Bootleg11 said:

Few thoughts that nobody cares about:
Fordham clearly outmatched.
If Martinez goes down you might as well run the option. Teach the backup to hold on to the ball
Biggest takeaway and I realize it’s Fordham…there are some young guys on the Nebraska roster that turn your head. Offensively and defensively. Specifically at WR, OL, DL and DB.

I constantly harp on this but how do Liewer and Belt get on the field and Brown and Betts don’t? Is it stubbornness? Some affinity towards a local kid? I always defend coaches because I assume whatever choices they make it is to win games. Do Belt and Liewer really give this team a better chance to win? I have a hard time believing they do.

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I was pleasantly surprised with Smothers after the insidehers said he couldn't throw and witnessing a few passes in the spring game. Maybe I need to watch again. Were my expectations too low?

Jim14510 said:

I was pleasantly surprised with Smothers after the insidehers said he couldn't throw and witnessing a few passes in the spring game. Maybe I need to watch again. Were my expectations too low?

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I’m being a little tough on him. He’s perfect for a coastal Carolina type of offense though

Jim14510 said:

I was pleasantly surprised with Smothers after the insidehers said he couldn't throw and witnessing a few passes in the spring game. Maybe I need to watch again. Were my expectations too low?

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i thought he looked really good.

scotchfrost9697 said:

i thought he looked really good.

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If he has to play for an extended period of time, you have to adjust your downfield passing game due to noodle arm. It appears he makes quick, correct decisions in the ZR, option and short passing game, however.

He looked okay, but it was Fordham. I think he'd get us Luke McCaffrey results if he started for us at some point this year though. In another year or two he might be a decent starting QB (assuming he doesn't regress like Martinez did).

lee_carvallo_12 said:

If he has to play for an extended period of time, you have to adjust your downfield passing game due to noodle arm. It appears he makes quick, correct decisions in the ZR, option and short passing game, however.

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I also liked his decision making. He definitely has some speed when he makes up his mind.

I watched a little of the Wagner/Buffalo game, even Wagner was able to move the ball pretty well on plays designed to go outside of the tackles. Buffalo has a pretty solid front 4. Watch Frost try to run up the middle 12 times in the 1st quarter and then never run the ball the rest of the game.

Smothers actually showed some potential IMO. Do I think he's going to be a great QB? Probably not. But he seemed to make quick decisions and also has wheels which we all know we will utilize a running QB if we have that weapon to utilize.

I don't think he has a strong arm, but that doesn't mean he can't be effective. If he is accurate and gets the ball quickly to the proper reads/receivers, that is much more important than a cannon arm. He seemed to have a real good grasp of making quicker reads than AM (which isn't saying much), and in this offense, a Milton type of quick decision maker at QB is very important. Yes, it was in the 4th qtr against Fordham, but still good to see he played well enough in his first chance to play QB in his college career.

AM is anything but quick on his reads and throws, it really throws everything out of whack. Talented kid, but can't run the offense crisply as we have seen. Too many bad decisions, missed wide open receivers he doesn't even throw to, fumbles, etc. Get a QB who is snappy with making the right read and getting the ball where it needs to go.

tman87 said:

AM is anything but quick on his reads and throws, it really throws everything out of whack. Talented kid, but can't run the offense crisply as we have seen. Too many bad decisions, missed wide open receivers he doesn't even throw to, fumbles, etc. Get a QB who is snappy with making the right read and getting the ball where it needs to go.

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this has been the #1 reason the offense has been terrible the past few years


Martinez just ain't it, can't believe Frost couldn't find a QB and stuck with this guy for so long

God is a Husker said:

this has been the #1 reason the offense has been terrible the past few years


Martinez just ain't it, can't believe Frost couldn't find a QB and stuck with this guy for so long

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Yeah, it's hard to run a cohesive offense with a QB who isn't capable of doing it. Heck, we might be better off if Smothers ran the offense, he looked more proficient at making quick, decisive reads. I realize the sample size was small and against a lower opponent in the 2nd half.

God is a Husker said:

this has been the #1 reason the offense has been terrible the past few years


Martinez just ain't it, can't believe Frost couldn't find a QB and stuck with this guy for so long

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His inability to understand he has to get rid of the ball with an empty backfield is a top 5 frustrating thing with this team. And that’s impressive because there’s probably a list of 15-20 things that frustrate me