Program Builder?

[HuskerNation1]

It's been 3 schools, over 9 years, and he is now 57-52 as a head coach.  Here is some history of schools before he showed up:

2010 Temple: 8-4

2011 Temple: 9-4

2012 Temple: 4-7

So that is 21-15 the 3 years prior to his arrival, then he went 28-23 in his 4 years, very similar. Is that a significant "building" of the program or just more of the same?

2014 Baylor: 11-2

2015 Baylor: 10-3

2016 Baylor: 7-6

That equates to 28-11 over the 3 years leading up, then Rhule went 19-20 at Baylor. Yes there were extenuating circumstances at Baylor with off field issues, but it was a winning program football wise before him.  Not sure that qualifies as program building either. 

We all know the Nebraska history prior to his arrival.

Rhule is now 2-21 against ranked teams, and is just slightly over .500 as a college head coach in 9 years. I am not giving up on him turning the corner just yet, but at some point you are what your record says you are.  

This is a great thread and this is some great analysis.  Trev sold us on the program builder mentality but as you point out, Rhule never walked into a situation that was struggling in prior years as much as Nebraska has.  Here are a couple of other items to consider:

1. Rhule has never had a team lose by 49 points or more...ever. This truly was the worst performance by a team he has coached.

2.  The Defense is objectively worse than a season ago.  In nine BIG games in 2023, Nebraska gave up 17.5 points a game.  So far in 2024, Nebraska is giving up 26.5 points a game against the 4 teams faced thus far. That average is likely to increase with more tough games ahead.  What makes this even more startling is that, despite the turnovers against Indiana, the offense is not turning the ball over as much in 2024 and therefore putting the defense in a bind like was done in 2023.  The reality is that Tony White must be critiqued just as much as Satterfield and Foley. All phases of the game are consistently inconsistent.

3. The entire offense started off the season looking strong and has quickly gone downhill.  The line is not opening holes for the run game.  Receivers do not appear to be getting open in the passing game.  Raiola even seems more flustered and less confident than he did to start the season.  Do we call this regressive development?  

 

[lo country]

Again, I'm not calling for anyone's head at the moment, just saying that after watching that 56-7 beatdown it's weird how much blame is heaped on Satterfield and how little went to the DC whose defense was unprepared, undisciplined, exposed, and demoralized.

Also, special teams. Which means all three phases of the game, which means the Head Coach has earned a little heat. 

Meanwhile, Curt Cignitti comes into a 3-9 program bringing a roster of Sun Belt players which immediately gives him an advantage in......The Big 10? 

Does that mean we are looking up at teams with a James Madison caliber roster? 

Coaching counts. IIRC Cig was52-9 there. Much like Chadwell at Coastal Carolina and now at Liberty.  Of course then you can point to Norvell at Memphis 38-15 and now FSU 32-23, Billy Napier ad Louisiana 40-12 and UF 55-29.   You can't ever tell.  Cig/Chadwell/Norvell long tenures with good records, but Norvell hasn't done well at FSU.  Cig 1st season in the P4.  Chadwell still in G5.   Norvell possibly getting fired and Napier average at UF.  

You never know how it will work out.  We took a swing at HC of the year, beat Auburn, home town hero and turned out to be the worst coach at NU I have witnessed.  I feel that hindsight is always 20/20.  You can't predict how things will turn out, but you can see where you are. Satt came here average.  And is still average.  nothing in his almost 8 year resume that screams this is the guy.....Nothing we have seen in 19 games leads me to believe he has the ability (desire?) to deliver a running game capable of delivering body blows. I have concerns about Barthel.  Year 2 and our RB's still get tripped by the hash marks, no vision, can't get YAC and seem to be the weak point of the team.  Can't run the ball when we can't run the ball.  48 yards against Illinois.  Less than 80 against Indiana.  5-20 since joining the B1G when getting less than 100 yards on the ground.   

Great point about the D.  Other than Michigan last year, this was the first oh crap moment for me with White.  Last year WAS Michigan (NC). This year was Indiana....Indiana....W/JMU talent (no knock on them).  I think he has been scouted enough and teams can scheme around him.  Unsure his reasoning for pressuring so little this season.  Indiana limited Ty to 1 tackle and Nash didn't even make the stat sheet. I am concerned with the 3-3-5 next year when 750+lbs of DL are gone in Ty and Nash. Although both were a complete non-factor against Indiana.  Is that on Knight?  LB play was "iffy" to a degree last year.  Seems improved with tackling this year, but out of poisiton a lot, over pursue, missed angles...Unsure who are corp LB's even are anymore.  Butler gets a pass.  1st year, unsure how his philosophy melds with White's scheme.  Buffalo DB's play lights out.  I'd prefer a lot more press and more physical, but I'm not at practice, maybe our guys don't match up in press.  Then again, going against our receivers they look better.  

Foley absolutely must be gone.  Non negotiable.  A whole off season and documentary "Chasing 3" and we can't kick a FG to save our lives.  And catching a KO at the 1 yard line.....That's coaching and no accountability.  No consequences.

We are in a rough spot.  Like last year, 5 to get one.  I am sure the pressure is mounting and guys feel it.  One misstep and in any of the remaining games and feel like they'll pop.   

 

[HuskerNation1]

Again, I'm not calling for anyone's head at the moment, just saying that after watching that 56-7 beatdown it's weird how much blame is heaped on Satterfield and how little went to the DC whose defense was unprepared, undisciplined, exposed, and demoralized.

Also, special teams. Which means all three phases of the game, which means the Head Coach has earned a little heat. 

Meanwhile, Curt Cignitti comes into a 3-9 program bringing a roster of Sun Belt players which immediately gives him an advantage in......The Big 10? 

Does that mean we are looking up at teams with a James Madison caliber roster? 

I completely agree.  Tony White's team looked lost against both Illinois and Indiana and they have regressed from 2023.  The 2023 team gave up 17.5 points a game to BIG opponents.  So far in 2024 we are giving up 26.5 points a game.  The 2024 average will likely go up after our game against OSU.  Rhule's 2nd year reminds me of Riley's second year where the team started out strong with one close overtime loss and then got blown out 62-3 to OSU and that really became the beginning of the end for the Riley era.

 

[Huskers93-97]

We are currently the 91st scoring offense in the country. I find it hard to believe Satterfield can get us where we need to go when he has never led an offense that has ranked in the top 50. So did Rhule hire a guy expecting him to do something he has never done? 

 

[lo country]

We are currently the 91st scoring offense in the country. I find it hard to believe Satterfield can get us where we need to go when he has never led an offense that has ranked in the top 50. So did Rhule hire a guy expecting him to do something he has never done? 

USC was 40 in 2022, but from Temple, USC and NU he has averaged the 87th ranked offense at 3 schools and 8 years.  He is below average.  We were 123 last year. 

 

[Huskers93-97]

USC was 40 in 2022, but from Temple, USC and NU he has averaged the 87th ranked offense at 3 schools and 8 years.  He is below average.  We were 123 last year. 

So the narrative that Satt needs more players than his system will work is probably not true. His average over 8 years is pretty much exactly where we have been the last 2 years. 
 

kinda feels like Mike Riley narrative of yeah he is a .500 coach but wait till he gets our resources. 

 

[lo country]

So the narrative that Satt needs more players than his system will work is probably not true. His average over 8 years is pretty much exactly where we have been the last 2 years. 
 

kinda feels like Mike Riley narrative of yeah he is a .500 coach but wait till he gets our resources. 

I truly believe the bolded to be 99% factual (because there is a "chance")   But he's had 8 years to show what he can do and has.  Rhule just doesn't appear to care.  Because he brought him here. Satt is tied in a group of OC's for 5th highest paid at $1.4 million/year.  To average a career 87th rated offense.  Really.  And then Doogie Howser coaching the receivers....Unacceptable.  Rhule won't fire anyone mid season, but if some guys are still here in 2025, I'll seriously doubt this hire.  

 

[TGHusker]

We are in a rough spot.  Like last year, 5 to get one.  I am sure the pressure is mounting and guys feel it.  One misstep and in any of the remaining games and feel like they'll pop.

Yep, seems like we've seen this movie before.  Hype :boxosoap , drink some  :koolaid2: , win some easy games  :bonez  and then we hit a wall  :bang .

This is beyond frustrating.  I'm about ready to give up on Rhule.  Sure the record is still positive but Indiana exposed everything we were over looking due to the DR hype, the Tony White hype and the win over Colorado.   I can only hold out hope that he makes drastic changes.  If not, then he is here just for the paycheck and all of his talk is up there with the used car salesman's talk.   In this day and era of the portal and NIL there is no reason at all for NU to get such a beat down.   I was one who was critical of D Sanders's quick rebuild at Colo.  But that seems to be the best path forward - using the 'smaller' schools as a farm league to plug needs for the P4 programs. By the time we develop players, they will be out the door if we don't start winning consistently. 

 

[Guy Chamberlin]

Now the understanding is that we have no big play offensive talent, whereas just a few weeks ago I was told the tall, fast receivers we picked up in the portal were already difference makers for a way-ahead-of-schedule Dylan Raiola, with Jacory Barney as the electrifying x-factor, and four RBs of similar talent competing to become the featured back. I don't think all this evaporated on Saturday, but as a fan I really don't know who to believe when it comes to talent evaluation and development. And as much as I want to complain about play-calling, I'm seeing plays that probably would work with a better offensive line.

That's why I would like a portal and recruitment off-season where we treat offensive lineman as the true skill players. 

 

[MyBloodIsRed16]

I mean, I get it, they "work hard" but come on...HS coaches do the same gig AND teach classes and have lunch duty and set up for practice and have locker room duty and so on.

As far as the annoying fans (us) well, that is clearly a totally different animal.    With that said, I have had a mom email me once, demanding a monday morning meeting and at that meeting she demanded to know why her son did not play in our season opener.  

At the end of the meeting she also asked me to never let her son know that we had met.  Because he would be "embarrassed" 

I bet Coach Rhule doesn't have to deal with that!!!

I had a mom ask me why her kid didn't play and I was like "ma'am your son wasn't at practice all week". Her response "yes he was".  Ok maybe he was wearing camo but I didn't see him in pads 

 

[teachercd]

I had a mom ask me why her kid didn't play and I was like "ma'am your son wasn't at practice all week". Her response "yes he was".  Ok maybe he was wearing camo but I didn't see him in pads 

I do not miss those days!

I no longer coach a sport that anyone cares about so I never get any parent contact.  

 

[admo]

I do not miss those days!

I no longer coach a sport that anyone cares about so I never get any parent contact.  

P.E. is not a sport !  

 

[ranch boy]

I completely agree.  Tony White's team looked lost against both Illinois and Indiana and they have regressed from 2023.  The 2023 team gave up 17.5 points a game to BIG opponents.  So far in 2024 we are giving up 26.5 points a game.  The 2024 average will likely go up after our game against OSU.  Rhule's 2nd year reminds me of Riley's second year where the team started out strong with one close overtime loss and then got blown out 62-3 to OSU and that really became the beginning of the end for the Riley era.

I just wanted to point out that no Big Ten West team averaged more than 25 points last year. So maybe we had a good defense, but we were definitely not playing against elite offenses. 

 

[junior4949]

I completely agree.  Tony White's team looked lost against both Illinois and Indiana and they have regressed from 2023.  The 2023 team gave up 17.5 points a game to BIG opponents.  So far in 2024 we are giving up 26.5 points a game.  The 2024 average will likely go up after our game against OSU.  Rhule's 2nd year reminds me of Riley's second year where the team started out strong with one close overtime loss and then got blown out 62-3 to OSU and that really became the beginning of the end for the Riley era.

To the bolded:  when Venables is given his walking papers, is there a chance we can snag him?

 

[hskrpwr13]

To the bolded:  when Venables is given his walking papers, is there a chance we can snag him?

Don't know, but love the thought.