Matt Rhule showing full support for Marcus Satterfield in year two
Nebraska Coach Matt Rhule glances up at the scoreboard during a timeout in the second quarter of the Red and White Game Saturday April 27, 2024 at Memorial Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
INDIANAPOLIS — The Huskers are approaching the 2024 season with a lot of hype, and Big Red Nation is hoping the shortcomings from last year are in the rearview mirror.
After all, Nebraska had a glaring weakness, and that was the turnovers on offense. The quarterback’s 16 total interceptions, which led the Big Ten, is something that’s been on Matt Rhule’s mind since the conclusion of the Heroes Game.
Offensive Coordinator Marcus Satterfield took the shoulder of the blame from Husker fans for the struggles on that side of the ball. However, Rhule is rallying behind Satterfield as the team approaches fall camp, and believes there’ll be improvement.
Rhule revamped the roster from the transfer portal, lured in five-star gunslinger Dylan Raiola, and his younger players received valuable experience. In his eyes that’s going to help Satterfield in year two, and the depth will be beneficial if the Huskers can’t stay healthy.
“I thought last year we played three quarterbacks, I think when you go back and look at the things that happened, a lot of guys did do a lot of good things,” Rhule said. “Marcus is a coach that I trust and believe in, we brought in Glenn Thomas to be the Quarterbacks Coach, we have a lot of history the three of us together, and we have a lot of skill.”
Familiarity is what Rhule is leaning on as the Huskers prepare to take on the new 18-team, Big Ten. The horrible turnover margin in 2023 is something that can’t happen this fall, so the quarterbacks have to be more comfortable in Satterfield’s system. Rhule understands interceptions can often be an overrated stat, considering tipped balls, and butterfingers by the receivers.
Fumbles were an issue for the offense too, so Rhule knows everyone must make it a priority to protect the ball at all cost.
“We gave the ball away 31 times, we only took it away 14, so both sides have ownership,” he said. “But to give the ball away 31 times, our season would’ve been different had that not happened.”
There’s enough returning talent, experience, production and leadership for Satterfield to operate with. So Nebraska fans won’t accept excuses if the same problems continue. In Rhule’s mind talent can only go so far, and everything still comes down to coaching.
The careless mistakes played a big part in how Nebraska crumbled down the stretch, and ended the season on a four-game losing streak. Rhule is confident the players will perform up to their potential, and that the offense has turned the corner as a whole.
“We have a really good football team, and if you turn the ball over three times, you’re probably going to have a close loss,” the 49-year old coach said. “Close losses at Nebraska are not an affliction, we don’t need to get out the voodoo doll.”
Turnovers plagued Scott Frost’s tenure, and Rhule doesn’t want that narrative to paint his time in Lincoln. Past Nebraska coaches have made the mistake of holding onto assistants that are detrimental to the future success of the program. Bill Callahan did it with Defensive Coordinator Kevin Cosgrove, and Mike Riley did it with Danny Langsdorf. Even Frost had three different Offensive Coordinators, and still couldn’t get it right.
At the end of the day, there are 11 players on offense, plus a lot of coaches behind the plays to make sure everything operates smoothly. Although the coaches are going to hold themselves accountable, it’s still a team game, with so many contributing factors when it comes to executing a play. Which is why Rhule is standing behind Satterfield’s growth with the offense, and expects the best is yet to come.
“We need to hold onto the ball properly, make one more catch, have a little bit more confidence, make one more play, win a couple of more games, and all of a sudden we’ll be talking in a different tone.”
