Coach Rhule Previews Scrimmage, Spring Game

Nebraska Head Football Coach Matt Rhule met with members of the media Tuesday after spring practice. Rhule said he was pleased with the way the team returned to practice after having four days off from practice.

"The retention seemed like it was pretty good," Rhule said. "We introduced some new situations, some new things, so kind of the challenge that I gave them last week, coming back this week, I didn't think there were a lot of missed assignments or anything." 

Rhule discussed the progress of the team over the course of practice each week this spring. 

"We're kind of one of those teams that, throughout the course of the week, build up and have big Saturdays, and I want us to be a little faster starting," he said. "Just trying to get that done. So, I had a team meeting today, which I normally don't do, just to challenge them a little bit. If it wasn't what I wanted, I only have myself to blame." 

When asked about the format of the Spring Game next Saturday, Rhule said he wants to see his team play hard.   

"We're planning on playing a game. I'd like to play a game, like a game and have it be competitive," Rhule said. "I've done a couple years where I had to do offense vs defense, but even then, we try to make it competitive. My goal is for it to be a competition and just to play it out." 

Rhule noted that this Saturday's live scrimmage will be a great opportunity to assess how the defense is adjusting to a new tackling philosophy.  

"The way we teach (tackling) is a little bit of a break from some of the things they're learned," he said. "We always are tracking the hip; we don't have guys running over the top. That's a departure from the way maybe they've played, so we still sometimes struggle with our angles.

"I think we're very willing to tackle, we're not a soft team. This Saturday I'll have a better answer because we're going to line up and play in the scrimmage and play a ton of plays and see how they tackle. I think our tackling is getting better." 

Rhule also praised Garret McGuire and the work he has done with the receivers group.  

"I think the receivers are one of our stronger groups, they're coming on, and I think he's done a really good job," Rhule said of McGuire. "As he starts to churn out NFL prospects, the top recruits in the country will realize if they play for Garret, they're not going to just get someone who's a hype guy. They're going to get a good coach who is also going to care about them off the field." 

Rhule said McGuire's experience has prepared him to lead this group of Huskers. 

"In six years of his life, he's been a part four offenses, so I think his X's and O's knowledge is great," Rhule said. "I had really no concern about his ability to relate to and work with players because I saw him working with NFL guys on a level beyond just, 'here's the card'. He was doing things with those guys that I wish all of our coaches could do." 

The Huskers will continue their spring practice on Thursday. The annual Red-White Spring Game presented by FNBO is set for this Saturday, April 22, at 1 p.m. (CT). Tickets for the Spring Game can be purchased on Huskers.com or by calling 1-800-8-BIG RED.