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What are Huskers are getting with Jonathan Rutledge as our special teams analyst....GBR

huskerssalts

Defensive Coordinator
Oct 6, 2014
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Jonathan Rutledge (former Auburn Tigers Special Teams analyst) and what he brings to our Huskers special teams. For those that haven’t looked him up yet....

“Rutledge came to Nebraska after spending the past four seasons as a special teams analyst in the SEC. He guided Auburn’s special teams the past two seasons with impressive results. Football Outsiders ranked the Tigers’ special teams among the nation’s top 15 units in each of Rutledge’s two seasons, including 13th in 2019 and 14th in 2018.

“In 2019, Auburn was especially strong in the return game. Christian Tutt averaged 13.6 yards on his 23 punt returns, ranking fifth in the country in punt return average and first among all players with more than 20 returns. Noah Igbinoghene averaged 35.2 yards per kickoff return. Igbinoghene fell just short of the required minimum to be included in the NCAA statistical rankings, but the 2019 national leader averaged 33.2 yards per return, two fewer than Igbinoghene.”

“In Rutledge’s first season at Auburn, the Tigers led the nation with seven blocked kicks, including four blocked punts. Auburn also boasted the nation’s most improved punting unit, ranking fifth nationally in net punting in 2018 after ranking 115th in the same category in 2017, before Rutledge arrived. A big reason for Auburn’s improvement was a punt return defense that ranked ninth nationally by allowing fewer than 3.4 yards per return. Individually, punter Arryn Siposs was a Ray Guy Award nominee and kicker Anders Carlson ranked 11th nationally in touchback percentage.”

“Rutledge joined Auburn after spending two seasons as Missouri’s special teams analyst. In 2017, Missouri dominated the punting game. Punter Corey Fatony was a Ray Guy Award semifinalist, and the Tigers’ punt return unit ranked third nationally, averaging more than 16.5 yards per return. In 2016, Missouri ranked 13th in the country in net punting and 14th in punt returns.”

“Prior to his four seasons in the SEC, Rutledge spent two seasons as a graduate assistant in charge of wide receivers and special teams at North Carolina. The Tar Heels’ special teams were ranked as the No. 2 unit in the country in 2015. North Carolina was nearly as good in 2014, when it ranked 10th nationally in kickoff return defense, 16th in blocked punts and 18th in punt return defense. Individually, Tar Heel kicker Nick Weiler was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2015.”

“Rutledge also served as a graduate assistant at Memphis for two seasons, coaching the tight ends and overseeing the special teams. Memphis’ kickers excelled under Rutledge, as punter Tom Hornsey was the 2013 Ray Guy Award winner as the nation’s top punter, while Jake Elliott was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist the same season as a freshman.”

“Rutledge began his coaching career at Ole Miss, his alma mater. After serving as a football manager for the Rebels as an undergraduate, Rutledge was hired as an offensive quality control specialist upon his graduation, working with the Ole Miss quarterbacks in 2011.”

“A Mississippi native, Rutledge graduated from Ole Miss in 2011 with a degree in secondary education with an emphasis in social studies. He and his wife Kaylon have an infant daughter, Harper. Kaylon earned both a bachelor and master’s degree from North Carolina
.”

Jonathan Rutledge Huskers.com
 
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Jonathan Rutledge (former Auburn Tigers Special Teams analyst) and what he brings to our Huskers special teams. For those that haven’t looked him up yet....

“Rutledge came to Nebraska after spending the past four seasons as a special teams analyst in the SEC. He guided Auburn’s special teams the past two seasons with impressive results. Football Outsiders ranked the Tigers’ special teams among the nation’s top 15 units in each of Rutledge’s two seasons, including 13th in 2019 and 14th in 2018.

“In 2019, Auburn was especially strong in the return game. Christian Tutt averaged 13.6 yards on his 23 punt returns, ranking fifth in the country in punt return average and first among all players with more than 20 returns. Noah Igbinoghene averaged 35.2 yards per kickoff return. Igbinoghene fell just short of the required minimum to be included in the NCAA statistical rankings, but the 2019 national leader averaged 33.2 yards per return, two fewer than Igbinoghene.”

“In Rutledge’s first season at Auburn, the Tigers led the nation with seven blocked kicks, including four blocked punts. Auburn also boasted the nation’s most improved punting unit, ranking fifth nationally in net punting in 2018 after ranking 115th in the same category in 2017, before Rutledge arrived. A big reason for Auburn’s improvement was a punt return defense that ranked ninth nationally by allowing fewer than 3.4 yards per return. Individually, punter Arryn Siposs was a Ray Guy Award nominee and kicker Anders Carlson ranked 11th nationally in touchback percentage.”

“Rutledge joined Auburn after spending two seasons as Missouri’s special teams analyst. In 2017, Missouri dominated the punting game. Punter Corey Fatony was a Ray Guy Award semifinalist, and the Tigers’ punt return unit ranked third nationally, averaging more than 16.5 yards per return. In 2016, Missouri ranked 13th in the country in net punting and 14th in punt returns.”

“Prior to his four seasons in the SEC, Rutledge spent two seasons as a graduate assistant in charge of wide receivers and special teams at North Carolina. The Tar Heels’ special teams were ranked as the No. 2 unit in the country in 2015. North Carolina was nearly as good in 2014, when it ranked 10th nationally in kickoff return defense, 16th in blocked punts and 18th in punt return defense. Individually, Tar Heel kicker Nick Weiler was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2015.”

“Rutledge also served as a graduate assistant at Memphis for two seasons, coaching the tight ends and overseeing the special teams. Memphis’ kickers excelled under Rutledge, as punter Tom Hornsey was the 2013 Ray Guy Award winner as the nation’s top punter, while Jake Elliott was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist the same season as a freshman.”

“Rutledge began his coaching career at Ole Miss, his alma mater. After serving as a football manager for the Rebels as an undergraduate, Rutledge was hired as an offensive quality control specialist upon his graduation, working with the Ole Miss quarterbacks in 2011.”

“A Mississippi native, Rutledge graduated from Ole Miss in 2011 with a degree in secondary education with an emphasis in social studies. He and his wife Kaylon have an infant daughter, Harper. Kaylon earned both a bachelor and master’s degree from North Carolina
.”

Jonathan Rutledge Huskers.com
Hopefully improved special teams!
 
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Jonathan Rutledge (former Auburn Tigers Special Teams analyst) and what he brings to our Huskers special teams. For those that haven’t looked him up yet....

“Rutledge came to Nebraska after spending the past four seasons as a special teams analyst in the SEC. He guided Auburn’s special teams the past two seasons with impressive results. Football Outsiders ranked the Tigers’ special teams among the nation’s top 15 units in each of Rutledge’s two seasons, including 13th in 2019 and 14th in 2018.

“In 2019, Auburn was especially strong in the return game. Christian Tutt averaged 13.6 yards on his 23 punt returns, ranking fifth in the country in punt return average and first among all players with more than 20 returns. Noah Igbinoghene averaged 35.2 yards per kickoff return. Igbinoghene fell just short of the required minimum to be included in the NCAA statistical rankings, but the 2019 national leader averaged 33.2 yards per return, two fewer than Igbinoghene.”

“In Rutledge’s first season at Auburn, the Tigers led the nation with seven blocked kicks, including four blocked punts. Auburn also boasted the nation’s most improved punting unit, ranking fifth nationally in net punting in 2018 after ranking 115th in the same category in 2017, before Rutledge arrived. A big reason for Auburn’s improvement was a punt return defense that ranked ninth nationally by allowing fewer than 3.4 yards per return. Individually, punter Arryn Siposs was a Ray Guy Award nominee and kicker Anders Carlson ranked 11th nationally in touchback percentage.”

“Rutledge joined Auburn after spending two seasons as Missouri’s special teams analyst. In 2017, Missouri dominated the punting game. Punter Corey Fatony was a Ray Guy Award semifinalist, and the Tigers’ punt return unit ranked third nationally, averaging more than 16.5 yards per return. In 2016, Missouri ranked 13th in the country in net punting and 14th in punt returns.”

“Prior to his four seasons in the SEC, Rutledge spent two seasons as a graduate assistant in charge of wide receivers and special teams at North Carolina. The Tar Heels’ special teams were ranked as the No. 2 unit in the country in 2015. North Carolina was nearly as good in 2014, when it ranked 10th nationally in kickoff return defense, 16th in blocked punts and 18th in punt return defense. Individually, Tar Heel kicker Nick Weiler was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2015.”

“Rutledge also served as a graduate assistant at Memphis for two seasons, coaching the tight ends and overseeing the special teams. Memphis’ kickers excelled under Rutledge, as punter Tom Hornsey was the 2013 Ray Guy Award winner as the nation’s top punter, while Jake Elliott was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist the same season as a freshman.”

“Rutledge began his coaching career at Ole Miss, his alma mater. After serving as a football manager for the Rebels as an undergraduate, Rutledge was hired as an offensive quality control specialist upon his graduation, working with the Ole Miss quarterbacks in 2011.”

“A Mississippi native, Rutledge graduated from Ole Miss in 2011 with a degree in secondary education with an emphasis in social studies. He and his wife Kaylon have an infant daughter, Harper. Kaylon earned both a bachelor and master’s degree from North Carolina
.”

Jonathan Rutledge Huskers.com
This is one of the areas I’m most excited about seeing the improvements in.
 
This is one of the areas I’m most excited about seeing the improvements in.

100% agreed. He should instantly improve us in those areas and bringing in Conner Culp will do wonders for us when needing 30-50 yard FGs. Frost won’t be forced to go for it ever 4th down. Not to mention, it sounds like he has bomb for a leg that gets kicks into the end zone.

And if not Conner Culp, there is always the 2nd team NJCAA All American sophomore kicker Chase Contrarez (He connected on 15-of-18 field goals and 44-of-46 extra points. He made a season-long 47-yard field goal against Snow College and had a season-high three field goals in a game at Dodge City CC).
 
Our special teams need to improve in almost every facet. We should not be having ST problems in year three.

He is an analyst and not a coach. He watches film, finds strengths and weaknesses of other teams and puts data together. The coaches still have to teach the technique and get everything going on the field. We need to get all three phases working to be that top tier team we all want.
 
Our special teams need to improve in almost every facet. We should not be having ST problems in year three.

He is an analyst and not a coach. He watches film, finds strengths and weaknesses of other teams and puts data together. The coaches still have to teach the technique and get everything going on the field. We need to get all three phases working to be that top tier team we all want.

He did the exact same thing with Auburns and Missouris special teams and it worked. He took a team that ranked 115th nationally and instantly jumped them into a Top 15 ranking the next season. I have no clue exactly how they do things but apparently there is a way and it works. I don’t know, maybe he sets everything up and basically run things through the coaches helping him? No clue but he’s been doing it for the last 7 plus years and pulling it off. I fully expect to see our special teams to make a jump with him running the show.
 
My understanding is that Rutledge does all of the gameplanning, then teaches our position coaches what he wants them to do and HOW to do it. The coaches then relay Rutledge's message to the rest of the team.

Rutledge is in-charge of special teams.
 
He did the exact same thing with Auburns and Missouris special teams and it worked. He took a team that ranked 115th nationally and instantly jumped them into a Top 15 ranking the next season. I have no clue exactly how they do things but apparently there is a way and it works. I don’t know, maybe he sets everything up and basically run things through the coaches helping him? No clue but he’s been doing it for the last 7 plus years and pulling it off. I fully expect to see our special teams to make a jump with him running the show.
It is an impressive resume. And while max/peak outcomes will be more than welcome, we just need to, at a minimum, go from bottom of the barrel to mediocre or decent. That rise to middle of the road by itself could yield big dividends.
But let’s hope for something closer to what he’s done elsewhere. We really should have enough personnel options to make it work.
 
He did the exact same thing with Auburns and Missouris special teams and it worked. He took a team that ranked 115th nationally and instantly jumped them into a Top 15 ranking the next season. I have no clue exactly how they do things but apparently there is a way and it works. I don’t know, maybe he sets everything up and basically run things through the coaches helping him? No clue but he’s been doing it for the last 7 plus years and pulling it off. I fully expect to see our special teams to make a jump with him running the show.

The point that I was making is there is more to it than just him. He is the analyst, not a coach. Someone still has to coach the players. It has nothing to do with his past stats of success. Someone still has to teach what he has drawn up.
 
The point that I was making is there is more to it than just him. He is the analyst, not a coach. Someone still has to coach the players. It has nothing to do with his past stats of success. Someone still has to teach what he has drawn up.

sounds like we agreed then. Rutledge will be the man in charge and he will teach the coaches running his special teams. Kind of like factories and such having management that teaches its employees how to do things. Like I said, it work great for him for 7 plus years and he’s known as a special teams guru guy. So we should be in great shape there. GBR
 
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He is a "shoe-in" to be the best special teams analyst in the league. I hope Frost gives him "free reign" and that he has the whole staff at his "beckon call". "By in large" I think this is a good hire.
Agreed. For all intensive purposes.

I think this hire shows that we can't afford to continue to take for granite the importance of this unit.

Hopefully he will be able to illicit a better response from the players, or at the very least duck tape together more discipline than we have seen.
 
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Well, last year we did have a kick off return for a touchdown....so it can get way worse! But I’m not going to jinx it :)
 
First off thanks for posting this salts..good read
For sure!
Ive tried to watch some football this year but i think one of the biggest differences in this years games has come in the form of bad tackling and special teams play... more than likely from covid and the lack of practices or contact.. its just huge to get those reps in.. hopefully we will get out of the gate strong with this new hire.. im also on board with this being a good hire!
 
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well you just did again, I agreed with you. Are you getting that old my man? My lord TruHusker, maybe you need to retire from the computer and the message board bro. Or get those glasses reworked. Wow....😂😂🤣

Well, nice job of editing your post. Go back and follow the thread. I clarified that he is not a coach and that his plans still have to be implemented by a coach. I read your posts and you are challenging mental acuity? Hope you feel better about yourself.

Here is to better special teams in all aspects. It will.oay huge dividends to both sides of the ball.
 
He did the exact same thing with Auburns and Missouris special teams and it worked. He took a team that ranked 115th nationally and instantly jumped them into a Top 15 ranking the next season. I have no clue exactly how they do things but apparently there is a way and it works. I don’t know, maybe he sets everything up and basically run things through the coaches helping him? No clue but he’s been doing it for the last 7 plus years and pulling it off. I fully expect to see our special teams to make a jump with him running the show.

Ahhhhh....the finest music to my ears.
 
First off thanks for posting this salts..good read
For sure!
Ive tried to watch some football this year but i think one of the biggest differences in this years games has come in the form of bad tackling and special teams play... more than likely from covid and the lack of practices or contact.. its just huge to get those reps in.. hopefully we will get out of the gate strong with this new hire.. im also on board with this being a good hire!

thanks my man, I love the hire. The way the special teams has been we needed some in charge of that area that knows what he’s doing. Every place he’s coached at, he’s almost instantly improved their special teams. GBR
Nebraska was a bowl team in 2019 with average special teams.

I think it was about an average of a 10 point swing a game. It was that bad.

And that’s just it, that an a decent to ok kicker. No way could we continue to have that type of special teams and expect to compete. GBR
 
Well, nice job of editing your post. Go back and follow the thread. I clarified that he is not a coach and that his plans still have to be implemented by a coach. I read your posts and you are challenging mental acuity? Hope you feel better about yourself.

Here is to better special teams in all aspects. It will.oay huge dividends to both sides of the ball.

thanks my man, that’s why they have the edit option there, to be used.:eek::eek:
 
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So whatever happened to Salts? He posted prior to November 4th stating he wanted to step away due to all the negativity and political posts. I guess when he said step away, he meant it ! Hope he is well though.
 
So whatever happened to Salts? He posted prior to November 4th stating he wanted to step away due to all the negativity and political posts. I guess when he said step away, he meant it ! Hope he is well though.

This guy pops up on my Twitter timeline from time to time. I assume it’s the same guy.

 
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