Let's Double That Win Total Today!

That was fun!  No matter the game, anytime you can get a Husker win, it’s a great day.  That last win against Northern Illinois provided us with a new quarterback, an old running back and terrible news for the ball carriers moving forward. (Predictions are at the end if you don’t want to read the rest!)

Let’s start with Henrich Haarberg.  Haarberg was probably fifth string last year and before Logan Smothers and Casey Thompson headed elsewhere, was considered by many Husker fans to be playing the wrong position.  Even I thought that he might help Nebraska more at tight end.  He certainly is a great athlete.

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He showed that he can play quarterback.  He is a great runner, which was no surprise, but he came out and pushed the ball down the field and forced Northern Illinois to at least respect the pass.  To top it all off, he only accounted for one turnover.  The Blackshirts held serve for him after the fumble, and he came back and responded by putting up 35 total points, the most by the Huskers this season.

Where does that leave Jeff Sims?  Well, if Sims is healthy, I think you need to go back to him.  If he continues to falter, you at least have something you can build on with Haarberg, but Sims shouldn’t lose his job to injury.  What I do think is that Sims leash is much shorter than it was before.  Sims needs to cut the turnovers out, but he also needs a game at Memorial Stadium, and be allowed to get his feet under him at Nebraska.

I say all of this, knowing that Nebraska suffered devastating news on Monday, when Rahmir Johnson and Gabe Ervin Jr. were both announced to have season ending injuries.  For a team that wants to stop the run and run the football, it was about as bad of news that you could get.  

Nebraska has yet to really put it together on offense, but the one thing you had was experienced running backs to lean on through the season.  Now you are asking a redshirt freshman and true freshman to back up Anthony Grant.  The good news?  Grant has been the man before and he is a veteran runner that has proven it at the Big Ten level.  The bad news, Grant wore down last season.  Emmett Johnson and Kwinten Ives will need to spell Grant and they need to keep the snowball rolling downhill.  That means, no fumbles, few negative carries and helping to protect the quarterback in the passing game.

It's a long season.  Nebraska has found depth at quarterback, only to have it yanked from them at running back.  How Matt Rhule handles that, will be the difference between going to a bowl game and sitting at home again in December.

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ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 23, Northern Illinois 17.  The actual score was Nebraska 35, Northern Illinois 11.  Heinrich Haarberg was the story of this game, but the defense again played with their pants on fire.  The Blackshirts have become impossible to move the ball against on the ground.  While the sacks weren’t as plenty as they were in Boulder, they made Husky quarterback Rocky Lombardi look like an eighth year wasn’t going to help him.  If Nebraska can continue to shut down the run game, they are going to pull some upsets this season.

Quick Notes:

Heinrich Haarberg…For a first start, regardless of the opponent, you couldn’t ask for much more from Haarberg.  As a passer, he has a way to go, but at a runner, he is as physical as any quarterback in the run game since Jamal Lord.  Jeff Sims will be back for Michigan and may even play this week.  I know that I feel confident that if Haarberg has to play due to injury or poor play from Sims, that he will allow Nebraska to compete.  That is a big relief going forward.

Rahmir Johnson…Johnson has been one of my favorite players in his time at Nebraska.  It has always felt like he has never really caught a break in Lincoln.  Probably his most memorable season, Nebraska went 3-9, but Johnson ran hard and made big plays throughout the season.  He was great in pass protection and underutilized in the running game.  Gabe Ervin Jr. is a big loss as well, but I will miss Johnson if that was his last game in Lincoln.

Nash Hutmacher…As good as the Blackshirts have played, the player that has consistently stood out to me the most is the man in the middle.  Hutmacher is causing huge issues for offensive lines, often requiring double teams, and also collapsing the pocket on each play.  Nebraska hasn’t had someone take over at the nose this much since they went back to an odd man front.  I give Terrance Knighton a lot of credit, Hutmacher has been the leader on a strong defensive line that has surprised most with their depth and their impact for the Huskers.

Javin Wright…Wright has been bedeviled by injuries during his time in Lincoln, but he is making plays now.  Wright had his first pick last weekend, and continues to be a flex player, in coverage and stopping the run.  Wright has a high ceiling, everyone has always known that, but now he is starting to make plays that change the game.  He has been a great surprise moving from safety to linebacker.

Cornhusker Volleyball…As much fun as the Husker football win was last week, Husker volleyball deserves a shoutout.  Head Coach John Cook must be loving this team.  They are 10-0, went out to Palo Alto and dominated Stanford.  All of this without a senior, while playing four freshmen, that may be as good as anyone else they have played, at their respective positions.  If you aren’t a volleyball fan, or haven’t checked them out, please do.  They are super exciting to watch and cheer for!  

Score Prediction:  Nebraska 33, Louisiana Tech 13

This will be an interesting game for Nebraska.  I have a feeling Jeff Sims will sit out one more week and they will ride with Haarberg.  If that happens and Haarberg plays well again and Nebraska dominates this game, the water cooler talk will be high pitched going into the Michigan game.  If Sims plays and plays well, things should return to normal a bit.  Either way, I expect the Blackshirts to keep Tech off the board for the most part, but they may slip and give up a long pass for a touchdown.  Nebraska closes out their non-conference with their second win and move into the meat of the schedule in style, and GBR!