Let's Talk Rhule's RESET

[Doc Fumble]

There have been some bigly mistakes that were made by our football coach that seriously hampered his ability to move our losing program into the 8-9 win category over his first three years. I would opine the two biggest were:

• SATTERFIELD AS OC. He was not Rhule's first--or second--choice but he was under serious time constraints and pulled the trigger. It looked bad from the start.
• RAIOLA AS OL COACH. Like Frost, Rhule was hopeful he could parlay Dylan's Uncle into getting the Number 1 ranked player. To be fair to Frost and Rhule, most of us would've done the same thing if we thought it would've resulted in DR coming to Lincoln. It DID work out, but Dylan--despite all the hype and hoopla--turned out to be a good passer but one who was a slow-blinker with heavy legs.

These two decisions had a significant impact upon Nebraska's Years 1-3 under Coach Rhule. This is not to excuse them, but simply to lay the groundwork for why "things are as they are" going into Rhule Year 4.

In many ways this is a Rhule RESET year. Rhule has yet to demonstrate he's an elite coach at the B1G level. But the guy is a damn good football coach who is smart and has shown he's adaptable and not 'stuck in his ways. He's learned a lot during his three years at the helm and appears to have positioned himself to put what he's learned about Nebraska and the B1G into action going into Year 4.

His offseason hires tell me that he's staking his Husker career going forward on: 1) developing elite OLs; (an A+ move IMO) and 2) developing hard-nosed defenses focused on elite tackling.

Will it work out this season and on down the road? Who knows. But it strikes me as the right move for Rhule and for our program going forward. In many ways this feels like a brand-new Year 1.

 

[Husker99]

But it strikes me as the right move for Rhule and for our program going forward. In many ways this feels like a brand-new Year 1.

To your entire post, I hope you're right. I really like the hiring of Geep Wade. The rest of the coaches, i.e., the new defensive staff, I have my reservations that they can come from the WAC make an elite B1G defense; but as I have said in the past, that's why we play the games and don't simulate them.

 

[MadRat]

Satterfield wasn't a bad OC, just a mediocre one.

Our D cannot function with the O and special teams giving up clock, field, and possessions.

 

[Righteous Red]

Doc, definitely agree with you on Scatterbrain and Raiola. There are other snafus. Bringing Jeff Sims in which made Casey Thompson fly away ( think he would have helped us win a couple more games that year). It took year three for MR to get serious with ST’s.
Going into year one, he should have known that ST’s were a dumpster fire with the performance the year before with Frost. We stumbled and bumbled on ST’s in year one and two. He gets schooled and out coached by PJ Fleck. We couldn’t solve their outside stretch run play, ditto for Iowa. Then last season PJ really schemed on Defense, and we score a grand total of two field goals. In three seasons we have had opportunities to beat top 25 teams, still 0-100 in that category. We don’t or can’t make halftime adjustments and we limp to last second losses. We lose to teams we should beat. Last year we had a let down season with one of the easiest schedules ever. Last, when was the last time that Nebraska played a complete game on D, O, and ST’s? In MR’s defense, we have to go back to several other coaches, and I really can’t remember who that was.

 

[Cigarman]

It seems to me that Rhule has been on a constant reset since he has been here. First, I think coming from the pros hurt him. Pro coaches are not the same as college coaches. They have different skill sets and responsibilities. Several of his initial coaching picks did not pan out. Second, I think he was forced to retain Raiola. I am of the feeling he settled for what he could get and not what he wanted. Probably because the really good coaches are usually locked in and not readily available. Third, as the pro draft numbers have shown, he took over a team low on talent. Without talented players who fit their schemes, no coach will shine.

Frankly, the assistant coaches we have seen under the last four coaches is underwhelming. Solich and Riley had an over the hill gang. Pelini had a clown show. Frost had unqualified drinking buddies. Rhule's initial group was nothing to salivate over either. However, the difference is, Rhule is content to settle for inadequate coaching. Unlike the other four, he will pull the plug. He is also capable of pulling in ace coaches like Wade. That willingness to make changes and capability of pulling in stud coaches is what will improve the talent level and put NU on a winning track again.

 

[Jimbosc]

Tony White was a great hire as DC - but he also wants a head coaching gig.....so he wasn't content to just stick around especially when we put his likely replacement on staff with Butler and did a little too much analysis with Snow.

 

[Doc Fumble]

Doc, definitely agree with you on Scatterbrain and Raiola. There are other snafus. Bringing Jeff Sims in which made Casey Thompson fly away ( think he would have helped us win a couple more games that year). It took year three for MR to get serious with ST’s.

I agree with you, RR, but I put the Sims fiasco squarely on the shoulders of Satterfield. Ultimately, Rhule signed off on it and proceeded to hype up Sims so it justifiably falls under him. But give me Rhule's first or second choice as OC and I'd bet you Sims wouldn't have been here.

Tony White was a great hire as DC - but he also wants a head coaching gig.....so he wasn't content to just stick around especially when we put his likely replacement on staff with Butler and did a little too much analysis with Snow.

In hindsight, I think Rhule put too much faith in the idea "we'll be okay" with Snow being here. Snow was a great DC and is still a valued advisor but every HC needs "kick-butt-level" Coordinators. Butler was not it. I know some fans poo-poo Rob Aurich as a West Coaster, but he strikes me as the kind of 'hard-nosed, Midwestern' DC we have needed here for quiet some time. Time will tell.

Frankly, the assistant coaches we have seen under the last four coaches is underwhelming. ... Rhule's initial group was nothing to salivate over either. However, the difference is, Rhule ... unlike the other four, he will pull the plug. He is also capable of pulling in ace coaches like Wade. That willingness to make changes and capability of pulling in stud coaches is what will improve the talent level and put NU on a winning track again.

Totally agree, Cigarman! Too many head coaches (and leaders in general) are content with the status quo. As Cigarman said, the program has been in constant 'reset mode.' You could look at it critically but I see a leader who is constantly looking for the right formula while upgrading the quality of players coming in. While you could make an argument, recruiting hasn't gotten to where it needs to be, that also reflects on the staff turnover. FWIW, this is looking to be a break-out recruiting cycle.

 

[Uenth]

Excellent points made by everyone. I've come to expect that from the BHF gang though! I agree wholeheartedly with Cigarman's points, especially his points about ST's having been an issue and assistant coaching talent and that Rhule didn't hesitate to make assistant coaching changes quickly. That bodes well for Rhule being serious about meaningful change that will translate to more wins. All in all, I'm a tad optimistic about our upcoming 2026 NU Football Season.

GO BIG RED!!!

 

[valiantsailor]

There have been some bigly mistakes that were made by our football coach that seriously hampered his ability to move our losing program into the 8-9 win category over his first three years. I would opine the two biggest were:

• SATTERFIELD AS OC. He was not Rhule's first--or second--choice but he was under serious time constraints and pulled the trigger. It looked bad from the start.
• RAIOLA AS OL COACH. Like Frost, Rhule was hopeful he could parlay Dylan's Uncle into getting the Number 1 ranked player. To be fair to Frost and Rhule, most of us would've done the same thing if we thought it would've resulted in DR coming to Lincoln. It DID work out, but Dylan--despite all the hype and hoopla--turned out to be a good passer but one who was a slow-blinker with heavy legs.

These two decisions had a significant impact upon Nebraska's Years 1-3 under Coach Rhule. This is not to excuse them, but simply to lay the groundwork for why "things are as they are" going into Rhule Year 4.

In many ways this is a Rhule RESET year. Rhule has yet to demonstrate he's an elite coach at the B1G level. But the guy is a damn good football coach who is smart and has shown he's adaptable and not 'stuck in his ways. He's learned a lot during his three years at the helm and appears to have positioned himself to put what he's learned about Nebraska and the B1G into action going into Year 4.

His offseason hires tell me that he's staking his Husker career going forward on: 1) developing elite OLs; (an A+ move IMO) and 2) developing hard-nosed defenses focused on elite tackling.

Will it work out this season and on down the road? Who knows. But it strikes me as the right move for Rhule and for our program going forward. In many ways this feels like a brand-new Year 1.

I hope you are right Doc,,,we shall see

 

[valiantsailor]

Tony White was a great hire as DC - but he also wants a head coaching gig.....so he wasn't content to just stick around especially when we put his likely replacement on staff with Butler and did a little too much analysis with Snow.

Wasnt Butler put on staff as replacement for White should he bolt to USC? Dont forget Butler had/has higher desires too

 

[SUHnami]

Satterfield wasn't a bad OC, just a mediocre one.

Our D cannot function with the O and special teams giving up clock, field, and possessions.

Sorry Madrat he was a bad OC. Mediocrity means middle of the pack. We were toward the bottom. He was bad. No other way around it.

 

[Doc Fumble]

Sorry Madrat he was a bad OC. Mediocrity means middle of the pack. We were toward the bottom. He was bad. No other way around it.

I gave Satt the benefit of a doubt because of all the season-ending injuries we had on offense Year One, but I saw nothing in his nearly two years as OC that gave me any confidence in him.

There were a number of bad signs from the get-go. Do you all remember Satt's original comment to fans as our new OC? His 'perils of wisdom' was to emphasize the value of huddling up before each play.

We now know that Coach Rhule tried hard to get Dana Holgorsen to replace Satterfield as OC right after Year One. DH told Matty he wasn't ready to jump back into it then.