Matt Rhule talks about backup quarterback battle, what each player brings

When Matt Rhule took the head coaching job at Nebraska, he quickly brought in Jeff Sims as a transfer from Georgia Tech. He’ll be the team’s starting quarterback in 2023. With that has come a competitive battle to become the backup quarterback ahead of the season.

When Rhule was asked about that battle to become the number two quarterback, he praised the team’s backups, saying they’re both in a good position.

“I think it’s both of them, right now,” Matt Rhule said. “I think they both are ready to lead, I think they both — we could win with both of them.”

The two quarterbacks competing to be Nebraska’s backup are Chubba Purdy and Heinrich Haarberg. Both are recruits from the Scott Frost era, with Purdy being a four-star in the 2020 cycle and Haarberg being a three-star in the 2021 cycle respectively, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

“And I say that because they bring different attributes to the table. I think Heinrich would be a little bit more of the dual-threat stuff. Chubba is a little — Heinrich would probably be on the edge of run it first and then throw it, but he’s really coming along on the dropback pass game,” Rhule said.

“Ad Chubba would be a little bit more of the throw it first into the running game. So, I think both of those guys would have a role if something were to happen to Jeff.”

Matt Rhule then clarified that he would want to use both quarterbacks if it became necessary to use a backup long term. It would just depend on the situation Nebraska was in.

“We wouldn’t be Steve Spurrier, run the quarterbacks on play after play,” Rhule laughed. “It’d kind of be like hey we’re in a situation, we’re running the ball here, maybe it’s a little more Heinrich. Hey, we’re gonna drop back and throw it, you know, we’re down two scores, maybe it’s Chubba.

“Again, they’re trying to elevate past each other, and they’re such good friends too, which makes it a healthy competition. So, I don’t think we could sit here and tell you right now and I think that’s a good thing. I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all. I think if something were to happen to Jeff, which I would never want to happen obviously for Jeff’s sake, we would feel really good about Chubba and we would feel really good about Heinrich going out there and leading the team.”

Matt Rhule shares his emphasis on mental health

Recently, Matt Rhule shared the emphasis that he places on his players’ mental health.

“But I say to the guys sometimes, ‘Guys, if you have a tight hamstring, do you go see the trainer?’ They’re like, ‘Yeah.’ I’m like, ‘You break a leg, do you go see the doctor?’ ‘Yeah.’ Well, if you’re feeling a little bit depressed or anxious or nervous, why would you not go see Dr. Haskell? I do. And then, if you’re feeling great, then she helps you keep in that zone,” Rhule said.

“I think we as coaches have studied a lot about cognitive load and this generation and the impact of phones on their brains and their ability to concentrate and attention and focus control. Really, to answer your question, all I really want is guys to be able to be able to go from their thinking brain, getting the call, knowing the situation, and then shutting that brain off, focusing in and just reacting. So she’s teaching them how to do that.”