Big Red Breakfast Tweets

[Count 'Bility]

Remember back to '92. This is how Frazier got started. Mike Grant was a senior. Suffered a slight injury early against Ok St. Frazier came in and lit it to the tune of 55 points. Was awarded the start 2 weeks later @ Missouri and never looked back..

 

[Stumpy1]

Jesus man, did you even watch the UCLA game. He had -21 yards rushing. Even the announcers said he looks like a senior in HS not a senior in college.

Sorry, those little bubble screen passes are padding his stats, without those he's well under 50%. He looks different this year, he's been hurt.

Taylor will not get drafted. Can you imagine this team with a top three round NFL quality QB, or god forbid a first round talent at QB? Just stop and think about having a good quality QB like Hundley Miller Murray Boyd or Johnny football.

We're instantly in the top ten. A&M gives up 600 and they are still in the game because of an elite QB.

I watched it; I was there. Seemed to me that he did what was asked of him, but was not given a good chance to succeed by Beck's gameplan. Something was obviously off, sure, but we didn't even try (and I don't mean oh lets just throw it up from the end zone and see what happens) to take strikes. When we did, such as in the redzone, we got three touchdowns out of it with perfectly thrown balls.

There are a few points I am confused about though.

You said he hasn't looked good at all, in the first three games, yet only mention UCLA. What did he do poorly against Wyoming and Southern Miss?

Also, bringing up the belief he won't get drafted - are you saying that is what qualifies him as not being a "real" quarterback? Tim Tebow is a real quarterback, then, yeah? But some of the best in our school's history aren't real quarterbacks.

Or is the point that he's not a real quarterback because he's not an elite quarterback? Which quarterback that's playing Saturday is a real quarterback, then? Ron or Tommy, and is it because somehow you know they are elite or because they are going to get drafted or..? I guess I just don't get what you're saying. Johnny Manziel is elite, sure, but he's also surrounded by elite talent and is given an aggressive, smart gameplan that gives him a great foundation to succeed.

It was pointed out on tv the number of times TM could have tucked the ball and ran for 10+ yrds and never did. I think he has been nagged by this turf toe since fall ball and has just kept it under wraps.

 

[Enhance]

Taylor has had good stats through the first 3 games, and I am a huge Taylor supporter. But, there was something missing against UCLA. He wasn't a threat to run, and it may have been his turf toe injury. Plus, Martinez is not a good "deep passer" so NU wasn't going to get any "big plays" against UCLA. As I said, I really like Martinez, but if he's not a threat to run, he is a very average QB.

I disagree with the bolded - TM has often been lauded for his ability to throw a deep ball. He hasn't had a ton of opportunities this year but he's thrown some really good passes. His TD pass to Sam Burtch (against So. Miss. I think it was) is one of the best throws TM has ever made.

I don't think anything has been missing this year other than a working toe and a competent team working around him. TM has made some mistakes like any player would but it's really tough to win a game when your line isn't blocking, your receivers are dropping balls and your backs aren't picking up yards in the run game.

I agree about his running ability, though. Without that threat to run it takes away a huge part of what makes him dangerous and valuable, because Martinez likely won't beat good defenses with just his arm.

 

[HuskerFowler]

Jesus man, did you even watch the UCLA game. He had -21 yards rushing. Even the announcers said he looks like a senior in HS not a senior in college.

Sorry, those little bubble screen passes are padding his stats, without those he's well under 50%. He looks different this year, he's been hurt.

Taylor will not get drafted. Can you imagine this team with a top three round NFL quality QB, or god forbid a first round talent at QB? Just stop and think about having a good quality QB like Hundley Miller Murray Boyd or Johnny football.

We're instantly in the top ten. A&M gives up 600 and they are still in the game because of an elite QB.

I watched it; I was there. Seemed to me that he did what was asked of him, but was not given a good chance to succeed by Beck's gameplan. Something was obviously off, sure, but we didn't even try (and I don't mean oh lets just throw it up from the end zone and see what happens) to take strikes. When we did, such as in the redzone, we got three touchdowns out of it with perfectly thrown balls.

There are a few points I am confused about though.

You said he hasn't looked good at all, in the first three games, yet only mention UCLA. What did he do poorly against Wyoming and Southern Miss?

Also, bringing up the belief he won't get drafted - are you saying that is what qualifies him as not being a "real" quarterback? Tim Tebow is a real quarterback, then, yeah? But some of the best in our school's history aren't real quarterbacks.

Or is the point that he's not a real quarterback because he's not an elite quarterback? Which quarterback that's playing Saturday is a real quarterback, then? Ron or Tommy, and is it because somehow you know they are elite or because they are going to get drafted or..? I guess I just don't get what you're saying. Johnny Manziel is elite, sure, but he's also surrounded by elite talent and is given an aggressive, smart gameplan that gives him a great foundation to succeed.

Well he played WR his first year here, and we were the only FBS team that said we "would give him a shot at QB". Had we recruited better he would have been the original Jamal Turner.

He didn't do anything wrong per se, but he didn't look great in the first two games either. Didn't run the ball through wide open lanes numerous times and Beck gave him high percentage throws.

Lets face it. Teams load up the box and try to make him throw for a reason. And there's a reason his record is good against inferior athletes is great and terrible against comparable or better athletes.

I was at the game as well, and IMO the play calling was based on TMs abilities. You dont believe that, and that's fine, we don't have to go back and forth over it, we just have different opinions. The play calling would be completely different if we had (pick any good QB drafted in the first four rounds) Yes draft shows ability.

The good QBs we had in the 90s were great system QBs. They didn't have to have NFL talent because we ran a system designed around their talent.

 

[ColoradoHusk]

Taylor has had good stats through the first 3 games, and I am a huge Taylor supporter. But, there was something missing against UCLA. He wasn't a threat to run, and it may have been his turf toe injury. Plus, Martinez is not a good "deep passer" so NU wasn't going to get any "big plays" against UCLA. As I said, I really like Martinez, but if he's not a threat to run, he is a very average QB.

I disagree with the bolded - TM has often been lauded for his ability to throw a deep ball. He hasn't had a ton of opportunities this year but he's thrown some really good passes. His TD pass to Sam Burtch (against So. Miss. I think it was) is one of the best throws TM has ever made.

I don't think anything has been missing this year other than a working toe and a competent team working around him. TM has made some mistakes like any player would but it's really tough to win a game when your line isn't blocking, your receivers are dropping balls and your backs aren't picking up yards in the run game.

I agree about his running ability, though. Without that threat to run it takes away a huge part of what makes him dangerous and valuable, because Martinez likely won't beat good defenses with just his arm.

Here is a link that shows how bad of a "deep passer" Martinez is. This is from 2012 stats, but it gives you a general trend for Martinez.

In 2012, Martinez was over 75% in passes under 10 yards. When the pass is 10-14 yards, it's 50%. But, on passes over 15 yards, his completion % is less than 20%. Yes, every QB passing % is going to drop with the deeper the pass. But, with Martinez it is very alarming, and was one of the worst in the nation.

http://assets.sbnati...BCompletion.jpg

Here is a link to the overall study.

http://www.footballstudyhall.com/2013/2/28/4036850/adjusted-completion-percentages-collin-klein-matt-barkley

 

[Count 'Bility]

I'm not gonna be looking for any individual flashes from Armstrong to determine it it's time to change. I'm gonna be looking at the offense as a whole. If they show consistent flash as opposed to up and down under Taylor over the last few years, it's gonna be hard to ignore.

Another comparison to the past (I know, I have to quit doing this) the qb battle at the start of '99 between Newcombe and Crouch. Both were equally explosive and able, but it was obvious that Crouch just brought that little bit of extra something to the field. The offense just gelled better. They just seemed more focused. More consistent. I feel that way about this situation. If that's what we see tommorrow, it's gonna be really difficult to ignore. Obvoiusly Taylor will get his spot back when healthy regardless, but he'll have pressure from below, and if he doesnt immediately get it going, there's gonna be howls.

 

[Enhance]

Remember back to '92. This is how Frazier got started. Mike Grant was a senior. Suffered a slight injury early against Ok St. Frazier came in and lit it to the tune of 55 points. Was awarded the start 2 weeks later @ Missouri and never looked back..

I don't know much about Mike Grant, but an article from 1992 I just read said he started four games in 1990 before injuries cost him the job, and then he sat out in 1991 as a redshirt. By comparison, Martinez has started more than 30 games, pushing 40, and has proven to me time and again he should be our starter. Anything could happen, obviously, but I'm having a really tough time imagining a even-close-to-being-healthy Martinez doesn't play.

If we were playing Michigan this week, I think chances are good TM would be playing.

 

[iowahuskers]

Some tweets from the Big Red Breakfast today:

@HuskerExtraBR

Fisher said we'll see Alonzo Moore on Saturday, has certain packages for him; slowed by shoulder injury in fall camp.

@HuskerExtraBR

Fishers said both Tommy Armstrong and Ron Kellogg will play at quarterback Saturday. #Huskers

‏@HuskerExtraBR

Fisher says Alonzo Moore has "SEC type talent," with athletic talent that's "through the ceiling." Said he heeds to get him on field.

@Sean_Callahan

Look for Alonzo Moore to see some playing time this week according to @rfisher88. He said they have some packages for him. #Huskers

I cannot wait for Alonzo Moore to get on the field. Watching his highlights and him in the spring game, its evident that he is something special. Seems like a home run threat when he touches the ball. We need more athletes like him on our team. Very excited about the future with him and TA. I have a feeling we will see a lot of what we saw in the spring game between these two.

I am very excited that we are seeing a new QB this weekend, I love TM but I think that it's time to move on. Very excited for TA, kids gonna be a stud for us the next few years and hopefully this year....

 

[ColoradoHusk]

Remember back to '92. This is how Frazier got started. Mike Grant was a senior. Suffered a slight injury early against Ok St. Frazier came in and lit it to the tune of 55 points. Was awarded the start 2 weeks later @ Missouri and never looked back..

I don't know much about Mike Grant, but an article from 1992 I just read said he started four games in 1990 before injuries cost him the job, and then he sat out in 1991 as a redshirt. By comparison, Martinez has started more than 30 games, pushing 40, and has proven to me time and again he should be our starter. Anything could happen, obviously, but I'm having a really tough time imagining a even-close-to-being-healthy Martinez doesn't play.

If we were playing Michigan this week, I think chances are good TM would be playing.

I agree that there is a huge difference between Martinez and Grant. Grant was a journeyman QB who started at the beginning of the 1992 season because he was the most experienced guy. Grant was beaten out by Mickey Joseph in 1990, and then Keithan McCant in 1991. When Frazier came in as a Frosh, he did make some good plays and changed the dynamic of the offense, but the offense was also able to ride the "we backs" of Brown and Jones.

The one thing I hope with Armstrong is that he shows that he is good enough at QB to give the coaches an option if Martinez suffers another injury down the road.

 

[Landlord]

The good QBs we had in the 90s were great system QBs. They didn't have to have NFL talent because we ran a system designed around their talent.

So is Taylor a "real" quarterback or not, and what's the criteria? Were Tommie, Eric, Scott, Vince, Turner and others "real" quarterbacks? Which quarterback(s) on the roster are "real"?

 

[Count 'Bility]

Remember back to '92. This is how Frazier got started. Mike Grant was a senior. Suffered a slight injury early against Ok St. Frazier came in and lit it to the tune of 55 points. Was awarded the start 2 weeks later @ Missouri and never looked back..

I don't know much about Mike Grant, but an article from 1992 I just read said he started four games in 1990 before injuries cost him the job, and then he sat out in 1991 as a redshirt. By comparison, Martinez has started more than 30 games, pushing 40, and has proven to me time and again he should be our starter. Anything could happen, obviously, but I'm having a really tough time imagining a even-close-to-being-healthy Martinez doesn't play.

If we were playing Michigan this week, I think chances are good TM would be playing.

Correct. Mickey Joseph was the starter most of '90 after Grant went down, until his leg was busted on a dirty hit against Oklahoma. Keithen McCant as a senior earned the starting job in 1991 quickley and started the rest of the way. Grant, Frazier and Tony Veland were really the only guys who even had a shot to start in '92. Grant won the job to start, but it wasnt pretty for the most part. Really struggled at Washington. Against Ok St. he suffered some sort of slight injury that gave Tommie that window and it was like "holy kriest, where the hell did this guy come from". It just looked like a completely different offense. And it never looked back. That's all I'm sayin. It's about the offense as a whole here. How do they react to a fresh face?

 

[Enhance]

Here is a link that shows how bad of a "deep passer" Martinez is. This is from 2012 stats, but it gives you a general trend for Martinez.

In 2012, Martinez was over 75% in passes under 10 yards. When the pass is 10-14 yards, it's 50%. But, on passes over 15 yards, his completion % is less than 20%. Yes, every QB passing % is going to drop with the deeper the pass. But, with Martinez it is very alarming, and was one of the worst in the nation.

http://assets.sbnati...BCompletion.jpg

Here is a link to the overall study.

http://www.footballs...in-matt-barkley

Couple things - first, the article says it followed some quarterbacks significantly more close than others; specifically, they charted almost every pass for LSU and Alabama. Others, like Nebraska, they only charted three games... of 12. Is it fair to look at three games worth of data and compare that to other QB's who they charted double the games or more?

Second, the article admits their data is definitely more for conversation purposes than to draw any form of hard conclusion from. Just by the way it's written you can tell they did it more for fun and fully admit that this is not an accurate representation of anything.

I'm definitely not arguing Martinez is the best deep passer in the world but I don't think that article or study is a credible way to judge quarterbacks.

 

[Count 'Bility]

The good QBs we had in the 90s were great system QBs. They didn't have to have NFL talent because we ran a system designed around their talent.

So is Taylor a "real" quarterback or not, and what's the criteria? Were Tommie, Eric, Scott, Vince, Turner and others "real" quarterbacks? Which quarterback(s) on the roster are "real"?

Yes, he's a real qb. He's also a system qb. A system designed around his legs, and the threat that his legs bring to the table. If that threat isnt there, or he's reluctant to show it off every now and then, he does more harm than good i think. his throwing ability exclusively is not that good, but combined with his running ability and the threat of, it's very effective. It has to be a total package.

 

[The Dude]

I'm excited to see what TA can do, and for a real QB to play for the first time in years. Taylor just has not looked good the first three games.

66% completions and 9 touchdowns to 1 interception is not good, huh?

It's good for a bus driver. Which is all well and good if you have a stout defense to rely on.

We need a QB that's a play-maker. Which is usually Martinez when he can run it.

 

[HuskerFowler]

The good QBs we had in the 90s were great system QBs. They didn't have to have NFL talent because we ran a system designed around their talent.

So is Taylor a "real" quarterback or not, and what's the criteria? Were Tommie, Eric, Scott, Vince, Turner and others "real" quarterbacks? Which quarterback(s) on the roster are "real"?

Tommy Armstrong and Johnny Stanton are the only QBs on the roster that were recruited by us and multiple BCS caliber teams to play QB.

As I said before we promised Taylor "a shot"and he played WR his first year here. Has he been a good QB for us? Absolutely. Are there better QBs out there? Absolutely. Have there been any on our roster until this year? Absolutely not, unless you wanted to play a true freshman or a walk on.

This is the first time in 3 years we've had a viable option besides a walk on and Taylor. I've been a big Taylor supporter and I'm not going to bash the kid, as I said before he helped turn the program around. IMO we need someone better to take the next step, this year or next. I'm not going to blow smoke and tell you he's on the roster, I just pray he is. A young upcoming defense with a talented QB is really something to look forward to as a fan, because we don't have much right now. Taylor's been a starter for 4-6 of Bos years. Would like to see him get a chance with a new leader before I give up on him.