Quarterback Room A Disappointment In Northern Illinois Loss
Rose and Hairston dominated by Huskies defense from start to finish
AMHERST, Mass. - In UMass’ midweek MACtion home debut, few of its players could handle the excitement and literal fireworks which surrounded Wednesday night’s contest against Northern Illinois.
Between all of the blunders that contributed to a 45-3 loss, the Minutemen quarterback room was particularly shocking.
Redshirt freshman AJ Hairston started the game, but was eventually replaced in spurts by opening-day starter Brandon Rose. The two combined for 192 yards passing with no touchdowns. Their 24-of-41 on pass attempts didn’t bode well for a UMass team that was trying to compete with the impressive quarterback play of the Huskies.
Jalen Macon, Northern Illinois’ third-string quarterback, started Wednesday’s game with just two games played on the season. In those, he produced 22 ground yards without attempting a single pass.
Tonight, Huskies head coach Thomas Hammock entrusted the redshirt junior with a starting role, and he didn’t let his team down. Macon threw for 73 yards and a touchdown, while attempting just four passes, completing three of them. It was his running game that haunted the opposing defense, though. The Nashville native ran for 98 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries.
It seemed like Northern Illinois’ quarterback plan was on point from the start, which couldn’t be more opposite to what the UMass sideline looked like.
For the first couple drives it was Hairston, then Rose came in for a few. A mistake from him, and back came Hairston out to display more of the uncertainty that surrounds the football program every day.
The uncertainty of who is under center has been something which has gone on for all 10 losses this season. In week one, Rose got the start, but an injury forced him out early in week two. From there, it was the Grant Jordan show. However, struggles from Jordan flexed Hairston into a start against Missouri where he threw UMass’ first passing touchdown of the year.
When you thought there might be some stability, Rose came back into a start off injury against Western Michigan. When that didn’t go well, Hairston started against Kent State, Buffalo, Central Michigan and Akron. Then, he came out again midway through Wednesday night against the Huskies.
Yes, it is easy to make the case that the collective group just isn’t good enough, but could it be a question of instability and coaching, or is it just simply a talent issue. The reasonable answer could be, it is a little bit of both.
If you think the offensive supporting cast might provide a helping hand, think again. UMass running backs combined for 22 yards on 12 attempts. Rose and Hairston almost doubled that with 35 ground yards combined.
While the box score makes it look like the Minutemen offensive line stood their ground with just one sack and three quarterback hurries allowed, the story on the field was very different.
With starting left tackle, Luke Painton, out for a second straight week, and multiple other players not playing at 100%, the Huskies were able to force bad throws and numerous mistakes out of Rose and Hairston.
At wide receiver, Donnie Gray and Jacquon Gibson played a helping hand combining for 13 receptions, but other than that, no one else was a consistent target for the quarterbacks.
However, those coaching errors and lack of help don’t forgive an experienced quarterback room.
Hairston has played big minutes in more than a season of FBS football now. Rose was part of a capable Utah program, and started a game against BYU in which the Utes competed in last season. Jordan was a very productive quarterback in his Yale career, and transferred to UMass as a graduate.
Inexperience isn’t an excuse. Making bad decisions which cost your team big time yardage, as well as not being able to execute on simple plays is unacceptable. It simply won’t fly if UMass wants to win in FBS football, something they have not done in over two years now.
UMass was down 10-0 going into its third drive of the game. They drove deep past midfield, towards the edge of the red zone. Hairston lined up on fourth-and-2 at the Northern Illinois 21-yard line. He faked the handoff up the middle, tricking the entire Huskies defense who left true freshman tight end, Jax Markovich, wide open up the middle for an easy touchdown.
With a sprinkle of pressure coming Hairston’s way, he elected to throw the football off of his back foot. The ball flew over Markovich’s head, ending the UMass drive without points. With a successful throw, the Minutemen would have cut the deficit to three. Instead, the Huskies capitalized and scored a touchdown after just six plays, including a successful fourth down conversion.
A couple drives later, it looked like Rose and the Minutemen offense was starting to find a rhythm. Down 24-0, trying to respond to another Northern Illinois touchdown, Rose lined up for second-and-7 at his own 28.
As soon as he snapped the ball, the aforementioned offensive line blew multiple assignments, allowing numerous Huskies towards Rose. The redshirt junior dove backwards, trying to avoid the contact. While retreating, the ball popped free and Northern Illinois recovered. The Huskies once again capitalized on just two plays to make it 30-0.
Sure, the Minutemen have had a rough season at the quarterback position with injuries, inconsistencies and other frustrating mistakes, but it seemed like the Northern Illinois unit did just fine with its third-string quarterback playing a majority of the meaningful snaps behind center.
Is it a quarterback problem? An offensive line problem? A coaching problem? A culture problem?
Harasymiak was quick to blame himself for all of the team’s blunders this season, but until this team and program improves, the quarterback question might never be answered.