Matt Rhule Lays Out What He Is Looking for in the Next Defensive Coordinator for Nebraska Football

Today Matt Rhule had his signing day press conference and of course was asked about John Butler and the direction he plans on going for defensive coordinator.

Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule was quick to mention that former defensive coordinator John Butler is a great coach. He even went further to say that Butler did a great job and that it was more about the fit with Rhule himself and not about Butler’s ability to lead a defense.

“John Butler did a lot of great things for us but it wasn’t the exact right fit for me and how I am so it’s probably more about me than anything else. He will go on and have a ton of success. His character and work ethic was unmatched. It’s just the right fit for us moving forward.”

Regarding the rest of the staff, Rhule said that he will continue to evaluate everybody but that the reason he moved so quick on Butler was because Butler has certain opportunities in front of him and he wanted him to be able to take advantage of those opportunities.

But what about the next defensive coordinator?

He thought that the sustained effort and intensity was missing the last two weeks in games against Iowa and Penn State. He isn’t looking too much at scheme and X’s & O’s but more about the leadership to get players to compete and play hard.

The quote from Matt Rhule:

“I think for me, I want someone, who…it’s not scheme, it’s our play style and how hard we play. The reality is the past two weeks, we didn’t play hard enough. We were not the more physical team. I want player development. I want physicality. I want effort way more than scheme. I want someone who can bring that all out in us. Phil (Simpson) is meeting with every kid right now and he is relaying that message on what we expect the next month. There is a play style we want and it was on display early in our tenure here and hasn’t been on display quite as much (lately). While the numbers were good, in the league and in this stadium, you better stop the run and be able to run the football.”

“It’s easy to put it on the players. Do not put it on the players. There’s one rule that works for me and that is don’t ever tell me the players aren’t good enough. Don’t ever tell me that…I want a coordinator that gets 11 guys to play as one.”

So there you have it.

My short analysis of this is that maybe Rhule feels John Butler might be a better fit for the NFL and that his strengths (which every coach has their own strengths and weaknesses) might not be meant for the college game. Just like Rhule’s strengths are not meant for the NFL and he has said as much.

Will be interested to know where he ends up landing. When asked about if he thinks it is required that they have the new defensive coordinator before the transfer portal opens up, he made it sound like it would be nice but it’s not required.

Rhule just wants to get the right guy. Ideally, he already knows who that is going to be.