Tag: Nebraska’s Offense

Former Husker quarterback on Nebraska’s offense ‘your running back has to be your leading rusher’

What are the keys to a successful offense?

What are the keys to a successful offense? One former Husker quarterback has strong thoughts regarding the current Nebraska offensive philosophy and whether or not it’s a recipe for success long term.

Adrian Martinez appeared on Big Red Wrap-Up and was asked about the importance of a quarterback running game and how to create an offense that can experience success long term.

This is just my opinion, and it might upset some people but your running back has to be your leading rusher. Has to be, for sustained success. I believe in that. Now you find ways to win and that’s all good… to have the run game first it has to be the running back with a quarterback as a compliment and tie in play action because play action is the best pass game.

Nebraska’s leading rusher is QB Heinrich Haarberg who has amassed 424 yards and four touchdowns on the season. Anthony Grant is the leading rusher for the backs with 302 yards and three touchdowns. Martinez played at Nebraska from 2018-21 before transferring to Kansas State last season. In
his Husker career, he went 14-24 as a starter in Lincoln.

For his career, he would throw for 9,391 yards and 49 touchdowns with 30 interceptions. He also ran for 2,847 yards and 44 touchdowns.

He led the Huskers in rushing yards for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He would spend his first NFL training camp as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions. Matinez was cut following the preseason.

Find a photo gallery of Adrian Martinez’s playing career below.

Nebraska quarterback talks evolution of Husker offense

Nebraska’s starting quarterback met with the media on Tuesday afternoon.

Nebraska’s starting quarterback met with the media on Tuesday afternoon. Heinrich Haarberg was asked about the current evolution of the Husker’s offense between the start of the year and now.

The Husker’s signal caller told the assembled press that things are constantly evolving, and recent injuries haven’t helped.

“I think we saw from spring into the fall that this offense is constantly evolving, just because we have so many dynamic players. We have had a couple injuries, guys that need, as we said, need to come along a little bit. So, when guys like Marcus (Washington) go down, that kind of takes away some of the experience on the outside, so you have to change a little bit. But I don’t think we’re going to shift entirely as an offense. It’s just shifting the load a little bit.”

Jeff Sims had started this season under center, but injuries and a problem with turnovers led to sophomore Heinrich Haarberg taking over as the QB. Rhule says that Haarberg will remain the starter for the foreseeable future.

“But to me, Heinrich’s played well, Heinrich’s done some good things, so he’ll be the starter.”

Haarberg has thrown for 631 yards for the season with four touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s also run for 353 and three touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per rush.

Find a photo gallery of Heinrich Haarberg’s season below.