{"id":18927,"date":"2023-10-08T10:53:24","date_gmt":"2023-10-08T15:53:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/?p=18927"},"modified":"2023-10-08T10:53:24","modified_gmt":"2023-10-08T15:53:24","slug":"steven-sipple-heinrich-haarberg-shows-enough-prowess-to-be-considered-nebraskas-qb-of-the-present-but-lets-keep-it-at-that-for-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/steven-sipple-heinrich-haarberg-shows-enough-prowess-to-be-considered-nebraskas-qb-of-the-present-but-lets-keep-it-at-that-for-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Steven Sipple: Heinrich Haarberg shows enough prowess to be considered Nebraska\u2019s QB of the present, but let\u2019s keep it at that for now"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nebraska is improving as a team, first-year Husker head coach Matt Rhule<\/a><\/strong> insists.<\/p>\n

You can see instances of it. <\/p>\n

You certainly see them on defense, the Michigan debacle notwithstanding. <\/p>\n

Let\u2019s give Rhule the benefit of the doubt. After all, the Huskers have won three of their last four games since beginning the season 0-2. <\/p>\n

If Rhule is right about his team continuing to improve, especially in the last four games, it\u2019s doing so with Heinrich Haarberg<\/a><\/strong> as the starting quarterback. <\/p>\n

Yes, that\u2019s meaningful for Haarberg. Extremely meaningful. <\/p>\n

It certainly meant something Friday night when Rhule characterized Haarberg\u2019s overall performance as \u201cexcellent.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI told him I\u2019m going to coach him like I would coach a really good one,\u201d Rhule told reporters after Nebraska\u2019s 20-7 triumph against Illinois in Champaign, Illinois. <\/p>\n

That was interesting phrasing. Mind you, Rhule surely didn\u2019t mean it as a slight to the quarterback. Granted, it\u2019s clear that Haarberg, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound sophomore, still has to smooth a lot of rough edges in his game. But he\u2019s done enough at this point to be looked upon as the leader of the offense. He\u2019s become the man, so to speak. That\u2019s my feeling. <\/p>\n

Haarberg\u2019s the man of the here and now. He shouldn\u2019t have to look over his shoulder and constantly wonder what Rhule and his staff are thinking about Jeff Sims<\/a><\/strong>. Make no mistake, competition at the position continues. But Haarberg has earned some leeway from his coaches, or so one would think. <\/p>\n

Could one make a strong case for Haarberg stamping himself as Nebraska\u2019s quarterback of the future? It\u2019s too early for such talk. He still has a lot to prove before we take the conversation in that direction.<\/p>\n

Steven Sipple: Yes, the win was ugly, but this is no time for Nebraska fans <\/strong>to get picky<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\n

Keep. Attacking.<\/p>\n

2nd half underway. pic.twitter.com\/laPKRC2TJz<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) October 7, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Matt Rhule says he\u2019s coaching Haarberg hard <\/h2>\n

Rhule, though, says he intends to coach Haarberg hard. If you\u2019re in the Haarberg camp, that\u2019s a good sign. If you\u2019re a player and your coach is harping on your mistakes, it means the coach believes in you. Otherwise, the coach wouldn\u2019t waste his time. <\/p>\n

Haarberg is awfully intriguing as a player, what with his blend of size and speed and explosiveness, and arm strength.<\/p>\n

He showed flashes of brilliance in the passing game Friday night. <\/p>\n

Rhule seems increasingly intrigued with Haarberg\u2019s long-range potential. The coach\u2019s tone regarding Haarberg seemed more upbeat and optimistic Friday night. That was my read. The coach likes the way Haarberg battles. <\/p>\n

But, yeah, there are rough edges to smooth, as one would expect from a sophomore in his first season of starting collegiate games, or even playing in collegiate games. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he stepped out of bounds (in the fourth quarter) when he could\u2019ve gotten the first down, I went after him in the middle of the game,\u201d Rhule said. <\/p>\n

Again, that\u2019s a good sign for Haarberg. <\/p>\n

Rhule clearly sees good in Haarberg. We all can see it. You saw it on Haarberg\u2019s critical 38-yard completion to Marcus Washington <\/a><\/strong>early in Friday\u2019s game as Nebraska fought to gain momentum. Haarberg let some throws rip in that game, especially in the first half. Rhule was confident enough in him to go for it on fourth-and-5 from Illinois\u2019 39-yard line in the second quarter. Haarberg responded with a 6-yard strike to Alex Bullock<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

On the same drive, Haarberg also had a 21-yard completion to Ty Hahn<\/a><\/strong> on third-and-10. The drive ended with a touchdown to give Nebraska a 10-0 lead.<\/p>\n

Haarberg complements Nebraska\u2019s overall style <\/h2>\n

This is where we should mention what Rhule always says about this particular team \u2014 that it\u2019s a defensive-oriented team. <\/p>\n

One week after faltering badly against second-ranked Michigan, the Blackshirts were on their screws once again against Illinois, allowing only 21 rushing yards on 19 attempts. Nebraska\u2019s defense went back to being fun to watch. It played as if it had something to prove, which it did, frankly speaking.<\/p>\n

I like the way Haarberg fits in this Nebraska\u2019s team overall personality. He often plays offense with a defender\u2019s mentality. He takes on tacklers. He attacks. He doesn\u2019t run out of bounds. Bless him for that.<\/p>\n

But, yes, he\u2019s still learning. He\u2019s still learning the proper times to pitch the ball in the option game, although he showed progress in that area Friday. Meanwhile, he\u2019s completed only 52.1% of his passes on the season (50-for-96), for 631 yards and four touchdowns, with two interceptions \u2014 and a few near-interceptions Friday.<\/p>\n

He says he\u2019s in the midst of finding rhythm and chemistry with his receivers. Remember, he was taking backup repetitions in practice until Sims went down with an ankle injury late in the second game, a 36-14 loss to Colorado.<\/p>\n

It should be noted Haarberg is often rushed in the pocket because of so-so protection. <\/p>\n

His relatively low arm slot on throws leads to passes being batted down. <\/p>\n

He\u2019s fumbled six times but fortunately has lost none of them. <\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s this: He\u2019s the best rusher on the team \u2014 running backs (and Sims) included. He has carried 69 times for a team-high 352 yards (5.1 ypc) and three touchdowns. <\/p>\n

\n\n

B1G Road W. pic.twitter.com\/z11nNEud0Z<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) October 7, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Haarberg benefits most from game experience <\/h2>\n

Again, we have to be mindful of Haarberg\u2019s relative inexperience as a starter, as opposed to Sims\u2019 extensive experience for Georgia Tech, his previous school. <\/p>\n

\u201cThose live-game reps are the biggest thing for me,\u201d Haarberg said. \u201cYou can go out there and go 10-for-10 against our defense in practice. But once you step out into Memorial Stadium, into the atmosphere \u2026 I mean, it\u2019s one thing to run the ball. That\u2019s just kind of natural. But having the ability to pass with that pressure on you, it\u2019s a different thing.\u201d <\/p>\n

He noted an interesting challenge he often faces as the quarterback for a defensive-oriented team.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes it\u2019s a really quick turnaround with our defense,\u201d Haarberg said. \u201cYou come off the field and you\u2019re trying to regroup. Next thing you know, (the opponent) goes three-and-out, and it\u2019s like, \u2018Oh, we\u2019ve got to get back on the field.’\u201d <\/p>\n

Yeah, it\u2019s a good problem to have. <\/p>\n

You might say the same thing about Nebraska\u2019s current quarterback situation with Haarberg and Sims. <\/p>\n

But I think it\u2019s becoming less and less of a \u201csituation.\u201d Haarberg has earned some leeway \u2014 a longer leash, if you will. He\u2019s a dangerous weapon and shows promise as a leader. <\/p>\n

This much is certain: Haarberg will keep hearing Rhule\u2019s loud voice in his ear, and that\u2019s undeniably a good sign for the young man.<\/p>\n

Never miss breaking news or another HuskerOnline article again. Click HERE to sign up for HuskerOnline\u2019s Daily and Breaking News Newsletters.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The post Steven Sipple: Heinrich Haarberg shows enough prowess to be considered Nebraska\u2019s QB of the present, but let\u2019s keep it at that for now<\/a> appeared first on On3<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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