Nebraska
Tad Stryker: Walking the Talk
Can the final 20 years of Nebraska soccer be attributed to a critical case of mistaken id?
Not fully, however NU’s lack of id has been the most important contributor to a deteriorating basis. In the event you’re beginning over, setting your bearings on a brand new id is the place to begin an actual rebuild.
Matt Rhule has shortly recognized the basis downside, and has swiftly moved to dig out the indecisiveness that has held this system hostage for thus lengthy. He’s placing his focus precisely the place he stated he would — on profitable on the line of scrimmage. Rhule is transferring towards a “physique blows” offensive mentality that won’t repair each downside, however ought to take Nebraska a good distance in the fitting path, if carried out correctly.
This concept is just not a brand new one. Take a look at this quote:
“It’s going to take a variety of onerous work and dedication from lots of people, however there’s a formulation that labored right here for a very long time. Occasions have modified a bit of, however a few of those self same issues could make this work once more.”
That’s from Scott Frost’s introductory press convention in December 2017. Cautionary story: Phrases are begin, however deeds matter extra.
Frost pointed to toughness, bodily fashion of play, dedication, work ethic and pursuit of excellence as hallmarks of Nebraska, and pledged, “That’s what this place goes to face for so long as I’m right here.” So we’ve heard this form of factor earlier than with out seeing a lot progress.
Rhule sounded considerably like that in a latest interview with Adam Carriker. Rhule, who admired Tom Osborne from afar, feels like he’s extra dedicated to “the formulation that labored right here for a very long time” than was Frost, who lived Osborne’s system daily for 3 years. However as my grandfather used to remind me, “Saying and doing are two various things.”
Right here’s hoping that as Rhule digs round within the crumbling stays of what got here earlier than, he’ll discover and surgically take away Frost’s reassuring assertion that his offensive scheme can be easy and efficient sufficient to allow mediocre offensive traces to thrive. Yeah, Frost had me fooled with that one.
There’s merely no substitute for good blocking up entrance. Right here’s one other quote.
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“We need to be a group that’s simply so huge and so bodily (whatever the parts) that our offensive linemen will simply put on on you, and, finally, it wears you down.” That one’s from Rhule.
Blue-collar Husker followers, wipe the tears of pleasure out of your eyes, rise up and take discover, and prepare to carry Rhule to it. Sounds to me like an influence working id might return to Lincoln. Perhaps not the Derek Brown/Calvin Jones/Lawrence Phillips/Ahman Inexperienced model, however not less than the Roy Helu/Rex Burkhead/Ameer Abdullah model. Regardless, no higher phrases may have been spoken. Will the deeds comply with?
So what does somebody like extremely touted wideout Malachi Coleman, who may have chosen to play at nearly any faculty he wished, learn about Husker I-backs of a era in the past? In all probability not a lot. But he signed with the Huge Crimson, presumably with the data that Rhule favors a troublesome working recreation. Will Rhule’s teaching employees all purchase into the “physique blows” idea? Will they work in live performance with one another, with the understanding that the working recreation units up the passing recreation, and never vice versa? Will they get buy-in from their gamers?
That didn’t at all times occur over the previous few years. Frost was both unable to firmly resolve what he wished his soccer program to appear to be, or unable to speak that successfully to his assistant coaches, or each. For one factor, it by no means made sense to have Frost and Greg Austin disagree on one thing as necessary as their basic fashion of blocking. And might somebody clarify the hiring of Mark Whipple and Donovan Raiola in the identical month? Discuss an absence of id. No surprise Husker offensive linemen regarded so tentative the final a number of years.
Admittedly, I used to be astounded that Rhule determined to retain Raiola as o-line coach, however he made it clear he agrees with Raiola’s concepts in regards to the basic fashion of blocking (“I need to have the ability to line up and run iso, line up and run duo, knock folks off the ball.”) That leads me to consider the offensive scheme shall be pretty easy in 2023, and that it’ll look extra like Rhule’s Temple groups than his Baylor groups, not less than initially. I’m skeptical that the offensive linemen Rhule inherits could make an enormous leap in fewer than 9 months, however that is still to be seen.
By the best way, when you’re questioning if NU’s receivers can have something to do moreover blocking, Rhule’s Temple groups averaged greater than 30 passes per recreation in his three years as head coach, though by 12 months Three, the Owls had change into considerably extra run-oriented.
One factor’s for positive, although. There must be no place group on the whole group that can have an easier transition from the Frost/Joseph period to the Rhule period than the offensive line. The optimist appears on the scenario and says, “If Raiola put in nothing however a basis final 12 months, perhaps the partitions and roof will go up in 2023.” The skeptic scratches his head and mutters, “Did Rhule actually imply it when he stated he thinks we’ll have offensive line subsequent 12 months”? The reality — hopefully a lot affected by the brand new regime’s low season of energy and conditioning coaching — most likely lies someplace within the center.
The Nebraska model, one which a lot of the nation nonetheless remembers, is constructed round a bodily working recreation. No matter how issues go in 12 months One (and nearly definitely it received’t be a clean operation), an influence soccer id should unmistakably emerge.
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Nebraska
Nebraska Football Targeting California Commit
Nebraska is now a leader to land Aiden Manutai. Here is the latest.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers aren’t exactly done in the 2025 cycle as they have been searching for some flip targets. After actively searching, the Huskers may have found another one.
That guy is Aiden Manutai. Manutai is a Kahuku High School defensive back from Kahuku, Hawaii. He plays safety and is a listed four-star from ESPN. Manutai is committed to the California Golden Bears.
Manutai has been a target for the Cornhuskers for a bit of time and started to trend towards the Cornhuskers earlier this month. Manutai was originally interested in Nebraska along with five other schools before committing to the Bears.
Manutai did not make a trip to Lincoln this weekend, which is a good sign for the Golden Bears. However, the Cornhuskers are in a good spot despite this visit not happening. The Huskers made their first bowl game in years which is a positive sign for any recruit.
Manutai is also one of many recruits who were influenced by the addition of Dawson Merritt, who recently flipped from Alabama to Nebraska. Will Manutai be the next flip for the Big Red?
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Nebraska
Analytics Review: Nebraska Football vs. Wisconsin
It was an unseasonably nice afternoon in Memorial Stadium. And no, I’m not talking about temperatures in the high 50s for the final home game. In his second game as offensive coordinator, Dana Holgorsen’s offense exploded for arguably the Nebraska offense’s best game under Matt Rhule. Dylan Raiola played his best game, throwing for over 290 yards with no sacks and no turnovers. For the first time all season, I’d say the Huskers played well in all three phases of the game, and that was enough to send them bowling this December.
The story of this game was the Huskers offense. Emmett Johnson became Nebraska’s second 100-yard running back of the Matt Rhule era, joining Anthony Grant last season against Louisiana Tech. The Huskers had just two of their runs “stuffed” (a run for 0 or fewer yards) on their way to their second-best rushing output this season.
I was struck by the blocking effort in this game. Jahmal Banks held his block on the edge until Dante Dowdell crossed the goal line. Linemen were pulling and still blocking ten yards downfield, helping players fight for extra yards. That type of extra effort made this a special night for the offense.
The Husker’s offense also dominated the control of the ball. The Nebraska offense was built on methodical drives. Even if you remove Nebraska’s two explosive plays, the Huskers offense still managed an EPA of 3.88. This was the first game all season where Nebraska’s non-explosive plays went for a positive EPA.
Special teams was also a big positive for the Huskers in this game. Nebraska’s special teams performed 12.5 points better than Wisconsin’s this game. This was just the second time this season that Nebraska’s special teams unit was a net positive (Ohio State, 2.86 EPA). John Hohl’s 14 points were the most by a kicker in the Matt Rhule era.
The defense still had its concerning moments this game. Wisconsin performed in the 90th percentile or better in many offensive statistics, including its seven explosive plays. These big plays are a cause for concern against Iowa, as the Wisconsin offense is one of the worst teams in the country in generating explosive plays, at just 5.8%. The Nebraska defense was stout on crucial plays, allowing just a 30% 3rd-down success rate and a 33% red zone success rate.
Going into this game, Nebraska lost nine straight games after winning number five and ten consecutive games to Wisconsin. Many people on social media want to make fun of Nebraska fans for storming the field after getting to bowl eligibility. I’m happy these people can enjoy their laughs while they can. The Matt Rhule rebuild is running on schedule, and we all know what year three looks like for him.
Through 11 games, the Nebraska skill position group is the youngest in college football. The extra practice to build chemistry with each other and get more practice reps running Holgorsen’s offense is invaluable. The 2024 seniors won much less than most in Lincoln would’ve liked. But as they walked off the field for the final time, they put Nebraska football on a new trajectory.
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Nebraska
Gallery: Nebraska Volleyball Sweeps Wisconsin on Senior Night
Nebraska and Wisconsin Volleyball have played a total of six sets against each other this season, all of which have been won by the Huskers. Seniors, Merritt Beason, Leyla Blackwell, Lindsay Krause, Kennadi Orr and Lexi Rodriguez were all celebrated for their contributions to the program after tonight’s win.
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