Steven Sipple: Satterfield expresses reasons for optimism; Busch understands Rhule’s decision; and why Sanders’ recruitment worth watching
Things I know, and things I think I know: Nebraska second-year defensive coordinator Tony White suddenly has some stress to manage, what with the sudden departure of Husker secondary coach Evan Cooper for “personal reasons.”
Marcus Satterfield, Nebraska’s second-year offensive coordinator, certainly can relate to the stress element of the discussion.
Last season, in some ways, was a nightmare for him as injuries mounted on his side of the ball.
You may have noticed that the number of turnovers also mounted.
Satterfield winces as you bring up the strife. Yeah, it was an immensely challenging first season at Nebraska for the 48-year-old native of Greenback, Tennessee (population 1,148). But he surely emerged as a better coach, and his optimism for 2024 is evident.
The Weekly Rundown: Nebraska takes on another unexpected July headline
Satterfield says Nebraska emphasizing passing game
He expects the offense to look different in one critical way.
“Just being able to throw the ball better than we did last year,” Satterfield said recently, alluding to the fact Nebraska ranked 129th nationally in passing offense in 2023, averaging only 135.9 passing yards per outing, one spot ahead of (gulp) Iowa.
“Last year, with receiver injuries to quarterback injuries to turnovers to offensive line injuries — we could never get consistency,” he added. “In order to have a good passing game, you have to have consistency, and you have to get a flow with everybody.
“We couldn’t get a flow. The more the year went on, the more we pressed at it. You’re just trying to figure out new ways to move the football and score points — even though it may not even be what you’re practicing and isn’t the style of play that you thought you’d be playing.
“So, there’s going to be inconsistency, and inconsistency leads to turnovers, and everything just piles on top of each other.”
This spring, however, Nebraska emphasized development of the passing game. Satterfield likes the way all three scholarship quarterbacks — Dylan Raiola, Heinrich Haarberg, and Daniel Kaelin — performed. In fact, the coach said, he saw improvement across the board.
“To be able to go into spring and preach what we want it to look like, and do it all spring, you saw a lot of progress,” he said. “We’re doing it in the summer, and then we’ll do it throughout preseason camp, and then give our guys a chance to just go out there and play.”
Bottom line, quarterback play should improve markedly.
It can’t get much worse than last season.
Coach has ample praise for transfer WRs
Plus, don’t overlook the importance of transfer wide receivers Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor in the discussion.
“It’s not just the talent aspect of it, it’s their maturity — they’ve played a lot of football,” Satterfield said. “We have unbelievable young talent in that room, but experience still trumps talent a lot of times. So, to be able to add those two guys in there as big brother figures — we need guys to come in and be big brothers to guys and help them learn how to be pros.
“Jahmal and Isaiah both are unbelievable leaders. They’ve never once worried about how many balls they’re getting thrown their way in practice. They just kept developing the young guys, and to the young guys’ credit, it’s not easy watching two older guys come in. They may take a couple of your snaps.
“But the young guys opened up and listened — there’s huge trust there — and a lot of that goes to how Garret (McGuire) coaches that room and the culture he’s building.”
As for the 2023 season, it’s hard for Satterfield to watch the film.
A coach definitely can grow from such a season.
Busch understands Rhule’s line of thinking with hire
As soon as news of Nebraska secondary coach Evan Cooper’s resignation came to light Friday night, one name immediately popped up in speculation much more than any others as a possible successor.
Bill Busch would’ve been an excellent choice — granted, I’m biased for obvious reasons — but he understands why Rhule went a different direction.
“It was very, very kind of a lot of people to reach out and say something to me or via Twitter,” Busch said Monday during “Early Break” on 93.7 FM in Lincoln, the show he does weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. with Jake Sorensen and yours truly.
“What people need to understand in this is it would’ve been incredible to have an opportunity for the job,” Busch said. “But that’s not how it works in this business. You go with people that you have a past with, a history with. That’s just how it works in this business.
“As great as it would’ve been, to again be part of a place that I have so much passion and love for, it was never in my mind that it was going to happen.”
Plus, Busch apparently likes his radio gig. The “three-legged stool” version of Early Break came into being in January of 2023.
God bless him for that.
“I’m not happy with the ‘Breakers’ or with you two guys because you guys have ruined some good coaching opportunities for me,” said Busch, tongue-in-cheek. “I’ve refused to take a couple of jobs because I actually enjoy coming to work here.”
He was serious about turning down a couple jobs. Keep in mind, we’re talking about a guy who’s coached a Thorpe Award winner (Grant Delpit of LSU), recruited and coached an NFL first-round cornerback (Prince Amukamara), twice recruited the No. 1 overall pick in the draft (Alex Smith in 2005, and Joe Burrow in 2020), and, oh by the way, was part of the staff for LSU’s extraordinary 2019 national championship program.
“The time will come soon that I’ll be back on the field again,” said the 58-year-old Busch, a Pender (Nebraska) native.
He’s too good to not be coaching.
Will David Sanders bet on himself?
So, Nebraska made the final four for consensus five-star offensive lineman David Sanders of Charlotte, North Carolina, along with Tennessee, Georgia and Ohio State.
Many Husker fans essentially scoffed at the news. Yeah, right, like Nebraska’s going to beat out Georgia and Ohio State.
Skeptics will tell you Sanders is merely another version of Brandon Baker of Santa Ana, California, the highly touted offensive lineman who made multiple visits to Lincoln but wound up at Texas.
There’s a critical difference between the Baker and Sanders discussions. His name is Dylan Raiola.
Raiola, of course, opens doors in recruiting, and might change some prospects’ mindset. The true freshman Nebraska gunslinger bet on himself. He could become a legendary figure if he plays a leading role in turning around Nebraska’s tradition-rich program.
Perhaps the 6-foot-6, 276-pound Sanders also will decide to bet on himself and choose Nebraska, and perhaps leave a bigger mark at NU than he ever could at Ohio State or Georgia.
Here and there …
***Back to the Sanders discussion for a second. Nebraska has to keep slugging away in hopes of landing a few five- and four-star studs if it has serious designs on catching the Ohio States and Oregons of the world. After all, the Buckeyes have 11 top 100 players in their class of 2025, and Oregon has five such players, including wideout Dakorien Moore of Duncanville, Texas — who’s an absolute joy to watch on film as he not only excels as a pass-catcher, but also as a blocker who hammers defenders to the ground. He looks to be a potential Big Ten difference maker. You can’t have enough of those types.
***Ohio State just landed four-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn of McKinney, Texas, the No. 2-ranked player nationally at his position, according to On3. Sounds like Steve Sarkisian might need to have a little meeting with his recruiting staff.
***There was a time when I’d dismiss the notion of Keisei Tominaga becoming an NBA player. That changed for good this past season because his overall game developed so well. But his essence is as an outside shooter, always will be, and the Indiana Pacers’ wide-open, fast-paced style will get him plenty of looks if he makes the roster. I’m watching the situation closely.
Granted, I’m not exactly Hubie Brown, but Tominaga surely will have to prove he can defend at an NBA level. That might be the key.
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The post Steven Sipple: Satterfield expresses reasons for optimism; Busch understands Rhule’s decision; and why Sanders’ recruitment worth watching appeared first on On3.
