Husker "O" Numbers (2012)

I think the big reason people get caught up on pass attempts is because people think Martinez, regardless of how much time/effort he puts into it, will never be a great passing QB. He'll also never be an NFL QB. This means nothing in relation to his college career, of course. Prior to the 2012 season, I was adamant Martinez not throw more than 20-25 a game. He impressed me this last season, impressed me enough for me to not worry about it anymore. Should he be throwing 35-40 times a game? Absolutely not. But, as a senior and a three year vet of the system, I think he's earned the right to sling the ball a few more times a game, if that's what we need.

My biggest qualm with passing the football too much is we have a very talented stable of running backs and returning talent on the offensive line. I think they're more important to our success than anything else. But, I think ending up with a 60/40 ratio will be pretty good.
Yes, true, true... but we also have arguably the best WR group in the B1G. To me it really depends on the opponent. You have to take what they give you. If that means throwing or running more so be it. I think our offense is capable of doing both well.

 
I think the big reason people get caught up on pass attempts is because people think Martinez, regardless of how much time/effort he puts into it, will never be a great passing QB. He'll also never be an NFL QB. This means nothing in relation to his college career, of course. Prior to the 2012 season, I was adamant Martinez not throw more than 20-25 a game. He impressed me this last season, impressed me enough for me to not worry about it anymore. Should he be throwing 35-40 times a game? Absolutely not. But, as a senior and a three year vet of the system, I think he's earned the right to sling the ball a few more times a game, if that's what we need.

My biggest qualm with passing the football too much is we have a very talented stable of running backs and returning talent on the offensive line. I think they're more important to our success than anything else. But, I think ending up with a 60/40 ratio will be pretty good.
Yes, true, true... but we also have arguably the best WR group in the B1G. To me it really depends on the opponent. You have to take what they give you. If that means throwing or running more so be it. I think our offense is capable of doing both well.
Exactly...our WRs are proven talent. Our RBs, outside of Ameer are more hope and hype than anything else. I would almost rather see a short 3 yard completion over a 4 yard Cross run. I think we need to have 6-10 "passes" where Turner/Bell have a chance to make a guy miss and go for 15. They are essentially running plays out of the spread, but it's a "pass" in the books. I like them in space, and trust them in space more than a couple freshmen or even Cross at this point.

(just whether or not TMart can make that throw/read - he hasn't been able to much in the past - think the Wisconsin/Bell quick out)

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I hope that WR bubble screens are a tool that gets utilized this year. If Alonzo Moore is having a hard time learning the offense, stick him in there for a few plays that he knows, one of which could be a bubble screen. He has some impressive athletic ability, and I REALLY want to see him on the field next year.

 
I hope that WR bubble screens are a tool that gets utilized this year. If Alonzo Moore is having a hard time learning the offense, stick him in there for a few plays that he knows, one of which could be a bubble screen. He has some impressive athletic ability, and I REALLY want to see him on the field next year.
Just want to see more screens in general, not enough for my linking last season. Many opposing d coords will try to heat Martinez up into making a bad decision.

 
One game when we threw many screens was Minnesota and it worked wonderfully. We need to get Moore out there and let him do his thing. Screens will also let Taylor get the ball out of his hands quickly.

 
I hope that WR bubble screens are a tool that gets utilized this year. If Alonzo Moore is having a hard time learning the offense, stick him in there for a few plays that he knows, one of which could be a bubble screen. He has some impressive athletic ability, and I REALLY want to see him on the field next year.
Just want to see more screens in general, not enough for my linking last season. Many opposing d coords will try to heat Martinez up into making a bad decision.
Yeah, RB screens are something else that need to be utilized more. I hope Beck studies some New Orleans Saints tape because they run RB screens as well as anybody.

 
should only throw the ball 20 -25 times per game...

Keep running the ball, control time of possession, trying to keep the D from getting too gassed...

 
I hope that WR bubble screens are a tool that gets utilized this year. If Alonzo Moore is having a hard time learning the offense, stick him in there for a few plays that he knows, one of which could be a bubble screen. He has some impressive athletic ability, and I REALLY want to see him on the field next year.
Just want to see more screens in general, not enough for my linking last season. Many opposing d coords will try to heat Martinez up into making a bad decision.
Yeah, RB screens are something else that need to be utilized more. I hope Beck studies some New Orleans Saints tape because they run RB screens as well as anybody.
I was thinking the same thing last season, but I don't think Taylor has the touch for the traditional over-the-top RB screen. I liked what we did v. Georgia with the delayed shovel pass to Rex.

 
I remember a few years ago when Watson was calling screens. A couple went for pick sixes and the fan base was claiming screens were a horrible play to call because they are too dangerous.

Just shows the mood swings of fan bases.

I agree there is a place for them and they can be very effective. But, if the defense sniffs them out, it's can be bad news.

 
I remember a few years ago when Watson was calling screens. A couple went for pick sixes and the fan base was claiming screens were a horrible play to call because they are too dangerous.

Just shows the mood swings of fan bases.

I agree there is a place for them and they can be very effective. But, if the defense sniffs them out, it's can be bad news.

One went for a pick-six. One time; against Oklahoma. And it was a quick bubble screen to the slot receiver on which Peterson completely missed his block. There's a lot of different elements and types of screen plays, and Watson was pretty damn good at calling them 90% of the time, as was Callahan.

 
I remember other times it went for scores the other way. For instance, the time Niles Paul dropped it and it was actually a lateral and the opponent picked it up and ran it in for a TD.

 
I remember other times it went for scores the other way. For instance, the time Niles Paul dropped it and it was actually a lateral and the opponent picked it up and ran it in for a TD.
Niles quit on that play, had nothing to do with the actual playcall.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
It doesn't matter if a player quits on a play or the QB throws a sucky pass or what ever. My point was that all of them together caused many in the fan base at the time to think that screen passes were horrible plays to call. Now we seem to want them back.

 
It doesn't matter if a player quits on a play or the QB throws a sucky pass or what ever. My point was that all of them together caused many in the fan base at the time to think that screen passes were horrible plays to call. Now we seem to want them back.

If that were true, and I dont' really remember if it was or wasn't, it was because our offense was anemic. It wasn't because we thought screen passes were inherently bad, but because of the ineptitude of our offensive skill players at that time. It makes sense that we would want them back with the weapons we have, because they could be successful with them.

 
Back
Top