HOT! That’s what Saturday will be. It’s expected to be over 90 degrees in Lincoln as the Michigan Wolverines bring their number two ranking into Memorial Stadium. Can the Huskers bring their own heat to the game and upset the Wolverines?
It was hot in the east side of the stadium for Louisiana Tech when the sun came out. I had to go find some shade. What couldn’t be shaded was Nebraska’s inability to pass the ball.
This weekend is going to be a test for the Huskers and their young quarterback, Heinrich Haarberg.
Michigan doesn’t mess around on defense; they are stacked with veteran players at all three levels. Nebraska, if they are going to have any chance to win, need to find their passing game. Haarberg has been a running beast in his first two starts, but those long runs will be a lot shorter against a team that has future NFL players.
So how will Nebraska get the passing game going? Something tells me that Nebraska has been very quiet this week about their plan, but I would bet that they will use the passing game as more of an extension of the run game this week. Shorter, quicker reads and throws should be on the menu to get Haarberg into a rhythm. It would help if Nebraska could run their play action and their read option plays consistently enough that they could make something out of them.
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Louisiana Tech was able to mix up defenses, confusing Haarberg in the passing game. Delayed blitzes, overload with numbers on the weak side and different stunts made it hard on the offensive line and Haarberg.
Michigan will have watched film, and I can guarantee they will do a lot of that and more defensively.
The Nebraska offensive line has improved a lot since last season. They are allowing the Huskers to run the football at a high level. The key to this week will be how they handle the best competition they have faced yet this season. If they are able to help Haarberg have time to throw and allow him to get to the edge on running downs, Nebraska should be able to keep the game close. If not, the score might not be a blow out, but Nebraska will struggle to score.
Last game prediction was Nebraska 33, Louisiana Tech 13. The actual score was Nebraska 28, Louisiana Tech 14. The Huskers offense didn’t get much going in the first half of the game, but they were able to hammer home a three-touchdown lead before the sky opened and let loose with the storms. Nebraska gave up a late touchdown, but the defense overall continues to be the backbone of this 2023 Husker team.
Quick Notes:
Heinrich Haarberg…It’s go time for the Kearney quarterback. He was able to get his “preseason” games in for his first two starts. If Haarberg wants to take the job by the reigns, playing well against a potential playoff team like Michigan is the place to start. Haarberg needs to protect the ball, make smart quick reads, and not put the defense in bad positions.
Deshon Singleton…Back and forth each week, I can’t decide if he or Omar Brown is the bigger presence in the defensive backfield. Singleton seems to run downhill on running plays and plays lights out in coverage on passing downs. Nebraska has the best safeties they have had since 2021 and maybe longer than that. The Blackshirts have been incredible in stopping the run so far. With Blake Corum coming into Lincoln, Singleton and Brown need to make sure they tackle to the ground.
Anthony Grant…Grant has been down this road before. He has been the Husker’s starting running back in the Big Ten before. He should be relatively fresh for Michigan. If Nebraska is going to have any chance this weekend to pull the upset, Grant will need to keep the Huskers out of long third down and distance situations. Pushing the run game up the field and not sideways will be the most important thing he can do.
Bryce Benhart…Benhart has been a whipping boy for the offensive line the last couple of seasons. In the past he struggled in the run block game and simply looked like he couldn’t adjust to speed rushers. Not this season. Benhart was never given the chance to learn before he played and that was unfortunate, but he is healthy and playing at a level that allows Nebraska to leave him isolated on the right side. That’s a big lift because Turner Corcoran has needed some help on the left side. Benhart has played at an All-Big Ten level so far this season. He has anchored the line and has been an offensive MVP.
My heart says that the Blackshirts will show up and show out against Michigan. When Matt Rhule was hired, I circled this game as a game that you can probably judge where the overall operation for the Huskers is headed. Michigan plays like Nebraska wants to play, and the Blackshirts so far have delivered. The offense hasn’t been pretty, but if they can sustain some drives, push the football downfield just enough to keep Michigan from teeing off on the run game, the Huskers can make this a game. I think this will be Matt Rhule’s opportunity to show Husker Nation what we can look for in the future and hopefully it isn’t too distant! GBR!
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