OWH: B1G West Turns on QB Play

[Mavric]

In Nebraska’s win over UCLA, you saw a picture of what Armstrong can be if the offense is built to best suit his skills. NU played from behind for chunks of that game, but coach Mike Riley and offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf didn’t waver or deviate from the game plan, and neither did Armstrong. The fourth quarter was about finishing off the Bruins, not furiously trying to get back in the game.

Iowa, by contrast, played from behind against Stanford in the Rose Bowl. The Hawkeyes trailed just once at halftime all season. They were trailing 14-0 six minutes into the game. Before the first quarter had ended, Beathard made a back-breaking mistake, throwing a pick-six. He was sacked seven times. He wasn’t elusive enough to get around the pass rush. The few limitations he had, you saw, and 2016 foes will try to go to school on some of what Stanford did.

Nebraska, meanwhile, has spent six months trying to learn from its win over UCLA. If Armstrong can cut out the turnovers — which he has yet to do in three full seasons — he’s more dynamic than Beathard. He’s more dynamic than any other Big Ten West quarterback, including Leidner, who’s received a curiously high NFL draft grade from a couple of gurus.

 

OWH