JONESBORO — Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez’s passing ability fluctuates from being a blessing to a curse.
Arkansas State (1-1), which faces the Huskers (1-1) at 11 a.m. today in Lincoln, Neb., only needs to look at Nebraska’s first two games for evidence.
Martinez delivered a sterling season opener in a 49-20 romp against Southern Mississippi: 354 yards and 5 touchdowns on 26-of-34 passing. He followed that with a 17-of-31 performance for 179 yards with 1 interception in a loss at UCLA.
His running ability has never been questioned, with 1,961 yards and 22 touchdowns in his career, but adding a passcompletion rate of 66.3 percent to his arsenal this season has made Martinez that much more difficult to defend.
“He can flat-out run, and everyone knows that,” ASU Coach Gus Malzahn said. “Just looking at the film I’ve seen so far, he can throw it and he’s improved.”
A seven-second glimpse of Martinez on a third-and-7 in the season opener against Southern Mississippi illustrated that point. Out of a two-back formation, Martinez worked in the shotgun with three receivers split to the left side of the formation. Kenny Bell was in the slot. Southern Miss had loaded up with eight men near the line of scrimmage.
“You have to respect his legs,” ASU defensive line coach Kenny Ingram said. “That keeps a lot of guys stacked in the box and eyes locked on him.”
Bell bolted down the hash and broke left on a corner route. The Huskers’ other receivers stood still, freezing cornerbacks Deron Wilson and Alexander Walters at the line as Bell coasted past redshirt freshman David Bertucci.
In the pocket, Martinez set his feet and lofted the ball perfectly over Bell’s inside shoulder for a 26-yard touchdown pass.
It’s a throw Martinez, who was a 57.6 percent passer in his first two seasons, struggled in 2011.
Martinez, a native of Corona, Calif., arrived in Lincoln not knowing where he would play. He spent his redshirt season in 2009 as a wide receiver on the scout team.
Last season, he was hobbled by ankle and toe injuries, and across Nebraska, reporters and fans picked apart Martinez’s throwing motion. So, he spent the offseason with quarterback specialist Steve Calhoun, retooling a delivery that closely resembled a paper boy slinging the day’s edition onto a stoop.
ASU safety Sterling Young said Martinez’s passing has improved “somewhat.”
“Filmwise, I really haven’t seen much of a danger, but we’ll also have to prepare for that,” Young said. “We can’t be like, ‘He can’t beat us with his arm.’ ”
Ingram was more effusive in his praise.
“You can tell he’s worked in the offseason on becoming a guy they can depend on in the passing game,” Ingram said. “He’s not just an athlete in the backfield anymore.”
Young said it’s clear Martinez feels more at home in the pocket and with scanning the field to find the best option.
“He’s gotten a lot better as far as decision-making,” Young said.
The only way to alter that is to apply consistent pressure.
“It seems like if you can get pressure, get a couple of shots in on him, it takes him out of his game,” Young said.
Aside from stopping running back Ameer Abdullah, who filled in for an injured Rex Burkhead last week, the Red Wolves also have to prepare for Martinez in the run game, ranging from the option to zone read. Martinez raced 92 yards late in the first quarter last week against UCLA for a touchdown to give the Huskers a 14-7 lead.
“He showed last week he’s good with his feet,” ASU defensive end Shervarius Jackson said. “He can hit those deep passes, but we’ve got our hands full. We’re ready to do what we’ve got to do to stop him.”
Sports, Pages 19 on 09/15/2012