Nebraska head soccer coach Matt Rhule met with the media on Monday afternoon. The Huskers wish to rebound after a 31-24 overtime loss to Illinois final Friday.
Coach Rhule disclosed a number of necessary items of knowledge throughout his media availability. The primary is that offensive lineman Turner Corcoran’s hamstring harm is extra vital than initially thought.
The top coach additionally mentioned the hiring of former Husker kicker Brett Maher. Maher will help Particular Groups Coach Ed Foley in working with the younger kicking corps. Nebraska kickers are excellent on additional factors this season, going 16-for-16 however solely 4-for-6 on area purpose makes an attempt.
The Fremont, Nebraska native kicked for the Cornhuskers from 2008-2012. In 27 profession video games, Maher made 102-of-103 additional factors and was 39-of-50 in area objectives. He was named the Large Ten Kicker of the 12 months for 2011 and 2012.
Nebraska now travels to West Lafayette to face the Purdue Boilermakers. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CT, and the sport could be seen on Peacock.
Discover extra feedback from Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule under.
Dylan Widger-Imagn Photos
“Turner (Corcoran) has a major hamstring, so he’ll be out for some time. Tommi (Hill) is each day primarily based on his ache threshold with the plantar fasciitis. Jimari (Butler) goes to play, he was the one which was out earlier than.”
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports activities
“I believed he performed very well. He pressured a fumble, he had tight protection on the one he had the cross interference referred to as on, tight protection on the sideline. He performed with power and physicality. He performed very well.”
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports activities
“I believed he performed very well. Sadly time obtained away from us and that affected us, however even that was a twist transfer. We would have liked a bit of bit extra assist there. I believed Gunnar (Gottula) got here in and crammed in effectively.”
Dylan Widger-Imagn Photos
“They’ve so much after contact. I imagine at halftime they’d 31 yards dashing. It was actually within the second half as a result of I bear in mind addressing that. We predicted it, they have been going to go tempo, no huddle. They’re going to run our PO. They adjusted as the sport went on and so they discovered extra runs. They ran some crack tosses, they ran some various things. On the finish of the day, we didn’t get off the blocks and win third downs. You may solely run the ball if you’re changing third downs as a result of in case you run the ball you’re going to be on third downs. They have been in a 3rd and manageable. They didn’t get the third, they obtained the fourth down. We’re not tackling on the degree that you simply’ve seen us deal with at. We’re not getting off blocks and we weren’t on the degree we’ve proven earlier than. That’s one thing we have to enhance this week.”
Dylan Widger-Imagn Photos
“DeShon (Singleton) obtained fooled on the one the place the man stored going from tight finish to offensive line. They adopted the rule. I feel they introduced it. They introduced it to me. He wanted to know that, however he obtained fooled on that. The remainder of them on the finish of the day, the landing that they threw was the identical play that we threw on fourth and three. We simply don’t cowl the tight finish after which the following time we get picked on the vast finish popping out of the fullback place. We’re simply going to should be extra disciplined. That appears like coach communicate, but it surely’s actually the place we’re proper now. As these video games get tight and our workforce will get a bit of tight and so they begin doing uncharacteristic issues, that’s my job, I’ve to discover a strategy to get us over the hump.”
Dylan Widger-Imagn Photos
“I don’t assume something was ok in that sport. The factor that was disappointing was that we had some good rushes and the quarterback will get up inside and we had some miscommunications. Once more, a variety of errors that I haven’t seen us make since final yr at Michigan. It confirmed up for the primary time. I may sit right here and undergo each little factor with you, however the one theme I’ve is that none of it was ok. We nonetheless had an opportunity to win the sport. That exhibits the progress our guys have made, that each one these errors like giving up a landing on the primary drive simply exhibits that we nonetheless had an opportunity at profitable the soccer sport. It actually simply wasn’t ok.”
Dylan Widger-Imagn Photos
“I’d blitz (Dylan Raiola). We have been profitable versus man. We put 4 vast outs on with the thought technique of can their fourth nook cowl Jacory (Barney Jr.) or Jaylen (Lloyd) and so they began enjoying a variety of zone. You simply noticed Dylan (Raiola) going up and down the sphere on them in zone as a result of they’re a person workforce. On the finish of the sport, they went again to zone and so they went again to strain. It’s sort of what we stated final week. Their protection is 5 one on ones and so they deliver the linebacker and our again has to dam the linebacker. The disappointing factor was clearly additional time. It wasn’t almost ok. It was a debacle. On the finish of the day, it’s only a misassignment. It’s not like we’re not good. That’s my message to our guys. They blitz a linebacker up the center and the tailback doesn’t decide it up. You may’t win these video games doing that. You may’t win these video games false beginning. Persons are going to strain us, identical to on protection, we’re going to should be extra disciplined on what we’re doing on offense. It’s not like we’re doing one thing completely different than what we have been doing the primary three video games. We all know what we’re doing. We have been just a bit too tight. We needed to cool down and make another new play. Illinois performed unfastened and so they made a pair performs that received the sport for them.”
(Photograph by Steven Branscombe/Getty Photos)
“He crushed it. I believed Dylan was wonderful. He obtained fooled on the primary one. They went to zone and he didn’t see it and he regarded on the man aspect and he may see the security. He was nice at it and seeing it. We had two interceptions, each we’re balls on our arms. We had that likelihood, you catch that ball and also you go up two scores. I believed Dylan noticed the ball effectively. We nonetheless should work on defending the soccer. We put two balls on the bottom, that may’t occur. We obtained on them. There’s a variety of issues he’s engaged on. His preparation is permitting him to see what is going on in gametime.”
Dylan Widger-Imagn Photos
“We knew it proper then. On the left hash, we’re enjoying the ball to the left. The gunner and everyone seems to be working to the left, then the ball goes to the appropriate. It was only a dangerous punt. An extended punt, you sort of outkick the protection, kick it to the appropriate aspect of the sphere so the fellows are working then they’ve to show and chase. I believed the fellows gave effort to recover from there, but it surely’s even the large kickoff returns we’ve had. We kick the ball, deep kickoff to the left aspect. We’re making an attempt to pin them, so our protection is all like that. Once we kick the ball within the center, it opens up so much for these guys. It’s the identical factor on punts. It’s like every little thing else within the sport. It’s not horrible, it’s simply all sort of like this. You get in these Large Ten video games and I instructed our guys, our narrative as a workforce needs to be fully targeted on this week. You begin fascinated with all these different issues, and you’ve got a sport like this. Illinois, you could possibly really feel Illinois’ ardour for that sport. They’d been ready for that sport for a very long time, since we went there final yr. I believed our guys performed arduous, I’ve no subject with that stuff. It’s simply a variety of uncharacteristic errors, and I put that on me as the top coach. Some coaches say ‘it’s all on me,’ however when that occurs, I’m at all times like, these are sometimes issues that occur in yr two. You’ve gotten a few video games, and impulsively you might have this sport the place you come again down. You train the fellows, it’s a must to assault each sport the identical approach by way of your power and energy and staying locked into the sport. I’ve to discover a strategy to get our workforce to, when the sport will get tight, to not get tight, however benefit from the battle and benefit from the competitors. It simply felt actually tight on the market within the second half, apart from some guys. Dylan (Raiola) doesn’t really feel tight. He’s on the market, saying ‘let’s go play.’ A few of the younger guys don’t, however I feel a few of the older guys are and so they begin doing uncharacteristic issues versus enjoying somebody man. I say that to say, we’ve a great workforce, they simply should play effectively. That sounds so easy, but that’s sort of the place we’re.”
Dylan Widger-Imagn Photos
“I feel Jimari (Butler) has that. The arduous factor with Jimari is that he’s been restricted. He didn’t play two weeks in the past and he was restricted this week. I feel we’ve a variety of management. We now have such good character and we’ve such good effort and we’ve such good management, we simply should play a bit of bit higher. I performed for Coach (Joe) Paterno, and video games like this, he’d be like ‘everyone cool down, we simply should make another play.’ That’s sort of how that sport felt, the ball was in our arms, however they made a play. It’s fourth down cease, and so they make a play. On our sideline this week, we will’t fear in regards to the officers or a name we really feel goes in opposition to us. We will’t fear about Tony (White) and Satt (Marcus Satterfield) and Ed (Foley) making an attempt to make the proper name. Our guys simply should exit and play. We simply should play unfastened.”
Dylan Widger-Imagn Photos
“It’s the hen and the egg. How do you study to win in case you’ve by no means actually received? Our guys are winners, and that’s the most important factor for me. Our guys do profitable issues. I simply need them to be themselves in these moments and cease worrying about all this different stuff, and simply exit and compete. Illinois got here right here to compete. Illinois wished to beat us, and we wished to beat Colorado. You begin entering into these video games, and it’s the illness of, they’re going to be this file going into this sport. I’ve tried arduous to get them to not take heed to that. They don’t take heed to me, essentially, as a result of they’re 18-22 and so they have their very own brains. I like them and I imagine in them, however that doesn’t get you wherever. Simply go compete in opposition to this workforce and play in addition to we will. Hopefully this was a great wakeup name, and once more, I’ve to personal the truth that our workforce went on the market and didn’t execute in essential conditions. I’ve to personal that.”
Dylan Widger-Imagn Photos
“It’s very arduous to make selections if you’re making selections primarily based on percentages. The ball on the 21-yard line ought to be a 95% area purpose made. The sport shouldn’t have come all the way down to that play. I’ll say that for John (Hohl). He’s going on the market and he’s filling in. He’s going to be a wonderful kicker. This can be a lot. To go from not kicking, to impulsively kicking the game-winner at Memorial Stadium with the entire world watching, that’s so much. To not get the proper snap and the proper maintain, each these guys weren’t with us, even throughout spring soccer, actually. Aidan (Flege) obtained right here sooner or later, however you guys get what I’m saying, they’re latest. I respect them going on the market. That being stated, you’re on the workforce. You’re a Nebraska Cornhusker. We now have to make these performs. We simply should exit and make another play, whether or not that’s that snap or that kick or, in case you return and have a look at a few of the routes open in additional time, we’re vast open. We simply make another block or block our man. It’s powerful, however that’s my job and I’ve to make the appropriate choice. I selected to kick it in that state of affairs, and it didn’t go in. So I’ve to personal that.”
Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports activities
“It’s not an important snap. We’d wish to snap the ball with the proper quantity of rotation in order that after we snap it, we don’t should spin it, we will put the ball down. That’s what we’re on the lookout for. We’re on the lookout for the ball within the hand in order that the kicker doesn’t even should see the ball come right here and get put down right here. We’re on the lookout for the ball on the hand, come down, laces out. That’s what we attempt to grasp for that craft. It’s not excellent. I don’t wish to put it on anybody man. That ball has to undergo the pipes. If you wish to win a lot of these video games, that ball has to undergo the pipes. Once more, we additionally should make extra performs. If we’ve a 17-10 lead going into halftime, if we’ve a 24-17 lead, we will’t allow them to convert. third and 9, we will’t allow them to run a quarterback draw after which throw the ball to an o-lineman. That’s not Nebraska protection, and our guys will simply play a bit of higher, hopefully.”
Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports activities
“It wasn’t getting any higher. It’s arduous as a result of it’s not likely diagnosable. The thought course of was simply to close him down. Final week, as of Wednesday, he didn’t really feel nice on Tuesday. Shut him down final week for nevertheless many weeks it takes, then attempt to begin to construct him up. We’re going to be in a variety of video games like this, you’d wish to have wonderful area purpose kicking. We did that with Tristan to get him wholesome once more and hoping that John (Hohl) can reply from this. This will likely be a possibility for him, actually for the remainder of his life, to be pleased with his response. I belief that he’ll reply effectively. That is tough, however like I stated, the sport didn’t come down to only that.”
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports activities
“We employed Brett Maher. He’s on employees. Brett’s teaching for us. Working with these guys. We now have a mindset coach. They make a spotlight video of themselves every week for visualization. We’re working via all of these issues. There’s a course of for younger gamers to turn into an important participant. Typically it’s a must to undergo a few of these hurdles in your strategy to turn into an important participant. Actually for our entire workforce, we went via this disappointing sport and we’ve to emerge on the opposite aspect. I noticed a few of the different guys strolling with their heads down at present. There’s no time for that. We now have to prepare for Purdue. We now have to study from it and transfer on. We’re sort of nonetheless within the studying learn how to win part. That’s every particular person studying learn how to win their part. I hate that we’re nonetheless within the studying learn how to win part. That’s not what I need. It’s not an excuse like, ‘Hey guys bear with us.’ It’s the Large Ten. Everybody goes to wish to present up each week and the video games are going to return all the way down to the wire. On Saturday, I watched USC at Michigan. Video games are going to return all the way down to the wire. Everybody’s going to wish to compete.”
Dylan Widger-Imagn Photos
“I feel we did some good issues. I feel Ceyair (Wright) got here out and made some good performs. It simply wasn’t what we anticipated. Within the first half, I believed they settled down after that first drive. Tommi (Hill) is making an attempt to go. He can’t go. He comes out. He performs one other collection. I believed we sort of settled down. The factor that’s hurting us a bit of bit is that even after we’re stopping them, it’s lengthy drives. It’s time of possession. It’s flipping the sphere. We’re sturdy with the ball at our 10, 15 yard line. We’d wish to defer. We’d wish to kick off. We’d wish to make you go three and get to go on a great area place and play tilted on the sphere. I feel Coach (Kirk) Ferentz has confirmed everybody how to do that on this league. If we’re giving up an eight play or 10 play drive, after we can simply make a play and get off the sphere. I feel total, I don’t assume any of us are actually glad with Friday night time.”
Dylan Widger-Imagn Photos
“We simply completed stuff simply now. So there hasn’t been so much. Lots of guys have been round yesterday. I met with some guys one on one. I simply completed my workforce assembly and my assessment of the sport. I feel we get a variety of possession from these guys. The most important query as a coach is, ‘Are you able to inform me how we misplaced?’ Like how did we lose? Effectively, we couldn’t get off the sphere on third down. We gave up all these yards after contact. The query is ‘Why? The place did this come from?’ That’s the key sauce of fixing these items. To me, that comes from a variety of intimate private conversations with gamers and coaches and that’s one thing that can proceed all through the week. I’ve tried to hit on two of them. Primary, each sport goes to be like this. We higher get comfy with battles. Each sport goes to be like this and we obtained suckered a bit of bit early this yr the place we’re going into halftime 28-0 and it’s like, ‘Oh we’re an important workforce now.’ All very safe that we’ve tried to say, ‘Hey, we’re gonna play higher groups.’ So typically it’s a must to simply understand that we’ve to get actually comfy with enjoying with 4 minutes left within the fourth quarter. That’s been the message all alongside. Sam (McKewon), you requested me one thing and we do should run the ball at a very excessive degree and run the ball higher, put on the opposite workforce down a bit of extra. Even after we are throwing it. We now have to discover a strategy to run the ball higher.”
Dylan Widger-Imagn Photos
“I might’ve appreciated to have extra carries. This was a sport for me the place I believed it was going to be 20 carries for Dante (Dowdell). I felt that he was going to be the hammer on this sport. There’s actually no strategy to trick that protection. You’re going to should run the ball between tackles and there can be physique blow runs, then you definately hopefully break up one. I might have appreciated to see them get extra concerned within the offense, but it surely sort of grew to become a throw sport, and we have been having success throwing the ball. There’s only a strategy to win each sport. You get in these video games, like I stated we put 4 traces of the sphere they’re enjoying cowl too. Simply go assault it and I do know we went down and scored however simply as we transfer ahead there could be video games that if saas lengthy as we win, I don’t care if we don’t run the ball as soon as. I feel we transfer ahead and have gamers that may assist us. We have to make the most of.”
(Photograph by Eric Francis/Getty Photos)
“He may probably assist us. We haven’t practiced but. I haven’t seen him take a snap there so I don’t know. (Henery) Lutovsky’s performed deal with, (Tyler) Knaak is again this week. Micah’s performed deal with up to now. Gunnar (Gottula) performed effectively. So we’ve a variety of issues, however we’ve a variety of work to do. We now have apply once more this night. Tomorrow is full pad apply. We are going to see the place we’re at.”
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports activities
“I feel it’ll be one other battle. I hope we play effectively on the street. There’s nothing fairly like getting in a lodge and it simply being us. It’s a hostile territory. The beauty of us is that we all know our followers will journey. It’s not like going someplace and also you don’t see any pink. We’ll actually have our followers there. I hope our guys are wanting ahead to it. We had an important sport with them final yr. Hudson Card is a superb quarterback, (Devin) McCabe is an incredible tailback. They’ve Reggie Love additionally. They ran the ball for 250 yards final sport. Their linebacker is nearly as good of a linebacker, nearly as good of a participant you possibly can have within the Large Ten. He leads the Large Ten in sacks. He had some large hits final yr. Once more, it’s the identical protection in some ways. Will probably be a variety of the identical challenges that we tried to repair final week and see if we will do it this week.
Dylan Widger-Imagn Photos
“I’ll take heed to any particular person in the event that they put the time in. I inform my gamers on a regular basis, by no means take recommendation from somebody you wouldn’t commerce locations with. I additionally say, by no means take criticism from somebody you wouldn’t take recommendation from. I’ll take heed to anybody in the event that they put the time in. Rahmir (Johnson) got here to me final week and was like ‘we’re working this and so they’re making us shuffle, however (Christian) McCaffery, when he runs it, they simply flip and go.” Rahmir had finished the work. He requested why we have been doing it like this, and we modified it. There’s two methods to do it. It’s not like we have been incorrect, however when gamers have an opinion, in the event that they’ve put the work in, I’ll hear. On the finish of the day, if it’s fourth and two, fourth and one, in case you return in that sport, a variety of our third and ones had turn into fourth and ones. We hadn’t actually received a variety of these quick yardage issues. That was simply sort of the thought course of. When Dylan (Raiola) threw the landing to (Isaiah) Neyor, so we’ve an thought what we’re speaking about with this child, he goes ‘coach, I’m sorry, that was so silly. I used to be making an attempt to throw it away. I ought to’ve thrown it away.’ It’s not the end result I’m on the lookout for, it’s the method. It’s the championship caliber preparation and the championship caliber habits. The toughest factor is championship caliber expectations if you get to the fourth quarter. Go make the performs to win the sport. Within the fifth quarter, go make the performs to win the sport. Sadly, we needed to make another play.”
