I am not saying that the following article clears this subject up. We don't know what's going through TM's mind. But with this article, there is at least room for debate concerning this. Is Watson telling the truth that Martinez is interested in the game on the sideline and many of you are off-based? I can't answer that, but we need to keep an open mind and give the kid the benefit of the doubt. Draw your own conclusion.
Whether Martinez or Green takes snaps, NU has a plan
By BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Tuesday, November 30, 2010 11:40 pm
Last year Zac Lee was playing with a torn flexor tendon in his throwing arm. This year Taylor Martinez has a beat-up right ankle and a sore toe.
Grab an excuse if you wish heading into the Big 12 Championship. Just know Shawn Watson isn't joining you in that line.
"Just part of the game," Nebraska's offensive coordinator said Tuesday. "Every season there's adversity. Usually the adversity that comes up for a coach and a team is injuries. It's how you manage them and how you handle them that counts.
"I've always believed this: You have to tweak yourself to manage wins. We've been able to do that. Sometimes it hasn't been romantic or pretty, but we've found a way to do it."
And sometimes finding a way means having two sets of plans. So it is this week as Nebraska prepares to meet Oklahoma on Saturday.
Husker coaches were still unsure on Tuesday about who will start at quarterback, just as they very well could be come Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, maybe even the greater part of Saturday.
Asked if there was some set time that coaches wanted to know whether it would be Taylor Martinez or Cody Green starting in the season's biggest game, Bo Pelini said: "What time does the game start?"
Point taken.
"We'll do whatever is necessary," Watson said. "Bo and I are on the same page. We build our plans. Both guys can equally do what we want to get done in a plan. We always have Plan A, and Plan B always is ready. Always."
But what's it going to take for the redshirt freshman Martinez to prove to coaches he can be Plan A against Oklahoma?
Ever since Martinez injured his ankle in the second quarter of the Missouri game, people have been putting percentages on the quarterback. He's 80 percent, no, maybe he's 85 percent. ...
Then against Texas A&M, he reinjured his ankle and suffered a turf toe injury that had his left foot in a walking boot during most of Monday's practice.
So what does Martinez need to show coaches when the boot is off?
"He needs to be able to run the offense," Watson said. "You see it on film. You see his movement. You'll know if he can."
Martinez did not play against Colorado, the offensive reins handed over to the sophomore Green.
But even when Martinez is on the sideline he's put under the microscope.
Some have wondered why he doesn't wear a headset on the sidelines as much as Green and Lee do when they're not in the game.
Watson said Martinez is just doing what is asked of him.
"Sometimes, what I've done with him is I've asked him to just watch the game," Watson said. "And then I always talk to him. Usually the first guy I do talk to his him, and then after that I'll talk with Cody ... and ask him what he's seen. Try to keep his mind clear so he can see it and make sure he's seeing the things he needs to see as a quarterback from that perspective."
Watson said any perception that Martinez seems uninterested on the sideline would be off base.
"No, that's not Taylor's demeanor," Watson said. "That's not who he is. That's wrong of them to say that. That's being overly critical of Taylor."
With Martinez on the sideline against Colorado, Green made the most of his opportunity, completing 10 of 13 passes for two touchdowns. Just as important, no interceptions.
Green was called in to replace Lee for a series in last year's Big 12 championship game. The drive started at Nebraska's own 1-yard-line. Green threw only one pass and it was nearly picked off.
At times last year, Watson said Green got a little "nervous in the service."
But the coach thinks more experience has calmed the quarterback heading into this year's championship game.
"He's a totally different player. I think you can see every time he walks out on the field, his demeanor has changed," Watson said. "I thought he managed a really good game this past week. He really did a nice job in the passing game. We didn't ask him to do a lot, but he was pretty on target with everything he did."
But Watson knows this week is a different animal than a home game against Colorado.
A big stage awaits. It's the kind of stage where a quarterback can really prove his worth.
It's Nebraska-Oklahoma. Winner takes home a big trophy and bigger memory.
"You feel it in your preparation, your week's work," Watson said. "There's a championship at the end. That's what makes it special. There's electricity that's in the air."
Reach Brian Christopherson at bchristopherson@journalstar.com or 402-473-7439.
