Week 11: Matt Rhule speaks on firing OC Dana Holgorsen, scouting Rutgers

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule spoke to the media on Monday at the Hawks Championship Center for the first time following the recent firing of offensive coordinator Dana Holgerson. Following the team’s 24-13 loss at Illinois in Week 10, it was decided that the team needed a change.

“I respect and appreciate Dana and the work that he’s done,” Rhule said. “I think I’ve spoken to you about things he’s done in his career, and the work that he has put in. So, I’m very, very grateful. But I feel like this is what we needed. ”

As Dana Holgorsen exits Nebraska, quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas will take over play-calling responsibilities.

Thomas’s coaching experience dates back to 1998, where he was a student assistant with Texas Tech. His first offensive coordinator gig came in 2005 with Midwestern State. He would then go on to assume a multitude of different roles, spending time in the NFL with the Falcons and Steelers, while later being a quarterback coach and offensive coordinator for Arizona State and UNLV.

Nebraska is not the first time that Thomas has worked under Rhule, as he was also his co-offensive coordinator at Baylor in 2019.

Following the team’s fourth consecutive loss to the Illini, Nebraska now sets its sights on a 2-7 Rutgers team.

” (They’re) fairly similar to our defense in that they are a 4-3 quarter-based defense,” Rhule said. “They have altered their DNA as the years gone on, but they are built to stop the run and limit explosive plays.”

Historically, Nebraska is a perfect 6-0 over the Scarlet Knights.

Watch Matt Rhule’s full press conference here:

Scouting Rutgers

As previously mentioned, the Scarlet Knights enter Saturday’s contest with a 2-7 record and a 1-5 tally in Big Ten play. The lone win came against Maryland, and Rutgers is coming off a 31-10 loss at Wisconsin in Week 10.

Against the Badgers, Rutgers put up a total of 255 yards, but went 4-of-13 on third down conversions and gave up five sacks.

Rutgers has started two different quarterbacks this season in A.J. Surace and Dylan Lonergan, with Surace getting the start in its last two games against Wisconsin and Michigan. Surace has thrown for 823 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions, while Lonergan has passed for 1,066 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Wide receiver K.J. Duff is the Scarlet Knights’ main offensive threat, as he has caught 45 passes this season for 774 yards (17.2 per target) and nine touchdowns. He also averages 96.8 receiving yards per contest. Additionally, Antwan Raymond – their main tail back – is a player to watch out for as well, averaging 87.7 yards on the ground (5.3 per carry) and has found pay dirt six times.

For the season, Rutgers averages 363.1 yards per game while allowing 411.9. The Scarlet Knights also allow an average of 32.44 points per contest.

On defense, Sekou Kromah leads the team in sacks with three, while Walker Moses and Bradlee Jones have both picked off two passes.

For Glenn Thomas to take over play-calling responsibilities, this game presents as a promising opportunity to get Nebraska’s offense back on track, and get back to the 43.6 points per game averaged through the Huskers’ 5-0 start.

Score predictions

Nick Eriksen: 28-7, Nebraska

Will Charlton: 20-3, Nebraska