In Saturday’s 42-29 win over Fresno State, Nebraska ran 56 plays for a total of, 438 net yards. Taylor Martinez accounted for 385 yards of that total. That leaves 53 yards from the rest of the team.
Rex Burkhead rushed for 55 yards on, 15 carries. Other than Martinez, and Burkhead the rest of the team combined for 3 carries for -5 yards. The good news is, seven Nebraska players had a reception. Including true freshman, Jamal Turner, who had a team high 3 catches, for 63 yards.
With all that being said, if you take away true freshman Ameer Abdulah’s 100-yard, kick return and Martinez 46 yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter, this game is completely different. 7 of Nebraska’s 14 offensive drives went 3 and out.
Seven of Nebraska’s 29 offensive drives this season, have lasted more than 3 minutes. Twelve of Nebrasak’s 14 drives were under than 3 minutes, on Saturday. No drive had over 7 plays in it. a lot of Husker fans see this as same story different year. Nebraska relied a lot on Taylor Martinez to be the big play guy last year, and it worked well, until he got hurt in the Missouri game. Yes, that was only one season, and Taylor Martinez may be able to hold up for a full season and carry the load. He did add on some extra weight this season. He is up to 205 lbs.
Fun fact, in his senior year, Tommie Frazier was 6-foot-2, 205 lbs. Taylor Martinez, 6-foot-1 205 lbs. The added weight may help him carry the load, but if he can’t, and you take Taylor Martinez rushing yards away from the stat line, you got 50 yards rushing out of the rest of the team on Saturday.
Nebraska is going to have to get the young backs, Aaron Green, Ameer Abdullah, and Braylon Heard involved in this offense. We seen on Saturday a couple screen plays to the outside. First year offensive coordinator Tim Beck needs to get Green and Abdullah out in space. Abdullah showed on Saturday what he can do in space with that kick return. With the pistol formation being added to the playbook this year, that should help take some of the focus off Martinez, and hopefully preserve his body for the long season.
Martinez healthy and involving the I-backs more, should help sustain drives, and get the passing game opened up. This will allow Nebraska’s defense to stay off the field, and be more productive when called on.
-By Jimmie Allen