One-on-one with Matt Rhule: Process impacted?

Coach speak

Sounds like Rhule thinks the shots down the field would hurt us more than the short yardage plays. But that's only true if they can make that play. Why not make Liberty prove they can complete the shots down the field? Instead we gave them a free 5 to 8 yards every pass play which resulted in a ton of third down conversions. How about forcing them take a bigger risk down field, this is liberty, how good could their deep ball have been? I could see that justification if we were playing Tech or Ok state but it was Liberty... You have to make adjustments based on who you're playing.

Maybe I am wrong here, but in the first half our DBs played off and gave up the short stuff and liberty scored primarily field goals. In the second half, they played tighter and started getting beat over the top.

I think the game plan took into account that an FCS team would stall out eventually if given the opportunity(happened a few times in the first half). Let them have short stuff and count on them making a mistake. That way you don't subject your inexperienced secondary to long passes and big plays.

The problem is that it mitigates the pass rush. I think aggressive coverage early let's our d-line get in more of a rhythm with their rush.

Dude, get a life. It's going to be a big transition to the B12.

I'm a Matt Rhule supporter, but he seemed a little dazed through this interview.

I'm very much a Matt Rhule supporter and really want him to succeed.

I do, though, wonder how many head coaches successfully live by the philosophy: "I don't like losing, but I'm not going to make everybody's life life miserable because we lose a game."

We had no pass rush the entire game. None whatsoever. Zilch. Nada. Inexcusable!

I finally listened to this and the bottom line is........


.......this year is the first step in a long re-building process; maybe four to five years.

Pale Rider said:

---

I finally listened to this and the bottom line is........


.......this year is the first step in a long re-building process; maybe four to five years.

---

Pale,

I think it will be a much shorter process than you think. I think this game was a perfect storm and we will start to improve steadily throughout the year.

I agree that our DL and linebackers have got to start working together to stop the run, as well as, our DL must get better at bringing pressure. I may need to go back and look at the video, but it seemed like KJ Smith was ineffective in the game at DT. I wonder if he's not better off playing primarily outside and occasionally stunting inside. We've got others who can play inside. KJ was outstanding playing outside last year, so I don't really understand moving him inside. Admittedly, I'm not a coach, just my two cents.

Good 2 cents 79. I do hope you are right.
I seem to always set myself up for severe disappointment with my high expectations.

Who cares that we lost, it's only a game. Our culture is much better and our players aren't as scary.

MidWestBear2010 said:

---

Sounds like Rhule thinks the shots down the field would hurt us more than the short yardage plays. But that's only true if they can make that play. Why not make Liberty prove they can complete the shots down the field? Instead we gave them a free 5 to 8 yards every pass play which resulted in a ton of third down conversions. How about forcing them take a bigger risk down field, this is liberty, how good could their deep ball have been? I could see that justification if we were playing Tech or Ok state but it was Liberty... You have to make adjustments based on who you're playing.

---

He is the coach so we have to believe he knows the limits of his players. If we are worried about Liberty beating us over the top then this will be a season long issue. Perhaps we should prepare ourselves for DBs off the ball all season long and hope for drops or penalties to kill the other teams drives.

Jacques Strap said:

---

MidWestBear2010 said:

---

Sounds like Rhule thinks the shots down the field would hurt us more than the short yardage plays. But that's only true if they can make that play. Why not make Liberty prove they can complete the shots down the field? Instead we gave them a free 5 to 8 yards every pass play which resulted in a ton of third down conversions. How about forcing them take a bigger risk down field, this is liberty, how good could their deep ball have been? I could see that justification if we were playing Tech or Ok state but it was Liberty... You have to make adjustments based on who you're playing.

---

He is the coach so we have to believe he knows the limits of his players. If we are worried about Liberty beating us over the top then this will be a season long issue. Perhaps we should prepare ourselves for DBs off the ball all season long and hope for drops or penalties to kill the other teams drives.

---

We are going to have different DBs as the season goes along, and the ones that played in the first game will improve as well.

The team looked tentative and slow on Saturday, particularly on defense. Some have argued that this was because they practiced too hard. I doubt it. They are 18-22 year olds and they have fast recovery times. I suspect that they are having to think too much as they are all learning a new system, and sometimes getting it wrong. Repetition, in practice and in games, will make them better and allow them to play the game without thinking. They are going to get much, much better.

I also suspect that there may have been a little bit of over confidence on the part to the team as a whole because it was Liberty, who had a 2.2 percent chance of winning. Overconfidence can cause people to subconsciously sit around waiting for something good to happen instead of having a sense of urgency and making something good happen.

Those who claim that the cupboard is bare on defense are simply making meaningless excuses. The cupboard is not bare, the team will get better as the season goes along. We'll be fine.

What does "we'll be fine mean?" 3 win, 5 win, 8 win season?

Mr. Goodbear said:

---

What does "we'll be fine mean?" 3 win, 5 win, 8 win season?

---

It means the the team that lost to Liberty is not going to be the team that beats TCU on the road at the end of the season.

2