New DC

SWIHusker said:
I know Rhule mentioned he’s had a lot of power 5 d coordinators reach out already with interest in our open position. 
 

has anyone actually heard legit names of interest for our open spot? Of course Butler is an option(I hope not) but just wondered if anyone has heard any other names floated. 
Click to expand...
Rhule says a lot of stuff.  At this point I don't really take what he says at face value, and will see what shakes out.   

Part of me says "why are sitting P4 DC's reaching out to us?"  and my response to myself is "that sweet buyout money of course!".  Or they really aren't, and Rhule is just saying sh!t hoping something sticks.  

 
With Rhule saying he is going to make a decision after our bowl game, that would make January the decision timeframe which gives time for most P5 and NFL DCs to finish out there season.  That could include a guy like Leonhard in the NFL and other CPF coordinators like Scott Symons to finish their seasons.

 
HuskerNation1 said:
With Rhule saying he is going to make a decision after our bowl game, that would make January the decision timeframe which gives time for most P5 and NFL DCs to finish out there season.  That could include a guy like Leonhard in the NFL and other CPF coordinators like Scott Symons to finish their seasons.
Click to expand...


He also said he wanted the defense to keep its structure of being a multiple 3-3-5.  It's nuanced, but I would be surprised if true 3-4 guys like Leonhard were interested in adapting.  It also makes sense if Rhule believes in players they've recruited for this positionless 2.0 version they've been driving towards.   

 
HuskerNation1 said:
With Rhule saying he is going to make a decision after our bowl game, that would make January the decision timeframe which gives time for most P5 and NFL DCs to finish out there season.  That could include a guy like Leonhard in the NFL and other CPF coordinators like Scott Symons to finish their seasons.
Click to expand...


I would bet that it's more like there won't be an announcement until after the bowl game - he might well decide before then.

 
floridacorn said:
He also said he wanted the defense to keep its structure of being a multiple 3-3-5.  It's nuanced, but I would be surprised if true 3-4 guys like Leonhard were interested in adapting.  It also makes sense if Rhule believes in players they've recruited for this positionless 2.0 version they've been driving towards.   
Click to expand...
 
We played a crap ton of an even front over the last half of the season.

 
Throwing out Butler's stats as DC at PSU:  

During the 2013 season, Butler’s Penn State defense was ranked 49th in the nation in total defense, allowing 381.3 yards per game, and 58th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 26.2 points per game. During the 2012 season, Butler served as the Nittany Lions’ defensive backs coach.

And there's this.  Seems like a disconnect to what Rhule wants.  If you want a 3-3-5 THEN GET A DC THAT's COACHED THAT.  Don't get a guy that's never coached that scheme....The guy he learned from is gone....How do you coordinate the entire defense with the 3-3-5, when you haven't coached it.  We recruited guys for the 3-3-5...If that's what Rhule wants, get a 3-3-5 guy.  Or maybe Rhule wants a 3-4....Make or break here.

Butler has quickly adapted to the principles of Nebraska’s existing defensive setup. Throughout his nearly 30-year coaching career, Butler said he’s worked within 4-3, 3-4 and a 4-2-5 nickel defensive schemes — but never the 3-3-5 system implemented by defensive coordinator Tony White that he said is “so unique.”

“When I came here, it was all about, ‘I’m going to learn this defense and keep my mouth shut, and really try to figure out what’s going on and how the pieces of the puzzle work,’” Butler said. “And then when the time comes, based on things I’ve done in the past, I can interject with Tony in our conversations about how maybe I can help it. But right now it’s really about me learning it, teaching it and refining it.”

The opportunity to place five defensive backs on the field excites Butler, as does the ongoing process of fully learning and conquering a new defensive system. With the versatility to try different personnel packages or coverage assignments, Butler is eager to see the 3-3-5 defense in action.

 
Some floated the idea of Jim Leonhard because he might be mad at wisconsin for how dirty they did him. His twitter has nothing about Broncos and is entirely love for the badgers still. Even with his pay jump this would be a tough get.

 
I like Jim Leonhard, solid choice.  But I wonder if it will be Elijah Robinson.  He’s been a great recruiter.  I don’t think he can pull big players into Syracuse (like 4 and 5 star guys) but you definitely could at Nebraska and the Big 10.  

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Whoever is db coach or DC, I just pray they teach and practice tackling techniques because our secondary was horrendous. It was a pleasant surprise when they made a proper form tackle…and I feel that i should be expecting that not happy that they made the tackle they were supposed to make.

 
Husker in WI said:
Regarding our DB performance, it's also worth pointing out the CB situation was not ideal. Tommi Hill was supposed to be a shutdown guy, and at the start of the year we were great. A lot of this can be attributed to the DL as well, but Shedeur had season lows in completion percentage, yards, and TDs against us. 

Illinois is where things started slipping - I think Rhule regrets letting Tommi play, he was a liability in several games because of his foot. A preseason injury to Blye Hill meant we were playing Buford out of position, and while that worked a lot of the time he and Hartzog got picked on by bigger receivers. Wright stepped up big time, but he was our 3rd or 4th corner going into the year. Some other guys (little Buford, Charles, Sanders, Tarver) got opportunities, but either didn't capitalize or were redshirting. Amare Sanders is the only one who was on the week one depth chart, we were testing the limits of our depth. If I had to guess the coaches wouldn't have redshirted Sanders if they could go back and sit Tommi Hill when he was hurt initially. Buford and Hartzog were largely solid, but just limited and teams exploited them.

We also just didn't have great athleticism in our safeties/rover. That should be less of a problem moving forward as the young atheletes develop, but I definitely wouldn't mind an incoming transfer or two in the secondary. Some of the coverage busts come back to coaching (and he has mentioned the challenge of coaching college kids versus pros), but IMO the bigger issues were CB injuries and lack of elite athleticism.
Click to expand...
Lack of elite athleticism.  Reminds me of Corey Raymond commenting on South Carolina, look at them and look at us (paraphrasing)

 
SouthLincoln Husker said:
Not saying he is, but he has 30 yrs of experience & he was the DC at Penn St.  In his defense, he is a 4-3 guy not a 3-3-5.  He also had to use what's here & we lost a lot from the previous year.

Penn St def was not good, but they were under probation.
Click to expand...


So he was DC for one year a decade ago, did a bad job and never got the chance again.   Got hired as our passing game coordinator, our pass defense took a huge s#!t as a result.   Now he's suddenly qualified to be a defensive coordinator?  Not buying it.  Rhule needs to do better.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Back
Top