Matt Rhule shares expectations for Aidan Chiles matchup

Another great quarterback matchup is set to take place in Lincoln on Saturday. Nebraska‘s Dylan Raiola goes up against Aidan Chiles of Michigan State. Based on what Matt Rhule said during his Monday press conference, there is a ton of respect on the Nebraska side for what Chiles is able to do.

“They’re a pro-style offense, so he does all the pro-style things,” Rhule said. “He’s truly playing quarterback. He’s checking runs, he’s going outside zone to outside zone away. He’s going outside zone to naked or play action. He’s going play action to play action away. He’s a thinking man’s quarterback, which I expect.”

And that’s just Rhule discussing some of the pre-snap reads Chiles makes. Once the ball is in his hands, he is just as impressed with the Michigan State quarterback. Chiles consistently finds his open receivers and gets the ball there. Rhule also knows the Cornhuskers need to be ready for Chiles to take off and run in certain situations.

Overall, incredibly high praise for Chiles’ overall game from Rhule. He knows a difficult challenge is ahead coming off a bye week.

“He’s completing 70% of his passes,” Rhule said. “He’s taking what’s there, he’s protecting the football. He is dynamic, he can run. We’ll obviously see the quarterback draw, so we’ll have to be prepared to stop that. But it’s his ability to run behind the line of scrimmage when needed to and create plays. Explosive players, one of the better quarterbacks in the Big Ten.”

From a completion standpoint, Chiles put together his worst performance of the season against USC. Just 12 of his 21 passes were caught, bringing the completion percentage to 57.1%. However, explosive plays were created when connecting downfield, throwing for 212 yards and three touchdowns. Chiles added a rushing touchdown in a game Michigan State wound up on the wrong side of the result.

There is some tape against Nebraska where quarterbacks found success in the run game. Cincinnati‘s Brendan Sorsby put together a 96-yard and two-touchdown performance in the season opener — really, the only thing the Bearcats got going. Bryce Underwood had a decent day on the ground too, rushing for 61 yards and a score.

If Nebraska wants to get its first Big Ten win of the season, Rhule knows defending Chiles well, in multiple facets, is important. An interesting battle set to take place inside Memorial Stadium at 3 p.m. CT.