{"id":48800,"date":"2024-04-23T10:26:25","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T15:26:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/?p=48800"},"modified":"2024-04-23T10:26:25","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T15:26:25","slug":"steven-sipple-rhules-approach-to-nebraska-qb-competition-seems-to-be-clicking-with-raiola","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/steven-sipple-rhules-approach-to-nebraska-qb-competition-seems-to-be-clicking-with-raiola\/","title":{"rendered":"Steven Sipple: Rhule\u2019s approach to Nebraska QB competition seems to be clicking with Raiola"},"content":{"rendered":"

So far, so good. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s one way to characterize Dylan Raiola\u2019s <\/a><\/strong>first spring of football practices for Nebraska. Mind you, there are no guarantees in this hotly competitive realm of the sports world. But, yes, it\u2019s going well for the big right-handed quarterback as the Huskers gear toward the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday.<\/p>\n

It went especially well for Raiola during a scrimmage this past Saturday. More on that in a second. <\/p>\n

Am I surprised it\u2019s going well for Raiola, one of the nation\u2019s most touted players in the class of 2024? That question is complicated by a history of highly-rated prospects who arrived on Nebraska\u2019s campus and never lived up to expectations. Some never came close. <\/p>\n

Such misreads on prospects happen everywhere, in every sport. <\/p>\n

So, I usually proceed with caution when it comes to these matters. <\/p>\n

For Raiola \u2014 once again \u2014 so far, so good. <\/p>\n

My read is he\u2019s been doing what it takes to win the starting job for Nebraska in 2024. But I\u2019ll remain cautious when it comes to hyperbole for Raiola and everyone else. <\/p>\n

We\u2019ve been burned a lot around here in the last, oh, 20-plus years. <\/p>\n

Steven Sipple: Perhaps Nebraska\u2019s QBs \u2014 most notably, surging Dylan Raiola \u2014 will find measure of comfort behind Donovan Raiola\u2019s crew<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\n\n

It\u2019s Spring Game Week presented by @fnbo<\/a> <\/p>\n

4.27
Memorial Stadium
11 AM CDT
@BigTenNetwork<\/a> <\/p>\n

\ud835\udde7\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddf8\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude01\ud835\ude00: https:\/\/t.co\/PucjQHeN4C<\/a>#GBR<\/a> x #WhatsNExt<\/a>! pic.twitter.com\/934R7Zdyh0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) April 22, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Raiola\u2019s performance in Hawaii was telling <\/h2>\n

I will say this: What I saw and heard from Raiola in January during Polynesian Bowl practices in Honolulu, Hawaii, and then during the all-star game itself, left me convinced that he has an excellent chance to succeed in the college game and beyond. <\/p>\n

With Raiola seemingly gaining steam in Nebraska\u2019s spring camp, it makes sense to revisit a few elements of HuskerOnline\u2019s trip to Hawaii, which immediately preceded Raiola arriving in Lincoln for winter conditioning. <\/p>\n

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Raiola enjoyed a strong week of practice in Hawaii. It was impressive to watch him during those three days of work. Mike Zimmer, who coached Raiola on Team Makai, told HuskerOnline that Raiola was in complete command of the offense, going so far as to help receivers with which routes they were supposed to run when they forgot. <\/p>\n

Remember, it was an all-star game. Low pressure. But Raiola was clearly locked in, taking it seriously. He has a businesslike way about him \u2014 precocious in that regard. <\/p>\n

His dad told me that Dylan was slightly frustrated that week because Nebraska\u2019s players had begun winter conditioning in Lincoln and he wanted to be there with them. To me, that was a good sign.<\/p>\n

Galu Tagovailoa\u2019s evaluation elicits confidence in Raiola<\/h2>\n

Another good sign occurred when I approached Galu Tagovailoa with some questions about the younger Raiola. That familiar name to sports fans, Tagovailoa, has become prominent on the American sports landscape because of Galu Tagovailoa\u2019s two quarterback-playing sons \u2014 Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins and Taulia Tagovailoa, formerly of the Maryland Terrapins.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, man, Dylan is special,\u201d the 52-year-old Galu Tagovailoa told me during a break in a Polynesian Bowl practice. \u201cHe\u2019s just got a naturally strong arm. The kid reads defenses well. That\u2019s what\u2019s going to make him special. That\u2019s the difference between Dylan and some of the kids that I\u2019ve seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Based on what I\u2019ve heard this spring from Nebraska second-year head coach Matt Rhule<\/a><\/strong> (and others), Raiola is showing good command of the offense. Again \u2026 so far, so good. Raiola is apparently making good decisions with the ball because Rhule has said on more than one occasion that turnovers haven\u2019t been a significant issue.<\/p>\n

Rhule said Nebraska had only one turnover during Saturday\u2019s major scrimmage, and that was by the third-team offense. <\/p>\n

Anybody who knows Dylan Raiola at all will tell you he loves the game and studies it hard. I\u2019ve said it before: He has benefited from mentorship from, among others, Matthew Stafford, Drew Stanton, and Jon Kitna. Yeah, it pays to have a father with connections. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe moment you think you have it all figured out is when you stop growing,\u201d Dylan told me in Hawaii. \u201cI think just always being nitpicky, and having people who are going to tell me the truth, is what I need. A lot of it is about decision-making and picking up the speed of the game \u2014 and always taking care of the football.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amen to that.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The young QB came to Lincoln on a mission <\/h2>\n

As I watched Connecticut and Purdue push toward the NCAA men\u2019s basketball championship game, I strangely thought of Dylan Raiola. Those teams were full of talent and clearly on a mission. <\/p>\n

Dylan Raiola is full of talent and clearly on a mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s special to be part of something that\u2019s bigger than yourself,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n

It would be incredibly special for Dylan Raiola \u2014 along with his uncle, Nebraska offensive line coach Donovan Raiola \u2014 to lead the program back into the national prominence it enjoyed when Dominic Raiola (Dylan\u2019s father) played center for the Huskers (1997-2000). Yes, that\u2019s in the back of Dylan\u2019s mind. It helps drive him daily. <\/p>\n

But the talent part of the equation is immensely important. A lot of players begin their careers on a mission, but fizzle out because they simply don\u2019t have the goods. <\/p>\n

In that regard, Galu Tagovailoa likes the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Raiola\u2019s quick release and ability to throw accurately without being perfectly on balance. A lot of young quarterbacks need to have their feet set to complete difficult throws.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s amazing when you see kids like that \u2014 who can do what Dylan does \u2014 at that age,\u201d the elder Tagovailoa said.<\/p>\n

Yes, Raiola has the goods. He showed it during Saturday\u2019s scrimmage with a 70-yard-plus scoring completion to speedy wideout Jaylen Lloyd<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 a perfect throw, I\u2019m told \u2014 and several completions on third downs. He had a bunch of good throws to tight end Thomas Fidone<\/a><\/strong>. The offense got on a roll, Rhule said. <\/p>\n

\u201cOn offense, it was by far the best day we\u2019ve ever had since I\u2019ve been here,\u201d the coach said. <\/p>\n

\n\n

Spring Press Conference with @CoachMattRhule<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/bVJF6SmnBw<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) April 20, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Rhule is choosing words carefully regarding QB race<\/h2>\n

Rhule is handling his team\u2019s quarterback situation magnificently \u2014 to this point, at least \u2014 displaying the wisdom and aplomb of a veteran coach. He\u2019s portrayed a three-man competition in which nobody has gained a major upper hand over a sustained period of time.<\/p>\n

Heinrich Haarberg<\/a><\/strong>, a junior from Grand Island, Nebraska, was 5-3 as the Huskers\u2019 starter last season, and Raiola and Daniel Kaelin<\/a><\/strong> (Bellevue West) are the touted freshmen. <\/p>\n

Haarberg, whose strength is his running ability, was the second-best QB on Saturday, I\u2019m told. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think Heinrich\u2019s development as a passer is light years ahead of where it was,\u201d Rhule said following the 120-play scrimmage as he praised all three of his scholarship signal-callers. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d prefer to have (the QB competition) go (awhile) because I think one of the biggest things that you have to see is how quarterbacks handle frustration,\u201d the coach said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want them to fight for it and earn it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Such an approach tends to bring out the best in competitors. <\/p>\n

In Raiola\u2019s case, his best offerings have a chance to become a series of eye-popping displays on autumn Saturdays, such is his level of talent and desire to achieve. <\/p>\n

If Rhule\u2019s approach indeed brings out Raiola\u2019s best, he\u2019ll win the job. <\/p>\n

It certainly appears to be heading in that direction. <\/p>\n

Never miss breaking news or another HuskerOnline article again. Click HERE to sign up for HuskerOnline\u2019s Daily and Breaking News Newsletters.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The post Steven Sipple: Rhule\u2019s approach to Nebraska QB competition seems to be clicking with Raiola<\/a> appeared first on On3<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

So far, so good. That\u2019s one way to characterize Dylan Raiola\u2019s first spring of football…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48800"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48815,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48800\/revisions\/48815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}