Matt Rhule stresses importance of knowing Nebraska playbook

A new coach means a new everything, especially when it comes to the playbook. Nebraska is learning that fact as they continue their transition from the end of Scott Frost’s tenure to the start of Matt Rhule’s. However, Rhule believes that point still needs to get across when it comes to his Cornhuskers.

Rhule addressed the playbook installation going on in Lincoln during his press conference on Thursday. 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.”

“We can make excuses for them but we’re trying to change the expectation level of our guys,” said Rhule. “We’re not here to try hard, we’re not here to lose and thank the fans. We’re here to win. And winning happens now. It doesn’t happen in the fall. So the guys who know their jobs really well?…You are what you produce. I just want the guys to own the way (they) practice, the way (you) prepare, and own the result.”

Rhule is right. Nebraska has posted six straight losing seasons in a row. That run spans two coaches, as well as an interim, while none of those years have seen them exceed more than five wins. When it comes down to it, that isn’t due to just one problem. That takes a full trip back to the drawing board where they clean the slate, which is what they’re attempting to do right now in the spring.

That’s why Rhule is putting such an emphasis on the playbook. He knows the task at hand is going to require them to keep progressing rather than remaining stagnant. When it comes to their practices, that means doing everything they can to get things right and continue to approach the install correctly, or at least to Rhule’s liking.