Steven Sipple: Matt Rhule delves deep into Jeff Sims’ turnover issue at Georgia Tech; and Marcus Washington’s status one to watch closely
Things I know, and things I think I know: Nebraska offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield this spring asked his starting quarterback, Jeff Sims, to cut down on turnovers and raise his completion percentage compared with his numbers for Georgia Tech.
Sims got it done, the coach told me in June.
Sims also carried his mindfulness with the pigskin into preseason camp this month, according to Husker head coach Matt Rhule.
“Jeff’s taking great care of the ball,” Rhule told reporters Saturday.
Rhule quickly noted that when the Big Ten Network’s annual bus tour of conference programs came to Lincoln earlier this month, part of the ensuing broadcast mentioned that Sims averages the most turnovers per game of any active FBS player who’s played in at least 15 contests.
He gunned 23 interceptions in 24 games for the Yellow Jackets while completing 57.5% of his throws.
By the way, the BTN stat on Sims’ turnover rate took Rhule by surprise.
“I would’ve never suspected that stat, just being around him,” the coach said. “So, I went back and watched them. There were a lot of times you would say they were probably not his fault. He was getting hit, or someone else got hit and dropped the ball.”
Or maybe Rhule was just seeing what he wants to see.
The beauty is we’re about to find out what Sims is all about, as Nebraska opens its schedule August 31 against Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Once the season commences, Rhule doesn’t want Sims to be overly cautious with the ball.
“We want to win the turnover battle but also win the explosive-play battle,” the coach said. “We can go out there and go into a shell and, you know, not turn the ball over, but go three-and-out. It’s the same thing. We want to be explosive, and I think Jeff is learning that fine line — when to be explosive and when not to be. When to take a chance and when not to.
“We don’t want to play scared,” Rhule continued. “That’s the biggest thing for this group, is they can’t play scared.”
You never want to see a team play scared. It’s counterproductive, especially for a team that isn’t exactly overloaded with NFL talent. To be sure, Nebraska is an example of a team that needs to cut loose and consistently take the fight to teams if it wants to reach a bowl game for the first time since 2016.
Thing is, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Sims does possess ample raw talent. His ceiling his high.
Rhule and Satterfield will try to help Sims reach that ceiling, or get as close as possible.
Let’s see how close he gets.
“I think he’s done a really nice job,” Rhule said. “I think he’s playing really good football, with still a lot to learn. I know we’re playing (August 31), but there are a lot of games after that. We’re just trying to get better and better and better and better every day.
“I think we’ll see him play really good football this year.”
The Weekly Rundown: Nebraska putting a close on camp to begin preparations for Minnesota
Nebraska WR position becomes team’s top concern
If you’re a wise Nebraska fan, you’re keeping close tabs on senior Marcus Washington’s injury situation because he is one of the Huskers’ top two wideouts, easily.
He’s missed ample time in preseason camp but could be back for the opener.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Washington’s injury situation, coupled with the departure of Zavier Betts, arguably makes the wide receiver position the offense’s top concern at the moment, especially with generally favorable reviews of the offensive line coming from sources who watch practice.
Nobody’s saying the O-line is being dominant, but improvement is noticeable, I’m told.
Along those lines — pun intended — Nebraska’s defensive line also is drawing some praise for its overall athleticism as the defense in general enjoys a nice August.
So, with that in mind, one might say the receiver position is the team’s top concern right now.
Let’s overthink the Husker wideout situation
I can overthink matters with the best of them.
So, let’s do this.
If Nebraska were to begin the season today, its starting group of wide receivers likely would be Billy Kemp, Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, and sophomore walk-on Alex Bullock. That’s fine. Probably sufficient. Perhaps better than sufficient. But compare that group to a 2013 bunch that gets largely forgotten in Husker history but entered my mind because BTN on Sunday night aired a replay of Nebraska’s “Hail Mary” stunner against Northwestern.
The Huskers in 2013 featured veteran wideouts Quincy Enunwa (51 receptions, 12 touchdowns) and Kenny Bell (52, 4) as well as an emerging star in Jordan Westerkamp (20, 1).
Garcia-Castaneda and Bullock have a combined five catches for NU, all last season by Garcia-Castaneda.
Rhule always shows respect for the work of former Nebraska head coach Scott Frost and his staff. It’s one of Rhule’s endearing traits.
But you wonder if Rhule has to bite his tongue when it comes to the former staff’s overall recruitment of wideouts. Imagine if Kemp, who joined Nebraska’s program in January, wasn’t part of the equation.
Scary thought.
Rhule talks fast, so listen closely
Rhule rapidly reeled off his team’s practice schedule as the opener approaches when he (quickly) noted, “We’ve gone really hard (this month). For some of the players, it’s probably the hardest thing they’ve ever done, and it’s good.”
My read on Rhule is he works extremely hard to get the best out of everyone around him. That’s leadership.
Bottom line, I think it would be difficult to outwork Rhule. I definitely wouldn’t say that about either of Nebraska’s last two head coaches.
We also should note that the new Husker head coach likes what he’s seeing from Tony White’s unit.
“They run and hit,” Rhule said. “They run and tackle really well.”
He added, “We’re playing the run game well and creating some negative plays.”
Not to mention some turnovers.
Yes, it’s a good news/bad news discussion if you’re a Husker fan.
Nebraska won’t beat Minnesota if it’s minus-two in the turnover category.
Maybe Nebraska could sneak out a win at minus-one. But I wouldn’t bet on it.
How about finishing the season “plus” for a change?
The post Steven Sipple: Matt Rhule delves deep into Jeff Sims’ turnover issue at Georgia Tech; and Marcus Washington’s status one to watch closely appeared first on On3.
