Agreed. I know AM was his "must get" guy when hired at NU, but you have to do what you have to do. Truly having a competition at every position in the summer and throughout the season will do a lot to establish the culture Frost is seeking...If Martinez goes and stays sideways, Frost needs to pull the trigger for Luke.
If Martinez goes and stays sideways, Frost needs to pull the trigger for Luke.
Agreed. I know AM was his "must get" guy when hired at NU, but you have to do what you have to do. Truly having a competition at every position in the summer and throughout the season will do a lot to establish the culture Frost is seeking...
I agree with what you are saying. Luke has flashed great potential, but it isn't a good enough body of work to say "he is better". I do think AM struggled last year. IMHO, he was injured all year (off season surgery), in his own head, getting used to new center, no more Stan (huge IMO) etc....It was the perfect storm of a crap showing (the whole team). Luke, when he played, did great. But again, not enough body of work.I really don't get the conspiracy theories that Luke is obviously the better QB right now and Frost is just stubbornly sticking with AM. I know that's not exactly what you guys said here, but I have no reason to believe Frost is playing anyone who is measurably worse than their backup. If Luke looks like the better QB he will play. I don't expect that to be the case this year.
As a side note, I think a lot of the debate comes down to fans valuing splash plays too much and consistency too little. A lot of us would roll the dice on a more talented player even if we knew they were more likely to blow a big assignment, seems like coaches (understandably) want to play it safer. I don't actually think that's the case for QB, but some other positions. Center is a case where the coaches went the risky route, and ironically were criticized pretty heavily for it.
For me its more about giving the team a chance if we're suffering at QB. Giving someone else a try. There's so many examples where poor to mediocre QB holds us back. I, for one, hope Martinez comes back with a vengeance and rips it up, as I think he physically gives us the best chance. However, what I can't stomach is an experienced QB, missing and over/under throwing and locking onto receivers. So I hope that changes.I really don't get the conspiracy theories that Luke is obviously the better QB right now and Frost is just stubbornly sticking with AM. I know that's not exactly what you guys said here, but I have no reason to believe Frost is playing anyone who is measurably worse than their backup. If Luke looks like the better QB he will play. I don't expect that to be the case this year.
As a side note, I think a lot of the debate comes down to fans valuing splash plays too much and consistency too little. A lot of us would roll the dice on a more talented player even if we knew they were more likely to blow a big assignment, seems like coaches (understandably) want to play it safer. I don't actually think that's the case for QB, but some other positions. Center is a case where the coaches went the risky route, and ironically were criticized pretty heavily for it.
I think Frost knows that his in year 3 and the reboot year 1 and mulligan year 2 are over. He doesnt have to set the world on fire but neither can he put another loser on the field. Real tangible progress is required (a bowl of some kind, 7 wins and no embarrassing 7 TD losses.I have a somewhat nuanced and obscure fear about the situation:
Martinez will be better but then will get slightly injured and a 70% Martinez is worse than a 100% McCaffrey, but we'll stick it out with Martinez hoping he'll play up to his initial higher ceiling. And we'll just be that much worse off because we're afraid to put Luke in. I could totally see us doing something like that.
That’s because that is kind of, sort of similar to what happened last season. Here’s hoping Frost did some review and introspection.I have a somewhat nuanced and obscure fear about the situation:
Martinez will be better but then will get slightly injured and a 70% Martinez is worse than a 100% McCaffrey, but we'll stick it out with Martinez hoping he'll play up to his initial higher ceiling. And we'll just be that much worse off because we're afraid to put Luke in. I could totally see us doing something like that.
Last year's Iowa game was so painful. 94 yards of total offense on 39 pass/run attempts for Martinez. McCaffery was at 43 yards on 2 pass/run attempts (yes, one was a trick play). I have no idea if Luke would have done anything, but at that point we just needed to try it because it was painfully obvious Martinez wasn't gonna be effective.That’s because that is kind of, sort of similar to what happened last season. Here’s hoping Frost did some review and introspection.
Personally, I would love to see (and sort of expect) 2AM return to his freshman form (plus 2 years of maturity and improvement). I think he has the potential to be the bigger playmaker but, if we get more of last year, I feel pretty comfortable that Luke can handle it. At this point I’m more concerned with keeping the QB room happy enough that we don’t start losing depth to transfers.
That trick play was 39 yards and Iowa was convinced he was running and sold out completely. No one was open the rest of the game. Yes Martinez was bad, yes he was hurt, yes the wide receivers couldn't block stationary objects, yes Wandale was hurt and Mills was the 2nd leading receiver.Last year's Iowa game was so painful. 94 yards of total offense on 39 pass/run attempts for Martinez. McCaffery was at 43 yards on 2 pass/run attempts (yes, one was a trick play). I have no idea if Luke would have done anything, but at that point we just needed to try it because it was painfully obvious Martinez wasn't gonna be effective.