OWH: Armstrong's quick success shocks no one who's coached him

[jmfb]

Taylor hasn't been the same QB since the Caputo stomp. Everything from his throwing motion to his scrambling to his speed went seriously downhill after that game. I just don't think he has it anymore. David Duval can still golf, but he hasn't been the same guy that shot 59 in over a decade. Taylor hasn't been the same QB that ran all over K-State in almost 3 years now.

I was at that game, KSU fans (students) were REALLY mad about NU leaving the Big12, got in our face a bit

Yep he looked like he had been shot out of a cannon on those runs in a game most of us thought was going to be pretty close. Not sure Ive ever seen a NU QB with that type of straight line speed- being able to go from 0-60 in what seemed like just a step or 2.

It was amazing, not sure he ever regained the explosiveness of that RFreshman year- in spite of all his hard work, therapy etc. Cant fault the kid for the effort he's put in.

What matters is where is he right now and who gives the team the better chance to win games, QB alone isnt going to solve it, thats for sure, D is #1 problem. But it's a part of the solution

 

[SandhillshuskerW]

I cannot wait to see this guy moving forward. Uber excited for his potential, and although it was a small sample size, I've loved what I've seen from him.

fify

No umlaut?

I think Johnny Stanton will have something to say about next years starter. I see a little Andrew Luck in him. Not a bad problem to have going forward with these two QBs.

Definitely a good problem to have. Depending on how Armstrong does in the next game or two we might have that problem right now.

Even if Tommy started playing out of his mind and Taylor was struggling, Taylor is still going to be the starter IMO. I just don't see them benching Taylor.

 

[Joe_5700]

Posted by Joe_5700 on 30 January 2012 - 11:48 AM in 2012 Recruiting Profiles

FLU, on 30 January 2012 - 11:46 AM, said:

Curry apparently has eliminated TCU. His comment about his visit to TCU was, "It was alright. I don't know if it's the right school for me." All signs point to him being N. Feeling confident that he will be, come Wednesday morning.

I know it's easy to say this in hindsight, but I would rather have Curry and hopefully Valentine over Fuller. I also see Armstrong as our next multi year starter at QB. He even looks a bit like Gill.

 

[HUSKER FREAK]

I think that If Taylor starts and starts to struggle and just can't get it going like we have seen in the three games he played in, then I think we see a switch. From there we will see who will start the next game. If Tommy struggles a little but is still better he may not start, but if he comes out and changes the whole look of the game then Tommy BETTER be starting the next game. The staff has said that the competition doesn't stop during the season, so that has to be with the QB as well.

 

[Count 'Bility]

Posted by Joe_5700 on 30 January 2012 - 11:48 AM in 2012 Recruiting Profiles

FLU, on 30 January 2012 - 11:46 AM, said:

Curry apparently has eliminated TCU. His comment about his visit to TCU was, "It was alright. I don't know if it's the right school for me." All signs point to him being N. Feeling confident that he will be, come Wednesday morning.

I know it's easy to say this in hindsight, but I would rather have Curry and hopefully Valentine over Fuller. I also see Armstrong as our next multi year starter at QB. He even looks a bit like Gill.

Did you really just pull the "I told you so" card?

 

[Joe_5700]

Posted by Joe_5700 on 30 January 2012 - 11:48 AM in 2012 Recruiting Profiles

FLU, on 30 January 2012 - 11:46 AM, said:

Curry apparently has eliminated TCU. His comment about his visit to TCU was, "It was alright. I don't know if it's the right school for me." All signs point to him being N. Feeling confident that he will be, come Wednesday morning.

I know it's easy to say this in hindsight, but I would rather have Curry and hopefully Valentine over Fuller. I also see Armstrong as our next multi year starter at QB. He even looks a bit like Gill.

Did you really just pull the "I told you so" card?

You bet.

 

[knapplc]

I really hate to bring this up because I think it's WAY premature, and could turn this thread into something I hate, but here goes (fingers crossed for good discussion)...

In the context of Tommy's impressive live debut, and presuming that Taylor doesn't get healthy in the next few weeks, it's likely that Armstrong will get several starts this year. All due respect to Ron Kellogg III, who looked equally impressive out there against SDSU, but he is not the future. Were he a Junior I'd write this completely different, but since he isn't and we have next year to worry about, the focus has to be on Armstrong now.

So in the context of a competent -and hopefully winning- Armstrong, when Taylor does get healthy, what do you do with him?

Several things to consider at this point:

With the defensive struggles we have, accomplishing anything of importance this year is unlikely at best

Next year's schedule looks quite similar to this year's, and with a year under their belt the defense should be better. Therefore winning a conference championship would be a more realistic goal.

Experience this year can only help make 2014 Tommy Armstrong better. See above for why this is important.

Taylor has a life after 2013 ends. If that life is to include the NFL, he will not be playing Quarterback. Taylor is no Eric Crouch, and Crouch couldn't make it in the NFL as a QB. Taylor's best shot at playing professionally is at another position.

Taylor is too good of an athlete to leave off the field.

If Armstrong is proving to be equal to the task, I say he goes from here on out at QB, and we take our lumps starting a Redshirt Freshman. Again. It likely means four losses again, but who cares? The experience is more valuable than wins right now.

Martinez should be a return specialist. On kick or punt returns he could be a game-changer. Putting him out there would also get Kenny Bell off the field at that position. It's a position he could pick up in a week's practice, he wouldn't have to learn an entirely new position like receiver (and he likely wouldn't see the field at wideout anyway), and there's no way we could put enough muscle on him to make him into a corner or safety by year's end.

 

[Karawithasmile]

I really hate to bring this up because I think it's WAY premature, and could turn this thread into something I hate, but here goes (fingers crossed for good discussion)...

In the context of Tommy's impressive live debut, and presuming that Taylor doesn't get healthy in the next few weeks, it's likely that Armstrong will get several starts this year. All due respect to Ron Kellogg III, who looked equally impressive out there against SDSU, but he is not the future. Were he a Junior I'd write this completely different, but since he isn't and we have next year to worry about, the focus has to be on Armstrong now.

So in the context of a competent -and hopefully winning- Armstrong, when Taylor does get healthy, what do you do with him?

Several things to consider at this point:

With the defensive struggles we have, accomplishing anything of importance this year is unlikely at best

Next year's schedule looks quite similar to this year's, and with a year under their belt the defense should be better. Therefore winning a conference championship would be a more realistic goal.

Experience this year can only help make 2014 Tommy Armstrong better. See above for why this is important.

Taylor has a life after 2013 ends. If that life is to include the NFL, he will not be playing Quarterback. Taylor is no Eric Crouch, and Crouch couldn't make it in the NFL as a QB. Taylor's best shot at playing professionally is at another position.

Taylor is too good of an athlete to leave off the field.

If Armstrong is proving to be equal to the task, I say he goes from here on out at QB, and we take our lumps starting a Redshirt Freshman. Again. It likely means four losses again, but who cares? The experience is more valuable than wins right now.

Martinez should be a return specialist. On kick or punt returns he could be a game-changer. Putting him out there would also get Kenny Bell off the field at that position. It's a position he could pick up in a week's practice, he wouldn't have to learn an entirely new position like receiver (and he likely wouldn't see the field at wideout anyway), and there's no way we could put enough muscle on him to make him into a corner or safety by year's end.

We need to be playing the best player, whether freshman or senior (though I agree, RKIII is not really in contention if we are thinking what is in the program's best interests after this year). I think a lot of this will depend on if Armstrong gets the start next week and plays lights out. Right now, there are still some doubts and questions surrounding him despite his refreshing performance given the caliber of the opponent. If Armstrong plays the way he did against SDSU, I don't even think there is a question about who should be starting.

Armstrong has the throwing motion, the elusiveness, and from what we've seen so far, the poise and confidence necessary to lead the team down the field. Martinez has given a lot to the program, but the nature of his injury means it might linger for a very long time making him much more ineffective as a QB. I would love to see him utlized in another part of the game if possible, especially considering all that he has given to the program the last few years. I just don't how it would work, or if his haphazard ball-handling would make him more of a liability than a benefit on returns.

All of this depends on Armstrong's play in the next game, in my opinion. If he gets in there and looks lost, I don't think they keep him out there more than necessary. The coaches still want to win games this year, considering one or more of them have jobs that probably depend on that.

 

[BIGREDIOWAN]

I really hate to bring this up because I think it's WAY premature, and could turn this thread into something I hate, but here goes (fingers crossed for good discussion)...

In the context of Tommy's impressive live debut, and presuming that Taylor doesn't get healthy in the next few weeks, it's likely that Armstrong will get several starts this year. All due respect to Ron Kellogg III, who looked equally impressive out there against SDSU, but he is not the future. Were he a Junior I'd write this completely different, but since he isn't and we have next year to worry about, the focus has to be on Armstrong now.

So in the context of a competent -and hopefully winning- Armstrong, when Taylor does get healthy, what do you do with him?

Several things to consider at this point:

With the defensive struggles we have, accomplishing anything of importance this year is unlikely at best

Next year's schedule looks quite similar to this year's, and with a year under their belt the defense should be better. Therefore winning a conference championship would be a more realistic goal.

Experience this year can only help make 2014 Tommy Armstrong better. See above for why this is important.

Taylor has a life after 2013 ends. If that life is to include the NFL, he will not be playing Quarterback. Taylor is no Eric Crouch, and Crouch couldn't make it in the NFL as a QB. Taylor's best shot at playing professionally is at another position.

Taylor is too good of an athlete to leave off the field.

If Armstrong is proving to be equal to the task, I say he goes from here on out at QB, and we take our lumps starting a Redshirt Freshman. Again. It likely means four losses again, but who cares? The experience is more valuable than wins right now.

Martinez should be a return specialist. On kick or punt returns he could be a game-changer. Putting him out there would also get Kenny Bell off the field at that position. It's a position he could pick up in a week's practice, he wouldn't have to learn an entirely new position like receiver (and he likely wouldn't see the field at wideout anyway), and there's no way we could put enough muscle on him to make him into a corner or safety by year's end.

Taylor doesn't have the hips to be able to play secondary anyways.............he has no lateral speed and movement, but his straight line speed is insane!

 

[RedRedJarvisRedwine]

Didn't they have a similar predicament with Hines Ward his senior year. Same with Brad Smith. I think both moved to receiver. This is why it should be allowed for seniors only to talk to evaluation scouts with NFL teams. So scout from team blah blah can say that they project Taylor in the 6th round at Safety or undrafted at QB. We've seen what you can do at QB and maybe you could move up in the draft if you put some WR/returner/safety on film.

 

[jmfb]

Taylor doesn't have the hips to be able to play secondary anyways.............he has no lateral speed and movement, but his straight line speed is insane!

100% correct

And while many old timers think of Johnny Rodgers type lateral speed when it comes to KO or Punt returns, most of todays long returns are really fast guys seeing and exploiting seams in the coverage at just slight angles to a straight ahead return. Something TM does really well. Unfortunately his poor decision making in traffic and lack of ball security skills probably negate the positives. Real shame because our punt return game is poor right now. If TM gets back to the point he could be a great return threat, the coaching staff will have him starting at QB, thats just the way it is. We are so loaded at receiver, not sure that road is even worth discussing.

 

[kchusker_chris]

If Armstrong is proving to be equal to the task, I say he goes from here on out at QB, and we take our lumps starting a Redshirt Freshman. Again. It likely means four losses again, but who cares? The experience is more valuable than wins right now.

The coaches, who want to remain employed. If they could guarantee starting TA would, at worse, result in 4 losses then I'm sure they're all for it. But my guess is that entire staff has absolutely zero concern for 2014 because if things don't get much better in 2013, none of them will be around to see it.

Bottom line, whoever gives us the best chance to win should start. If that's Taylor, great. If it's TA, great. The coaches will make that determination with no regard for the 'future', that i'm confident of.

Here's where I think it gets a little complicated. Does TA give us a better chance over certain teams, and Taylor over others? I could see Taylor playing a MSU defense better than TA. I could see TA picking apart an Illinois/Iowa D better than Taylor. That's where I think they'd benefit. Especially from the perspective of the opposition having to now game plan for multiple offenses/QBs.

 

[Ric Flair]

Love the idea knappic. Unfortunately I think Pelini is far far too stubborn and bought in on Martinez being his QB to back away from that position now. I don't think he's capable of admitting that Martinez just isn't a good or natural quarterback. He'll just keep pounding the round peg into the square hole harder and harder.

 

[suh_fan93]

If Taylor Martinez had good lateral movement or 'hips' or whatever you'd like to call it and a set of hands can you imagine what he'd be able to do to a defense as a receiver? Even a running back. Unfortunately he just doesn't. He's a very straight ahead runner. Kind of like whatever direction you spin him in he's going to go real fast in that direction! lol.

It's too bad. He's never been a QB in my eye but boy can he accelerate. I have no idea if he has a set of receiving hands or not but boy we could really use a guy like that. Any team could.

Anywhoo I like what was said earlier. If RKIII weren't a Senior he would be in the conversation just as much as TA in terms of 'future'. I like the confidence TA exuded but just like Crouch was saying during the game the calm confidence that RKIII brought to the huddle along with the lasers the guy was throwing. Anyway next year should be real interesting. Actually the rest of this year could be real interesting too as far as the QB position goes... Can't wait to see.

 

[Count 'Bility]

Love the idea knappic. Unfortunately I think Pelini is far far too stubborn and bought in on Martinez being his QB to back away from that position now. I don't think he's capable of admitting that Martinez just isn't a good or natural quarterback. He'll just keep pounding the round peg into the square hole harder and harder.

It's easier to put a round peg in a square hole than it is a square peg in a round hole. In fact, if dimensions are the same, the round peg actually fits in the square hole just fine. Square peg in the round hole? Not so much.

Just sayin.