Nebraska head coach talks spring practice period, pass rushing, and staff structure

[ASFN Admin]

Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule met with the media on Saturday following spring practice. The topics of conversation included the spring practice period, pass rushing, and staff structure.

The Cornhuskers will end the spring practice period on Saturday, April 26, allowing fans to preview Nebraska's football, volleyball, and soccer teams for the 2025 season.

On the football field, the Huskers will feature 7-on-7 games and skills competitions similar to the NFL's Pro Bowl games. Nebraska greats of the past will also participate in various skills competitions. There will also be a women's flag football game between Midland University and the UNL all-star intramural team.

He opened his media session by discussing the difference between practicing indoors and in Memorial Stadium.

“We practiced in the indoor early on, so we did pre-practice run throughs, pre-practice special teams, warmed up, stretched, all those things, special teams, tackling, a little bit of live stuff. We went to the stadium, we got about 90 plays. The goal was to get three groups at least 30 plays live. We were probably somewhere around there. We might’ve gotten 32 or 29 for a group. We keep track as we go.

On what drills they ran​

We did everything from open field to red zone to low red zone to goal lines to two point’s plays, to end of games to needing a yard to kicking field goals. We had a couple punts and had overall pretty general work. You can probably tell it’s early on we’ve been doing so much teaching, 7 on 7, 9 on 7, team run, team pass, those types of generic scripted things. I thought it was really good. We came out of it healthy. A lot of guys got work to look for when watching the tape.”

On the results of the drills​

“We have some guys I know can rush. We have some really athletic guys. I think we’re also pass protecting at a really high level, which is really good. I wouldn’t say we’re absolutely dominant, like we’re destroying them defensively. I think we’re having an iron sharpens iron type of back-and-forth.

On the defensive line​

I like where the D-line is, I think Phil (Simpson) is doing a great job with those edge guys. Terry (Bradden) is doing a great job with those other guys and they’re working together where I see kind of a comprehensive rush plan start to come together.”

On the coaching staff changes​

“Every year you enter with a new team, a new coaching staff. Even if the coaches are coming back, they’re all probably different. I think they’re making an impact, I think they’re providing a lot of input, all doing a nice job, a bunch of guys who work really hard. I’ve been really pleased.

On the role of the head coach during the spring​

Like I said last week, the strain on me is less because they handle their business. In general, those guys are just really professional. I think I had to walk into the defense and be like ‘Enough, get out of here.’ We have a lot of recruits in on Friday so they were getting ready for that which is different, they were getting prepared for that. I really like the staff, like the job they’re doing. They’re teaching, coaching, you see a lot of guys getting better.”

Nebraska will open the 2025 college football season on Thursday, August 28, when the Huskers face the Cincinnati Bearcats at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The kickoff time has yet to be determined.


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This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: What Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule said following spring practice

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