The 2014 football season was a wild one for Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong. He encountered many highs but also many lows.
Toward the start of the season, Armstrong had a goal. He wanted to complete 60 percent or more of his passes, as reported by Brian Christopherson of the Lincoln-Journal Star. Did he reach that? Unfortunately, he fell just a bit short.
The sophomore finished the season with a 53.3 completion percentage. He also threw for 22 touchdowns, with three coming against USC in the Holiday Bowl alone. On the other hand, he had 12 interceptions on the season, with one against the Trojans.
While Armstrong's numbers were not always strong—his completion percentage was only 33.3 against Wisconsin—the current starter showed grit and a strong will from the start to the end of the season.
Does that guarantee he will be the starting quarterback in 2015? It doesn't and shouldn't.
While Armstrong will likely be a decent favorite heading into 2015, he'll have competition from redshirt freshman Johnny Stanton and sophomore walk-on RykerFyfe. That's a good thing, too.
There's no reason the quarterback position shouldn't be up for grabs at Nebraska. With a new head coach, it's the perfect time to reevaluate the players and put them all to the test. That includes Armstrong.
During 2014, Armstrong had shining moments. Against Iowa and USC, for instance, Armstrong was able to turn around terrible first-half performances, as Steven M. Sipple of the Lincoln Journal Star noted.
"He clearly picked up confidence in the last two games," Sipple wrote. "During the fourth quarter and overtime at Iowa, he was 5-for-7 passing for 102 yards and two touchdowns (after a brutal first half)."
For Armstrong, opening the quarterback position back up will allow him to work on becoming a better player. What he showed in the second half against USC proved that he has what it takes, but now he needs to put that together for a full four quarters.
A lot of that can be corrected with an offensive identity. Nebraska struggled to find one under former head coach Bo Pelini and former offensive coordinator Tim Beck. The Huskers' new head coach, Mike Riley, understands that, as reported by Jon Nyatawa of the Omaha World-Herald:
We certainly have to establish an identity. And an identity has to be a blend of the system with what the players are comfortable with and good at. I think that's coaching. You take your talent and you make sure it's the right fit for the system — and you adapt the system as best you can to the team.
A clear offensive identity will do nothing but benefit Armstrong, as Sam McKewon of the Omaha World-Herald wrote after the Holiday Bowl:
It’s hard to have one foot in “don’t make mistakes!” and in another “all right, we’re way down, run around, throw it deep and do your thing!” Against USC, Iowa and Michigan State — all feverish comebacks — Armstrong was better at the latter (he tended to make truer reads, even) but is in need of a coach who can settle him down, give a clear, consistent vision, and let him get good at a few things instead of dabbling in many.
One thing Nebraska lacked during Pelini's tenure was a true quarterbacks coach. According to ESPN.com's Dan Graziano, Riley has hired Danny Langsdorf, former Oregon State offensive coordinator and New York Giants quarterback coach, to take over the Huskers offense.
Lansgorf, alongside Riley, has experience with developing quarterbacks.
For Armstrong, it's all about polishing up his game now. He needs to spend the winter and spring working on the mechanics. He stills struggles, but a clear offensive identity and a coach who can help him grow will be extremely beneficial.
That doesn't mean the job is his just yet. Stanton and Fyfe should rightfully give Armstrong a run for his money. If nothing else, that will only further improve Armstrong as a quarterback.
With a true quarterback competition, Armstrong could come out victorious at the end. He also may not. However, the only way the Huskers will find the true leader of this team is to push and develop Armstrong, Stanton and Fyfe together.
That won't happen by simply handing the job to the current starter with no competition.
Armstrong is the likely favorite heading into the 2015 season. That doesn't mean he is a lock to start for Nebraska. That's a good thing, too.
As of right now, the quarterback position is anyone's to earn in Riley's new offense.
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