Taylor Martinez,Maturing,And Progressing

Well,we can stop talking badly about Martinez now. We can't officially call him "T-Magic" at this time,but we can sure call him a more mature Martinez than last season. What is Taylor thinking? We'll have a better idea in 2011,says Nebraska's starting quarterback from last season. "I'll start talking to the media more often now,"Martinez said after Mondays practice."Last year I wasn't really ready." "I was just a Freshmen last year." Starting to feel guilty Husker fan's? Well,what Taylor said is completely understandable. That was the problem with most everybody last year. Nobody understood him.In my opinion,nobody(including me)even really made a effort to understand him. After the first game,we were all just waiting to see what he had in store for us next Saturday. As as soon as Taylor went downhill after the Missouri game,
the way we saw him went downhill too. Jesus said this in Matthew 7:1-2:"Do not judge or you too will be judged." "For in the same way you judge others,you will be judged,and with the measure you use,it will be measured to you." I think we all judged Taylor to quickly. Even when we felt that we had a right to judge him because he looked like he was pouting on the sidelines and he made some unwise decisions in some critical games,we really didn't. Oh and by the way,all you who think or thought Taylor was leaving,he is not. "I never was going to leave,"Martinez said."My leaving and stuff,that was all rumors." Convinced? Good. Martinez's meteoric rise and ensuing struggles as a redshirt Freshmen have been well-documented. He secured the starting quarterback job coming out of Fall camp,and wowed the College Football world by running for 886 yards and 12 touchdowns in Nebraska's first 8 games. Well,unfortunately,that all came to an abrupt STOP,when Martinez injured his ankle V.S Missouri."After I hurt my ankle,pretty much everything went downhill from there,"Martinez said. "I probably re-injured my ankle 5 or 6 times during the rest of the season." "It was just tough on me. I couldn't really run and do want I wanted to." I sympathize with you Taylor. Now anyway. I didn't then. (Sorry!!) Footballs too often squirted out of Martinez grasp. Passes sailed awry. Sacks mounted. So did heavy criticism of a gimpy 19-year old boy,who only weeks before had captured the hearts and imaginations of a fervent fan base. Martinez said he ignored the media. "I got some criticism,"he said. "I've heard it from some players and coaches and other people around town,that they don't like me and stuff like that." "But,I don't really care what other people think about me." Good way to think Taylor. Martinez also said that he is more comfortable in his leadership role,but is quick to point out that he was a leader last year too. Maybe you guys didn't think I was but I was,"Martinez said. He also noted that he was careful to not overstep his boundaries with Senior quarterback Zac Lee on the team.
Martinez was "shocked" when former Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson left the program in February,but says he's excited about new offensive coordinator Tim Beck. "I was hoping that if Coach Watson left that someone would bring in the no-huddle offense just like my offense in high school,"Martinez stated. And that,Taylor said,is the direction Beck is taking this offense. Not as much huddle. More up-tempo. "It fits me pretty well,"he said. Especially when it comes to freedom. "This time I can actually pick a play,what I want,"Martinez said. "Last year I didn't really have the freedom to do that." "Like,if the play was called,I had to run it. Now,Martinez said,he has the green light to change a play at the line of scrimmage. Junior Wide receiver Tim Marlow has noticed that Taylor is doing better at taking care of the ball as well. "He's really securing the ball more,"Marlowe said. "I know last year he had some fumble problems." "He's really taking care of the ball and just making better decisions overall." Martinez said he is not quite 100% yet. When he runs certain plays he stills feels a little sting in his ankle. But,by summer he should be back to the old Taylor Martinez we once knew. Of course there is no guarantee that Taylor will regain his starting spot. Granted,Junior Cody Green and the 3 other Freshmen will be pushing and pulling at Taylor for the job. But,the stride Martinez is making both on and off the field this Spring,are encouraging. "I think Taylor is a great kid,truthfully.Marlowe said."I think sometimes he can be misinterpreted." "We all love him and we hope he is hear to stay." Believe me,we Huskers fan's love him too.