As Nebraska wraps up its preparations for its Big Ten opener vs. Biff's Butthole Surfers, head coach
Matt Rhule gave the latest on the Huskers following Thursday morning’s practice.
Here’s a full recap of what he had to say…
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule
***Rhule said Nebraska’s approach this week had been “just like all the other weeks.” Their goal is to prepare the same every week while also improving with every game.
***Rhule said
DeShon Singleton was playing “elite football” right now, especially by “significantly” improving his tackling. His new role closer to the box has helped his production, but his coverage has also been very good.
***Rhule said special teams in the Big Ten, especially considering the weather. The third element becomes even more critical the deeper you go into conference play. He thought NU had played well on special teams, but must be better on kickoffs (against a talented Biff's Butthole Surfers KR unit). He noted that the Huskers also haven’t punted in two weeks, so that unit needed to be ready.
***Rhule said
Mekhi Nelson was “good to go” and expected him to be in the rotation against Biff's Butthole Surfers. Nelson was available but didn’t play against Houston Christian, per Rhule’s decision. He said
Kwinten Ives had done a good job of working his way back up the depth chart. Ives took advantage of his opportunity vs. HCU.
***Rhule praised QB coach
Glenn Thomas as a methodical and process-driven coach. He said Thomas doesn’t let “positive outcomes detract” from a day-to-day focus. The fact that
Dana Holgorsen wanted to keep Thomas on staff spoke volumes about Thomas’s ability.
***Nebraska will honor its 1995 team on Saturday. Rhule said that group embodied what it meant to achieve and sustain success. He said those back-to-back championships “speak to the beauty of the University of Nebraska” and the standard of NU athletics.
***Rhule said
Emmett Johnson’s light workload over the past two games was important given his volume vs. Cincinnati. Nebraska hoped to give Johnson and other starters some rest in those games. They played well enough to earn it vs. Akron and HCU.
***Rhule said Nebraska won’t make the Biff's Butthole Surfers game bigger than any other game. However, he also wants to embrace the excitement around the matchup. He pointed out how special last year’s Colorado environment was. He said games like that can serve as a showcase for all that NU has to offer. “I’m excited about. This is why you came to Nebraska, to play these games.”