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It's Rutgers Week for Nebraska Football: Updates from Husker Head Coach Matt Rhule

Offensive lineman Micah Mazzccua will return from a suspension but won't start against the undefeated Scarlet Knights.

Joe Hudson

Oct 7, 2022; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights wide receiver Aron Cruickshank (1) catches a pass as Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back DeShon Singleton (9) defends during the first half at SHI Stadium.
Oct 7, 2022; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights wide receiver Aron Cruickshank (1) catches a pass as Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back DeShon Singleton (9) defends during the first half at SHI Stadium. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
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Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule met with reporters Monday to preview Saturday's game against Rutgers. Below are Kaleb Henry's notes and complete video from the session.

  • Respect for Rutgers coach Greg Schiano
  • Gunnar Gottula continues to get better. Played well Saturday at Illinois.
  • No better-coached DL than Rutgers
  • Javin Wright played Saturday, ahead of the goal to be back for USC. Rhule says it was all joy getting him back on the field.
  • Micah Mazzccua was suspended last week. Available but remains a backup.
  • Stefon Thompson has a sprained foot. Anticipating him being back this week.
  • Tommi Hill has a chance to play Saturday.
  • Trying to figure out what you can and can't do with the officials.
  • Intensity of Alex Bullock blocking on the edge and preparing for teams making changes.
  • Shame of special teams is the front-and-center conversation of field goals while Brian Buschini played so well.
  • Expected to be better at turnover margin this year but had not quite anticipated being so explosive.
  • Exceeding expectations with getting the ball to a number of different playmakers.
  • Rutgers doesn't give up explosive plays, makes you earn it.
  • Scoring in the red zone and getting the tough yards will be key.
  • "Can we line up and knock you back and get the yard?"
  • Last week wasn't the field goal protection team, it was all the snapper.
  • Not panicking on special teams. Just have to do what they know to do.
  • Making the snaps and kicks in practice, expecting to do the same in the games.
  • Rutgers is going to come after the punts and kicks. Has a history of getting blocks.
  • "Some guys play football because they're talented. Some guys play football because they're football players."
  • Ceyair Wright is a football guy.
  • Coaching Dylan Raiola (and Daniel Kaelin) now as they would if they were juniors.
  • Dylan can do really high-level stuff, so the system he's working with is high-level.
  • Elite preparation by QB1.
  • Humble confidence.
  • Everyone on the team is growing in figuring out how to have success and what needs to be done.
  • Would like to get Emmett Johnson more involved.
  • Still thinks there's a rhythm to the running back rotation.
  • "Tackling Dante (Dowdell) is hard"
  • Power running from Dowdell early sets up Emmett and Rahmir Johnson later.
  • Gabe Ervin is getting his swagger back.
  • Have four RBs they like.
  • Rutgers has two really good backs.
  • Rutgers is a difficult run game for Nebraska.
  • John Bullock is still a young player in terms of his development as a linebacker.
  • Constant search for improvement.
  • Ndamukong Suh's dominance. As dominant as he's been on the field, the philanthropy to give back.
  • Excited to have Suh back this weekend.
  • Great for players to see the best days of their lives are not the recruiting rankings or where they get drafted. Each thing should be better than the last.
  • Hearts and concerns with those in North Carolina, where Rhule has a coaching history.

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Joe Hudson
JOE HUDSON

Joe Hudson has operated a Husker-related website since 1995 and joined forces with David Max to form HuskerPedia (later renamed HuskerMax) in 1999. It began as a hobby during his 35 years as a newspaper editor and reporter, a career that included stints at the Lincoln Star, Omaha World-Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer and Denver Post. In Denver, Joe was chief of the copy desk during his final 16 years at the Post. He is proud to have been involved in Pulitzer Prize-winning projects in both Philadelphia and Denver. Joe has been a Nebraska football fan since the mid-1960s during his childhood in Omaha. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in journalism and economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1976. He resides a few freeway exits north of Colorado Springs and enjoys bicycling and walking his dogs in his spare time. You can reach him at joeroyhud@outlook.com.

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