Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule held a media session to preview the upcoming matchup against Northwestern on Saturday. A focal point of his address was the importance of preventing sacks in their offensive scheme.
Rhule emphasized that a cohesive effort from the team is crucial for avoiding setbacks during games. “Everybody doing their job at a high level,” he remarked, noting that previous games had been impacted by sacks that disrupted their rhythm. He highlighted the one-on-one nature of their matchups, where effective blocking is essential. “It’s you vs. him. You have to block the guy in front of you,” he stated, affirming that playing against top-tier teams requires efficiency and execution.
The head coach also discussed the various strategies being implemented on the offensive line to tackle different blitz patterns. “We don’t go out and block the blitzes they’ve run. We block the blitzes that we’re seeing that people are giving us,” he explained. Rhule pointed out that the team’s approach includes specific rules tailored to their opponents, ultimately relying on players to perform at a high level in critical moments. “Players win games and they have to go make blocks and they have to do things at a really high level against a really high level Northwestern team,” he added.
Additionally, Rhule reflected on the team’s practice week, asserting that the players maintained a strong work ethic. “I don’t think they took the gas off for practice,” he said, reinforcing the need for focused preparation. He acknowledged that last week’s short practice schedule required some adjustments but expressed confidence in the team’s ability to move forward while learning from past experiences.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are set to face off against the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday, October 25, with kickoff scheduled for 11 a.m. (CT). The game will be broadcast on FS1 and available on the Huskers Radio Network, promising an exciting day for college football fans.