Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Kaleb Henry: Mixed Messaging Worse for Huskers Than Beatdown in Boulder
When the head coach talks, you listen. But what if what he says isn't necessarily always how things are going to be?
New Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule has talked about accountability within his program. That extends from how guys practice, go to class and are seen in the community.
It especially extends to games.
After noting that Anthony Grant had fumbling issues during fall camp, the top returning running back coughed up the ball in winning time against Minnesota. He didn't see the field against Colorado.
Accountability.
After three interceptions against Minnesota then three more turnovers in the first half against Colorado, that accountability continued as quarterback Jeff Sims was pulled at halftime.
Except, he wasn't.
"There was never a thought of putting Heinrich (Haarberg) in," Rhule said.
Sims returned to play the entirety of the third quarter, including a botched handoff that resulted in another turnover. He left the game early in the fourth quarter with an injury.
Through seven full quarters, Sims has racked up seven turnovers. Over that same time, he's notched just two touchdowns: a trick play that almost went awry and a 57-yard run that was terribly misplayed by the defense.
What is Grant, nearly a 1,000-yard rusher a year ago, thinking right now?
If accountability is a message from the coaching staff, then why is it a milk carton for one but "never a thought" for the other?
There are only two answers.
- The staff has zero trust in the rest of the quarterback room.
- Accountability really doesn't matter.
Neither answer is good, either in the short term or the long term.
The backups didn't exactly wow in their quarter of work. Haarberg managed to go just 2-for-6 for 13 yards and a touchdown while adding a pair of runs for 17 yards. Chubba Purdy didn't complete his only passing attempt.
But the QB with the most returning turnovers in FBS has shown through two games that he is sliding more in that area. If Nebraska can't get even average quarterback play, or at the very least hold onto the ball, then buckle up for the rest of this season.
And if accountability actually doesn't matter, then buckle up for the rest of the Matt Rhule era.
- More coverage & commentary: HuskerMax game page
