Steven Sipple: Nebraska football fans are once again hoping the “run the ball” talk of summer pays off during the cold realities of autumn
If you’re a Nebraska football fan, and you’ve been following the program closely during the last couple weeks, information comes to you quickly. There’s been a lot of it. Matt Rhule, the first-year Husker head coach, grants a lot of access to the media — more than most coaches. Plus, he talks fast, as does NU offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield.
So, you’ve got to listen closely.
My guess is the “run the ball crowd” is trending toward giddy.
People are interesting, though. They often hear what they want to hear. But if you’re in the camp that wants Nebraska to have a physical, running back-driven rushing attack — as opposed to leaning on the quarterback for rushing yards the way Scott Frost did — you must like what you’re hearing from Rhule, Satterfield and company. It seems legitimate.
Have I mentioned all this before? Please be patient if I dwell on it.
It just seems incredibly important, especially in the context of a physical Big Ten.
Along those lines — no pun intended — it seems like an important season for Donovan Raiola, the second-year Nebraska offensive line coach. His first year was rocky. The line seldom settled into a pattern of moving the line of scrimmage. Pass protection was leaky. But it also must be said that former offensive line coach Mark Whipple’s air-it-out style ran contrary to Raiola’s mentality. Of course it did. Bottom line, the two didn’t jibe well at all.
So, it’s notable that Rhule retained Raiola in large part because their football philosophies jibe. Plus, Rhule noticed right away that Raiola has a quiet, steady, workmanlike approach. What’s more, Rhule told us during Big Ten Media Days that he knew he had commonalities with Raiola as soon as he noticed the books in Raiola’s office. In short, the two have a healthy chemistry.
Most importantly, in my mind, they both want a physical running attack.
Hopefully, this isn’t just wishful thinking on my part.
Am I just hearing what I want to hear?
Matt Rhule seems to “get it” when it comes to Big Ten demands
It caught my attention this past week when Satterfield, as he discussed Nebraska’s running back situation, said the Huskers will need multiple strong runners.
“It’s going to take two or three, especially in this league and the way these guys play defense,” he said. “It’s going to be a long year for a running back as much as we’re going to run it.”
“… as much as we’re going to run it.”
Hello.
There was a time, as recently as the early stages of the Bo Pelini era for Nebraska (2008 to 2014), when I settled into a mindset of, “Just move the chains. Doesn’t matter how. If you have to throw the ball underhand, do it. Do what it takes to get first downs.”
Then, Nebraska’s move to the Big Ten happened. Perhaps you’ve noticed, this is a trenches-oriented league. It’s physical as all get out. Michigan has moved to the top of the pecking order because it loaded up its roster with high-caliber offensive and defensive linemen. Perhaps the Wolverines’ biggest question mark this season is the receiver positions. Do they have a consistent go-to player? A consistent big-play guy?
Do they need one with such a powerful running game?
Rhule seems to get it. But, again, perhaps I’m just hearing what I want to hear.
“I have a couple core philosophies,” he said recently. “For one, always look at what your O-line does well. Right? We’re going to play some 3-4 fronts. We’re going to run some different things against 3-4 fronts than we will against the four-down (linemen) fronts.
“I always believe a yard outside the tackles on outside (run) plays is equal to two yards inside. Inside the tackles is kind of like a body blow. So, we’ll be stubborn to a fault.”
Of all that’s been said by Nebraska players and coaches during the last two weeks, that last line – “So, we’ll be stubborn to a fault” — stands out the most. I don’t hear it in a negative way. What I hear is commitment to the run game.
It indeed sounds like NU is committed to run game
When I hear Nebraska running backs coach E.J. Barthel discuss the fullback competition in preseason camp, I hear “commitment to the run game.” There are at least four fullbacks competing for playing time. The fullback is back to a significant degree. This isn’t just a gimmick. Or am I just hearing things?
Rhule, though, brings balance to the discussion, which is fine by me. It’s common sense.
“I also know we’re going to have to be able to throw it,” he said. “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 just want to make sure we have an interior run game as well. If we have to spread (a defense) out to run the ball inside, I will. If we have to get in tight to condense you, then we will. But I just want people, when they play us, to have several different things (to consider).”
I’m clinging to the notion that Nebraska will be a physical run team that leans on the running backs, not the quarterback.
“The quarterback run game to me doesn’t really count as rushing yardage,” Rhule said in what amounted to music to my ears. “It’s an outlier, a potentially explosive play. I don’t want to run the quarterbacks to get three or four yards.”
Rhule said he’ll be more apt to call QB run plays in the red zone or on third down. What’s more, Nebraska will at times run the zone-read option and hope the QB can pull it and spring a long gain. Also, watch for Jeff Sims to drop back with intentions to throw, see good coverage downfield, and pull it down and take off.
That all makes perfect sense.
Bottom line, this is a big season for Donovan Raiola
Nebraska fans also know that offseason discussion doesn’t always match up with the realities of autumn. Let’s see if Rhule is really “stubborn to a fault” about running the ball.
I just know I like what I hear. I like it when I hear Rhule say that all those body blows in the run game could help Nebraska have an edge in the fourth quarter.
Raiola really must like what he hears from his boss.
Yes, this is a big season for Donovan. This is where his career could take off. It’s his second year of coaching for Nebraska. He has a long list of veteran linemen who now understand his language, his teachings, his mentality.
He has an offense that’s more his style, or so it seems.
“We were saying the other day that the O-line is the one (position) that’s going to set the standard for the team,” Nebraska center Ben Scott told the media corps last week. “We have to be the group that’s going to tell everyone, ‘Hey, pick it up. We’ve got to go.’
“The O-line has always been like hard-nosed, run the ball. We have to be the leaders of the team. We have to set the tone during games.”
Bring on the Big Ten battles. Let’s see how much the talk of summer matches up with the realities of autumn.
The post Steven Sipple: Nebraska football fans are once again hoping the “run the ball” talk of summer pays off during the cold realities of autumn appeared first on On3.
