Nebraska HC Matt Rhule looks to toughen up spring ball

Matt Rhule Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska HC Matt Rhule looks to toughen up spring practices

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 4/8/23

Nebraska football has made a significant change under new head coach Matt Rhule.

Rhule is entering his first season as the head coach of the Cornhuskers. He is replacing Scott Frost, who was fired after a 1-2 start to the 2022 season (Nebraska finished 4-8). Frost, an alumni of the university, went a disappointing 16-31 across his five seasons in Lincoln.

Under Frost, Nebraska players did not do a lot of tackling during practices. That was something interim head coach Mickey Joseph wanted to change, as the Cornhuskers’ tackling was recognized as a problem under Frost.

During a Thursday post-practice press conference, Rhule revealed that the team was doing full-speed practices, with even quarterbacks live.

Rhule during his presser today stated, “we started practice off today, we came right out of stretch and we went QBs live right outside the 5yd line.”

We’ve gone from no tackling in practice under the previous staff to full speed scrimmaging with QBs live under this staff. pic.twitter.com/oFj1rqkcio

— Nightmare (@NebNightmare) April 7, 2023

That is a big change.

Programs sometimes hire the opposite of what just failed them. Where Frost may have treated players in a soft and cushy manner, Rhule is clearly taking a much, much different approach to try to find success in Lincoln.

Huskers fans have to at least be intrigued to see what kind of turnaround Rhule could offer in the fall.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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