Before every game, I ask a reporter who covers the Gophers upcoming opponent to give us a view from the opponent’s perspective.
I asked Luke Mullin from the Lincoln Journal Star six questions about the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Nebraska travels to Minneapolis on August 31st to kick off their season against the Gophers on national television.
Huge thanks to Luke for giving us his thoughts!
Follow Luke on Twitter: @LjsLuke
Follow Noel on Twitter: @N0elthompson
1. The hiring of Scott Frost back in 2018 seemed like a no-brainer and a home run at the time. His disappointing tenure ended just three games into last season. Now enters Matt Rhule. Who signed an 8-year contract worth $74 million last November. What is the atmosphere like around the program under Rhule? What changes have you seen, and how is it different compared to Scott Frost?
There is definitely a noticeable change in the day-to-day atmosphere around the program under Rhule’s leadership. The head coach himself is very personable, approachable and down to earth – so that focus on human connections is present across his entire staff. Nebraska coaches and players spent two weeks staying in a dorm together during training camp, so team chemistry appears to be high at the moment as well.
There are some strategic changes from the Frost era, too. Rhule’s strength coaches have prioritized mobility over adding pure strength, while nutrition and medical recovery have also been a focus for the new Nebraska staff. On the field, Nebraska is shifting away from the spread-style offense Frost preferred to a pro-style format Rhule is familiar with.
2. The first year under new coaches can be a roller coaster of sorts. You have new coordinators implementing new schemes, players transferring in and out of the program, and a team discovering a new identity. Vegas has the Huskers going to a bowl game for the first time since 2016. What are the expectations for this team heading into 2023?
Expectations are low, but hopeful. To put it this way, 2022 was supposed to be a year where Nebraska put its struggles in the past and finally grasped a winning record – only for things to come crumbling down three weeks into the season. No matter what 2023 brings, it won’t be as stressful and painful as what Husker fans went through last season.
There’s also an understanding that Rhule’s rebuilds have taken time, and his first year at schools haven’t been impressive. Nebraska fans are willing to be patient, so there’s not an expectation that six wins or a bowl have to be on the cards.
That being said, it’s the most talented roster Rhule has begun a rebuild with. Improvement from 2022, meaning five or more wins, is the expectation. Making it to a bowl would be a plus in Rhule’s first year with the team.
3. There will be a new quarterback for the Huskers in 2023, as last season’s starter Casey Thompson is now at Florida Atlantic. Under center now is Jeff Sims, a transfer from Georgia Tech. What can you tell us about the new Husker quarterback? What are his strengths and weaknesses?
Physically, Sims is as good as it gets at quarterback. His arm is comparable to, if not better than last year’s starter, Casey Thompson, but it’s Sims’ all-around athleticism that stands out in person. From his QB coach to television analysts, many people around Sims have remarked that he doesn’t look like a quarterback – his physique is more comparable to a running back or a linebacker. With a goal to run the ball and have a play-action passing game developing from there, Sims is a great fit for the Husker offense. Turnovers hurt him greatly at Georgia Tech, but that’s not been a major concern for the NU coaching staff so far. If anything, Sims’ throwing accuracy is the biggest area of his game that needs work right now.
4. Dynamic playmaker Trey Palmer is off to the NFL after having a productive season for the Huskers last year. The defensive line lost some pieces in Garret Nelson and Ochaun Mathis. What players should Minnesota fans know about on offense and defense that could have an impact on the game?
Palmer’s departure has opened the door for last year’s No. 2 wideout, Marcus Washington, to take a lead role in the offense. Nebraska’s wide receivers as a whole are solid but unspectacular, but a one-two running back punch of Gabe Ervin Jr. and Anthony Grant is among the better duos in the Big Ten. Defensively, cornerback Quinton Newsome is on track to be an NFL Draft pick at the end of the season. Nebraska has several talented linebackers such as Luke Reimer, Nick Henrich and MJ Sherman – but getting them all on the field at once has been a challenge.
5. Matt Rhule brought in Marcus Satterfield from South Carolina to coordinate the offense. Tony White left Syracuse to be the defensive coordinator for the Huskers. Both coaches were in the same position at their respective schools. What would you consider the strengths of the offense and defense? What are some question marks heading into the season?
The offense’s strength should be the run game. I say should because there’s no guarantee that the offensive line will be able to put their heads down and consistently create gaps to run through. Grant and Ervin are strong, physical runners and Sims will get his chances to run on RPOs or play-action. Nebraska might not have a lot of 30-plus yard carries this year, but as Gopher fans know well, 3 or 4-yard carries get the job done over the course of a game. The offensive line, while improved, is the question mark again. Defensively, Nebraska should feel good about what it has at linebacker and in the secondary, but the defensive line unit is young and inexperienced.
6. There’s nothing quite like starting the season on national TV at night. That is what both teams get to look forward to on Thursday, August 31st. For the second year in a row, Nebraska starts the season against a conference foe. The Huskers have lost four straight against the Gophers and come into Minneapolis as seven-point underdogs. P.J. Fleck is 5-1 against Nebraska in his tenure at Minnesota. No doubt there will be a lot of Husker fans traveling to catch Matt Rhule’s first game. What does Nebraska need to do to pull off an upset in Minneapolis? What is your prediction for the game?
A seven-point spread seems fair to me. Turnover troubles have sunk Nebraska in many one-score games before, so winning the turnover battle would immediately be a way for the Huskers to close the gap between them and Minnesota. Otherwise, I think physicality is a concern given the success the Gophers and many other Big Ten teams have had in the fourth quarter against Nebraska. Much like in recent years, I’ll predict a one-score Minnesota win, 28-21 over Nebraska.