Rhule: "I have one job: It's to win at Nebraska"

[RBigredMax]

Do you think that the leadership in the AD is same or better than it was for Callahan, Pelini, Riley, Frost?


Do you think that Rhule is better or the same as those coaches.


Do you not think that Rhule does a good job adjusting on the fly amd making necessary changes?


All legit questions. I'm not trying to start a contentious back and forth about it, but curious what you thoughts are.

I think it’s obvious his thoughts and what a miserable perspective it is …. 15 years and nothing changes - we should just expect to be 6-6 - doesn’t matter who the coaching staff is or the type of recruits we get we will still suck. Rhule can’t turn it around in year 2 so there is another coach who failed same as before.

 

[JOHNNY N]

Based on rankings, Solich teams would have been in the 12-16 team playoff 4 of 6 years. would not have made it the last 2 and his first team was borderline. ranked 14 and 16th in the polls but 11th in the computers.

I don't know what member of the fan base wouldn't be happy with that in the playoff era.

Maybe @oldjar07

 

[drg1104]

If the team to the East of us can have 8, 9, 10 regular season wins I see no reason Nebraska should not be able to do the same on a regular basis.

 

[SLOHusker]

It's all relative. Does that kid give you a better opportunity to win than random kid from random state . Where I duffer is that "nebraska kid" shouldn't have anything to do with it regardless of whether he has NDSU or SDSU offers. Again simply put...Can I beat Ohio St with them? Michigan? Penn St? etc.

I'm doing it NFL style best available player at a position that I can sign and I don't care where he comes from.



Holla

Scouting has gotten better and can differentiate between players in rural schools that have the athletic ability to compete with top Div IA players and those that only look good because the competition isn't there in their HS division. If a kid is dominating against top HS programs in Cali, FL, or Texas it's pretty easy to assume he's a sure thing.
OL recruits are more of a crap shoot for a lot of programs because so many of the very best start out as TE, etc. NU historically did well by finding athletic players with a frame from in-state and developing them into good OL. Russ Hochstein is a perfect example. He ended up playing a decade in the NFL on super bowl winning teams. I honestly feel like NU has gotten too far away from that philosophy at OL and has focused too much on the players that are already big bodies but haven't developed much on campus.

 

[huskerfan66]

Nebraska can be THAT team again. Go back to the 80s, 90s, 2000 and 2001. The recipe for success is 1. Getting Offensive Linemen that are good enough and have the desire to become an All American. 2. Have an OL coach(s) that can help them achieve that goal.

Do a search on Husker All Americans (wikipedia). You see an OL candidate at least every other year. You'll see what I mean.

No OGs, OTs or Cs since 2001. Two thousand one.

Maybe we should have bonuses for position coaches for each all American they produce

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

If the team to the East of us can have 8, 9, 10 regular season games I see no reason Nebraska should not be able to do the same on a regular basis.

9 win seasons may not be enough. Pelini's teams would never have made a 16 team playoff. I know things are different with being in the Big Ten now vs then, but 9 wins and 6-3 in league may not be enough, especially with so many teams that won't necessarily play each other.

 

[Walleye79]

9 win seasons may not be enough. Pelini's teams would never have made a 16 team playoff. I know things are different with being in the Big Ten now vs then, but 9 wins and 6-3 in league may not be enough, especially with so many teams that won't necessarily play each other.

I don’t think he means as in playoffs. I think just consistently having winning seasons

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

I don’t think he means as in playoffs. I think just consistently having winning seasons

Sorry, I guess I was combining the flow of conversation from Cavelot writing about making it to the playoff, or I guess never making it again to others talking about making it every once in a while.

 

[Walleye79]

I think Rhule wants to do a Harbaugh and get us to the playoffs and compete for a natty then bounce back to the nfl or another gig.

Why? And I would be shocked if it was the NFL. I just don’t understand the Rhule wants a breakout year then bounce

 

[king_kong_]

Good thing they have that Oline coach on staff.

he can't even produce a 3rd team all-conference selection much less All-Americans

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

Why? And I would be shocked if it was the NFL. I just don’t understand the Rhule wants a breakout year then bounce

I guess he could have the Buzz Peterson approach to coaching. Where he comes to a school, who is struggling, builds them up and then bolts before the floor level of expectations change. When it comes to football, I am not sure there are as many jobs that present that particular challenge. I don't think football coaches leave a program like Nebraska to go to a Purdue or from an A&M to Va Tech just for the challenge of building a bowl team or CFP team then leave again to go somewhere else.

I agree that I don't think he wants anything to do with the NFL, not sure the NFL wants anything to do with him either. He is just a college guy. Maybe he would go to Penn St. if he has success here and Franklin goes elsewhere, but I don't think he leaves Nebraska voluntarily within the next 3-5 years.

 

[oldjar07]

I don't know what member of the fan base wouldn't be happy with that in the playoff era.

Maybe @oldjar07

Most of the fan base seems pretty happy with pretend and hypotheticals. I am not one of those, no.

 

[huskerfan66]

Why? And I would be shocked if it was the NFL. I just don’t understand the Rhule wants a breakout year then bounce

And if successful, wouldn't it be easier to stay rather than look for another rebuild?

 

[huskerj12]

So he admits he hasn’t been doing the job? He’s 12-13 and 6-12 in conference. If he has one job and that’s to win and he has a losing record…. 🤷‍♂️

And if you lose and do things that the fans don’t like, does it get much worse? He’s been talking a mean game this year about why he’s doing things that will be unpopular, all I can say is “better produce or GTFO” cause you ain’t winning brownie points

Yes he admits that. He is saying the exact same thing as you. He has to win or else he won't keep the job. That's literally what the quote is saying.

 

[huskerj12]

I feel like people are taking this quote in a strange way. To me, it seems like he's saying to the fans and HS coaches in the area, sorry guys I know it's sentimental but the game has changed, you can't come after us for not giving in-state guys extra attention anymore.

For example, could Ed Foley have been of better use traveling to visit higher priority recruits instead of doing Diners Drive-ins & Dives tours around Nebraska just to show his face and make the locals feel seen? I think Barrett Ruud had that type of in-state specialist role under Frost too, and I'm sure someone under Riley, and Pelini. And still, certain fans and high school coaches would publicly complain that local schools and recruits weren't getting enough attention from NU coaches.

We may not be able to point to specific players this won or lost us in recruiting battles, but the idea is that we can't be expending any extra resources for sentimental reasons anymore. Winning, in theory, will make everybody feel good so their feelings shouldn't be hurt by the lack of attention... Every decision on where resources go needs to be directed toward wins.

And that may end up being a catch-22 down the road, where a disgruntled HS coach takes the lack of attention personally and pushes a kid toward another school when we do come calling, but I dunno. It's a consequence of modern college football being a poorly-run business where the rules keep changing and everybody's flying the by seat of their pants.

 

[Crisker]

When Nebraska fans find that stating the obvious -- "my only job is to win" -- is refreshing, we truly have hit rock bottom.

 

[kakdawg]

Scouting has gotten better and can differentiate between players in rural schools that have the athletic ability to compete with top Div IA players and those that only look good because the competition isn't there in their HS division. If a kid is dominating against top HS programs in Cali, FL, or Texas it's pretty easy to assume he's a sure thing.
OL recruits are more of a crap shoot for a lot of programs because so many of the very best start out as TE, etc. NU historically did well by finding athletic players with a frame from in-state and developing them into good OL. Russ Hochstein is a perfect example. He ended up playing a decade in the NFL on super bowl winning teams. I honestly feel like NU has gotten too far away from that philosophy at OL and has focused too much on the players that are already big bodies but haven't developed much on campus.

I don't disagree on that. I also think for the most part good teams will wanna build their OL from within. That'll take patience from players as well as the coaches.

As far as getting to far away from that at some point you have to have a good/great OL coach to develop these guys. We have gotten plenty quality OL recruits. Even during our down years. We have seen some if those guys go on and become pro players who weren't what I would call "good" college players. It's that on coaching?

Say what you will about Donnie. I've had my reservations at so.e points but I think his players and OLs have improved under his tutelage. Needs to take another step though for sure.


Holla

 

[kakdawg]

When Nebraska fans find that stating the obvious -- "my only job is to win" -- is refreshing, we truly have hit rock bottom.

I'm not so sure I'd agree. I think some of us simply realize that there are some unwritten expectations/rules that any coach who wants to remain in good graces of Husker nation has to follow. Otherwise he starts out behind the eight ball. I don't think Ruhle is or was any different. I think the 105 limit has changed all of that. I also think Ruhle put that out their to magnify and let people know why things have changed. Imo it's transparency for those who don't or wouldn't understand. Personally I've always felt some of this was to appease a program/state/coach/fans steeped in a tradition of doing things a particular way. Just a heads up that this isn't the case anymore.

I think only the people who don't believe this to be true are the ones who are bothered by the statement. Maybe I'm wrong though...idk.



Hollla

 

[JOHNNY N]

Most of the fan base seems pretty happy with pretend and hypotheticals. I am not one of those,

Thanks for proving my point

 

[salsa red]

And if successful, wouldn't it be easier to stay rather than look for another rebuild?

I'm just guessing but I don't see rhule staying more than 8-9 years. Maybe PSU or NFL come calling.

 

[JOHNNY N]

he can't even produce a 3rd team all-conference selection much less All-Americans

He's a really good oline coach.

 

[InMotion]

He's a really good oline coach.

Insert fart noise here...

In all honesty, the minute we start getting O-Linemen in the 2nd or 1st team all conference conversation, that's when you can start to believe Nebraska can be on top again.

 

[V-Doub]

If the team to the East of us can have 8, 9, 10 regular season wins I see no reason Nebraska should not be able to do the same on a regular basis.

We currently have a twelve team playoff, will probably be 16 fairly soon. To suggest, or believe, we (NU) can’t be a part of the playoffs ever is beyond ridiculous. I don’t know what our ceiling is? Once every 5 years? Once every 3 year? IDK? But to suggest we’ll just continue to be a 6-6, or at best 8-4 team forever is just irrational battered wife syndrome… “I can never leave him. This is just my life.” Lol

We’ve seen almost 50 years of Nebraska football that would’ve had us in the playoffs almost every year. At minimum about 75% of those teams would’ve made a 12 team playoff, and he believes that 15 years of shit football is an eternal death sentence? We luckily had 2 great coaches in row who produced 40ish years of dominant football. But we haven’t found that coach since. Solich slightly was above average and lived off Osborne’s recruiting. Pelini was slightly better than average and benefited from Callahan’s recruiting. Callahan had potential, but his defenses were so shockingly bad it gave him no chance. We hire the right coach we can become a perennial top 20 team and earn playoff bids. Hope Rhule is the guy, jury is still out on that as of now.

 

[Walleye79]

He's a really good oline coach.

Based on what? He really needs to start producing some all conference kind of talent. This will be year 4. He has been average at best this far. And that might be a touch optimistic.

 

[king_kong_]

Based on what? He really needs to start producing some all conference kind of talent. This will be year 4. He has been average at best this far. And that might be a touch optimistic.

yea.

most "really good" coaches have something - anything - to show for their work.

 

[JOHNNY N]

Insert fart noise here...

In all honesty, the minute we start getting O-Linemen in the 2nd or 1st team all conference conversation, that's when you can start to believe Nebraska can be on top again.

he's a really good offence of line coach.

 

[V-Doub]

he's a really good offence of line coach.

 

[JOHNNY N]

Based on what? He really needs to start producing some all conference kind of talent. This will be year 4. He has been average at best this far. And that might be a touch optimistic.

The way offensive line plays.

Very few people on this board actually watches the oline play during a game.

 

[JOHNNY N]

It's true. Even if you don't believe it.

 

[Walleye79]

The way offensive line plays.

Very few people on this board actually watches the oline play during a game.

Oline is one of the groups I have watched much more closely given the struggles the past few years. Sloppy, undisciplined and not a very cohesive unit has been a major factor with that group. I am not seeing what you are seeing.

 

[huskerfan66]

Oline is one of the groups I have watched much more closely given the struggles the past few years. Sloppy, undisciplined and not a very cohesive unit has been a major factor with that group. I am not seeing what you are seeing.

And for the most part, lacking athleticism

 

[king_kong_]

Oline is one of the groups I have watched much more closely given the struggles the past few years. Sloppy, undisciplined and not a very cohesive unit has been a major factor with that group. I am not seeing what you are seeing.

Our best OL since uncle Donnie has been coaching have been guys who were developed elsewhere (mazz, Scott)

These players tend to get worse/draft stock drops the longer they are coached by our OL coach

 

[Walleye79]

Our best OL since uncle Donnie has been coaching have been guys who were developed elsewhere (mazz, Scott)

These players tend to get worse/draft stock drops the longer they are coached by our OL coach

I agree and I expect yet another transfer to be our best lineman again this year.

 

[Husker.Wed.]

I'm not so sure I'd agree. I think some of us simply realize that there are some unwritten expectations/rules that any coach who wants to remain in good graces of Husker nation has to follow. Otherwise he starts out behind the eight ball. I don't think Ruhle is or was any different. I think the 105 limit has changed all of that. I also think Ruhle put that out their to magnify and let people know why things have changed. Imo it's transparency for those who don't or wouldn't understand. Personally I've always felt some of this was to appease a program/state/coach/fans steeped in a tradition of doing things a particular way. Just a heads up that this isn't the case anymore.

I think only the people who don't believe this to be true are the ones who are bothered by the statement. Maybe I'm wrong though...idk.



Hollla

No more short-side-option? Fine
No more 160-man roster? Fine
No more Spring Game? Fine
No more coach designated to visit every HS in the state? Fine
No more offers to Nebraska kids? Fine
No more NU on East Sideline? Fine

But....if any head coach takes the stripes off the pants he is not doing things "the Nebraska way" and needs fired.

 

[scarletred]

Our best OL since uncle Donnie has been coaching have been guys who were developed elsewhere (mazz, Scott)

These players tend to get worse/draft stock drops the longer they are coached by our OL coach

Teddy Prochazka has the most potential and would most likely be all B1G if it hasn’t been for knee season injuries the past two seasons.

 

[king_kong_]

Teddy Prochazka has the most potential and would most likely be all B1G if it hasn’t been for knee season injuries the past two seasons.

“There is no place like If

Dear old If U”

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

You have to admit there have been an abnormal amount of injuries to the OLine. Yes it is a if, but if Prochazka and Corcoran are healthy along with the 2 you mentioned and Benhart, that is a better offensive line.

You can't praise the portal for a dude like Brown and then bitch about it because they used it to improve the OLine. FFS

 

[Walleye79]

You have to admit there have been an abnormal amount of injuries to the OLine. Yes it is a if, but if Prochazka and Corcoran are healthy along with the 2 you mentioned and Benhart, that is a better offensive line.

You can't praise the portal for a dude like Brown and then bitch about it because they used it to improve the OLine. FFS

Who bitched about the oline from the portal? Maybe I missed it. My complaint is our best lineman are coming from the portal. That has been little development on the line. Sure corc got hurt but he just isn’t that good. Benhart played marginally better his last year. Haven’t seen much of Raiola’s recruits doing much and taking the spots

 

[king_kong_]

You have to admit there have been an abnormal amount of injuries to the OLine. Yes it is a if, but if Prochazka and Corcoran are healthy along with the 2 you mentioned and Benhart, that is a better offensive line.

You can't praise the portal for a dude like Brown and then bitch about it because they used it to improve the OLine. FFS

I wish we had a brand new OL from the portal every single year

 

[JOHNNY N]

Oline is one of the groups I have watched much more closely given the struggles the past few years. Sloppy, undisciplined and not a very cohesive unit has been a major factor with that group. I am not seeing what you are seeing.

I can't help you with that. I don't know if you know what you are looking at.


he is a really good oline coach.