** Northern Illinois Week Press Conferences **

[Gage County]

HC Matt Rhule

 

[suh_fan93]

 

[Crusader Husker]

3 minutes ago, suh_fan93 said:

 

Translated, Jeff is our QB because I really have no other options.

[Caliborn72]

Rhule noted that NIU’s DLine is their strength and might be the best we’ve faced so far. OLine is going to need to come to play.

[presidentjlh]

8 minutes ago, suh_fan93 said:

 

That's insanity, I do not care that the other options might be worse, because frankly, how? How could they be worse? How could it really get any worse than 7 turnovers in two games? I suppose 8 turnovers or more, but hell, at that point, what's the difference?

[suh_fan93]

10 minutes ago, Caliborn72 said:

Rhule noted that NIU’s DLine is their strength and might be the best we’ve faced so far. OLine is going to need to come to play.

 

 

Just adding some perspective in that Northern Illinois won 3 games last season. (3-9)  

[Husker in WI]

45 minutes ago, Caliborn72 said:

Rhule noted that NIU’s DLine is their strength and might be the best we’ve faced so far. OLine is going to need to come to play.

 

Backing up his point that he "has never disrespected an opponent," but this feels a bit hyperbolic. I'm sure they're good.

 

Mentioned Fleeks turning it on, and Coleman/Lloyd will play. When pressed about the freshman receivers he said Jeremiah Charles is probably next in line currently, although also said Doss will probably play once he's healthy. He had a broken arm and just made it back to practice this week.

 

Did like that he said we should be more aggressive offensively, although talked a lot about the execution and what the defense was doing when we did call shots. 

 

[TGHusker]

1 hour ago, suh_fan93 said:

 

Well, if that is the case, he better clean up his turnover jitters during the next 2 games before we get into conference play.   Not sure how he gets over it as he had the same problem at GT. 

[niu007]

NIU fan here, I come here in peace (and in pieces, after our last game). 

 

To be fair, we had a ton of injuries last year including our #1 and #2 QBs and one of our 2 best WRs, and others, so the 3-9 record is somewhat misleading.

 

That said, our O-line was supposed to be good this year but it sucks so far. We look like we're playing in quicksand. We are missing a couple of our best players there but still.  Apparently we have zero depth. QB was rushed a lot but not an excuse for 3 INTs against SIU. We'll give Nebraska a run for their money in turnovers (and we rarely force turnovers). We also usually have a good or somewhat good RB, which we seem to be lacking this year. Our QB is mobile but since he's coming off an injury last year he hasn't run much - and he needs to be a threat to run because his passing is inconsistent.

 

Our Defense has been better this year but that bar is so low it's rolling on the floor. We don't get pressure on the QB so he'll probably have all day to throw. We'll have to play way better than we've been to even keep the game close - which I'm hoping we can somehow manage.  

[presidentjlh]

Just now, niu007 said:

NIU fan here

 

...

 

(and we rarely force turnovers)

 

... 

Oh trust me, your boys won't need to do a thing to get those turnovers.

[HuskerX]

1 hour ago, Gage County said:

HC Matt Rhule

 

 

"This is kinda what you get when you hire me" - Matt Rhule at the 6 minute mark. He tried to expand on that comment at the 10 minute, 30 second mark - saying he meant he sticks with his process.

 

I expect more than that from this coach - from any coach. He's an effective communicator - I'll give him that.

 

[niu007]

16 minutes ago, presidentjlh said:

Oh trust me, your boys won't need to do a thing to get those turnovers.

Well that's a relief. Not sure it will help though. If you can stop us from running up the middle, well, that's pretty much our entire playbook.

[gobiggergoredder]

1 hour ago, presidentjlh said:

That's insanity, I do not care that the other options might be worse, because frankly, how? How could they be worse? How could it really get any worse than 7 turnovers in two games? I suppose 8 turnovers or more, but hell, at that point, what's the difference?

3 and out every series is probably worse.

 

Not sure what many of you think will happen when they put in a QB that can't throw and is not a run threat.  I can tell you.  They will load the box.

 

Since both options suck, you stick with Sims.  The coaches know it.  Some of the general pop can't figure out how obvious it is.

 

Option 1:  Move the ball, high chance of turnover

Option 2:  Don't move the ball at all

[Husker in WI]

20 minutes ago, niu007 said:

 Apparently we have zero depth. QB was rushed a lot but not an excuse for 3 INTs against SIU. We'll give Nebraska a run for their money in turnovers (and we rarely force turnovers). We also usually have a good or somewhat good RB, which we seem to be lacking this year. Our QB is mobile but since he's coming off an injury last year he hasn't run much - and he needs to be a threat to run because his passing is inconsistent.

 

 

We are familiar with Rocky Lombardi, one of the few positive Nebraska football memories over the past few years

[presidentjlh]

1 minute ago, gobiggergoredder said:

3 and out every series is probably worse.

 

Not sure what many of you think will happen when they put in a QB that can't throw and is not a run threat.  I can tell you.  They will load the box.

 

Since both options suck, you stick with Sims.  The coaches know it.  Some of the general pop can't figure out how obvious it is.

 

Option 1:  Move the ball, high chance of turnover

Option 2:  Don't move the ball at all

Well if that happens, sure, then we switch it up. My point isn't "Switch from Sims and never go back to him." My point is: At this point might as well try something else to see if it clicks.