It's a new era in Nebraska quarterbacking, and Tommy Armstrong clearly remains the guy to beat. Armstrong, for now, throws the best ball — the deeper the pass, the prettier it tends to look falling into a receiver's hands — and commands the respect of his teammates. Because of a 7-1 record as a starter, he's really the incumbent; that win at Michigan is especially worth some cachet.
Armstrong remains on the learning curve, coach Bo Pelini said, of reading defenses. Last week, that showed whenever he threw short passes into traffic. Coordinator Tim Beck's offense has a number of pass plays that a quarterback must “feel,” so to speak, his way through. Of the many things Taylor Martinez did well, those quick throws — slants, curls, outs — were at the top of the list; he developed particularly good chemistry with Quincy Enunwa and former tight ends Ben Cotton and Kyler Reed.
