5 Bold Predictions for Taylor Martinez

[Fuzzy]

The only bad thing about Taylor Martinez, when it comes to being a mobile QB. He isn't shifty. He is a straight line runner. I've hardly ever seen him make cutbacks or weave through defenders. He'll either tuck the ball, stiff arm, or spin. Because of that, he isn't up their talent wise when you compare him to Robinson or Miller or any other mobile QB in the Big Ten. When it comes to speed and explosiveness, Martinez ranks up in the Top 3, but it comes to mobility and agility, he goes down a few pegs to Top 7.

 

[bshirt]

It isn't that odd. This isn't a knock on Martinez, but he isn't even the best running quarterback in his division of his conference. I don't get all the hate for Martinez, but I don't get pretending he is better than what he has shown he is so far. He is fast. He used to be and may return to be very fast, but he has not shown he is a great "runner". We can all hope that this is the year.

Well, just maybe that's because our division has possibly the two fastest qbs in cfb? Duh.

E. Crouch wasn't anything close to LP as a "runner" either so...so what? I guess you thought he s*cked too. The point is they both had just amazingly gap speed that defenses struggled mightily to contain. "If" Tmart has his wheels in good order he's going to badly hurt opponent DCs (good "runner" or not) this year.

 

[bshirt]

The only bad thing about Taylor Martinez, when it comes to being a mobile QB. He isn't shifty. He is a straight line runner. I've hardly ever seen him make cutbacks or weave through defenders. He'll either tuck the ball, stiff arm, or spin. Because of that, he isn't up their talent wise when you compare him to Robinson or Miller or any other mobile QB in the Big Ten. When it comes to speed and explosiveness, Martinez ranks up in the Top 3, but it comes to mobility and agility, he goes down a few pegs to Top 7.

I think that's fair enough. But for gap speed he's easily #1 imo (if he has the 2010 juice back).

 

[zoogs]

Yeah what Fuzzy said. Crouch was not only a tough SOB, he had great moves. Taylor so far has been more of a, as you say, gap speed guy. Give him a crease and if the defenders are caught just a little out of position, he can be gone. Crouch could steamroll people as well as weave his way through traffic. They're different runners. So I hope we our running attack on the ZR, which is designed to give Taylor those holes, and ditch the option, where he has to run laterally, have good vision, and make good decisions about ball security.

It's not a question of how many rushing yards he gets. It's of how effectively he is used. I'm sure he can be given 20 carries a game and come out with 4-5 yards a carry, but we're looking for something 'extra' from the QB, and not just what the workhorse back is supposed to do. The homerun threat, the misdirection, etc.

 

[Mierin]

I actually thought he improved a lot on the option as the year went on, but it was definitely frightening to watch at times.

 

[walksalone]

BleacherReport, the "Bernard" of sports websites....

 

[bshirt]

Yeah what Fuzzy said. Crouch was not only a tough SOB, he had great moves. Taylor so far has been more of a, as you say, gap speed guy. Give him a crease and if the defenders are caught just a little out of position, he can be gone. Crouch could steamroll people as well as weave his way through traffic. They're different runners. So I hope we our running attack on the ZR, which is designed to give Taylor those holes, and ditch the option, where he has to run laterally, have good vision, and make good decisions about ball security.

It's not a question of how many rushing yards he gets. It's of how effectively he is used. I'm sure he can be given 20 carries a game and come out with 4-5 yards a carry, but we're looking for something 'extra' from the QB, and not just what the workhorse back is supposed to do. The homerun threat, the misdirection, etc.

Well zoogies my old friend, I gotta say I didn' t see Crouch as a great "moves" guy at all. Or at least not even remotely close to "real" moves guys like B. Sanders, LP, D. Dubose (before injury), etc. He was tough as nails (much, MUCH more than Tmart running the ball) and just like Tmart having insane acceleration.

I just think you and others casually discount a very, very vicious weapon with deadly gap speed. Sure, it would be best If guys like Crouch/Tmart had the shake & bake of a LP. They don't & didn't. But even LP (imo the best RB we've ever had) didn't have their gap speed. Crouch tore opponents apart with it for 3.5 years. And no, it wasn't because "defenders were out of position". It was because defenders couldn't react fast enough. Same thing with Tmart in 2010 (before injuries).

Yeah, as you know I'm a Tmart homer but really I'm even more a huge fan of Warp-7 acceleration. Crouch had it. Bo Jackson had it. Tmart had (maybe still does) it. It fun as hell to watch and a deadly weapon. Bo knows that. Beck knows that.

Lastly, my good friend, I thought Tmart looked pretty good on some of the option plays we ran last year. With some practice at it, I think he could excel. We'll see. I think we're gonna have a lot of fun this year.

 

[walksalone]

5 "Hopes" for T-mart

1. He's healthy all year

2. He has more TD's than INT's

3. He becomes a leader

4. He makes good decisions

5. He gives 110% all year

 

[Hunter94]

The only bad thing about Taylor Martinez, when it comes to being a mobile QB. He isn't shifty. He is a straight line runner. I've hardly ever seen him make cutbacks or weave through defenders. He'll either tuck the ball, stiff arm, or spin. Because of that, he isn't up their talent wise when you compare him to Robinson or Miller or any other mobile QB in the Big Ten. When it comes to speed and explosiveness, Martinez ranks up in the Top 3, but it comes to mobility and agility, he goes down a few pegs to Top 7.

this...... and his ability to scramble (on pass plays) and make yardage is very limited...........if the D's stack the box, the only way he gets his run game going is by successfully throwing the ball, to open back up the run......that is the way most defensive coordinators wil play us, dare him to beat them by throwing the ball.

 

[AFhusker]

The only bad thing about Taylor Martinez, when it comes to being a mobile QB. He isn't shifty. He is a straight line runner. I've hardly ever seen him make cutbacks or weave through defenders. He'll either tuck the ball, stiff arm, or spin. Because of that, he isn't up their talent wise when you compare him to Robinson or Miller or any other mobile QB in the Big Ten. When it comes to speed and explosiveness, Martinez ranks up in the Top 3, but it comes to mobility and agility, he goes down a few pegs to Top 7.

this...... and his ability to scramble (on pass plays) and make yardage is very limited...........if the D's stack the box, the only way he gets his run game going is by successfully throwing the ball, to open back up the run......that is the way most defensive coordinators wil play us, dare him to beat them by throwing the ball.

I can't remember a QB with worse pocket presence. IMO that is the key to his and NU's season. If he continues to run into sacks while he has running lanes the size of a truck on the other side of the line, we will have the same problems this year as we did last year. If the kid actually gets some vision and can cutback into those huge lanes, then he could have one of the best seasons a NU QB has ever had.

 

[lo country]

The only bad thing about Taylor Martinez, when it comes to being a mobile QB. He isn't shifty. He is a straight line runner. I've hardly ever seen him make cutbacks or weave through defenders. He'll either tuck the ball, stiff arm, or spin. Because of that, he isn't up their talent wise when you compare him to Robinson or Miller or any other mobile QB in the Big Ten. When it comes to speed and explosiveness, Martinez ranks up in the Top 3, but it comes to mobility and agility, he goes down a few pegs to Top 7.

Agree with this. He doesn't run "tough". With the hits he has taken, he is very tough and surprisingly durable ie slows up, stands up and gets laid out. I wish he had a little shake and bake in him.

I really think that his numbers are predicated on two things:

His ability to actually be a passing threat

The O line actually laying out some people

If he passes better, DC's will be forced to respect that aspect leaving a lot more room for Martinez, Rex and A, Marrow et al to be unleashed. If he hasn't improved enough, the O line ala NU's heydays just need to open the holes, allow Martinez to hit the second level and with his returned speed, it is six every time.

I also hope that the staff has done as much testing and film review of their own performances as I have heard the team has been doing ie Beck and his Wisky meltdown. The staff needs to be on the same page as it relates to play calling, schemes, technique, playing time etc...... Seems like Bo's staff is completely in place and his guys are now seniors. They also need to find a way t get the athletes on the field. Coach em up, extra practice whatever

Beck, with solid play calling can go a long way in helping this team achieve its goals. If something is working, stick with it until the D stops it. Run plays to set up other plays.

 

[suh_fan93]

Another Taylor Martinez thread. That article got it right when they said there hasn't been a Nebraska QB more polarizing than Taylor Martinez. Guys an explosive runner but if it takes 3 years to learn how to play Quarterback at Nebraska? Oh well, bring on the season.

 

[Comish]

The only bad thing about Taylor Martinez, when it comes to being a mobile QB. He isn't shifty. He is a straight line runner. I've hardly ever seen him make cutbacks or weave through defenders. He'll either tuck the ball, stiff arm, or spin. Because of that, he isn't up their talent wise when you compare him to Robinson or Miller or any other mobile QB in the Big Ten. When it comes to speed and explosiveness, Martinez ranks up in the Top 3, but it comes to mobility and agility, he goes down a few pegs to Top 7.

Agree with this. He doesn't run "tough". With the hits he has taken, he is very tough and surprisingly durable ie slows up, stands up and gets laid out. I wish he had a little shake and bake in him.

I really think that his numbers are predicated on two things:

His ability to actually be a passing threat

The O line actually laying out some people

If he passes better, DC's will be forced to respect that aspect leaving a lot more room for Martinez, Rex and A, Marrow et al to be unleashed. If he hasn't improved enough, the O line ala NU's heydays just need to open the holes, allow Martinez to hit the second level and with his returned speed, it is six every time.

I also hope that the staff has done as much testing and film review of their own performances as I have heard the team has been doing ie Beck and his Wisky meltdown. The staff needs to be on the same page as it relates to play calling, schemes, technique, playing time etc...... Seems like Bo's staff is completely in place and his guys are now seniors. They also need to find a way t get the athletes on the field. Coach em up, extra practice whatever

Beck, with solid play calling can go a long way in helping this team achieve its goals. If something is working, stick with it until the D stops it. Run plays to set up other plays.

AMEN.......... If something is working, stick with it until the D stops it. The most basic concept in football (and life). Yet one of the hardest tendencies for the creative/arrogant mind to grasp!

 

[zoogs]

Football isn't a chess game at all. You never try to outscheme your opponents. You just do the same thing over and over until it gets stonewalled. Then you pick something out of a hat and try plays until one of them results in a first down. Then you run that play until it gets stuffed. Then you stop running that play and reach into the hat again.

 

[gbr93]

Yeah what Fuzzy said. Crouch was not only a tough SOB, he had great moves. Taylor so far has been more of a, as you say, gap speed guy. Give him a crease and if the defenders are caught just a little out of position, he can be gone. Crouch could steamroll people as well as weave his way through traffic. They're different runners. So I hope we our running attack on the ZR, which is designed to give Taylor those holes, and ditch the option, where he has to run laterally, have good vision, and make good decisions about ball security.

It's not a question of how many rushing yards he gets. It's of how effectively he is used. I'm sure he can be given 20 carries a game and come out with 4-5 yards a carry, but we're looking for something 'extra' from the QB, and not just what the workhorse back is supposed to do. The homerun threat, the misdirection, etc.

Well zoogies my old friend, I gotta say I didn' t see Crouch as a great "moves" guy at all. Or at least not even remotely close to "real" moves guys like B. Sanders, LP, D. Dubose (before injury), etc. He was tough as nails (much, MUCH more than Tmart running the ball) and just like Tmart having insane acceleration.

I just think you and others casually discount a very, very vicious weapon with deadly gap speed. Sure, it would be best If guys like Crouch/Tmart had the shake & bake of a LP. They don't & didn't. But even LP (imo the best RB we've ever had) didn't have their gap speed. Crouch tore opponents apart with it for 3.5 years. And no, it wasn't because "defenders were out of position". It was because defenders couldn't react fast enough. Same thing with Tmart in 2010 (before injuries).

Yeah, as you know I'm a Tmart homer but really I'm even more a huge fan of Warp-7 acceleration. Crouch had it. Bo Jackson had it. Tmart had (maybe still does) it. It fun as hell to watch and a deadly weapon. Bo knows that. Beck knows that.

Lastly, my good friend, I thought Tmart looked pretty good on some of the option plays we ran last year. With some practice at it, I think he could excel. We'll see. I think we're gonna have a lot of fun this year.

Perhaps you don't remember the run against mizzou? I'd say Crouch had some pretty shifty moves.