Athlon ranks the Big Ten Quarterbacks

[robsker]

One thing that I am not convinced of is the seemingly "accepted" fact that Taylor is a significant running threat. Is he really? look in conference games where the competition is reasonable and look at his stats and, moreover, the lack of significance in those games of Taylors running in terms of the effectiveness of our offense. He is pretty fast and quick too --- and, if there is hole to run through and he need not follow blocks or juke anyone out... then he can go. But in terms of making quick, timely decisions whereby he uses his feet to make plays that are "not there"... making something out of nothing type plays... those are few and far between. Post injury and against high-level competition, TMart has not really impacted many games with his running. He has been very hesitant in taking off... unable to create yards with juking or breaking tackles and does not follow blocks well. His impact as a runner has not been that significant in conference & post injury. Maybe he will be healthier this year and less hesitant in terms of when to take off. I hope so, because the potential seems there for him to impact games with his feet... that potential just has not been overly manifest yet.

i see what your saying here but imo the reasons that t-marts rushing drop of so much against in confernce teams is

1. the quality of the players in the BIG vs. the quality of the players of the teams in our non con schedule

2. the quality of the coaches in the BIG and their abilities to scheme vs. the quality of the coaches in our non con schedule.

while i think bo has done a great job at nebraska he and his staff still is fairly new at coaching especially in the BIG and it will take time till they can gameplan like some of the more premier coaches in the BIG and around the country, once they get there (which might be this year) and now that this team is starting to mature i think you will see t-marts play against tougher opponets improve. but his play is still directly affected by the play of the o-line which has been questionable at best lately

One thing that I am not convinced of is the seemingly "accepted" fact that Taylor is a significant running threat. Is he really? look in conference games where the competition is reasonable and look at his stats and, moreover, the lack of significance in those games of Taylors running in terms of the effectiveness of our offense. He is pretty fast and quick too --- and, if there is hole to run through and he need not follow blocks or juke anyone out... then he can go. But in terms of making quick, timely decisions whereby he uses his feet to make plays that are "not there"... making something out of nothing type plays... those are few and far between. Post injury and against high-level competition, TMart has not really impacted many games with his running. He has been very hesitant in taking off... unable to create yards with juking or breaking tackles and does not follow blocks well. His impact as a runner has not been that significant in conference & post injury. Maybe he will be healthier this year and less hesitant in terms of when to take off. I hope so, because the potential seems there for him to impact games with his feet... that potential just has not been overly manifest yet.

i see what your saying here but imo the reasons that t-marts rushing drop of so much against in confernce teams is

1. the quality of the players in the BIG vs. the quality of the players of the teams in our non con schedule

2. the quality of the coaches in the BIG and their abilities to scheme vs. the quality of the coaches in our non con schedule.

while i think bo has done a great job at nebraska he and his staff still is fairly new at coaching especially in the BIG and it will take time till they can gameplan like some of the more premier coaches in the BIG and around the country, once they get there (which might be this year) and now that this team is starting to mature i think you will see t-marts play against tougher opponets improve. but his play is still directly affected by the play of the o-line which has been questionable at best lately

Indeed the reference to the OL play is on target.

Above Knapplc you surprised me a bit --- I am not used to you holding an assessment that is so in line with my own --- I tend often to be more on the "bleak" side of the assessment continuum than you. Anyway... your statement that unless TMart becomes a rushing threat that his overall play (what he brings to the plate as a passer/runner) is not going to be what N needs --- and, as you say, we must rush Carnes along quickly. I agree.

Now... Husker from Kansas points out that Bo has not been able to scheme well against the more experienced coaches... I agree. To the point --- will he have the discernment to move away from Taylor if Taylor is not getting it done? That is not scheming so much... but rather will our coach exercise wisdom in roster managment when the time comes (if the time comes). I am not confidant that he will. We, I'd think, will live or die with TMart --- he is Bo's guy and whether he plays well or not will not change things... TMart is it.

Then again... if he is really the 3rd best QB in the conference --- we may be OK.... but... hmnn is he really that good?

 

[RockyMountainOySker]

Biggest thing I took from that article is that the B1G loves mobile quarterbacks.

 

[knapplc]

Chris is right, plus add in some of the conversation from another thread (I forget which) where I said Cotton should primarily be a blocker, not a receiver. I'm all about using the correct pieces in the correct places. Cotton's a much better blocker than receiver. Reed is a terrible blocker, fine receiver. Ergo, Cotton blocks, Reed catches. On the rare occasion you switch that up, but not often.

One problem with that is that you can become too predictable. If you run to Cotton's side every time, the defense will start loading that side of the field. So you would have to ask yourself, would running to Reed's sude so he is a lead blocker for a few plays better than becoming too predictable?

I totally agree that you have to switch it up. But Reed-as-blocker should be the exception. Last year it almost became the rule, often with disastrous consequences.

Fully agree also that Cotton is a very solid catcher. I can't remember any blatant drops of is. He ranks right up there with Marlowe for ball security. But Cotton's best attribute is blocking, and always will be. Just ask Missouri circa 2010.

 

[Husker from Kansas]

Chris is right, plus add in some of the conversation from another thread (I forget which) where I said Cotton should primarily be a blocker, not a receiver. I'm all about using the correct pieces in the correct places. Cotton's a much better blocker than receiver. Reed is a terrible blocker, fine receiver. Ergo, Cotton blocks, Reed catches. On the rare occasion you switch that up, but not often.

One problem with that is that you can become too predictable. If you run to Cotton's side every time, the defense will start loading that side of the field. So you would have to ask yourself, would running to Reed's sude so he is a lead blocker for a few plays better than becoming too predictable?

there is no way you could never run to reeds side, i just dont see that being a possibilty. however the offense should run to cottons side more often then not and then once the defense starts to flow that way everytime the offense should be able to run the counter for huge gains. with that being said reed has to work on becoming a better blocker, but in the grand scheme of it all reed is more of a threat in the passing game and the offense needs to use that to their advantage

 

[knapplc]

Above Knapplc you surprised me a bit --- I am not used to you holding an assessment that is so in line with my own --- I tend often to be more on the "bleak" side of the assessment continuum than you. Anyway... your statement that unless TMart becomes a rushing threat that his overall play (what he brings to the plate as a passer/runner) is not going to be what N needs --- and, as you say, we must rush Carnes along quickly. I agree.

Now... Husker from Kansas points out that Bo has not been able to scheme well against the more experienced coaches... I agree. To the point --- will he have the discernment to move away from Taylor if Taylor is not getting it done? That is not scheming so much... but rather will our coach exercise wisdom in roster managment when the time comes (if the time comes). I am not confidant that he will. We, I'd think, will live or die with TMart --- he is Bo's guy and whether he plays well or not will not change things... TMart is it.

Then again... if he is really the 3rd best QB in the conference --- we may be OK.... but... hmnn is he really that good?

That's because I spend so much time debunking Taylor Myths that I've gotten the reputation of being a blind Martinez Worshiper. That's not the case at all. I am a supporter because he's a Husker, but the reality is, I want the best player to play, period.

The window is closing on his improvement. If he can't get it done, we owe it to ourselves to get Carnes reps to get him ready for 2013. We cannot ignore 2012, and we need to have a solid year. But our schedule is very favorable in 2013, and if Martinez is not going to develop into the guy we need, then he has to be benched and Carnes (or Armstrong, or whomever) has to be allowed to move up.

 

[caveman99]

Chris is right, plus add in some of the conversation from another thread (I forget which) where I said Cotton should primarily be a blocker, not a receiver. I'm all about using the correct pieces in the correct places. Cotton's a much better blocker than receiver. Reed is a terrible blocker, fine receiver. Ergo, Cotton blocks, Reed catches. On the rare occasion you switch that up, but not often.

I think you are severely understating Cotton's ability to catch the ball. IIRC, he had over 20 receptions and almost always seemed to catch the tough one or get a 1st down. He can be a great 3rd down receiver IMO. Marlowe seemed to have a similar knack with bigger play upside.

 

['SkersRule]

I agree the potential is there. Kenny Bell, Quincy Enunwa, Jamal Turner, Jordan Westerkamp, Taariq Allen, Kyler Reed - these are guys who can give a defense fits. We need to figure out how to utilize their talents, and of course we need to get them the ball in a manner that allows them to rack up YAC.

They simply need to hang onto the ball when it hits their hands. The dropped passes are silly and need to stop.

 

[robsker]

Above Knapplc you surprised me a bit --- I am not used to you holding an assessment that is so in line with my own --- I tend often to be more on the "bleak" side of the assessment continuum than you. Anyway... your statement that unless TMart becomes a rushing threat that his overall play (what he brings to the plate as a passer/runner) is not going to be what N needs --- and, as you say, we must rush Carnes along quickly. I agree.

Now... Husker from Kansas points out that Bo has not been able to scheme well against the more experienced coaches... I agree. To the point --- will he have the discernment to move away from Taylor if Taylor is not getting it done? That is not scheming so much... but rather will our coach exercise wisdom in roster managment when the time comes (if the time comes). I am not confidant that he will. We, I'd think, will live or die with TMart --- he is Bo's guy and whether he plays well or not will not change things... TMart is it.

Then again... if he is really the 3rd best QB in the conference --- we may be OK.... but... hmnn is he really that good?

That's because I spend so much time debunking Taylor Myths that I've gotten the reputation of being a blind Martinez Worshiper. That's not the case at all. I am a supporter because he's a Husker, but the reality is, I want the best player to play, period.

The window is closing on his improvement. If he can't get it done, we owe it to ourselves to get Carnes reps to get him ready for 2013. We cannot ignore 2012, and we need to have a solid year. But our schedule is very favorable in 2013, and if Martinez is not going to develop into the guy we need, then he has to be benched and Carnes (or Armstrong, or whomever) has to be allowed to move up.

Above Knapplc you surprised me a bit --- I am not used to you holding an assessment that is so in line with my own --- I tend often to be more on the "bleak" side of the assessment continuum than you. Anyway... your statement that unless TMart becomes a rushing threat that his overall play (what he brings to the plate as a passer/runner) is not going to be what N needs --- and, as you say, we must rush Carnes along quickly. I agree.

Now... Husker from Kansas points out that Bo has not been able to scheme well against the more experienced coaches... I agree. To the point --- will he have the discernment to move away from Taylor if Taylor is not getting it done? That is not scheming so much... but rather will our coach exercise wisdom in roster managment when the time comes (if the time comes). I am not confidant that he will. We, I'd think, will live or die with TMart --- he is Bo's guy and whether he plays well or not will not change things... TMart is it.

Then again... if he is really the 3rd best QB in the conference --- we may be OK.... but... hmnn is he really that good?

That's because I spend so much time debunking Taylor Myths that I've gotten the reputation of being a blind Martinez Worshiper. That's not the case at all. I am a supporter because he's a Husker, but the reality is, I want the best player to play, period.

The window is closing on his improvement. If he can't get it done, we owe it to ourselves to get Carnes reps to get him ready for 2013. We cannot ignore 2012, and we need to have a solid year. But our schedule is very favorable in 2013, and if Martinez is not going to develop into the guy we need, then he has to be benched and Carnes (or Armstrong, or whomever) has to be allowed to move up.

I agree entirely.

Whoever it is that projects upwards to the greatest degree --- Armstrong, Carnes, Marsh... TMart, whoever.

An aside... though I think related (though not to the QB position) --- what came of Courtney Osborne? He was our best safety 2 years ago as a sophomore. He went away entirely last year and this pre-season as I read articles where the coaches comment of our secondary --- they list often 6 or 7 guys and osborne is nowhere to be seen. I ask this because of the general notion that we need to play our most promising guys --- and how does our best safety become a ghost like that nowhere to be seen? Has been hurt? What is the deal?

 

[knapplc]

I believe Courtney has been hurt. Back, IIRC.

 

[Nebula]

Chris is right, plus add in some of the conversation from another thread (I forget which) where I said Cotton should primarily be a blocker, not a receiver. I'm all about using the correct pieces in the correct places. Cotton's a much better blocker than receiver. Reed is a terrible blocker, fine receiver. Ergo, Cotton blocks, Reed catches. On the rare occasion you switch that up, but not often.

I think you are severely understating Cotton's ability to catch the ball. IIRC, he had over 20 receptions and almost always seemed to catch the tough one or get a 1st down. He can be a great 3rd down receiver IMO. Marlowe seemed to have a similar knack with bigger play upside.

I've actually been very impressed with Cotton's all-around game. He blocks like his life depends on it, and he actually is pretty consistent (at least, in my opinion) when the ball is thrown his way. He's a nice player, a really well-rounded TE.

He ain't a Shannon Sharpe type receiving threat obviously, or even a Kyler Reed. But I don't instinctively recoil when the ball is headed his way like I did with Kinnie by the end of his career. Big Ben Cotton fan.

 

[Danny Bateman]

Above Knapplc you surprised me a bit --- I am not used to you holding an assessment that is so in line with my own --- I tend often to be more on the "bleak" side of the assessment continuum than you. Anyway... your statement that unless TMart becomes a rushing threat that his overall play (what he brings to the plate as a passer/runner) is not going to be what N needs --- and, as you say, we must rush Carnes along quickly. I agree.

Now... Husker from Kansas points out that Bo has not been able to scheme well against the more experienced coaches... I agree. To the point --- will he have the discernment to move away from Taylor if Taylor is not getting it done? That is not scheming so much... but rather will our coach exercise wisdom in roster managment when the time comes (if the time comes). I am not confidant that he will. We, I'd think, will live or die with TMart --- he is Bo's guy and whether he plays well or not will not change things... TMart is it.

Then again... if he is really the 3rd best QB in the conference --- we may be OK.... but... hmnn is he really that good?

That's because I spend so much time debunking Taylor Myths that I've gotten the reputation of being a blind Martinez Worshiper. That's not the case at all. I am a supporter because he's a Husker, but the reality is, I want the best player to play, period.

The window is closing on his improvement. If he can't get it done, we owe it to ourselves to get Carnes reps to get him ready for 2013. We cannot ignore 2012, and we need to have a solid year. But our schedule is very favorable in 2013, and if Martinez is not going to develop into the guy we need, then he has to be benched and Carnes (or Armstrong, or whomever) has to be allowed to move up.

Agree wholeheartedly about finding the best QB on the roster and getting them ready, even if it puts a slightly less competitive product on the field while they are initially developing. By all accounts, Taylor has really stepped up his leadership and overall quarterbacking in our early spring. Hopefully, Saturday will offer some small glimpse of this new Taylor.

If he's improved enough to where he is ready to be the QB that leads our beloved Huskers back to the BCS and even possibly National Championship game, the proof will be in the pudding come fall. If not, the implications it has on the future of the QB position at Nebraska will bore themselves out over the course of the summer and fall practices and into the season.

By all means, I really hope that Taylor does take the next step and our Huskers finally breakthrough and taste BCS glory this season, if not more. But if not, I hope even MORE that we don't get stuck in some kind of football purgatory with Bo being too stubborn to bench a ceiling-reached Taylor in favor of another QB over the next two years, especially when the 2013 season sets up so perfectly for a NC run.

 

[Hunter94]

Top receiving corp in the B1G??? Id never in a million years imagine hearing or reading those words about my beloved huskers!

that koolaid is getting passed around some, eh?

 

['SkersRule]

Top receiving corp in the B1G??? Id never in a million years imagine hearing or reading those words about my beloved huskers!

that koolaid is getting passed around some, eh?

Maybe you should take a sip. Or at the least take a snif. Serious question now: Why are you so pessemistic and negative?

 

[HuskerShark]

Top receiving corp in the B1G??? Id never in a million years imagine hearing or reading those words about my beloved huskers!

that koolaid is getting passed around some, eh?

Maybe you should take a sip. Or at the least take a snif. Serious question now: Why are you so pessemistic and negative?

Somebody pissed in his cheerios a couple years ago, and he hasn't forgot about it yet.

 

[Hunter94]

Top receiving corp in the B1G??? Id never in a million years imagine hearing or reading those words about my beloved huskers!

that koolaid is getting passed around some, eh?

Maybe you should take a sip. Or at the least take a snif. Serious question now: Why are you so pessemistic and negative?

Somebody pissed in his cheerios a couple years ago, and he hasn't forgot about it yet.

our receivers may surprise this year, but there is just no history of past performance to support this guys' comments......that's the reality, it just is.