So how long will Heinrich Haarberg and the Nebraska Cornhuskers remain together?
At least as the starting quarterback?
Let us review the last three months to see how we have gotten here. Jeff Sims was brought in last January, to fight for the starting job. He won that job during the spring. Sims started the first two games of the season, but turned the ball over in very costly situations, and Nebraska started 0-2. Sims hurt his ankle against Colorado and had to come out. In comes Heinrich Haarberg. Haarberg goes on to lead Nebraska to a 5-2 record in games he has started.
Now, the current situation. Haarberg has been running hesitant for the last three games. You see that sometimes in quarterbacks after they take a few licks, because getting nailed by big nasty linebackers and defensive ends isn’t everyone’s favorite past time. Sometimes players become hesitant because they aren’t sure what they are supposed to do on a given play. Sometimes players lose their aggressiveness because they are hurt or want to avoid getting hurt worse.
I suspect one of these things is affecting Haarberg right now. During Scott Frost’s tenure, it certainly happened to Adrian Martinez. Adrian looked like he was going to be an All-American his freshman year at Nebraska, but over time, he too suffered an affliction to running hard on each play or figuring out how to stay healthy running the football at a high level.
I don’t blame players for this progression when it happens. Playing quarterback is hard. It’s especially hard when you are going to get beat up game after game.
Haarberg is not a polished passer. If he isn’t running at a high level, the reason for having him out there in the first place is greatly diminished.
Matt Rhule made it clear that they are developing Haarberg for the future at Nebraska. The kid is still young and will have two more years to play after this one.
Haarberg is also leading the team in turnovers, starting to make them at the same rate as Jeff Sims did when he was healthy. The same rate that led Sims to not get the starting job back in the first place.
So now we must wonder, will he, or won’t he (meaning Haarberg) come back to that freelance, running through defenders, quarterback he was the first few starts? Or will he continue to make costly mistakes, not being aggressive enough in the run game?
It likely will determine if Nebraska finishes in a bowl game or sits at home for another season.
ON WITH THE REWIND…
Last game prediction was Nebraska 30, Michigan State 14. The actual score was Michigan State 20 Nebraska 17. For the first time in a while, the Blackshirts weren’t perfect. Michigan State had a solid game plan, made the defense defend the pass, and made trick plays and scored just enough. I said it before, I don’t know that the defense will give up more than 20 points in a game the rest of the season. I still think that. At East Lansing, it wasn’t the Blackshirts fault the offense couldn’t do enough to win the game. If the Blackshirts need to be perfect to win every game, I don’t expect many more wins this year.
Quick Notes:
Heinrich Haarberg…Haarberg was unable to pass to wide open receivers last week. Whether he didn’t see them, or they dropped it, or they ran the wrong route, those are passes that are needed to win Big Ten games. Haarberg is the leader on the team. Last week was on him. Receivers were open and he either threw a bad pass, or simply didn’t make it through his reads. I understand the offensive line regressed a bit last week, but Haarberg held the ball way to long on too many plays. Teams are wise that Haarberg isn’t throwing well. The coaching staff needs to get back to the throws that he throws well and quit trying to do too much that Haarberg can’t.
Tommi Hill…After a two-interception performance against Purdue, you could tell that Hill was starting to figure out how to jump bad passes. He almost did it again against the Spartans. The problem is the defense is counting on him to pick those passes in each game. Hill needs to bounce back this week with a big performance, against a Maryland team that will want to use his aggressiveness against him. If Hill responds with a big game, it could swing the balance toward the Huskers.
Malachi Coleman…Coleman had two catches at the game in Michigan State. Now is the time that the offense starts looking for him more. Coleman is open on a lot of plays, and Haarberg doesn’t always get to him in his reads. Coleman is as good at running crossing routes as anyone on the team and it’s hard for defensive backs to keep up with him when he gets past them. Nebraska needs to use that to their advantage. Coleman should be targeted at least as many times as Fidone. If those are your main reads, fine, but make sure Coleman is getting a look when he is out there.
Nash Hutmacher…If Nebraska is going to make it to a bowl game, they are going to need a defender to step up and simply will them to a victory. Hutmacher has been the most consistent player on the Blackshirts this season. This week he needs to put the center into Maryland’s quarterback to disrupt his timing. Maryland likes to throw short passes, quick passes, and give their players a chance to make plays in space. If the defensive line can push the line back to disrupt that timing, Nebraska can take advantage of miscues.
Score Prediction: Nebraska 24, Maryland 20
Nebraska did not play well in the second half against Michigan State. It was a bit alarming that the defense played better, but the offense played worse and the special teams, especially the punt team put Nebraska in terrible field position what seems like the entire game. The game against Maryland is supposed to be very windy. I think that gives a big advantage to Nebraska. I think the special teams will not play as bad as the week before either. Maryland could easily win this game, they are favored. I just think Nebraska has a lot left to play for, and I expect them to bounce back this week and clinch a bowl berth, while we are all screaming, GBR!!!
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