I don't think anyone actually expects a coach to be fired 2 games into our most promising season in 8 years.
at least I don't.
"Fire so and so" is a turn of phrase. it only becomes literal after the season.
Fire Foley.
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at least I don't.
"Fire so and so" is a turn of phrase. it only becomes literal after the season.
It is bright blue today. Rhule also has called almost every player on his roster an NFL player at some point or another. Do you take as gospel every word that a coach says in a press conference? He knows the fan angst. He let those of you losing your mind that he understands the concern and will try to address it WITH THE PLAYERS HE HAS ON HIS ROSTER and by trying to recruit over them. Tom's teams gave up returns at times too so that really doesn't concern me all that much. They'll get that fixed. Fixing a kicker though is problematic if you don't have a better guy to replace him. The best approach IMO is to build the guy's confidence as much as you can without yapping about it in a press conference. Rhule has done that some by saying he's been perfect from 30 yards in practice.
No one is losing their mind, they are pointing out the weak link that could end up costing us during the season if it doesn't get shored up. The first two games have had numerous errors across the board on special teams. This is coming after a year where special teams was god awful and the leader of the group had to start off the season giving himself an ultimatum. Recruiting is going to help, but similar to other groups, sometimes you just have to try something else. We have two other kickers on the roster and one of them needs to be trotted out against UNI to see if they can make something. We need to know that we can make a field goal under 40 yards before conference play. The theme of this year is chasing 3 and hard to chase that number when your kicker and ST could cause the same results as last year when games get close.
Like I've said, there is time, but not much. Because of the style of O we are getting ready to play, every possession is going to be vital as Illinois, Rutgers, and Indiana are all going to try and establish the run game which will eat clock. Thank god we have a competent QB that can take some of the pressure off, but there is going to be multiple games where field goals are going to be the difference.
And I think Ed is old enough to just move to some analyst role if needed where he just helps break down film and judges pie eating contests.
I mentioned those three coaches because all three have been called out in the last couple days on here to be fired. Rhule's not going to try to reverse all of the positive momentum and fire some assistant coaches.
And to the head coach.... Do you feel comfortable if against Illinois we are down 2 with 3 seconds remaining and lining up for a 35 yd. field goal? If you say yes, you are lying and that is a massive problem.
Rhule didn't call him the weak link. In FACT he said he was certain Foley is the right man to fix the problems we had.
Rhule isn't calling out any player by name and will be very vague because he has the players backs....
Prior to the season, Rhule said he was “very concerned” about the kicking game
2 weeks later, he’s saying the special teams performance was the worst he’s seen in a long time
Both very publicly, both very direct
Its clear Foleys on notice
I am one of very few who think we should stick with Alvano
Curious why you think we should keep Alvano? Snapping issues, coming off injury, etc..?
I doubt he would fire Foley likely move him to a position where he can travel the state and evaluate local talent.
he has NFL upside if he can straighten things out
Rhule has said that we've had snap and placement issues which doesn't inspire confidence in our kickers. Did last year's long snapper graduate? It's pretty damned tough to kick confidently if you have any concerns about the ball being placed correctly and on time. Timing is an enormous factor
Foley isn't going anywhere. Players need to execute what they're coached to do. It's on them.
He'd better be perfect from 30 yards in practice. That's as easy as it gets. Don't know that it tells us much though.
He was the highly rated transfer from Florida? I suppose we should have gone back to the portal.
So when asked about Special Teams in his presser yesterday, Coach Rhule says "it's been about like it has been every week in practice, the issue hasn't been in practice", he's a big fat fibber? Just want to make sure I understand your expertise (and the someone you know who watches practice expertise).
He's backtracking after the pushback when earlier in the week he said it was the worst special teams game he's seen. This is a former player and family member, so think what you want. I know what he tells me and I say it on the message board. At the end of the day its a message board. Believe what you want dude.
I agree. Especially when teams have burners back there. Let the punter pin them deep.
As for special teams it really is just a problem with the kicking. Punting and returns seem to be good.
we had a punt blocked against CU
attempting to return punts has been an improvement on last year's strategy. work to do there.
You really think you are always getting straight information at a press conference where he contradicted himself in two pressers in the same week? Got it. Move on. I have.
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We haven’t had a coach put the best construction on things quite like Rhule. It sounds great, and I get why (trying to build the players up) but he seems to speak quite highly of every player that comes through the program (at least publicly).
Seems like, in private, he’s making sure they understand what they need to work on.
Seems like, in private, he’s making sure they understand what they need to work on.
I stopped listening to Rhule's pressers and started just reading the recaps after week 0 last year, choosing only to judge him and the staff by the product they're putting on the field
it's made me like him a lot more
I get that & agree that's what he does. He could have accomplished the same thing by simply stating "we worked hard on the Special Teams this week and the guys have risen to the challenge - but we still need to do it in games" as he has said about other areas. That's not what he said. He didn't have to say what he did say to build players up. From what I hear, he's mostly accurate in his statement in the presser. Obviously, different people see different things when they watch a game OR practice. Often times, we see what we want to see. I'm glad they are looking at a new snapper this week. Anyone with a good eye could see the LS was horrible on the placekicks each of these 2 games. We'll see if that makes a difference. Actually, I'd rather 30 is just kicking PATs & lots of them this week.
Sarcasm?? Hopefully his player evaluation doesn't include kickers cause we got problems guys. Wisconsin just kicked a 50+ yarder with 10 to 15 yards to spare
Seen another kicker today, don't recall which game, that kicked a 56 yarder and it cleared with about 10-15 yards to spare.
Oh no not sarcasm. That's what Rhule has him do all the time in the offseason.
Haven’t read the thread so SIAP but you can definitely see that the coaches have emphasized on making punt return better. They look to return it instead of fair catching or letting it go. It’s made a significant impact the first 3 games. The only special teams that have stood out a bit is the place kicking.
Shout out to the coaches and our new snapper. Alvano looks better when the snap is good. Makes Buschini’s job easier also.
Not a kicking game guru, but seems like it takes 4 things to be a successful FG kicker. Snap, hold, kick, and confidence. Last night NU accomplished the first 3 and seem to be working on the 4th step. Huskers didn’t need a FG at the end of the first half so it made sense to go for it in 4th down. Luckily, Alvano got a chance in second half.
For the golfers on the board, FG kicking is much like putting. Once you make a putt, the next one seems easier. See a putt go in the hole or a FG through the pipes builds confidence.
Alvano has the ability, so any chance to improve his confidence while fixing the other factors may pay dividends down the road.
