Twitter
    Sportspress Northwest
    • Football
    • Baseball
    • NCAA
    • Hockey
    • Soccer
    • Basketball
    Twitter
    Sportspress Northwest
    Twitter
    Home » Scouting Nebraska: Quarterback
    University of Washington

    Scouting Nebraska: Quarterback

    Todd DybasBy Todd DybasDecember 27, 2010Updated:October 4, 20125 Comments2 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Reddit LinkedIn Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Reddit LinkedIn Email
    Taylor Martinez's 80-yard touchdown run was one of the big plays in the first game between Washington and Nebraska. (Drew McKenzie/Sportspress Northwest)

    SAN DIEGO — A first look at the opposition, which we will be doing all week from here in sort of sunny San Diego.

    No better place to start than with the primary throng of Nebraska’s attack in the first meeting, quarterback Taylor Martinez. A run down of Mr. Martinez:

    What he did on Sept. 18: Martinez was the main issue for the Washington defense. He ran for an 80-yard touchdown, threw for 150 yards and had Nebraska reporters stunned postgame at how much better this year’s Huskers offense looked versus the 2009 version. Martinez was efficient throwing, 7-for-11, and hid the ball well on zone reads. So much so, the Washington defense spent too much time staring at him and worrying. That opened things for back Roy Helu Jr. Staring at Martinez was one of the main gripes for defensive coordinator Nick Holt when recounting the game.

    What he’s done since: Considering his start, Martinez was mentioned as an early Heisman candidate. Martinez had two more big games, 241 yards on the ground against Kansas State and 323 yards passing plus 112 yards rushing against Oklahoma State, then fell off. Like Wile E. Coyote when faced with a cliff. Martinez missed two games because of an ankle injury and had lines like 12 carries for 16 yards, 11 carries for 17 yards and 14 carries for -32 yards. Nebraska coach Bo Pelini benched Martinez at one point.

    What can be expected Thursday:
    Like Jake Locker, the time off has helped Martinez heal. Opposing defenses locked in on stopping Martinez from running for the second half of the season, and, with him hobbled, it worked. Another big issue was his execution against blitzes. Washington blitzed multiple times in the first meeting, so much so it prompted Nebraska senior wide receiver Mike McNeill to tell the Omaha World-Herald, “We really hit the blitz in the mouth. They brought a lot of pressure. We kind of countered that.”

    Share. Facebook Twitter Reddit LinkedIn Email

    Related Posts

    The day that college sports start to go pro

    July 1, 2021

    NCAA amateurism is dead. Mayhem will fill the void

    June 24, 2021

    Thiel: Gonzaga’s Few sounds the alarm on NIL

    June 14, 2021

    Comments are closed.

    • Follow @Art_Thiel on Twitter
    Use our affiliate link on Amazon

    Subscribe to Our Weekly Roundup

    Get the top stories sent to your inbox every Thursday.

    Art Thiel on KNKX 88.5FM

    Kirsten Kendrick's Q. & A. with Thiel can be heard every Friday during Morning Edition at 5:45am and 7:45am and again that same day on All Things Considered at 4:44pm. It also airs Saturday at 9:35am.

    Listen now!
    Latest Posts

    A few musings about sports journalism as the unwinding begins

    February 18, 2022

    Carroll’s staff makeover seeks to get Wilson back in the game

    February 16, 2022

    Arizona loss unmasks truths about Hopkins, UW hoops

    February 15, 2022

    Rams win a survivors contest called the Super Bowl

    February 14, 2022
    Twitter
    • Football
    • Baseball
    • NCAA
    • Hockey
    • Soccer
    • Basketball
    © 2023 Sportspress Northwest

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.