Nebraska offensive coordinator
Marcus Satterfield preemptively edited himself before discussing transfer quarterback
Jeff Sims during a Monday appearance on Sports Nightly.
Satterfield was asked what traits initially attracted Matt Rhule’s staff to the former Georgia Tech quarterback. There was plenty to like, Satterfield said.
“I’ve got to be careful how I say that, but he’s got really, really, really high level arm talent,” Satterfield said of Sims. “I can remember him starting as a freshman at Georgia Tech and watching the game and thinking, ‘wow, they really found a guy’ because I had some friends that were coaching on that staff. I think he’s tough. I think he’s a good leader. I think he’s a competitor. I think his skill-set from an athletic standpoint is off the charts.”
Satterfield said Sims has been equally impressive since joining the Husker program, noting that Sims has added good weight and “looks like he could play linebacker now.” Satterfield said Sims’ understanding of Nebraska’s offense and its concepts has been aided by Sims’ past coaches and how much college football he has played.
“His ability to function out there from a cerebral standpoint is great,” Satterfield said. “I think his athletic traits are off the charts and his arm talent is really high level. I think he’s poised to have a breakout year.”
This summer, Satterfield said Sims has been running the summer throwing program. Coaches aren’t allowed to be involved, but Satterfield said Sims has been keeping the 20-plus players on schedule, while handling play calls and all the organizing and leadership that quarterbacks must handle in the summer.
“I think it’s slowly, but surely becoming his offense,” Satterfield said.
On Chubba — Satterfield noted that
Chubba Purdy had one of the strongest finishes to the spring of any offensive player on the roster, and said Purdy, who backed up
Casey Thompson last season, responded well to the coaching staff wanting him to produce more. Satterfield said to Purdy’s credit, he didn’t hide from the challenge and head for the transfer portal.
“He’s super, super competitive,” Satterfield said. “Very high football IQ. He started football games at the Power Five level. I think he’s had a good summer and throwing the ball well.”
Haarberg on the rise? — Satterfield called
Heinrich Haarberg is a “physical specimen” much like Sims, with the ability to stress defenses with his arm or legs.
Beyond that, Satterfield said the experience Haarberg gained this spring was valuable for not only his development as a quarterback, but also his confidence, as Haarberg has yet to appear in a game as a Husker.
“That was good to see this spring and I think his confidence keeps growing the more he knows and the more he works within the system,” Satterfield said.
Quick Hitters across the offense —
— Satterfield said he’s “super excited” to get fall camp underway on July 31. Nebraska players will be living in the dorms together during fall camp, and Satterfield said Husker coaches will be right there with the players.
“We’re not going to say, ‘ya’ll go live in the dorm, we’re going home,’” he said. “We’re going to be in there with them. I think it’s going to make us closer as a staff, it’s going to make us closer as a team. I think we’re going to look back on this months or years from now and say, this was a turning point in tipping the culture and tipping Nebraska football in the direction it is now.”
— Satterfield said he thought his offense made progress throughout the spring in a number of areas, except for ball security in the spring game. Satterfield said Nebraska had held onto the ball relatively well through the first 14 practices, but took a step back in the spring game.
“That’s how you win and lose games,” Satterfield said of the importance of hanging on to the ball.
— Satterfield said Nebraska’s offensive line is one of the tightest knit groups he’s been around in 24 years of coaching, and called the offensive line “the hardest working group on the team.”
— Wide receiver is the group that needs to step up most on offense, Satterfield said, noting that “guys are going to have to show up early in camp to solidify roles.”
“They need to show up quick and establish their roles on the offense,” Satterfield said.
— Satterfield said he likes the variety of running backs Nebraska has going into the season.
— Satterfield said tight end is the toughest position in Nebraska’s offense because of what is asked of the group.
“They are the least experienced, but could be the most talented,” Satterfield said.