Nebraska is once again preaching a commitment to the run game, and Rhule, Piper say they mean it
INDIANAPOLIS – Nebraska has preached a desire to establish a physical, consistent running game for nearly a decade of offseasons.
More often than not, especially recently, those plans have hardly played out once the games kick off.
It remains to be seen what the Huskers’ offense will look like under new head coach Matt Rhule. But with his NU debut now just a month away, Rhule and his players are the latest to promise a commitment to running the football.
“We’ll be stubborn to a fault,” Rhule said of establishing a ground attack. “But I also know that we’re going to have to throw it, we’re going to have to be explosive, we’re going to have to run the quarterback. I want to be diverse in what we do.
“We’re going to run inside zone, outside zone, power, counter – we’re not going to just live off one thing. But I want to make sure that we have an interior run game as well. If one week I have to spread you out in order to run the ball inside, I will. If we have to get in tight to condense you, then we will.”
Much of the picture of Rhule and Co.’s rushing scheme will depend on the opponent and situation. More than anything, though, it will revolve around the strengths and weaknesses of the offensive line.
“I have a couple core philosophies,” Rhule said. “A: always look at what your o-line does well.”
Experience, continuity give o-line confidence for run game identity
That element generated much of the criticism about Nebraska’s system last season under former offensive coordinator Mark Whipple. From week to week, hardly anyone knew what the Huskers would hang their hats on with the ball.
According to guard Ethan Piper, that inconsistency impacted the players – particularly the o-line.
The fifth-year junior admitted even he wasn’t sure how the game plan would actually play out this fall. But Piper said he and the rest of Nebraska’s veteran offensive line had been vocal about the identity they want.
“The fact that we have such an experienced offensive line means that we want to run the ball,” Piper said. “I’ve been saying that forever. I want our identity to be in the run game, and then we can use the pass off of that.
“Again, it’s hard to tell exactly what our game plans are going to be right now… But I would like it to be the run game.”
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Piper: Keeping Donovan Raiola was critical
A lot of Nebraska’s strategy will be dictated by the performance of its o-line. With a veteran group working with the same position coach – Donovan Raiola – for a second straight season, Piper said his unit was ready to take that challenge head-on.
“I think this is the best mentally the offensive line has felt, and I think that’s due to us keeping Coach Raiola and us having such experience,” Piper said. “We have four guys that are fifth-year (seniors). You don’t see that very often. The youngest guy that we have in the ones and the twos is a third-year. That in itself brings so much confidence to us as a unit.”
Much of the offensive line’s confidence has nothing to do with the impact of their coaches. With a room loaded with experience, Piper said the unit is pushing itself more than anyone else.
“This is the closest we’ve ever been just for the fact that we’re able to talk to each other in hard ways but not be offended,” Piper said. “That’s translated into the weight room, our drill work, and even into the classroom. Just people being able to hold themselves accountable and to hold themselves to a higher standard.”
