What Did We Learn? - Michigan

We are MAYBE a slightly better team than last year which will result in one more win than last year. Emphasis on MAYBE.
Rhule is 0-7 against ranked opponents and 2-11 in one score games. Is he earning his millions? MAYBE.
We are definitely better at some spots compared to last year. I think overall as a whole this team is more athletic. But the biggest factor is no Ty, Nash, Butler, & Sherman to anchor the DL. We are sorely missing Dowdell by the goal line. The WR room and TE room are better. I would say the same with the secondary. Special teams is other worldly improved compared to last season. OL is still average to below average.
 
Man, where to start.....A lot of could points in this thread for sure.

Our OL is rough and has been for years. Last good one was Cam, A converted TE. Before that, Spencer Long. There might be another one or 2, but Long was 11 years ago....

DL isn't near big enough without Ty and Nash. It's not even running the 3 or 4 man fronts, but no one demands/commands a double team. Very little pressure unless we send more people. We send people, betters team (like Michigan) will make us pay. Missed tackles, muffed coverage and flat out getting run through/over doesn't help.

Until we start beating "good" teams, take the points. I said in the game thread we need 6 not 3 to beat Michigan, but can't leave w/out points. Again.....

RB's...Still no 1000 rusher since OZ in 2018. And he was first since AA in 2014. 2 guys the past 11 years.....IMHO, we missed out on CharMan Brown to Miami. We need a big back. We miss Dowdell and his goal line touches. EJ is good, behind a legit OL could be very good. But we need guys who can make holes. Until we make a dedicated smash mouth run game a priority we will continue to struggle. Especially in the red zone with the complete lack of ability to score from the 2.....Is it the OL, play calling, talent, Barthel (year 3) and we still struggle....

We are still undisputed/undefeated and probably never to be repeated champions of 1 score losses. I mean mathematically impossible odds to be where we are.

DR played well enough to win. I wish he would progress through reads faster, run more (design or scramble) and play with more intensity. Maybe it's good he doesn't. I just like passion form the QB. Throw away the ball. Don't take the sacks.

WR room an upgrade.

HH had a few nice catches.

Staff concerns:
3 years and OL still plays soft and sh!tty like the My Pillow (not politics, I just think they are horrible).

S&T has us "looking good". but are we dominant over "quality" opponents in any phase of the game?

QB coach? Why. Let Dana roll with it and hire another consultant.

DC-It's year one, but in the years form 2009-2017 his D (total) was 49th. Then 2, 14, 37, and 17. These were the "sanction years as well"......

We need to pay top dollar and get coaches with A LOT of experience in the B1G. Wonder why Illinois is doing well and we are, well not.....

ST's solid. Barney looking to make stuff happen. Stupid, but at least dude was trying. Dude's also hard as woodpecker lips. Get bigger and he will be a beast.

Based upon only 2 games, I like Lateef. Mobile, plays with urgency and he mobile. Did I mention he's mobile. Honestly think we will need to pay to keep him.

The Thunder from Down Under was as advertised. Dude can kick that "footy". Crazy, but I'd plan to pay him as well.

I'm sick of we were so close. Almost there. One play another way and we win. Other teams have found ways to win. We have not. I could give a rats a$$ if we are 7-5, but all losses less than 1 score. We still lose. And continue to find new and unfortunate ways....3 plays for 165 yards and 3 scores IIRC....Yea, that'll leave a mark.

If we hit the portal, I'd rob teams in the FCS like SDSU, NDSU, Montana etc.....Hard nose, blue collar, physical players who play with something to prove.

Wash, rinse, repeat.
 
Last edited:
Just for comparison's sake - Nebraska coaching records vs ranked teams:

  • Tom Osborne 60-37-1 vs ranked teams with 58 of those wins against teams in the Top 20. His final four years he went 16-1 and 10-0 against Top 10 teams.
  • Frank Solich had 11 wins vs ranked teams during his tenure at Nebraska.
  • Bill Callahan was 3-10 vs teams ranked in the Top 25.
  • Bo Pelini was 5-16 vs ranked teams.
  • Mike Riley had only 1-win vs nationally ranked Oregon in 2016. (This is Nebraska's last win vs a ranked team).
  • Scott Frost was 0-14 against ranked teams while at Nebraska.
  • Matt Rhule is 0-7 vs ranked teams at Nebraska and 2-22 vs Top 25 in his college coaching career.

For the record I think Matt Rhule is absolutely the right coach for Nebraska right now. But it's clear Nebraska needs to start winning these games against ranked teams and in order to do that Nebraska MUST be built with a focus on the trenches and physical toughness on both sides of the ball.
 
Last edited:
Why can Indiana look like a legitimate contender and we cannot? They barely like football at that school? They look much better than us, after their HC has been there for how long? Two years at a basketball school...
 
Offense:
-Barney is a dawg
-EJ is pretty damn good
-I believe the trouble today were a combo of OL and Raiola. He doesn’t step up in pocket and he’s not a run threat.

Defense:
-the big plays sucked, but I was disappointed with the high volume of missed tackles.

Special Teams
-thought we were done missing field goals.
-I’m glad we got our Arch and not that one in Texas.

We got beat by a better team. 3 points looks nice, but it doesn’t tell the story. Hope they can build off this. We are still not a top 25 team. Maybe 2-3 more years is all it’ll take.
 
I know it’s discouraging, but I think we have some good moments left in this season.

the line play is what it is. Not sure how you get significantly better there during the season. The tackling can get better. I don’t know what else can be expected out of Raiola with no pocket protection.
 
imo, the Rhule speeches aren’t for the fans although it’s allowed to be put out in public and I can understand why fans have the put up or shut up opinions. I can get behind that.

On the other hand the speeches are 100% for the players and they need to hear it, as do the recruits and potential transfers. Rhule is doing everything he can for the program and he is attempting to instill a necessary fire into his players which is something the previous two coaches lacked. Time will tell if the players respond and take ownership over themselves where Rhule can back off those speeches himself.

There are upgrades to be made and mistakes to corrected by coaches and players and two weeks from now will show what resolve is being implemented and the trajectory of the season.
 
Offense:
-Barney is a dawg
-EJ is pretty damn good
-I believe the trouble today were a combo of OL and Raiola. He doesn’t step up in pocket and he’s not a run threat.

Defense:
-the big plays sucked, but I was disappointed with the high volume of missed tackles.

Special Teams
-thought we were done missing field goals.
-I’m glad we got our Arch and not that one in Texas.

We got beat by a better team. 3 points looks nice, but it doesn’t tell the story. Hope they can build off this. We are still not a top 25 team. Maybe 2-3 more years is all it’ll take.
Agree on all but have to add to one.

Special Teams
-Stupid asses catching punts inside the friggin 5 yard line and killing us for years.
 
Just for comparison's sake - Nebraska coaching records vs ranked teams:

  • Tom Osborne 60-37-1 vs ranked teams with 58 of those wins against teams in the Top 20. His final four years he went 16-1 and 10-0 against Top 10 teams.
  • Frank Solich had 11 wins vs ranked teams during his tenure at Nebraska.
  • Bill Callahan was 3-10 vs teams ranked in the Top 25.
  • Bo Pelini was 5-16 vs ranked teams.
  • Mike Riley had only 1-win vs nationally ranked Oregon in 2016. (This is Nebraska's last win vs a ranked team).
  • Scott Frost was 0-14 against ranked teams while at Nebraska.
  • Matt Rhule is 0-7 vs ranked teams at Nebraska and 2-22 vs Top 25 in his college coaching career.

For the record I think Matt Rhule is absolutely the right coach for Nebraska right now. But it's clear Nebraska needs to start winning these games against ranked teams and in order to do that Nebraska MUST get tougher in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
To add to the stats of my fave drunk monkey Bo (I was/am a Boliever) he was 25-24 against teams with a winning record and 40-2 against teams finishing below .500....But hey, even a drunk monkey gets 9-10 wins.... Not to derail your info (which is spot on), I think the last time we played with a slobber knocking ferocity on both sides of the ball was under Bo.
 
Back
Top