By Brandon Cavanaugh
Over the course of Nebraska’s 2011 season, the enigma that was Tim Beck’s offense eventually showcased a desire to spread the ball around.
This was likely meant to take pressure off of quarterback Taylor Martinez and running back Rex Burkhead, allowing other talented skill players a chance to excel. As the year went on, it was apparent that there was only one quarterback Beck’s offense belonged to for better or worse.
When Martinez’s decision-making began to slip during the Cornhuskers’ loss to Wisconsin, a number of fans wondered why backup Brion Carnes didn’t get an opportunity to shine. He rarely saw the field and those behind him on the depth chart never did. Nebraska’s current commitment list for the 2011-2012 recruiting cycle suggests that this may not be the case moving forward.
Cibolo, Texas’ Tommy Armstrong wasn’t wooed with the idea of sitting on the bench. His only loss and interception as a senior coming in the Texas 5A Division II final, Armstrong shows plenty of what Martinez lacks. The Lone Star State native doesn’t have Martinez’s first step or overall speed, but another Husker quarterback target does: Old Tappan, New Jersey’s Devin Fuller.
Fuller’s speed mirrors Martinez’s and while his passing mechanics aren’t as refined as Armstrong’s, the ball flicks out of his hand following a far more fluid motion than Nebraska's current starter. Fuller's commitment is far from locked up, but Armstrong’s presence alone should be a warning sign for Martinez.
Against some of the best competition in the state of Texas, Armstrong finished his senior year going 83 of 139 (59.7%) for 1,475 yards and 23 touchdowns with his lone pick the result of a tipped ball. He ran for 1,052 yards on 121 carries (8.69 YPC) tallying 11 touchdowns on the ground. More importantly, he already has a good throwing motion to build off of.
Fuller’s numbers come against lesser competition, but they adjust accordingly. During his senior season, Fuller went 127 of 195 (65.1%) for 2,247 yards and 20 touchdowns. He ran the ball 120 times for 1,326 yards (11.1 YPC) scoring 17 times on the ground.
Two years of FBS experience favors the junior from Corona, California, but new Cornhusker signal-callers in Beck’s offense may shake his current rock solid status as Nebraska’s starter.
Last season, the quarterback position became less about 2010’s foundation of a running quarterback and revolved more on proper reads and judgment by those under center. Martinez found relief in this. Armstrong and Fuller would likely find extreme comfort.
A number of Martinez’s passes hit receivers in favorable, if not ideal spots and while Nebraska’s overall young receiving corps struggled catching at times, one has to wonder how many of those drops were aided by the quarterback. The game did seem to slow down for Martinez, especially against Northwestern despite a losing effort.
For those who brush off any threat to Martinez’s throne, don’t forget about the quarterback battle that never was last fall. Bubba Starling took the money and ran to play for the Kansas City Royals to few’s surprise, but had he stayed, Bo Pelini was clearly ready to board the Bubba Bus.
The Cornhuskers offered the two-sport superstar a chance to play on both FieldTurf and the diamond. He had negotiated his way into the perfect collegiate career, but history still stings for the Big Red.
Skepticism surrounds the idea of Martinez being unseated by fans who wouldn’t mind a change should his production plateau or head south in 2012. If he wasn’t going to be yanked after throwing his third interception of the night directly into the numbers of a Wisconsin defender last year, why would he be before next season even begins?
Bo Pelini’s “process” isn’t just a talking point. There’s a legitimate end to that road - hoisting a Big Ten Championship trophy, at the very least. Pelini’s headstrong, but he’s not stupid. While Martinez has slowly matured, if Armstrong comes in looking just as polished as in some areas, if not more so in others, T-Magic had best brace himself for a long offseason.
If Devin Fuller commits as well, the heat gets turned up even more and should Brion Carnes grasp whatever kept him bench-ridden in 2011, a genuine four-man race for the starting job is more than believable.
Pelini has shown a stubborn desire to be correct early in his head coaching career, but the best can swallow their pride, no matter how large. Putting Martinez under center as a redshirt freshman in 2010 took extreme confidence. Removing him should he prove less effective than a newbie will do the same and would show a big step in Pelini’s own development.
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