The Taylor Martinez Experience: It Won't Be Pretty, but It Will Be Better

If you’ve watched Nebraska play at some point in the past few years and have a functioning DVR, there’s a high probability you’ve paused the game and wondered if what you just saw was real or a figment of your football-congested imagination.

The down was perhaps, let’s say 3rd-and-9, and Taylor Martinez was dropping back to pass. And that’s when you stopped your virtual universe, or perhaps circled back to the moment before the ball left his hand.

You’re not certain if you’ve ever seen a quarterback drop his shoulder down that low, or if Martinez is simply reenacting a scene from his favorite grenade-tossing moment in his World War II movie o’ choice. It’s excruciating, it’s an episode that the Sports Science folks would emphatically turn down, and you ponder how anyone could possibly be a productive thrower when attempting to shot-put an object with two points on each side.

It’s that instant when you hit “play,” however, that things get interesting. It’s a moment of truth Nebraska fans know all too well, and where that football ends up is a great mystery. You may inadvertently squint at the television for a moment, stop breathing or even let out a muted, “Oh, God” as the ball leaves his hands. Well, that is if you’re wearing red and have an affinity for corn.

The aftermath is sometimes an interception, and there’s a high likelihood that the ball will hit the ground. Not always, but completing 57 percent of your passes doesn’t exactly instill confidence. At times, these passes will find the path of their intended destination, but this desired outcome simply has not come at a frequent enough pace in Martinez’s first two years. Then again, it was only his first two years.

Martinez was thrown into the fire in 2010, and despite the ugliness of his exaggerated wind-up, he had a solid season as a true freshman. His passing numbers didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he also ran for nearly 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. Tremendous production from a raw product that appeared poised to improve greatly going forward.

The problem, however, is that improvement did not come in 2011. And despite the fact that Martinez didn’t regress like some have proclaimed, it was also clear that he was uncomfortable at times, especially when trying to be a more traditional drop-back passer. Something he certainly is not and never will be.

Five of Martinez’s eight interceptions came in two games last year, and his three-interception performance at Wisconsin—a beatdown that much of the country witnessed—served as the low point for Nebraska’s 2011 campaign.

His running productivity was also not the same, and he seemed to struggle in space at times while adapting to Tim Beck’s more pass-oriented system.

His Capital One Bowl encompassed his season-long struggle, and he completed just 10 passes for 116 yards with a touchdown and an interception. His legs were also held in check, and he ran for 37 yards on 16 carries. Good at times, but seemingly irrelevant at others, especially against better competition. A theme that was far too familiar over a 13-game stretch.

Finally, however, Martinez has been able to work with a coordinator through an offseason versus having to learn a new system altogether. This cannot be emphasized enough.

During this time, Martinez has also worked on improving his footwork and ridding himself of that lengthy throwing motion. He spent time with QB guru Steve Calhoun in the spring and the buzz surrounding his mechanics is very positive. Much has been made of his offseason makeover, although we won’t know if this is anything more than a fad until fall. Still, these are all positive signs for a young man gearing up for his junior year.

He has incredible experience for a guy who still has half of his collegiate career ahead of him, which is a sizable advantage for any quarterback. It also shows how high the bar has been set. He may never be a guy who throws the ball on point with every pass, he’ll never transform that awkward shoulder-drop into a work of art—despite the work he’s putting into it—and he’ll also have to battle the high expectations that have been placed upon him.

But he also has his legs, a wild card and trait that he can utilize better than anyone not named Denard Robinson. His athleticism is something Nebraska will take advantage of this year, and it’s important that it doesn't shy away from this. Trying to turn Martinez into a different kind of player would be foolish.

As for 2012, Taylor Martinez isn’t the only reason that Taylor Martinez will be better. Rex Burkhead is the nation’s most under-appreciated running back, and wide receiver Kenny Bell may also be destined for stardom. Burkhead in particular should be a workhorse for this upcoming season, and his presence should make life on Martinez much easier.

Now Tim Beck has the task of making this trio come together, which is easier said than done but also a good problem to have. The success of this team, which could reach heights beyond what many will forecast, will likely depend on if Martinez can finally make that jump.

Bigger than the drop-back, the shoulder-dips and comfort level is his mental state, and this is where he must improve going forward. I believe these early struggles will pay dividends down the line, as long as he’s willing to learn from his previous failures. If he can do that, and that is a big “if,” then he has a chance to exceed what many believe he will be.

It won’t be easy on the eyes; you’ll likely still have ample shoulder-drops to sort through from series to series, but no one said it had to be pretty.