Dana Holgorsen Dives Into Some of the Good and Bad of Nebraska's Offense

The Huskers' new offensive coordinator spoke to the Nebraska media for the first time Tuesday. The team is preparing to face Wisconsin this weekend on Senior Day in Lincoln.

Dana Holgorsen talks with reporters after Nebraska football practice on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, ahead of the Huskers' game against Wisconsin. / Nebraska Athletics

Contents

1. Coverage
2. Video
3. From the other side
4. More info

New Husker football offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen offered a blunt assessment or two during his first appearance before the Nebraska media.

Speaking after Tuesday's practice, Holgorsen said the game tapes he viewed after his arrival two weeks ago showed "embarrassing" perimeter blocking by the Huskers' wide receivers.

"The first thing I said to them, 'If you don't start blocking out there, then you're not going to get the ball thrown to you.'"

"These guys are big bodies. I'm like 'Why are you not blocking worth a crap on the perimeter?' It's embarassing."

How did they respond? "This past week was our best perimeter blocking of the season," he said of the receivers' blocking during Saturday's 28-20 loss at Southern California.

One thing that hurt the offense in Los Angeles, he said, was the running backs' failure at times to hit the holes the offensive line was creating: "There were a lot yards left out there. ... We've got to get those guys to open their eyes and trust their blocks and hit it."

Holgorsen had much more to say about his unexpected role with the Huskers ("I didn’t come here with the intention of being the offensive coordinator and the play caller"), his assessment of quarterback Dylan Raiola ("How is this kid a freshman?") and more. Also speaking after Tuesday's practice were defensive coordinator Tony White, Raiola and several other players.

The Huskers are preparing for their home finale Saturday against Wisconsin. Both teams are 5-5 and one win away from bowl eligibility.

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Coverage

• HuskerMax/SI | Holgorsen Wants to 'Help This Great Program'
• HuskerMax/SI | Dylan Raiola 'Excited' for Second Game With Dana Holgorsen
• Husker247 | Hearing from Holgorsen: Grateful and grinding leading the Husker offense
• Husker247 | Raiola said there's 'not a lot of gray area' in Holgorsen's approach
• Associated Press | Dana Holgorsen’s cure for boredom is to work on turning around Nebraska’s struggling offense
• Nebraska Athletics | Quotes: White, Holgorsen, Raiola, Bullock, Singleton
• Omaha World-Herald* | Blunt as ever, Dana Holgorsen unpacks his role, struggling run game
• Omaha World-Herald* | Straight talk and 16-hour days: It's 'all ball' for new Nebraska play caller Dana Holgorsen
• Omaha World-Herald* | Tony White, Nebraska pass defense seek fix after USC coverage busts
• Lincoln Journal Star* | Holgorsen got to work quickly on Nebraska's 'embarrassing' perimeter blocking
• Lincoln Journal Star* | Raiola calls up Oregon's Dillon Gabriel for advice on Wisconsin's defense
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Video

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From the other side

• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Four things to know about Wisconsin opponent Nebraska and a thought on the Cornhuskers' sellout streak
• Badger of Honor | QB Dylan Raiola gave Wisconsin extra motivation to take down Nebraska
• Badger247 | Videos: Badgers Prep For Life Without Phil Longo
• On3 | Fickell reaffirms commitment to Braedyn Locke as starting QB after Phil Longo firing
• Wisconsin State Journal | Polzin: Luke Fickell whiffs hard on explaining Longo firing, plan moving forward

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More info

• Depth charts: NU | WIS
• NU-WIS stats matchup
• Gameday flip sheet
• WIS game page on HuskerMax
• KLIN/HuskerMax practice reports (video)
• 2024 NU roster

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