Nebraska will win when it gains confidence

Beginning a new era in Nebraska football carries a certain level of expectations. Coach Matt Rhule is frequently reminded of the weight he carries as the man tasked with returning a storied program to prominence. 

The Huskers’ ability to get there, he believes, isn’t anything as tangible as recruiting or scheme. It may be even simpler than either.

“People always ask me how the season will go, and we have the coaches we have. We have the players we have. A lot of it will come down to confidence,” Rhule said. “A lot will come down to at what point do they believe they can really win? We all say we believe, but when you’re down 17-7 in the second quarter, the great teams that played here probably laughed and then took one 70 yards, made it 17-14. The other team had a lot of pressure on them. When we start playing with confidence, whether that’s next week or in two years, we’ll be a good team.”

Within the philosophy Rhule has brought to Lincoln is that confidence, the same confidence he sees as so crucial to the program’s success, must be justified. It doesn’t come from mere belief, but preparation and an informed understanding of the reasons for one’s success.

It’s why Nebraska first-string offense and defense match up when the team scrimmages. Rhule used offensive tackle Bryce Benhart as an example. He wants Benhart lining up across from Jimari Butler, one of the Huskers’ top pass rushers, as often as possible to better understand how to block the defensive ends and linebackers he’ll face throughout a Big Ten schedule.

Scheme notes: Tight ends coach Bob Wager said Thursday there will be “a lot of crossover” between tight ends and fullbacks.

“We’re trying to balance our time. We’re trying to maximize our skill set,” Wager said. “And utilizing those guys in multiple ways helps us learn about who they are and what they can do.”