Rhule Meets Media Ahead of Maryland Game

Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule met with members of the media on Monday to address the upcoming game against Maryland this Saturday afternoon. He spoke on improvements that need to be made following the 31-13 win over Michigan State.

“I think anytime you put on tape the tempo bothers you, you are gonna get tempo,” he said. “If you look at a lot of it, we gave up four plays of 20 yards or more, one was an amazing catch by the kid, we weren’t in the right pass fit, we should be all over that route, one was a screen pass with a couple missed tackles, we have to understand that when we are rushing the way we are rushing that you are going to get screens and we have seen a lot of them but we have to rally to each and every one of them. I think some of those things kind of showed up but if you go back and look at a lot of our third down conversions, they're not happening from within the pocket, the quarterbacks are getting in up and out, the one was third and whatever, found a guy in scramble and found another guy in scramble. Just this week, I think when you talk about our team to improve, no matter what the opponent does schematically we have to be better at. When you are bringing that much pressure, you have to rally, you have to plaster in coverage and make sure that there arent guys open as he starts to run and you know not let guys outside the pocket. Malik Washington, he is elite at getting outside the pocket, he can pick the ball up and run for a first down, he is pretty elite at getting outside the pocket and throwing first then running so you have to make sure everyone is covered and that is something that showed up a little bit in every game so far. We don’t want to just sit there and cage pockets and let the guy have time to throw the ball. I will take all the pressure we are getting but I think those things show up. Offensively we had 92 yards rushing, I know the quarterback gave us more yards and there is going to be games like that, where they’re gonna say they’re going to pressure you and not let you run the football but you have to hit them with deep balls, you have to hit them with play action and drop backs. I think just going back to any time we give up no sacks we are going to be excited. This is the same team that had five sacks against us last year. Obviously, Anthony (Colandrea) is moving around and getting outside of the pocket but I would like to see us be able to run the ball really well at times. I would like to see us continue to be better running the ball and this is a defense that we are facing that has huge men inside. I know that they are a 3:4 defense with two big edges. We like to get 12 person L with two tightends, they are kinda built for that, our three receivers or four-receiver stuff, they have big guys so it will be a great challenge for us to see if we can improve at all this week.”

He talked about Anthony Colandrea’s rushing ability and when he needs to slide during games.

“Before he got here, he had hit-slide three times in three years,” he said. “He practices sliding everyday. The fourth and one that we didn't get, he just laid himself up in there. We tell him to slide; we tell him to run at night. Obviously, he got hit by the sideline on the one where had already stepped out and the whistle had blown so, that's a tough one for him but Ive been around Eli Manning and some of those guys where when you run out of bounds, you run out of bounds but that is not how this kid plays. I'd love it if he would get down and slide but he’s a competitor so we will work on it with him but we like when we make guys miss and the challenges that presents. I hope that Donte Moore is okay, obviously sliding is not always the safest thing either. Some of these guys would rather just go head first and if they get at least they get hit like a football player. It gets tough on defenders and we were telling the officials before the game, ‘Hey, their quarterbacks doing a nice job sliding. They slide really late. We understand the rule, but it’s really tough on defenders.’ I think for Anthony, when it’s clear, get down, but I don’t know how much of that kind of guy he really is, to be honest with you. Which I don't love, but I really like, if that makes sense.”

Rhule analyzed how the portal class has been for the Big Red so far, highlighting some of the FCS players they received in the offseason. 

“We are only four games in. Pat (Stewart) does a great job, Logan (Holgorsen), Keith (Williams), Marques (Little) all do a great job. They identified that these are good players and we took a good approach to when guys were here. We told them exactly what it was going to be like. It wasn't for everybody, it was for these guys. Kwazi (Gilmer) had two catches for 10 yards against Michigan State last year, he's improved since he's gotten here. Jahsear (Whittington) got here at 258 pounds, and now, at least since last week, he's one of the best defensive tackles in the country at 280 pounds. Those guys when they got here, they got right to work. Obviously, Rob (Aurich) knew Owen (Chambliss), but Owen is so grown, a lot of guys with his accolades, third down, we take them off the field and they are like, “We aren't coming off the field.” but Owen is like “got it.” He's up there at 5:30 every morning working. These guys like football. Finding guys who are really serious about playing football fits the way of a coaching staff and support staff that we are. I don't want to chase guys around to say eat this or study tape, I really don't want to do that. I think Rob has talked to you guys about (Andrew) Marshall. Marshall went from a guy at Idaho who thought he was a good FCS player; he's one of the better corners in the Big Ten right now, we will need him to be one of the best corners in the Big Ten this week, versus this past game. Versus Chris Durr Jr. and all of the big guys they have outside. I think they are the right kind of guys.” 

Nebraska will take on the Maryland Terrapins this Saturday, Oct. 3 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. (CT) on FS1 and can be heard across the Huskers Radio Network.