Matt Rhule analyzes how Marcus Satterfield is calling offense

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are on a three-game losing streak and, now, head coach Matt Rhule is looking for answers. One of those major questions to answer has been the play of Nebraska’s offense.

Going into the bye week, Matt Rhule admitted that he needs to take a look at offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield and his play calling, sharing that he understands why there would be concerns about the offense given its struggles.

“I think that’s part of my job this week is to look at it,” Matt Rhule said. “I don’t have tremendous issues at times, like why’d we called this, why’d we call that, because all those things are kind of game-planned during the week. Are we game-planning the right things during the week? That might be one of the questions we have to talk about and look at.”

In Nebraska’s last three games, the Cornhuskers are averaging just 14.6 points per game. For the season, the Cornhuskers are also 101st in the country in scoring offense, averaging just 23.6 points per game for the season. In Big Ten play, Nebraska is averaging 18.3 points per game.

“If you score 18 points, what is it, 18.1 per game, you’re going to be under fire, it just is what it is. Me as the head coach Satt as the OC. It’s really important that our players take accountability as well, we don’t call any plays that they can’t execute. It’s kind of a slippery slope,” Rhule said. “When they jump up and make the catch, it’s ‘Great job, Isaiah,’ when they jump up to make the catch and they don’t make the catch, it’s ‘Come on, Satt’ so I just want all of us in the program to take accountability together. That’s the introspection I talked about this week, we’re looking at everything.”

Nebraska is currently trying to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2016. However, the Cornhuskers haven’t gotten their sixth win yet, largely because of the poor offensive play, which the defense has struggled to overcome.

“Same thing on defense, we can’t go out there on defense and just let them go right down the field against us. When they took the ball, it was a smart move by them,” Rhule said. “Had we won the toss, I probably would’ve taken the ball because they’ve been really hot early. But we didn’t play defensively the way we’ve been playing, but yeah, 18 points a game, there’s nothing you can say, it’s just not good enough.”

Dylan Raiola believes criticism of Nebraska OC Marcus Satterfield is ‘unfair’

Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola has had his ups and downs this season and he’s seen the criticism of Marcus Satterfield, which he believes is unfair overall.

“I feel confident. I think it’s just a matter of execution, now. You know, Coach Satt gives us the plays to go do it and as players we have to go out there and execute it. I know Coach Satt’s getting a lot of heat right now on his plays that he’s calling and I think that’s unfair to him,” Raiola said.

“He can’t go out there and make plays and do everything that he’s coaching us to do. So, as players and as the quarterback of this offense, I take the responsibility for that and for us to go out there and execute. That’s not his fault. Yeah, I think we can push the ball down the field and I think we will.”

Nebraska is now on a bye week to work to improve on some of their offensive issues before they’ll once again go for a sixth win. That will come against USC in Los Angeles.