for Raiola against Akron, but “it’s important for every quarterback to hit that number (300 passing yards). Next will strive to hit 400.”

***Holgorsen said the offensive line put NU in position for big gains with its run-game scheme. Again, he credited the backups for keeping it going and thought the o-line “played their best game.”

Holgorsen talks young standouts on offense​

***Holgorsen said TJ Lateef “has a chance to be a really good player.” Saturday night was the first time Nebraska had seen him play “live” here, and he showed that “the moment wasn’t too big for him.”

“He does bring a different element to the game with his running ability… For the most part, he did an excellent job.”

***Holgorsen said head coach Matt Rhule was doing “an excellent job of keeping people’s attention” and maintaining a level of intensity in practice while preparing for an inferior opponent.

***Holgorsen said Luke Lindenmeyer “just keeps getting better” and was “a security blanket for Dylan.”

“I’m just proud of him as a human. From a football perspective, he’s doing a great job.”

***Holgorsen said Quinn Clark had made plays like his touchdown catch quite a bit in practice, calling it “a spectacular play.” He said Clark would play more and more as his development continues.

***Holgorsen added that Lateef, Clark, Carter Nelson, Keelan Smith, and Isaiah Mozee all “took a step in the right direction” against Akron.

Defensive coordinator John Butler​

***Butler said Nebraska’s secondary has “played well together” as a unit, utilizing a variety of schemes and coverages. He thought the unit had “played very well” and was “one of the strengths of our good.”

***Butler said getting a shutout meant “nothing” to him. “We’re trying to play to a standard.” They played to that standard “at times” vs. Cincinnati and then most of the game vs. Akron. He’s primarily focused on points, yards, and explosive plays.

***Butler said the defensive line was “a work in progress,” citing a combination of performance, schemes, the timing and execution of blitzes, and containing the quarterback run. Overall, he thought the run defense “got better” as the Akron game went on.

On Pietrzak, McCullough, and Buford​

***Butler said Kade Pietrzak played DE and DT vs. Akron, and “he went out there and made plays.” He said Nebraska’s defensive ends and tackles were “very, very similar” in his scheme. The goal was to continue finding guys who consistently make plays/

***Butler said Pietrzak has “great DNA when it comes to being a football player.” He said all great defensive linemen “have something off about them, in a good way… You look at Kade, and he has that look about him.” Butler said Pietrzak would be “a steady member” of the d-line rotation going forward.

***Butler said Dasan McCullough must “continue to embrace that role for us,” where he does a little bit of everything on the defensive line. He’s happy with McCullough’s production to this point, and it was Butler’s job to put him in positions to keep making plays.

***Butler said Marques Buford has “been here for a long time,” and Nebraska found “a pretty good role for him” as an “eraser” at deep safety. Having veteran leadership like Buford would be critical as the season progresses.

***Butler said Houston Christian would run the ball early and often, utilizing some RPO concepts. However, the focus this week would remain on Nebraska executing its defense and “you executing your fundamentals, playing hard as hell, and playing together.”

Thanks for posting these. Twitter coverage of the pressers seems to be less and less as we go.

 

[herbsinator]

Thanks for posting these. Twitter coverage of the pressers seems to be less and less as we go.

Which is a shame because Rhule and Holgs PCs are must watches IMO

 

[SOHusker11]

Thanks for posting these. Twitter coverage of the pressers seems to be less and less as we go.

Yeah, I noticed that. Kinda sucks. R Washut does a good job with these.

Just added DR and MWT above. They weren't up yet when I posted the others

 

[RedSavage]

***Spindler said he liked Nebraska’s jumbo 12 package with Turner Corcoran as a tight end because of how effective it is in the running game. He wouldn’t say if Corcoran could be used as a receiver, but confirmed Corcoran was capable of doing so if needed.

He's just not at his natural position! Another change and he'll be the player we all thought!

 

[SOHusker11]

 

[SOHusker11]

 

[vailhusker]

He's just not at his natural position! Another change and he'll be the player we all thought!

It's crazy but I wouldn't be surprised if gets picked up by an NFL team and ends up being the next Nick Gates either.

 

[vailhusker]