Ups and downs, as expected, but Glenn Thomas thought true freshman Dylan Raiola had a great camp in winning Nebraska's starting quarterback job.
"Overall, felt like (he) gave us the best opportunity down in, down out to move the football," said the Husker QBs coach Wednesday night on the Husker Radio Network. "And I think he's becoming more and more confident. Obviously with that news out there, he can take a step forward from a leadership standpoint because everyone knows the situation."
Thomas believes Raiola has also taken the news "graciously and humbly," as he becomes just the second Husker true freshman in the modern era to start the opener at quarterback. The other was Adrian Martinez in 2018.
Raiola is getting most of his work of late with the top tier of receivers who he'd likely be throwing to in a game.
"Because now you're really trying to fine line the timing, the spacing, that trust in between receivers and quarterbacks," Thomas said.
There's also that balance too of trying to get Heinrich Haarberg and Daniel Kaelinthe needed reps to stay ready.
"Coach does a fantastic job, probably the best I've ever been in my career as far as getting those backup guys reps," Thomas said. "So we feel like each one of those guys in that room are continuing to get better."
>>> Thomas appreciated Raiola's comment during the Tuesday press conference about needing to earn the receivers' trust.
"It's so true. It really is. I think there's a time and a place where you have to assert yourself from a leadership standpoint, but also you have to walk the walk. … I think that speaks volumes for him and his maturity to understand that aspect of that."
>>> Thomas said he thinks all the QBs understand they'll all be needed to be at their best for when their moments might come.
In that pursuit, he thought Haarberg improved at seeing the field and his progressions this offseason. "Utilizing touch. Not just pace balls. Ball I.D. 'Hey, I want the ball in the left shoulder or the right shoulder, or hey, I have to get it into that second window.'"
>>> Thomas wasn't surprised Haarberg handled the QB decision with class.
"I have the utmost respect for him, as does everybody in that locker room in how he's approached the situation before the news and even after the news. We're going to need him in more ways than one and he stepped up to the challenge, no doubt about it."
>>> Kaelin has been so eager to learn and Thomas described him as a delight to have in the room.
"Nothing but humble, team first, whatever I can do to help. He really takes that approach every day."
>>> Walk-on Jalyn Gramstad has been a great addition, Thomas said.
"I don't think there's anybody in that building that wouldn't think if he's in there that he could help us move the ball in a productive fashion."
He's also important in helping the scout team simulate the opponent's offense. "Because he has the arm talent to do it, but also he has the athleticism to do it. He can run around and do the zone read stuff. The off schedule out of the pocket stuff. He can give you a lot of stuff not only for the scout team but for us if we need him."
>>> As far as the Huskers not easing into anything with Raiola, something Rhule made clear Monday, Thomas said it's a little different with early enrollees where guys like Raiola and Kaelin have already had hundreds and hundreds of reps.
"He knows what he's doing. He has confidence in what he's doing. He knows where everybody's going to be. So we feel very, very confident about what he's doing and not having to limit the playbook based on that situation."
>>> Thomas thinks the helmet communication can be "a huge advantage" for the Huskers.
"In a game situation I think it will be fantastic just to give them cues. Just to give them a little something here or there, 'Hey, be ready for this situation. Look for this route, look for this coverage.' We've tried to simulate that best we can in practice and hopefully that can correlate to the game."
>>> Thomas believes the confidence of the offense as a whole has picked up throughout camp, and he's even seen it in how players are dissecting some of the exotic looks they might see on Saturday from UTEP.
The coach likes the cast around Raiola. "At every level we feel like there's some guys that can take some strain off the quarterback, which you need. You talk about breathable plays where it's not all on the quarterback to do that. The good thing too is you talk about the receivers, we have some long, rangy targets. So there's some room for error as far as accuracy. And those guys do a good job of catching contested catches. Then you throw the tight ends in. It's good. It's a nice mixture."
>>>Thomas likes the different range of players inGarret McGuire's position group.
He uses a basketball analogy in explaining how you want your receiver room to have varied talents and sizes. "You kind of want the point guard, you want the shooting guard, that power forward and maybe that center. If you kind of have all those little pieces, you have the best of both worlds."
>>> Thomas was asked by a fan if anything has surprised him about living in Nebraska.
"I think it's lived up to everything and more. I've been just so impressed with this place: the people, the passion, the tradition, the intensity."
