Matt Rhule says Nebraska is 'really close to being a good team' after second scrimmage

Matt Rhule usually reserves judgment about how a scrimmage went until he watches the tape. Over the years, and across his several stops, the Nebraska head coach has learned to wait before he speaks on preseason exhibitions.

But he said something to his Cornhuskers squad after Saturday’s scrimmage. He then relayed that message to the media.

“I told them I feel like they’re really close to being a good team, but they’re not there yet,” Rhule said before launching into an in-depth explanation.

“The first-team offense, the first two drives wasn’t great. Then, all of a sudden, 14-play drive. Next drive, 11-play drive. So you’re converting third downs, you’re moving the ball, you’re creating plays. Yet the defense is not letting a big play emerge, right? Making them methodically move the ball down the field, getting pressure on the quarterback, yet there’s good protection. So it was like iron sharpening iron, truly.”

Rhule continued: “You get down in the red zone, though, they hold the offense to a field goal, and we’re going to need a touchdown to win. And so I feel like the offense was a procedure penalty at a crucial moment or a big play away from having a great day. But they got in their own way. The first-team offense didn’t turn the ball over. They protected the ball the entire day, but I think they had like four or five penalties. And we’re trying to do some advanced things. We’re trying to go on two, we’re trying to see what you’re in and play more NFL style football. We weren’t able to handle that in crucial moments today, where we would jump and hurt ourselves.”

Nebraska is hoping for an offensive revamp to come to fruition this season. The Huskers averaged a meager 18.0 points per game last season, the first of the Rhule era. There’s practically nowhere to go but up for coordinator Marcus Satterfield’s unit, which ranked 123rd nationally — or 11th-to-last in the FBS — in scoring offense last year but is now co-coordinated by Glenn Thomas.

Thomas is also coaching the quarterbacks. All signs point to true freshman Dylan Raiola leading that room, although Rhule has yet officially name the unanimous five-star prospect QB1. Raiola alone could be a massive upgrade at a position where the Huskers notably struggled last season. Three different players attempted at least 47 passes and not one of them threw more touchdowns than interceptions.

Plus, Nebraska has an intriguing receiving pairing that features Wake Forest transfer Jahmal Banks and sophomore Malachi Coleman, both of whom stand 6-foot-4 or taller. Throw in an experienced offensive line, and there’s reason for optimism in Lincoln, especially with a favorable schedule.

“There’s a lot of good things happening,” Rhule said, continuing his scrimmage evaluation. “We’re way, way further ahead than where we’ve been. Yet it just isn’t to the level we want. We got two weeks to buff it out and get it right.”

The Huskers also have to determine who’s building out their second-team units. Rhule called those groups out Saturday.

“They keep acting like they’re the second group, and they’re supposed to act like they’re the first group,” said Rhule, who noted the second-team offense had as many as four turnovers in the scrimmage.

Granted the second-team offense also generated some big plays, according to Rhule, but those were seemingly overshadowed by unit’s miscues. Rhule is asking for his second-string players to step up, and for his position coaches to watch the tape and make sure they’re putting the right guys on the field.

“Because when you’re not a great team last year, what you end up having is having a lot of guys who kind of play because they can kind of execute,” Rhule said. “When you want to make the jump to being a good team, it’s everyone starts to execute. So now it’s the guy who can execute and then go make the big play [who gets on the field]. Who’s making those plays?”

“So I really like where we are. I really do. I really like where we are, except I don’t like some of the second-unit production today, and the offense has to clean up a couple more procedural penalties if they want to be the type of team that can play grown man football and can do the things that you do on Sundays on Saturdays.”

Nebraska hasn’t won more than five games in a season since 2016 when it won nine. That’s also the last time the Huskers made a bowl game.

Less than two weeks away from Nebraska’s season opener against UTEP, Rhule is challenging his players to make the jump necessary to become a good team. He believes his squad is “really close.”