Matt Rhule says Nebraska is further ahead than he expected

Matt Rhule admitted Nebraska was further ahead than he originally expected at this point of spring practice for the Huskers.

After the second scrimmage, Rhule was pleased about his team’s progress. However, there were still plenty of things to fix before Nebraska tightens up for the regular season.

Namely, the turnover department needs work according to Rhule.

“I think we’re further ahead than I thought we would be,” Rhule said. “Definitely further ahead … Everyone understands, like, if everything’s important, nothing is important, right? So you make an emphasis early on on ball security and on taking the ball away and everyone’s doing it at a high level. As coaches, you watch the tape and this guy’s taking this wrong step, so you keep correcting all these little things and you can sometimes forget the big things. 

“So the things that we say really matter, we won’t win at the level we want to win if you turn the ball over and we will win if we don’t turn the ball over. (It’s) vice versa on defense. For this to be scrimmage two, disappointed again (when) the offense (fumbles) the ball. Interceptions are part of the game but fumbles you know, fumbles are controllable. A lot of people don’t have their quarterbacks live in scrimmages, so the quarterback doesn’t turn the ball over, doesn’t get hit and fumble. So at least we’re getting that work done now, but just I won’t say it’s a major thing. Just one of my observations coming out (of this scrimmage).”

The spring session was solid, but there could be some concerns in the trenches.

“Nebraska still has some areas of concern in terms of defensive line depth and the overall quality of the offensive line, but all-in-all it’s been a good spring,” Husker Online’s Sean Callahan observed. “The biggest thing that has jumped out is the physicality. Nebraska’s quarterbacks have been live in every scrimmage and we’ve seen quite a bit of tackling to the ground. Rhule has pushed the envelop this spring to maximize his 15 practices.”

Matt Rhule stresses importance of knowing playbook

Rhule addressed the playbook installation going on in Lincoln. While some players are further than others, he needs them to stop making excuses in order to get everyone on the same page. 

That’s the only way for them to shift the culture in their program and start winning at the rate that they’re expected to.

“I think it’s individual to each guy. It takes what it takes,” Rhule said. “One of the most dangerous things is when guys just kind of know what to do. So they can kind of do it. You can’t figure out how to do your job until you know what your job is. So we have a lot of guys still at that level one trying to learn what it is.”

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