Running backs coach Ryan Held was live on Sports Nightly radio Thursday evening. Below is a recap of what coach Held had to say!
FIRST SEGMENT
FIRST SEGMENT
- The guys have worked hard, and they were really close the week before. Penn State had great players on the field and the guys really responded.
- There were a lot of learning lessons in that game, and it is nice to learn with a win.
- Wan'Dale is a very talented guy and can do it all. They saw an opportunity to get him the ball, and they want to get it in his hands. He gave them a different look and that was big.
- Ronald Thompkins has gotten better during the fall. He's done good things during practice and a couple things during games. He still doesn't have a lot of experience, and they are still building him up
- Marvin Scott has really come along. He is learning the offense and has really gotten in shape. He has made some big plays even if it doesn't show statistically. Like the block on the Betts TD and the catch on McCaffrey's left handed throw
- Scott got a call from Frost saying how well he played. He will be a big asset for the Huskers. He is excited with where he is, and more excited about where he will end up.
- Dedrick Mills is a guy who is always going to play hard. He has been able to score and catch the ball well. There is a lot of season left and they expect a lot from him. His footwork has gotten better and his reads have gotten better as well.
- Mills is a great leader by working hard in practice, and the other guys notice. He gives it his all every play, and he sets the standard. The other guys see that and that helps them build the running back room.
- Illinois is the best team at getting to the ball and knocking it out. They do the best job in the league of that and the Huskers need to make sure they keep a hold of the ball.
- They have a number one rule at Nebraska, and that is that you don't wear sleeves as a running back when it's cold. You can't feel the ball. In rain the guys practice with a wet ball to make sure they are prepared to hold onto the football.
- Sevion Morrison was a little banged up before the season started in fall camp. He has had a great week of practice, and he is getting closer to introducing Sevion on Saturdays. He is smart and picked up the offense well. He isn't 100% but very close. Excited to see him grow.
- Rahmir Johnson has been grinding it out. There have been times of inconsistency in practice, and he knows. Held has liked how he has accepted the challenge to be more consistent.
- He will reward guys for getting it done in practice, and Rahmir has accepted the challenges.
- They have had to be flexible to the virus and change meeting times if need be to be as safe as possible. Everyone has handled it well and they plan for that to continue.
- Recruiting wise, everyone is facing the same challenges, and their recruiting department had been great with new ways to get guys in touch. They have been able to get ahead in the 2022 class. Everything is changing all the time and they have to make sure they are always following them.
- Being 27 days from signing day, they want to make sure they have all the right guys and they don't want to miss anyone. They feel good about signing the right kids that fit the culture and the vision to get the program to be where they want it to be.
- The early signing day has absolutely been good for college football. It lets the kids be done and not have to be recruited for another six weeks.
- He tells the recruits to compete even if thats in other sports in the spring. They want them to be a senior and play that sport and finish it out even if it means not coming a semester early. However, they want kids that can come early to do so because it gives them somewhat of a leg up if they jump right in. They will support the kid in whatever they want to do.
- When it comes to Juco guys, they want them to come at the semester if at all possible as well.
- Right now they are looking at one new recruit in the next class.
- With the second half lack of points, there are different reasons for that each game. Ohio State they shot themselves in the foot with turnovers. Northwestern turnovers again and failed attempts in the redzone. It's more of a matter of going out and executing than just talking about it at halftime.
- Penn State is the best 0-4 team he has ever seen. They could beat anyone on any given night. They have a chance to still do some big things this season. They are very talented.
- He is a big fan of the 11 A.M. games. The guys are used to practicing early, and it is nice to be able to come home to family after being done at 3:00. He got to put up Christmas decorations with his wife and kids. Usually he doesn't have the time to do that.
- With finals being done before the game against Iowa, it is great that the guys get to focus on football. It is nice for the guys to be able to exhale and be done with school and put their full attention on football.
- Talking about the many different roles of the running backs, it is challenging to get the new guys off the ground and learning the system. Once they learn the system it becomes a lot easier.
- The offense can be very dynamic, but that takes him building a foundation which he his doing now. It's an every day deal. The running backs need to be able to do a lot of things including pass protection. They missed one in the last game, but other than that it has been good.
- They scout the linebackers to see what kind of players they are so they know what they are facing on Saturdays.
- This coaching staff has known each other for the most part for the last five years and they get along really well. They care about each other and care about each other's families. Coaching isn't easy sometimes because guys can get other opportunities and leave, but they get along well and embrace the grind together.
- Ball security is number one focus going into Saturday. The first guy that hits you is going to try and poke the ball out, and the other guys are going to try and rip it out. Hold the ball tight and don't reach the ball unless it's dire.
- They want to be handing the ball to the official after every play.
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