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Report: Huskers check on graduate transfer quarterback

For all of you Martinez haters: http://espn.go.com/college-football/conferences/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/collegeQuarterbackRating/year/2012/id/5/big-ten-conference He's quietly leading the conference, including 'Heisman Hopeful' Braxton Miller, in QB ratings. Pleasantly surprised. Also found this: http://espn.go.com/ncf/conferences/statistics/team/_/stat/defense/sort/sacks/year/2012/id/5/big-ten-conference After all of our 2-gap-linemen-stand-there-so-linebackers-can-be-free nonsense, somehow we are also quietly leading the conference in sacks. Again, pleasantly surprised.

Word on the street is Beck says both Brion Carnes and Tommy Armstrong are "neck and neck" coming at this point in Fall camp. If camp ends and it's a virtual tie, who do you put in for mop-up duty, or if (God forbid) Martinez gets dinged up? Some things to consider - this is Carnes' second year in this offense, and reports paint a picture of a guy with a far better grasp of everything than last year. He doesn't appear to be "swimming in it" any more. This is Armstrong's first year, a potential redshirt year. You could redshirt him this year, let him get some mop-up duty next year and let him compete for the starting job in 2014 with three full years of eligibility left.

I personally can't believe that Carnes hasn't gotten more time. Especially late in the game last night. I haven't seen enough of him to know that he'll be better than Martinez, but can he really be worse? Sure, Taylor is averaging 1.6 rushing TDs per game and 1 passing TD a game, but what else is he averaging? 1 INT per game, 2 fumbles per game, multiple missed wide open receivers (with bad passes and also not seeing the open guy). The last two games, he's had 98 rushing yards on 32 carries. Taylor's only "skill" is his straight ahead speed. And he's not even able to utilize that anymore. I've read rumblings that Carnes may not be here next year, because he was told he would have a chance to earn the starting job on the field, but he hasn't had a chance. I'd be pissed too if I saw the starter playing like that, and I didn't get a chance. And this isn't a knee jerk reaction to last night's game. I've never been a fan of Martinez. I just don't see anything from him that makes me think he should be a QB. Every other team that was recruiting him felt the same way. With the schedule as it is, this is what I think needs to happen: Get Carnes significant time in a backup role against OSU. By significant, I mean close to half the game, wherever they can fit him in. Then, we have a week off and face a terrible Minnesota team. After the OSU game, Carnes needs to take all snaps for two weeks and be the starter for the Minnesota game, and going forward after that. That will be a good game for him to make his first start. The Martinez experiment is over. It's been a complete disaster. If Bo doesn't give up on this experiment, and give up on it NOW, then I question whether he is head coach material. I love Bo, but I just can't see how you can stick with Taylor at this time. Others will say that Martinez is the best we have. But I don't believe that, there's NO way that can be the best we have. If we don't go with Brion now, we may lose him to a transfer, and then we're really screwed. We have so few QBs already on this roster. And yes, I realize the defense played terrible also. If I was on the defense and I saw my QB play the way he does, all.the.time., I'd be down and playing crappy too. By no means, do I think that is the only problem with the defense, they have many. But the QB play does nothing to help it. Judging by some of the tweets of some of the players, it sounds like there are internal problems going on. A lot of this could be based on what players perceive to be favortism going on, and not playing the best guys. Sure, playing time is won in practice, but if those guys aren't getting it done during the game, then why not try someone else. Maybe they are guys that step up in game play and just don't show all their ability in practice. It certainly can't be any worse than the guys that are currently playing. I don't think the sky is falling... yet. But we're on a slippery slope here. How Bo and the team respond over the next few weeks will be telling. They should start by putting Carnes in and going from there. And for those of you that say "Martinez is only a sophomore, give him more time", how many freshman QBs have we played this year that look amazing. And that's just teams we've played. There are MANY freshman and sophomore QBs in the country that are playing well for there teams! Martinez just does't have "IT". It's time to see if Carnes does.

http://twitter.com/#!/Phil_Dillard/status/120314321749291008 http://twitter.com/#!/Phil_Dillard/status/120321677992267776 Wonder how many of the other former and current players feel this same way?