Gabe Ervin needs to be a focal point for Nebraska football vs. Northern Illinois

Gabe Ervin should be the focal point for Nebraska football against Northern Illinois this week.

There’s been a lot of talk about the quarterback position this week for Nebraska football and rightfully so. Jeff Sims is injured and when he’s played, the results haven’t been good.

Nebraska football has turned the ball over eight times so far this season. Sims has four interceptions this season and also three fumbles. He does have two touchdown runs but is questionable for Northern Illinois on Saturday due to a high ankle sprain.

Sims is going to practice. That will probably determine whether or not he plays. If not, it will be Henrich Haarberg or Chubba Purdy. However, since Purdy also has been dealing with an injury, it seems like Haarberg would get the start if Sims is out.

Haarberg did throw a touchdown pass last week. He also completed just 2-of-6 passes. If Nebraska knows he’s going to be the starter, it can prepare him and that will help.

Yet, regardless of who is under center, the focal point needs to be pounding the rock and in that regard, to the go-to guy for the Husker offense needs to be Gabe Ervin.

Gabe Ervin needs at least 20 carries

The Huskers have scored just 24 points in two games. That’s simply not good enough and everyone knows that. One positive is the fact that Nebraska football is averaging 201 rushing yards per game.

Jeff Sims has been a big part of that. Gabe Ervin has been too. In two games, Ervin has 24 rushing attempts for 129 yards which is 5.4 yards per attempt. Ervin hasn’t hit paydirt yet, but that’s something that needs to happen on Saturday, and simply put, he needs to be the bell cow.

Against Minnesota, Ervin only got seven carries. He still produced 55 yards and a long run of 26 yards. Last week, on 17 attempts, Ervin produced 74 yards, as well as a run of 27 yards.

He’s been consistent and the explosive runs have been important. It would be nice to see a couple of those Saturday night and I’d love to see the offense really invest in the ground and pound.

It’s not that Nebraska hasn’t so far. The Huskers have rushed 39 times per game as compared to 20 pass attempts. That should continue. I just want Ervin to get more carries.

The offensive line needs to win this game. Well, the offensive line and Ervin. He’s the No. 1 back on this team and he’s proven why the past two weeks. If Nebraska football is going to win on Saturday night, it will have to run the damn ball.

And Ervin is the guy that should be toting the rock the most in Lincoln Memorial Stadium.

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