- Messages
- 1,942
- Likes
- 9,953
Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen
***Holgorsen didn’t want to “go back” and talk much about the Michigan loss, but did say, “They showed us what it’s supposed to look like… I think that taught us something.” Looking forward, Holgorsen said NU has practiced “at a very high level” over the bye. “I’ve never seen it like that over a bye week.”***Despite Dylan Raiola’s success throwing the ball this season, Holgorsen said he’d like to see more balance in Nebraska’s offense. He wants to see the running game improve against elite competition. “It didn’t look the way it’s supposed to look. That’s not a shot at our offensive line, that’s a shot at our whole offense… That’s everybody.”
“How do I call plays? I call what’s working,” Holgorsen added. “If you want more rushes, it’s got to look better. I’m not just going to keep calling things that aren’t working.”
Holgorsen talks RBs, OTs, and red-zone offense
***Holgorsen said Nebraska had “options” at running back behind Emmett Johnson. However, whoever was back there needed to produce consistently. He said that those RBs had gotten better every day, adding: “I think you’ll see something you’ve never seen on Saturday.”***Holgorsen said it was “the exact same conversation” at tackle. After struggling against an “elite pass rush” vs. Michigan, he said the OTs all practiced well while the staff threw about every pass-rush look possible at them.
***Holgorsen said Nebraska’s red-zone offense needed to improve. They’ve “emphasized it since the day that I got here,” and they still needed to clean up execution, scheme, and “finishing” plays when they’re there. Some of that is guys making one-on-one plays like they did against Cincinnati.
***Holgorsen said Michigan State’s defense was big, physical, and “looks like a Big Ten team to me.” He said Nebraska’s red-zone offense would be critical on Saturday. “It’s going to be a test, man.”
***On the Big Ten overall, Holgorsen said every game he’s coached in this conference had been a one-score margin. “You walk into every game thinking it’s going to be a one-score game… Every drive is important. You’re not going to get 10-12 drives. You’ve got to take advantage of every single one of them.”
Defensive coordinator John Butler
***Butler said Nebraska’s bye week was “very useful just to study yourself,” evaluating performance, scheme, and personnel.***Butler said the big plays Nebraska has allowed have all been on the ground. That comes down to guys being in their gaps, getting off blocks, and then finishing plays with tackles. The Huskers struggled in all three phases against Michigan.
Butler said NU might have to bring more defenders into the box, even if that leaves it more susceptible in pass coverage.
“That’s the elephant in the room,” Butler said. “Captain Obvious can see that we’re giving up too many explosive runs.”
***Butler said Michigan State QB Aidan Chiles was a “great” athlete who could run and throw it well on the move. Chiles’s scrambling has jumped off the tape, similar to what NU saw vs. Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby.
Tackling remains NU’s priority, while MSU’s passing could test Blackshirts
***On tackling, Butler said a lot of it has been giving ball carriers “too much space” before contact and then not getting enough hats to the ball. “We’ve just got to keep emphasizing, keep showing them, and keep staying as positive as we can… Run defense is about an attitude.”Butler wasn’t concerned about NU’s “attitude” vs. Michigan. He credited more of that to UM having great players who made one-on-one plays. That’s where getting more people to the ball becomes even more critical.
***Butler said Malcolm Hartzog was “still fighting to get back on the field.” In the meantime, Butler has been pleased with how the rest of the DBs have stepped up in his absence. “It’s not a concern for us. We’re happy with our development. We just have to keep bringing those guys along.”
***Butler said Michigan State would be “one of our biggest challenges” regarding pass defense. He said MSU had talented receivers and a mobile quarterback with a strong arm, which would test the secondary in several ways.
***Butler said he knew Gabe Moore would help Nebraska’s defensive line “as soon as we put him in practice.” After dealing with offseason injuries, Moore’s size and strength have made him a fixture up front.
Offensive lineman Rocco Spindler
***Rocco Spindler said the bye week was about “going back to our technique and basics” as an offensive line.“Guys are buying in… Our backs are against the wall a little bit, and it’s kind of kill or be killed. I think that’s going to be our mindset for the rest of the season.”
***Coming off the loss, Spindler said the mood around the team was “finding a way to get better every single day.” He said the bye was “critical” for the Huskers to get their bodies right and to fix things they must improve.
***Spindler said Nebraska “got after it” over the bye-week practices with a “violent and physical approach, and I think we needed that.”
***Spindler said the offensive line’s struggles weren’t just on the tackles. “It’s all five of us.” The unit also watched some tape of Michigan’s offensive line, especially UM’s big runs.
Tight end Luke Lindenmeyer
***Luke Lindenmeyer said run blocking was something he worked on a lot over the bye week. In particular, getting his feet set and maintaining his balance through blocks.***Lindenmeyer said his increased role in the passing game had been “pretty fun,” and he’d developed “a good connection” with Raiola.
***He said Raiola took charge as a leader over the bye week and showed “a fire” in rallying his teammates after the loss. That was evident in his play and voice during practice. “He’s probably one of the hardest workers on the offense. As a tight end or anyone else, we want to match that.”
---RW
Last edited:
