New ST Coach Mike Ekeler

[Red Five]

Hey I hope you guys are right that ST somehow gets better without Eckeler.

I am not sure I have seen anyone in this thread say that ST is going to get better w/o Ekeler? Can you point out those posts?

 

[SouthLincoln Husker]

It might be worth discussing why people don't want to be here though, right? And the name at the very top of the list for me is Tony White. We really dropped off on defense after he left (for more than just personnel reasons, as confirmed by John Butler's hiring).



This is a good point. Especially Aurich. He's got the toughest task ahead of him by far and if he makes big strides, it boosts our win total significantly next season.

Tony White said the reason for his leaving was so he could be closer to his family. White was born in Key West, Florida.
Butler must have talked a good line, but never produced. I have had employees who could talk the talk, but could not follow through.

 

[InOmaha]

Tony White/John Butler same thing. Same record with either's defense last and this year. They finished two spots apart this year. Another Florida State 5-7 year like this one, White will be coaching somewhere else too.

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[SouthLincoln Husker]

Tony White/John Butler same thing. Same record with either's defense. Two spots apart this year. Another Florida State year like this one, White will be coaching somewhere else too.

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Butler was a fraud. White needs different players to run his def. Im guessing it will get better in yr. 2 & 3.

 

[Toe]

In what way?

Aurich has such a thin resume that you'd have to consider him a gamble. He had one good year at San Diego State? Yeah, and Frost had one good year at UCF...

One of our biggest problems has been that we move the ball well between the 20s but can't punch it in, and we're bringing in the OL coach from the team was #87 in the country in red zone TD rates. Geep's guys struggled to get a push at the goal line.

 

[swmohusker]

Butler was a fraud. White needs different players to run his def. Im guessing it will get better in yr. 2 & 3.

That seems unfair. Butler fraud and white needs different players to run his system. Butler is a 4-2 guy and stated he needed different players to run what they tried to run last year. White probably needs to adjust personnel to fit his system a bit too. Butler was put in a horrible situation. We were bad in the box regardless of what defense we planned on running this year.

 

[Toe]

Butler was a fraud.

Butler was weirdly lopsided. Yes, we finished with the #100 rushing defense, but people forget that we also had the #3 passing defense. I'd take him back in his old role as DBs coach and defensive passing game coordinator, that seems to be his strong suit.

 

[Crusader Husker]

As long as we create a "Rhule can do no wrong...I accept mediocrity thread" so I don't have to hear constant defending by the cult.

Didn't say he did know wrong. I am just saying he is here for at least another year. I just don't need to hear the complaining everyother thread. Vent somewhere else. Adults talking.

 

[LumberJackSker]

That seems unfair. Butler fraud and white needs different players to run his system. Butler is a 4-2 guy and stated he needed different players to run what they tried to run last year. White probably needs to adjust personnel to fit his system a bit too. Butler was put in a horrible situation. We were bad in the box regardless of what defense we planned on running this year.

there probably a reason butler was never once promoted in his 10 years in the nfl. rhule thought he knew better and we saw the results.

 

[InOmaha]

Butler was a fraud. White needs different players to run his def. Im guessing it will get better in yr. 2 & 3.

So he needed different players here and at Florida State. Got it.

Like I said, FSU goes between 5-7 to 7-6 in the ACC again next year, White will probably be looking for a job too. Just like Butler this year. Most of their staff will be.

Our Defense "dropped off" just enough to give us the same record with Butler as with White. And White had some older D-linemen to work with.

Like they say, next year will be better when we get our new guys.

 

[SouthLincoln Husker]

That seems unfair. Butler fraud and white needs different players to run his system. Butler is a 4-2 guy and stated he needed different players to run what they tried to run last year. White probably needs to adjust personnel to fit his system a bit too. Butler was put in a horrible situation. We were bad in the box regardless of what defense we planned on running this year.

Butler ran a 3 man front, how can you say he was a 4-2 guy. Ive heard he was told to stop the run & he would not make changes to his def. We ran a 4 man front in the bowl game without Butler.

 

[HuskerNation1]

Didn't say he did know wrong. I am just saying he is here for at least another year. I just don't need to hear the complaining everyother thread. Vent somewhere else. Adults talking.

I rarely see you and others offer valid critiques of Rhule. As your signature says, you have drunk the Rhule-aid.

 

[SouthLincoln Husker]

Butler was weirdly lopsided. Yes, we finished with the #100 rushing defense, but people forget that we also had the #3 passing defense. I'd take him back in his old role as DBs coach and defensive passing game coordinator, that seems to be his strong suit.

He is not a good DC. I agree about being a secondary coach. I will also say we had an easier schedule in 2025.

 

[HANC]

First off, I never said we were doomed because Eckeler left, but he was the best assistant on staff and special teams showed great improvement in 2025. It's more of a potential scenario of one step forward on offense with some of those additions and potentially another step backward. I just fear another dropoff in ST in 2026 just as we saw a dropoff in defense this past season after White left. I am most excited about Wade, the OL additions and the new QB. I am most concerned about the defense still as I don't believe we have added enough DL to be competitive in the BIG.

As for bringing up Tom Osborne, the dude never won less than 9 games in a season. Many fans now would be excited if Rhule can get to 8 wins one time in 4 seasons. That is my point about how many fans have settled for mediocrity. If Rhule had 9-plus wins the past 3 seasons you would not see so many critical of Rhule.

I am not here to argue your sentiment, but rather to just make a comment. I think the drop off on defense had a lot to do with the loss of Nash and Ty. Yes, Butler was a mess, but I firmly believe that the defense would have still dropped off even if the previous defensive staff was in place. When you don't have dudes in the middle of that scheme, you are in trouble.

 

[SouthLincoln Husker]

So he needed different players here and at Florida State. Got it.

Like I said, FSU goes between 5-7 to 7-6 in the ACC again next year, White will probably be looking for a job too. Just like Butler this year. Most of their staff will be.

Our Defense "dropped off" just enough to give us the same record with Butler as with White. And White had some older D-linemen to work with.

Like they say, next year will be better when we get our new guys.

So he needed different players here and at Florida State. Got it.

Like I said, FSU goes between 5-7 to 7-6 in the ACC again next year, White will probably be looking for a job too. Just like Butler this year. Most of their staff will be.

Our Defense "dropped off" just enough to give us the same record with Butler as with White. And White had some older D-linemen to work with.

Like they say, next year will be better when we get our new guys.

I will agree to disagree. 1 is a DC & the other is DB coach trying to be a DC.