Steven Sipple: You won’t catch this cynic playing down Nebraska’s impressive stats
Things I know, and things I think I know: Leaves are falling across the state of Nebraska, and Matt Rhule has the nation’s second-ranked rushing defense, not to mention the nation’s No. 6 rushing offense.
You won’t catch me playing down those stats. Not for a second.
I’ve spent a considerable amount of time in recent years — OK, the past 20-plus years — criticizing Nebraska for being subpar in one or both of those areas. The same goes for sacks, and now Tony White’s defense is tied for 11th nationally with 14.
Celebrate that stuff, Nebraska fans.
Don’t pine for it, then pooh-pooh it when it happens.
I’m old school, so those stats matter greatly in my mind.
Plus, being a sports writer, I specialize in pointing out the obvious. I do it daily. So, here goes: Winning in the Big Ten often involves running the ball well and stopping the run.
Well, Nebraska is averaging 234.75 rushing yards per game, which leads the Big Ten. A few weeks ago, I wrote that Rhule might be going a bit overboard in saying Nebraska, if everything clicks, can average 250 rushing yards. Keep in mind, the Huskers haven’t averaged 250 since 2012.
But, hey, Rhule is a confident sort and believes in his players. You have to appreciate that.
Five things we learned from Nebraska’s Michigan week press conference
Rhule isn’t going overboard with praise of units
If you’re a Nebraska fan, you surely appreciate the Huskers’ defense, which is holding foes to 1.83 yards per carry. At this point, it’s safe to say the unit can keep the Huskers in any game left on the schedule — yes, even Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. home game against second-ranked Michigan, as long as NU’s offense cooperates to an acceptable degree.
Rhule, by the way, isn’t going overboard with praise of his team’s rushing and defensive numbers.
“It’s a step in the right direction for the blueprint of what we want to do,” he said Monday. “I’m not a super, super big stats guy in that sometimes I think they can be misleading.”
Step in the right direction? Well, consider that Nebraska last season finished 108th nationally in rushing defense. The Huskers allowed 4.55 yards per carry. That’s not winning football.
See, I can point out the obvious with the best of them.
Go ahead, naysayers, point out that Nebraska hasn’t gotten into the thick of the Big Ten schedule. You can also point out that Nebraska is down to one proven collegiate running back (Anthony Grant) and enters this week with a murky quarterback situation.
Yes, all that’s true. But you also have to acknowledge progress.
Along those lines — no pun intended — you have to acknowledge improvement along Nebraska’s offensive line. That group has endured its share of criticism, as has its position coach, Donovan Raiola. They hear the criticism. I strongly believe it gives them a hard edge.
Michigan defense poses formidable challenge
Now, let’s see what Nebraska’s rushing prowess looks like against Michigan (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten), which ranks third nationally in total defense and allows only 2.76 yards per carry (19th). Meanwhile, the Wolverines are 60th in total offense (405.3 ypc) and 49th in rushing (167.8).
In other words, Michigan isn’t clicking on offense as well as it did the past couple years. Still, Jim Harbaugh’s crew is formidable. And as you watch the Wolverines, keep in mind they play a sort of style that Rhule ultimately wants his program to mirror.
“His blueprint for building that program, for the way that they play, a lot of those things are similar (to what we want to do),” Rhule said.
Nebraska’s use of the speed option — my heavens, it’s a sight to behold — is a departure from Michigan’s modus operandi.
However, “The over-arching blueprint of being great on the O- and D-lines, having good quarterback play, being physical at tight end — all those things — that’s what we’re doing,” Rhule said.
Nebraska obviously is chasing Michigan, with plenty of ground to make up. The Huskers are a shadow of the program’s powerful 1990s teams. So, naturally, legions of Husker fans have become skeptical over the years. They’ve been burned too many times by promises and flowery offseason talk.
I’ve become so skeptical and cynical about the world in general, I barely function at times.
But I can acknowledge progress. In fact, I should acknowledge progress after spending so much time over the years pointing out a lack of it in Nebraska’s program.
Rhule is right. We’re seeing steps in the right direction.
Admit it, it’s sort of refreshing.
Tommi Hill comes back strong from rugged 2022 season
Tommi Hill, in our interview during the summer of 2022, sounded determined to make progress toward the highest level the sport has to offer.
“I always think about it,” he said of the NFL. “Always. Top of my brain. First thing.”
He grew up watching the NFL. Grew to love it.
“Grew up watching Randy Moss because I was a receiver coming out of high school,” says the graduate of Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida.
He switched to corner as a freshman at ASU.
These days, he’s playing both corner and wideout for Nebraska. He’s in the midst of a nice comeback from a difficult 2022 season for both him and the Husker defense. Remember, he lost his starting role at corner early last season.
Rhule said Monday that Hill was on track to be a starting corner entering this season before suffering an injury. He’s healthy now, obviously, because he’s also Nebraska’s top kickoff return man.
Rhule showered Hill with praise. He went so far as to say Hill might’ve taken a kickoff return “to the house” to begin the third quarter Saturday if not for his fumble to begin the return (and a subsequent holding penalty).
Bottom line, Hill possesses ample natural talent and genuinely loves football.
It’s dangerous to count out guys like that.
Heading for home
***A lot of people were struck by Ohio State coach Ryan Day’s emotional TV interview Saturday right after his team’s 17-14 win against Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.
Day responded angrily to Lou Holtz, the former Fighting Irish head coach, essentially saying Notre Dame would defeat Ohio State because Day’s teams in recent years faltered against top teams that were more physical than the Buckeyes.
You question a team’s toughness, and that’s how most any coach is going to react.
Day’s response was fully warranted.
The 44-year-old Day, by the way, is 49-6 in five-plus seasons at Ohio State, including 32-2 in the Big Ten.
***Rhule noted Monday that Nebraska running backs won’t encounter many, if any, gaping holes against Michigan’s defense. They better quickly get to any daylight they see, the coach said.
Let’s face it, this is an Anthony Grant discussion, and he’ll be fine.
This particular game isn’t well-suited for (mostly) untested rookie running backs, which is why I thought we might see more of Emmett Johnson and Kwinten Ives against Louisiana Tech.
***Rhule mentioning that Ron Brown has been pushing hard for a “41 pitch” play — a part of Nebraska’s 1990s playbook — is the latest example of the new Husker coach’s affinity for the program’s rich history.
I like that part of Rhule. It’s genuine. More than anything, he appreciates greatness in the sport he absolutely adores.
Plus, I’ve become a strong advocate of living in the past. Seems like common sense nowadays.
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