Matt Rhule walked into his pregame media session with the Ohio film still fresh and Bowling Green already on the board. The Nebraska coach didn’t waste time sugarcoating what he saw from his team in the opener, even after a 42-8 win that gave the Huskers plenty to like.
He started by thanking the crowd for enduring what he called “probably one of the hottest, if not the hottest, game I’ve certainly ever been a part of.” Then he turned to the bigger picture: respect for Ohio, appreciation for how Nebraska handled early adversity, and a clear message that the opener still left plenty to clean up.
Rhule said Nebraska’s penalties in the first half were a problem, noting that the scoring and the penalty chart lined up too closely. He pointed to improved focus later in the game, but made it plain that the mistakes can’t keep happening.
Defensively, he liked the way Nebraska handled the run, but not the breakdowns that let the quarterback escape in pass-rush situations and on zone reads. He also said players not taking the quarterback or the football “also cannot happen.”
Special teams, in his view, were simply there - not damaging, not impactful enough. He did praise Archie Wilson for getting one punt off with a free rusher coming at him, saying it was useful tape for the staff. Overall, Rhule said he was happy with how the team battled and responded, but the performance also showed what Nebraska can be and what it can’t be.
The next step comes Saturday night at Memorial Stadium, and Rhule clearly likes the setting. “I think there’s nothing quite like Memorial Stadium at night,” he said.
Bowling Green, though, has his attention for football reasons too. Rhule called Eddie George a friend and said he knows the kind of job George did there.
He described the Falcons as a tough, physical team with a good quarterback in Jay Kastantin, a diverse run game, strong blocking tight ends, and receiving tight ends who can stress a defense. He also singled out linebacker Pringle, who he said had 13, 14 tackles in the opener, and said Bowling Green’s defense played well in its last game.
Asked about Nebraska’s tackling against Ohio, Rhule called it “good, it wasn’t great, it was good.” He said the first play got away from the defense and added that the tackling against the quarterback has to improve, especially with Kastantin’s mobility. The emphasis this week, he said, is on taking better angles, keeping the quarterback in the pocket, and continuing to attack up front.
Rhule also had strong words for Anthony Colandrea after the quarterback’s debut. He said Colandrea was “excellent” and pointed to the backed-up throw as the biggest one a quarterback can make in a game.
Rhule credited him for running the ball when needed, taking the checkdown, and staying composed. He highlighted a 12 to 13 yard gain to Jacory Barney and a scoring throw to Mekhi Nelson, and said Colandrea showed maturity and fits what he wants at the position.
As for the biggest jump Nebraska needs from Week 1 to Week 2, Rhule kept coming back to the same themes: penalties, tackling and the kicking game. He said Nebraska is already identifying the issues and that week one can be messy because teams are still learning what the other side wants to do. Still, he stressed that pre-snap penalties are unacceptable and that missed assignments leading to explosive plays have to go away.
Nebraska and Bowling Green are set for Saturday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. CT at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. The game will air on FS1 and be carried on the Huskers Radio Network.
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Recruiting analyst Tim Verghese has said Florida State is making real efforts, but so far there has not been much traction behind the scenes. Demontagnac did not make the visit he had been expected to take, while Aliu has already been to Tallahassee and still remains committed to Nebraska, which is the kind of development the Huskers can live with for now. Florida States staff connection to former Nebraska coaches only adds another layer here, but the bigger question is whether the Seminoles can turn interest into something more serious before this recruiting fight settles down. [Read more 🡒]