NEBRASKA CITY – Damon Benning offered his musings about what Nebraska football coaches may be thinking about when it comes to quarterback play in Saturday’s matchup with 2nd-ranked Michigan and beyond.

Benning, an analyst with the Husker Radio Network and assistant coach at Omaha Westside, told the Big Red Buzz audience Thursday at Valentino’s Restaurant in Nebraska City that projections and realities likely have Nebraska coaches reflecting on what they forecasted for junior quarterback Jeff Sims when he transferred from Georgia Tech and what two home victories tell them about backup quarterback Heinrich Haarberg.

He said Michigan, which leads the nation in scoring defense, could provide some “apples-to-apples” clarity for coaches. In his first Big 10 start, Jeff Sims accounted for 205 yards in total offense, including 91 yards rushing on 19 carries. Haarberg is yet to start a Big 10 game, but his 157 yards rushing against Louisiana Tech is the highest total by a Husker quarterback since 2012.

Benning relayed his recent encounter with Head Coach Matt Rhule who said a coach never really knows what he is getting in a quarterback until that quarterback actually takes a snap.

Benning said he believes the quarterback evaluation is continuing in Lincoln and said room-for-growth is a factor for coaches.

He asks how content a coach would be building something to win the next game on the schedule when it’s not an offense they will run in the long term. He said Nebraska is recruiting dual threat quarterbacks with a throw-first emphasis.

The Associated Press reports that Michigan is preparing to see Nebraska in the I formation and mixing in ‘90s-style option plays. Nebraska lined up in the I formation on seven of nine plays in an 85-yard touchdown drive against La Tech last week.

 

Benning said he hopes third down effectiveness and positive yardage in the kicking game will keep it close for Nebraska.

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