I had a unique privledge of being one of the many coaches to attend the UNL coaches clinic. We were allowed on the field for the entire Friday practice and Saturday scrimage, not to mention the numerous hours spent with the coaching staff. Here is just some of my observations from my time there.
O-line has along way to go, Smith appered to struggle alot during both practice and scrimage. Obviously he seemed comfortable when he was alowed to play guard but he often looked frustrated and just plain sloppy when having to manage the center duties. The staff is really working on basic techniques and procedures. The kids seem to be coming around but not everyone is catching on right away.
Expect single/double back read options for a base offense this year. They are hitting the A gap hard alot this spring and it is a big emphisis from the coaches about reading the ends and being able to pull back and run when needed. The QB's are working alot on reading the defenses and getting out into open space to make plays with there feet.
Martinez is the real deal! During practices and scrimage no one managed the offense better than Martinez. His ability to tuck and run at the right times and overall decision making had him hands down the number 2 guy. I would even go to say that his throws were better than Green's.
Zac Lee is still number one, alot of people might not like this but even though he wasn't allowed to throw he looked like the best QB on the field in drills and awareness. Now how that translates when he is back in the saddle could be different but he looked impressive when he did compete against the other QB's and you can just tell everytime he was supposed to throw that he really wanted to. I think that desire and drive is helping him in a big way this spring.
Cody Green, the kid has tallent and a presence. The only problem is that he is still inconsistent. He didn't show anything that says he improved since last season. His throwing ability leaves to be disired but you can tell he is working on that. His ability to tuck and run seemed slow compaired to Martinez. Cody spent the most time with the number 1 offense but didn't seam to be able to manage what the staff was asking him to do, yet.
I'll add more later since I'm out of character space...
If Green really has not improved over last season, as seemingly is the case --- you saw him --- then unless the Fall is a time of MASSIVE, MASSIVE, HUGE improvement, it is time to consider a position switch for Cody. If he is still reckless and clueless then (in fall) he still is characterized by bad decisions then I'd say TE or, well.... not sure where to put him... but QB, no.
I never did understand the Green hype. He really was not that big a recruit. Others had him as an athlete and not a QB and very few looked at him other than us. How is it that some are inclined to think that Green was a big national recruit. he was solid, but not big. he may pan out... but unless things really change, it is unlikely that he'll be a Qb of note for NU. Probably not even a QB at all.
he was a 4 :star :star :star :star rivals 250 prospect with offers from boston college, texas a&m, texas tech, houston, miss st, baylor, and okie state. So according to rivals he was #173 on the rivals 250. Thats a pretty solid recruit.
gotta agree with robsker on this one, Green was our biggest recruit two years ago but hell both carnes and turner appear to be better qb prospects.
from everything im hearing i would agree with the OP that martinez will be #2 by the time the season starts....
Indeed. His offers were from boston college, texas a&m, texas tech, houston, miss st, baylor, and okie state. Where was texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Michigan, USC, Florida, Oregon, Ohio State, Florida State, Penn State, Oklahoma, ---- big time recruits generate interest (and offers) from some, most, or all of these. So... Green was a solid but not a major recruit. And, I could be mistaken here, but I am under the impression that several (at least) of those who did offer him had him as an athlete with the notion that he might not end up a QB (or even begin as one).
This is not to take anything away from the young man --- it is however to take away the unrealistic expectations. Based on all first hand reports up to this point, Green does not appear to be a D1-ready QB. Maybe in a few years. But as of now, there is no reason to think that he can be a viable QB by Fall. Who knows, I might be surprised some day... but right now nothing would suggest that he'll contribute next year at QB.
The number of offers or who offered still doesnt take away the fact that rivals saw him as the 173rd best prospect in the country, which is pretty good. You were right he didnt have the Texas or Alabama or Florida but those also dont recruit like nebraska. Those schools offer maybe 50 kids a year, and thats a big maybe. You were right he wasnt a five star gotta have him prospect but he also asnt a question mark offer. Texas A&M offered him as a quarterback, and so did houston ond baylor.
Spot on. That was what I was trying to say as well. He was a solid recruit (solid by national standards --- and quite a significant recruit by NU standards, as NU does not compete well for national recruits). But it seems that people have the expectation that he is to be this great QB that everyone wanted. He was and is not such a player. The key things that, I surmise, made him as highly rated as he was (which was somewhat high, #173) was his amazingly mature frame and measurables at such a young age. To be a legit 6' 4" and 220+ pounds of basically solid muscle with a really nice array of track numbers (40 yard dash) etc. will draw some attention to be sure. However, even in watching his HS tapes one can legitamitly question whether he is a true QB or an athlete playing QB. I'd surmise that our coaches were hoping that they could develop him as a QB and that he would master the scheme and contribute. Like any recruit its somewhat a crap-shoot as to whether it will pay off. And with Green it may ultimately pay of --- but so far, that has not been the case (nor are things progressing in such a way as to predict much success).
Another in this thread mentioned that Carnes and Turner were better HS QB's. Such is almost certainly the case. I'd argue that Taylor Martinez was more successful as a HS QB as well. He won as much or more (as a team member), won more awards, had better numbers (I am reasonably sure) and looked better on film. But.... Martinez did not then (nor does he now) strike such an imposing figure (he is what, 6'0" and 190 vs 6'4" 220+). Pure arm strength goes to Green as well. The imagination is heightened when one sees the imposing figure of Green as a 17 year old --- where one wonders what an athlete like that might be able to do (which again is why he most likely was rated as high as he was --- as opposed to being ranked based upon concrete performance to that point. But if you look at success as a HS QB, Martinez was at least (if not more) successful both as a leader and as an individual, than Green. No, he did not have the physique or arm strength or power as a runner --- but as a package, he was at least the same caliber --- and yet even here, with Martinez, the question of QB vs athlete as QB is legitimate.
That Martinez is rising above Green at this point really should not surprise anyone.
One final note. It appears that judgment, decision making, and picking up scheme are still major problems for Green as the reports coming in are that he either hesitates, misses an opportunity, fails to pull the trigger or pulls the trigger when he should not. So... theoretically, these are problems that experience can fix. We'll see. But, at the very least folks, don't expect Green to emerge in Fall as "the man." he might... but nothing to date would suggest that he will.
As for Martinez... he has a better chance of emerging (as the #2). That said.... unless Zac Lee cannot (for health reasons), he almost certainly will be "the man" next year (as in #1). All this Green or Martinez stuff is for the backup and will have significance next year only if Lee gets hurt (or cannot heal well from his current injury). The year after will be a Green vs. Martinez vs. Carnes issue (if all are still QB's by then).
