Joseph undecided on QB starter for Michigan
Nebraska interim head coach Mickey Joseph hasn’t determined who will start at quarterback Saturday against Michigan.
He told reporters Tuesday that he will make that decision Thursday.
In the meantime, the Wolverines must prepare for three different QBs.
Joseph said Casey Thompson, an eight-game starter this season, didn’t practice Tuesday, and Joseph characterizes the junior quarterback’s status as “day to day.”
Thompson would be ruled out of the game if he doesn’t practice Wednesday, Joseph said.
“I look at these kids as my sons,” the coach said. “I’m not going to put them out there if they can’t go. Casey’s going to say he’s feeling better, but I’ve got to be smart and not put him out there if he can’t perform at a high level.”
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Joseph says Thompson has nerve damage in pinkie
The issue with Thompson is he’s unable to fully grip the ball because “he’s still got a little nerve damage in his pinkie,” Joseph said.
If Thompson is unable to play, the starter will be either Chubba Purdy or Logan Smothers, who both played in last week’s 20-13 loss to Minnesota in Lincoln.
Nebraska (3-6, 2-4 Big Ten) is preparing to play third-ranked Michigan (9-0, 6-0) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Joseph said how the quarterbacks practice will go a long way in his decision.
“I’ve got to watch them both practice and see which one’s performing the best,” Joseph said. “Right now, I’m looking at both of them.”
Purdy, a redshirt freshman, started the Minnesota game and completed 6 of 16 passes for 41 yards, with an interception. Smothers was 5-for-10 passing for 80 yards. Both were sacked twice.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Purdy rushed six times for 24 yards and a touchdown, while Smothers — the more gifted runner of the two — carried four times for four yards.
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Smothers had key pass dropped
Smothers, a third-year sophomore, was on the field at the end of the game. He rifled a fourth-down pass over the middle that standout receiver Trey Palmer dropped. A catch would’ve given Nebraska a first down at around Minnesota’s 30-yard line with 73 seconds left in the game.
Joseph will look at a variety of areas in deciding who starts against a Michigan defense that ranks second nationally.
“Who’s making the throws? Who’s getting us in the correct run plays?” Joseph said. “They’re competing right now. We’ll look at each practice … and on Thursday we have to make a decision.
“We’ll just look at their reps.”
Smothers tends to play better in games than practice, Joseph said.
“I think Logan is more of a gamer, but he’s got to practice better,” the interim coach said. “He understands that. Logan is really going to attack this week trying to be a better practice player. That’s his goal this week.”
After Thompson suffered his injury in the second quarter Oct. 29 against Illinois, Purdy, a transfer from Florida State, played the entire second half. He was 3-for-8 passing for 15 yards, with an interception.
“We think Purdy’s the better thrower, but Logan can make throws also, and we think Logan’s the better runner,” Joseph said.
