Nebraska QB Martinez will test UW’s defense
MADISON – Big Ten Network analyst Matt Millen succinctly summarized
Adrian Martinez’s value to the Nebraska offense.
“They’ll go as far as Martinez’s legs and arm can take them,” Millen said during Purdue’s 42-28 victory over the Cornhuskers last week.
Nebraska (0-4, 0-2 Big
Ten) didn’t remain winless under coach Scott Frost because the freshman quarterback had a bad day.
Martinez became the first freshman quarterback in Nebraska history to start an opener when he led the Cornhuskers against Colorado on Sept. 8.
Nebraska suffered a 33-28 loss as the defense surrendered touchdown drives of 75 and 77 yards in the final 16 minutes 24 seconds, but Martinez sparkled.
He rushed 15 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns, 41 and 3 yards; and completed 15 of 20 passes for 187 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.
After missing Game 2 against Troy because of a knee injury suffered in the opener, Martinez played barely more than one half in a 56-10 loss at Michigan before returning to roll up 414 total yards, 323 passing and 91 rushing.
That was the No. 10 mark in program history.
“What he brings is an ability to open the offense up with his feet,” Millen said. “Any time you get a quarterback who is that mobile you have to account for him. It takes numbers out of the box.
“But if they don’t take numbers out of the box, he can beat you with his arm as well.”
That is the dilemma facing Wisconsin’s defense when the Badgers (3-1, 1-0) host the Cornhuskers at 6:30 p.m. Saturday night.
“One, he is very talented,” UW coach Paul Chryst said. “Two, it seems like he’s got good poise.
“He makes you defend – him and their offense – will make you defend the whole field and really the whole play. If things break down he can be very dangerous. Each week it is interesting. Each week poses a different challenge.
“He is a big part of what they’re doing offensively but there are other really good skilled players around him.
“I think the combination makes them very explosive.”
Martinez, 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, is averaging 4.9 yards per carry. His average of 65.3 rushing yards per game leads the team, slightly ahead of tailback Devine Ozigbo (65.0 per game, 5.7 per carry).
His completion rate of 61.0% is above average, though he has as many interceptions (three) as touchdown passes.
“His speed is really dangerous,” UW linebacker T.J. Edwards said. “But I also think he has a really good long ball.
“I think the way that he can operate the offense and control them… he does a really good job.
“It is going to be a challenge.” Martinez will attack with designed runs or scramble if the play breaks down.
Ozigbo rushed 17 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns against a Purdue defense that limited Boston College tailback AJ Dillion to 59 yards on 19 carries one week earlier.
Boston College quarterback Anthony Brown isn’t the running threat Martinez is, however. The Boilermakers were conscious of Martinez’s running ability, which allowed open lanes between the tackles and on the edges for Ozigbo.
UW’s front seven, which has been soft on the perimeter too often through four games, will be tested.
Wide receivers JD Spielman and Stanley Morgan are big-play threats who can stretch the field vertically.
Spielman has 23 catches for 252 yards and four touchdowns; Morgan has 17 catches for 269 yards and one touchdown.
“They have a lot of talent,” UW safety D’Cota Dixon said. “Their receiving corps will be the best we’ve played thus far this season. (Martinez) is very mobile and he’s got an arm. We have to contain him. It will be a challenge for us. It will test us both in the run and pass game.”