Rhule is getting the whole team to play as a team. Synergy is the term that comes to mind. The product is greater than the sum of its parts.
A sign of good coaching - assembling a team, identifying capabilities and getting the most out of them. Rhule has done very well so far - year 1. Got a ways to go but the Huskers are starting to get the respect from opponents. We are no longer laughing stock. Some teams may wish we were not on their schedule.
I think this is going as Rhule has planned, maybe slightly better. First you have to earn the right to be respected. That gives you a fighting chance. Then you play harder than you ever thought you could. You work your butts off every day.
The intensity is there. The focus is there. The teamwork and camaraderie is there. The effort. After just 7 games, those are clearly signs of progress. He is building depth, getting youth blended in quicker than any prior coaches, and getting a good dose of confidence with humility. There are no selfish players - it’s we, us, the room, the mutual support, etc.
Frankly, there are no stars - yet - but there some rising stars all over. Not sure how much better most of the older guys can get, but the young ones are showing incredible upside potential. Years 2 and 3 can be much more like Husker football the way it should be.
I am a proud run the damn ball guy and a strong believer in the option game. We see what it could be IF we have players taught to execute it well. These guys have enough to tease opponents - imagine what a well schooled team can do with serious repetition and more than four or five simple plays. It’s been the best of a not very effective offense with a variety of plays, schemes, formations etc.
HH / Simms have shown they are NOT throwers. Both have decent running ability but ball handling is downright scary at times. But, the revolving doors at WR and RB have really played a part. Both QBs are struggling and frustrated - presumably- with lack of success offensively. Patience has to be paramount but at this point, both QBs want so much to help the team. I think focus on trying to succeed overshadows focus on fundamentals. Thus fumbles and INTs.
Penalties are trending better but aggression and effort have continued. A very good indicator - this bunch is getting better. Yesterday, we watched plenty of things to work on and complain about but the final score looks damn good to me. An ugly win but a handsome score! Purdue is not that bad. Nobody in the Big Ten is ‘that bad’. Long way to go but in about a month, this season will tell us how far we have come. I suspect we are headed in the right direction! Be patient and cheer for the Huskers. Things are looking up. We may find that this new and improved team can make us proud fans once again! No
matter how many more wins we scratch and claw our way to, our opponents are going to remember who they played! GBR!