Are we really seeing progress?

[itseasyas1-2-3]

Last year at this exact juncture, NU was 5-2, the same as this year.

Last year NU played 4 good football teams, COLO, ILL, IND and OSU, and went 1-3.
This year we've played 2 good football teams, CINCY and MICH and went 1-1.

We swapped UTEP, NO. IA, PUR, RUT, and WISCY for AKRON, HOU CHRISTIAN, MICH ST, MARY, MINN and PSU.

In our remaining 5 games we have 3 teams yet to play that all beat us last year. We're just beginning our late season collapse with no Wisconsin on the horizon.

If NU fails to beat NW, we are likely 5-5 going into PSU.
Do we think it will be easy in front of 107K? We need PSU to be this year's Wisconsin.

 

[mgbreeze]

Last year at this exact juncture, NU was 5-2, the same as this year.

Last year NU played 4 good football teams, COLO, ILL, IND and OSU, and went 1-3.
This year we've played 2 good football teams, CINCY and MICH and went 1-1.

We swapped UTEP, NO. IA, PUR, RUT, and WISCY for AKRON, HOU CHRISTIAN, MICH ST, MARY, MINN and PSU.

In our remaining 5 games we have 3 teams yet to play that all beat us last year. We're just beginning our late season collapse with no Wisconsin on the horizon.

If NU fails to beat NW, we are likely 5-5 going into PSU.
Do we think it will be easy in front of 107K? We need PSU to be this year's Wisconsin.

Honestly, the answer with no agenda has to be "No, we are not seeing progress." Look, I'm very supportive of Rhule and I can name many points where I think we're better off than we were 1, 2, 3+ years ago. BUT as Parcells once said "You are what your record says you are." It's not just the loss to Minnesota, we've all seen the warning signs in the Cincy, MSU and Maryland games. This team is 5-2 but could just as easily be 4-3 or 3-4.

We're still losing to anonymous average-to-below-average conference opponents. What's that make us? About as good as last year. Rhule seems to make adjustments but is damn slow getting there.

 

[cestrup]

You can’t be slow and methodical in this new era. You will get passed by.
We are getting passed by and once the recruits sense this it’s time for change.

 

[Dylman]

Absolutely not. We have better skill position players but overall 0 progress. Same stupid mistakes day in and day out. Rhule should suspend his podcasts and appearances and worry about his job.

 

[InMotion]

I don't see any progress from last year except ST. This week is a must win to become bowl eligible. I think the rest of the teams on our schedule can figure out how to beat us. It's too easy.

I still cant believe our O-line thought they could win the Joe Moore award. That is laughable. And if you think they can still improve as the season goes on, it's not going to happen. Another year with no 1st, 2nd or 3rd team all conference lineman. I doubt honorable mention will be mentioned either. These coaches failed these kids miserably. I can't even trust they are teaching basic fundamentals correctly. It's quite embarrassing to watch.

Right now, I see us at the very best 6-6 on the year, but it would not surprise me if we finish the season 5-7.

I will be at the game this week and yes, I'll be cheering them on, but I don't expect to see any improvement. We already know what we have here and it is what it is.

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

Honestly, the answer with no agenda has to be "No, we are not seeing progress." Look, I'm very supportive of Rhule and I can name many points where I think we're better off than we were 1, 2, 3+ years ago. BUT as Parcells once said "You are what your record says you are." It's not just the loss to Minnesota, we've all seen the warning signs in the Cincy, MSU and Maryland games. This team is 5-2 but could just as easily be 4-3 or 3-4.

We're still losing to anonymous average-to-below-average conference opponents. What's that make us? About as good as last year. Rhule seems to make adjustments but is damn slow getting there.

There is no question we have been upgraded with the new WR coach, and significantly upgraded with Eckeler. The problem is...even though there is tangible proof of improvement in those two areas, they are simply cosmetic improvements.

You can put a new set of tires on a car and get a smoother ride and you can change the oil, all the belts and hoses and give it a new paint job, but if the effing transmission slips the rest of those improvements are nothing but cosmetic improvements.

Until you fix the tranny, you're just gonna be spinning your wheels. I'm not a car guy and don't pretend to be, but I damn sure know what pulls the car along. Either replace the tranny (transmission) or quit wasting money on the other improvements.

 

[Husker_Red_24]

Rhule has us in position to have 2 consecutive winning seasons for the 1st time in 11 years (2013-2014). He is making progress for our program compared to how unbelievably awful we have been.

Are we improving year over year? No. Why is that? I think we REALLY miss Nash, Ty and John Bullock. We simply don’t have guys to replace them. Whose fault is that? Matt Rhule. It’s year 3, we should have better depth by now.

On offense, we had 38 dropbacks against Minnesota and Dylan had more than 3 seconds to throw, 35 times. I don’t know what’s going on with him. Yes the line is serviceable at best, but Dylan has become a big problem as well. A mobile QB is necessary at this point.

Overall, Rhule is improving the program and is our best coach since Pelini and may be better than him. I don’t think he’s elite, but I don’t think we are going to get someone better.

 

[TheRealPeliniTheCrutch]

There is no question we have been upgraded with the new WR coach, and significantly upgraded with Eckeler. The problem is...even though there is tangible proof of improvement in those two areas, they are simply cosmetic improvements.

You can put a new set of tires on a car and get a smoother ride and you can change the oil, all the belts and hoses and give it a new paint job, but if the effing transmission slips the rest of those improvements are nothing but cosmetic improvements.

Until you fix the tranny, you're just gonna be spinning your wheels. I'm not a car guy and don't pretend to be, but I damn sure know what pulls the car along. Either replace the tranny or quit wasting money on the other improvements.

You said tranny.

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

You said tranny.

I edited it, is that better?

 

[konaki]

This week will be telling and I've been pushing a story all week and I'll continue to push it until the story is squashed. The story is Matt Rhule still hasn't ruled out the Penn State job and it's been a complete distraction to this team. This team will be divided until and unless Matt Rhule takes his name out of the running for the Penn State job.

There are still major media pundit's who are still claiming Rhule will be the next head coach at Penn State, whether it's true or not doesn't matter it still muddies the waters of players minds.

Matt Rhule can say he loves Nebraska all he wants he can say this is a destination job but let's face facts, he still wants that Penn State job or he would have said Mr. Kraft take my name out of consideration but he didn't.

Matt Rhule has screwed this team up and is accountable for the mess going forward and he knows it.

I hope the media will ask the hard questions that need to be asked like when are you going to tell Mr. Kraft to take your name out of consideration because you want to finish your career here at Nebraska. jmo

 

[K Rod]

Progress?
WR room has been better so yes on this unit
ST has shown a huge improvement so yes again
Kicking game is better.
Secondary has been ok. Tackling is a huge issue so over all No
Line play both sides a train wreck. S & C program is crap. So no.
Linebackers better overall. So yes here.
Ruhle as a game manager. Hell no.
QB play: Hard to tell when their D line lives in our backfield.
Running game: Could be better if we would commit to it.
Overall.....We are the same as last year. Maybe 6-6 maybe 5-7.

But hey, we are "building a beast here " . That O line is gonna win the Joe Moore award any day now ! And it takes 3...no wait...four years to compete a program rebuild. Forget what Cignetti says.

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

This week will be telling and I've been pushing a story all week and I'll continue to push it until the story is squashed. The story is Matt Rhule still hasn't ruled out the Penn State job and it's been a complete distraction to this team. This team will be divided until and unless Matt Rhule takes his name out of the running for the Penn State job.

There are still major media pundit's who are still claiming Rhule will be the next head coach at Penn State, whether it's true or not doesn't matter it still muddies the waters of players minds.

Matt Rhule can say he loves Nebraska all he wants he can say this is a destination job but let's face facts, he still wants that Penn State job or he would have said Mr. Kraft take my name out of consideration but he didn't.

Matt Rhule has screwed this team up and is accountable for the mess going forward and he knows it.

I hope the media will ask the hard questions that need to be asked like when are you going to tell Mr. Kraft to take your name out of consideration because you want to finish your career here at Nebraska. jmo

You have to weigh that with the possibility if Matt is passed over for PSU that another job somewhere down the road opens up that might interest Matt, especially if this job gets contentious in the future.

He likely doesn't want to cement himself in this job and not leave open the possibility of a move to another big school later on.

 

[singlet]

From what we've seen so far this year, it would be hard to argue that we've improved as a team. We could even still get out of here with 8 regular season wins, but it would be thanks to an easier schedule.

 

[realHuskerDrew]

Rhule stinks and got lucky at Baylor, not only that but he doesnt have the same OC and DC from Baylor here.
Butler isn’t terrible but not great either.
Dana, don’t get me started… I don’t know what the guy is running but it isn’t what he ran 8 years ago. We need a run first OC that demands his linemen block and that can scheme up good run plays.
Uncle Donnie… ha! The worst OL coach in our history, makes that stubby dwarf under Riley look like Dan Young.

just 3 more seasons of this, and we can get rid of him, with next year being brutal:
Losses to ILL, Wash, Oregon, OSU, Indiana, Iowa… and tossups v Maryland, Mich St, Rutgers

we could go 4-8… be prepared

 

[DavidSaxophone]

Would just love to see improved OL play. Not asking for 10 wins or playoffs, never seemed like a reasonable expectation for this year, just better OL play. Very obvious that we lost EVERYTHING on DL this year and didn't do nearly enough to replenish this off season, so expectations were on the floor for them, but the OL is "as talented as it's been in a decade" with more investment than ever, and this is the worst I've ever seen, 131st in the FBS in sacks allowed (essentially dead last.) Rapid firing and entirely new staffs every year works 0.1% of the time so I'm fine that he makes incremental changes, Dana and Ek are home run hires (Butler was probably settling) but we absolutely need to bring in a "seasoned OL consultant" right now that takes over the job in the next two weeks. Won't necessarily fix anything this season, but will improve things in the longer run.

Dylan is getting hit more than basically any QB in the country (mobile QB won't fix the problem, Adrian made horrible passes and lost us games because he was always on the run) so I'm not shocked that he'll overthrow a deep ball when his mind is on not getting sacked by a 2 man rush. He requires an elite OL - any playoff-caliber/solid run team does lol - so would rather we get a new OL coach and start to GET that than just say TJ will fix it with his legs, cuz we know that probably isn't true. Dylans great, Matts a good coach, but Don has had long enough and we need a pro to coach those guys.

And also, so annoyed seeing PJ and the gophs on the sideline with an electric energy, jumping up after tackles and pass breakups like they made a key play in the super bowl, and then pan to us and we look dazed, locked out, tired and like we dont care. During a game, GET FIRED UP! Treat EVERY team like they're Ohio State, feels like that's what MN does every game and it works for them. Take your opponents seriously, be your own juice, stop getting sad mid-game. I don't believe we win this weekend, I haven't seen us take a lesser program seriously in a while and that's why we USUALLY lose in heartbreaking fashion - credit to the team for actually winning 3 of those so far this year - but other teams bounce back from hard losses. Have not seen us do that in a long time. It's NW: take them seriously and you win.

 

[konaki]

You have to weigh that with the possibility if Matt is passed over for PSU that another job somewhere down the road opens up that might interest Matt, especially if this job gets contentious in the future.

He likely doesn't want to cement himself in this job and not leave open the possibility of a move to another big school later on.

His bigger problem at the moment is trying to hold his current team together.

 

[dinglefritz]

Last year at this exact juncture, NU was 5-2, the same as this year.

Last year NU played 4 good football teams, COLO, ILL, IND and OSU, and went 1-3.
This year we've played 2 good football teams, CINCY and MICH and went 1-1.

We swapped UTEP, NO. IA, PUR, RUT, and WISCY for AKRON, HOU CHRISTIAN, MICH ST, MARY, MINN and PSU.

In our remaining 5 games we have 3 teams yet to play that all beat us last year. We're just beginning our late season collapse with no Wisconsin on the horizon.

If NU fails to beat NW, we are likely 5-5 going into PSU.
Do we think it will be easy in front of 107K? We need PSU to be this year's Wisconsin.

Ask me in November. TO used to say he never really knew how good his teams were until the middle of November. In our case, Black Friday now might be the measuring stick. For Tom it was Mizzou, Colorado and those F’n hillbillies.

 

[dinglefritz]

There is no question we have been upgraded with the new WR coach, and significantly upgraded with Eckeler. The problem is...even though there is tangible proof of improvement in those two areas, they are simply cosmetic improvements.

You can put a new set of tires on a car and get a smoother ride and you can change the oil, all the belts and hoses and give it a new paint job, but if the effing transmission slips the rest of those improvements are nothing but cosmetic improvements.

Until you fix the tranny, you're just gonna be spinning your wheels. I'm not a car guy and don't pretend to be, but I damn sure know what pulls the car along. Either replace the tranny (transmission) or quit wasting money on the other improvements.

Did you just say tranny?

 

[jedimasterjed]

This week will say alot about the progress of the team. This is a must win

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

Did you just say tranny?

Back in the day, calling a transmission a tranny was pretty routine.
Wait a minute....I don't have to explain myself. LOL

Shouldn't you be out in the water?

 

[konaki]

I'm looking forward to Rhule's next presser and the softball questions thrown his way.

 

[SuperBigFan69]

Indiana (besides OSU) is the only team in the is conference that is actually trying to score points and not just run out the clock and go home with either a close win or a huge beatdown loss.

They are the only team to show "progress" over the last two years. The rest of the Big Ten is exactly what it has always been. OSU and for the most part, a bunch of lame *** teams.

 

[salsa red]

3rd down defense is pretty bad. If its short yardage they can run for 3+ yards guaranteed almost every time, I also don't think we've stopped a qb sneak all year, another guaranteed yard or 2. Also if the opposing offense is in a hurry up situation and out of sorts on a long 3rd down, you can guarantee Rhule will call a time out to bail them out for an easy first down. Same **** every year, I'm prepared for another battle to go bowling.

And the tackling has been bad all year.

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

I'm looking forward to Rhule's next presser and the softball questions thrown his way.

Sipple: Coach I hope you're ready for some hard hitting questions today.
Matt: Fire away
Sipple: What did Julie think of the pink N on the helmet?
Matt: She thought it would bring some toughness to the squad.
Sam: Have you officially said no to Mr. Kraft at Penn State?
Matt: I don't discuss those things unless I'm on with McAfee.
Steve: About that, people think you lost focus when the Penn State job opened up?
Matt: That's not a fair statement, we played very well Friday.
Evan: How is the NIL progressing, are we in line to reach Troy's target number?
Matt: **** no, Troy told me if we don't raise that dough, we gotta let Donnie go.

 

[SuperBigFan69]

I'm looking forward to Rhule's next presser and the softball questions thrown his way.

I can picture it today:

"Hey Coach, just wondering, do you think the OL is doing okay?"

Looks around the room to see if that question might have been a bit harsh

 

[dinglefritz]

Back in the day, calling a transmission a tranny was pretty routine.
Wait a minute....I don't have to explain myself. LOL

Shouldn't you be out in the water?

Exhausted. 6 hours on a 24’ cruiser from Sorrento to Amalfi with a little swimming and a few stops. Feet up before dinner

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

3rd down defense is pretty bad. If its short yardage they can run for 3+ yards guaranteed almost every time, I also don't think we've stopped a qb sneak all year, another guaranteed yard or 2. Also if the opposing offense is in a hurry up situation and out of sorts on a long 3rd down, you can guarantee Rhule will call a time out to bail them out for an easy first down. Same **** every year, I'm prepared for another battle to go bowling.

And the tackling has been bad all year.

That's one of my pet peeves.

 

[Redscarlet]

Ask me in November. TO used to say he never really knew how good his teams were until the middle of November. In our case, Black Friday now might be the measuring stick. For Tom it was Mizzou, Colorado and those F’n hillbillies.

Agree, need to see progress the last 5 games and the measuring stick will be on Black Friday.

Very important that we win Saturday.

 

[LBremser]

You have to weigh that with the possibility if Matt is passed over for PSU that another job somewhere down the road opens up that might interest Matt, especially if this job gets contentious in the future.

He likely doesn't want to cement himself in this job and not leave open the possibility of a move to another big school later on.

After last week's game I don't think that there is a program out there that will offer him anything close to what he will be paid if he stays at DONU, $54.5 million plus a couple of $1million retention bonuses over the next 5 seasons. I don't see him voluntarily leaving anytime soon unless PSU gets turned down enough times that Rhule becomes their Bill Callahan.

 

[Anon1751408132]

Indiana (besides OSU) is the only team in the is conference that is actually trying to score points and not just run out the clock and go home with either a close win or a huge beatdown loss.

They are the only team to show "progress" over the last two years. The rest of the Big Ten is exactly what it has always been. OSU and for the most part, a bunch of lame *** teams.

Oregon

 

[SuperBigFan69]

Oregon

True

 

[realHuskerDrew]

And to add to this thread… just realize that as we speak, Vandy, Ga Tech, BYU, are all in the top 15

And we are just hoping to make a bowl under our fvcking loser coach

edit: in year 3…

 

[Anon1751408132]

How do I change my name to my old one

 

[Spinner4]

Matt’s 47-62 in the last ten years with 1 good season!!! And really screw what he did at Temple. Theres no pressure at temple and you can get away with talent issues at Temple. The Gottula’s of the world fly @ Temple. I just don’t why some of you are we still making excuses at this point. I mean we will still watch but please stop with the BS and excuses. He doesn’t need that. This is on him

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

3rd down defense is pretty bad. If its short yardage they can run for 3+ yards guaranteed almost every time, I also don't think we've stopped a qb sneak all year, another guaranteed yard or 2. Also if the opposing offense is in a hurry up situation and out of sorts on a long 3rd down, you can guarantee Rhule will call a time out to bail them out for an easy first down. Same **** every year, I'm prepared for another battle to go bowling.

And the tackling has been bad all year.

Our 3rd down defense is actually pretty good. Defense is allowing only 28.6% conversion rate on 3rd down, good for 10th in the country.

Now, the 4th down D is horrible. They are allowing a 69.2% conversion rate, good for 123rd in the country.

 

[regoratsginrom]

Exhausted. 6 hours on a 24’ cruiser from Sorrento to Amalfi with a little swimming and a few stops. Feet up before dinner

Feel really bad for you.

 

[Ohana]

you are brain dead if you think PSU wants Rhule

 

[steinek11]

Rhule has us in position to have 2 consecutive winning seasons for the 1st time in 11 years (2013-2014). He is making progress for our program compared to how unbelievably awful we have been.

Are we improving year over year? No. Why is that? I think we REALLY miss Nash, Ty and John Bullock. We simply don’t have guys to replace them. Whose fault is that? Matt Rhule. It’s year 3, we should have better depth by now.

On offense, we had 38 dropbacks against Minnesota and Dylan had more than 3 seconds to throw, 35 times. I don’t know what’s going on with him. Yes the line is serviceable at best, but Dylan has become a big problem as well. A mobile QB is necessary at this point.

Overall, Rhule is improving the program and is our best coach since Pelini and may be better than him. I don’t think he’s elite, but I don’t think we are going to get someone better.

A college quarterback should be passing it about 20 to 25 times per game. The rest of the time you ran it down their throat.

 

[God_zilla]

We are better. 8-4

 

[king_kong__]

we're soft

and we will always be soft as long as Rhule is our Team Mom because he is soft

he has shown he has zero desire to run a physical football program despite his endless preaching to the contrary