Steven Sipple: Nebraska’s running back injuries could test Marcus Satterfield’s creativity

Things I know, and things I think I know: As Matt Rhule gave the news of Rahmir Johnson and Gabe Ervin’s season-ending injuries Monday, I obviously felt awful for the two veteran runners.

Then, in short order, thoughts shifted to the Husker defense and a couple other key areas.

Tony White’s unit generally has been strong this season except for the second half against Colorado when Nebraska’s turnover problems on offense evolved into disaster for essentially all involved parties on NU’s side of Folsom Field.

In the wake of the running backs’ injuries, the Husker defense needs to bow up even more. It’s a crew with several determined veterans playing at a high level on all three levels. The unit has played with confidence to this point, and it’s not like the rest of the schedule is loaded with big-time offenses. It seems eminently manageable in that regard.

My thoughts then shifted to Anthony Grant, the senior running back. As Rhule pointed out, it’s largely Grant’s show now. Grant is proven. He’s durable. He’s 24 years old. He ran hard and well in Saturday night’s 35-11 win against Northern Illinois.

If you’re a Nebraska fan, you hope Grant has put his recent fumbling issues behind him because the 5-foot-11, 205-pounder is going to carry a heavy load.

How heavy? Well, that may be partly determined by how Nebraska uses quarterbacks Heinrich Haarberg and Jeff Sims. They’re both impressive athletes — 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds with good speed — who run the ball like running backs. Both show enthusiasm for barreling into contact.

Sims is back at practice after missing last week’s game with an ankle injury.

By the way, both can play other positions because of their size and athleticism.

I’m guessing we’ll see them on the field simultaneously at times.

This actually could get sort of fun for Marcus Satterfield. Most offensive coordinators embrace creativity, and Satterfield is going to have to come up with some answers that may fall under the non-conventional category in part because Nebraska lacks proven depth behind Grant at running back.

Haarberg’s obvious confidence and competence Saturday night may help settle Nebraska coaches’ nerves this week, and it helps that NU on Saturday will play a Louisiana Tech outfit that ranks 100th nationally in scoring defense and just surrendered 562 yards to North Texas.

Now, it’s incumbent on Sims to put his turnover problems behind him, which clearly is easier said than done in his case.

My heavens, this could get interesting.

Heinrich Haarberg comes long way in short time

As an aside, Haarberg’s life has changed almost on a dime.

“He battled last year as a scout-team quarterback,” Rhule noted Monday. “I don’t even know if he was in meetings last year.”

I do remember former Nebraska offensive coordinator Mark Whipple’s snicker last year when asked if Haarberg would travel with the team.

Now, look at the Kearney native. His team suddenly needs him in a big way.

I liked Haarberg’s demeanor Saturday night — in warmups, during the game, in post-game interviews, all of it. He clearly had command of the entire situation, and teammates noticed.

“I’m sure in those moments (last season), when he’s going through adversity and not complaining, guys gain respect for you,” Rhule said.

Nebraska players certainly responded well to Haarberg’s leadership.

So, although Monday’s injury news was heartbreaking for Nebraska coaches and players, all is not lost. Far from it. It’s just that urgency ramps up for basically every part of the team, including special teams.

Rhule says he’s seen good and bad on special teams this season. For Nebraska to win consistently, special teams need to be more consistent. This Husker team will win tough games and get to a bowl game only if two of the three phases play at a high level consistently.

The leading candidates to do so obviously are defense and special teams.

Rhule wants more “wow” plays on special teams — long returns, blocked kicks and the like.

It also helps if the quarterback can trust the defense to help get him out of jams, as was the case in the first quarter Saturday night when Haarberg was hammered hard in the pocket by a Northern Illinois defender and the ball came loose.

“When we had the turnover at the 5-yard line, and our defense took the field and stopped them the way they did, I think Heinrich knew he could go cut loose and play because the defense had his back,” Rhule said

“That was the team-type of environment that I’ve been talking about forever. That’s team football.”

Nebraska needs to lean into that approach even harder in the wake of Monday’s news.

It may also need to lean into the idea of using both Sims and Haarberg, with Chubba Purdy ready to step in.

Tell me you’re not intrigued.

Young guns at running back thrust into spotlight

Well, let’s see what a couple young Nebraska running backs have to offer.

Rhule says Emmett Johnson’s skillset is similar to Rahmir Johnson’s. Emmett Johnson can catch the ball out of the backfield and has excellent change of direction. He also can run between the tackles and learn pass protections.

“The thing about Emmett is, he’s really smart,” Rhule said of the 5-11, 190-pound Minneapolis native. “He’s highly competitive. He’s got that mindset of whatever it takes. If I said, ‘Hey, can you go over and play safety this game,’ he’d say, ‘Yes, sir,’ and go over and find a way to do it.

“I have full confidence in Emmett.”

As for the 6-2, 185-pound Kwinten Ives (Beverly, New Jersey), he’s a prototypical I-back, Rhule says. A downhill runner.

“He doesn’t know everything because he’s been reading off of a card,” Rhule said. “But he’s been in all the meetings.”

His life just got more interesting.

Heading for home

***Exhibit 1,234 of how Rhule embraces the Nebraska program’s rich history: Tom Osborne wanted 1.5 knockdowns per offensive play, and Ron Brown counts them for Rhule.

Make no mistake, Rhule pushes hard for physicality. You’re already seeing it on Saturdays.

If you’re a Husker fan, it’s a legitimate reason for hope.

***Nebraska’s blitz package is imaginative and effective, but NU has to get to quarterbacks more often with a four-man rush, as Rhule pointed out.

“Some of our base four-man rush with zone coverages, I want to see us improve,” Rhule said.

*** One of Rhule’s big takeaways from his first game in Memorial Stadium was how many people were in the stands for warmups.

“I don’t know if there’s another place in the country where people are in the stands that early,” he said.

***I really like the fact Rhule tells his players that playing for Nebraska is a “responsibility.” That’s a daily motivator if taken the right way. It just hits in a good way.

***NIL alert: Somebody has to create a Haar-burger, right? Yeah, I stole this idea right off of Twitter, or X, or whatever you want to call it. It better be a double burger with some kick.

Make it happen, someone.

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