Does TM's 70% completion rate seem realistic?

[II HUSKERS II]

If he gets close to that and regains his edge (running) it should be a great yr for the team ....and heisman will be all the buzz around here

[izzycohen]

I think it's an excellent goal also. Hope he makes it.

[Grateful Red]

I would have loved to seen what Calhoun was teaching TM. Im less concerned with turning Taylor Martinez into Andrew Luck... and more concerned with teaching the kid how to use his God-given speed to buy himself more time (which would lead to more completions). Calhoun knows this. I would have broken out film of guys like Charlie Ward, Daunte Culpepper and (to some extent) Joe Ganz. These were guys with less speed, but very effective in alluding a pass rush and turning broken plays/pass-protection into decent gains.

I thought TM was fairly decent as a passer already (certainly better than Frazier, Crouch or Frost), but the kid puts himself in a hole at least once a drive by getting collapsed on with zero spatial awareness of the pocket around him. To me, that is the most pressing issue in his development this year.

[Big Red Dutchman]

I'm more concerned about his legs than his arm. If he's not a threat to run than I doubt he'll do much in the air. It sounds like he is feeling his best since the injury his Freshman year so I am hopeful. 70% does not seem realistic but I believe he will make an improvement in his completion rate.

[NewYorksker]

I think if TM is at 70% our offence will be virtually unstoppable

[Big Red Dutchman]

Welcome aboard NewYorksker. For a minute there I was thinking we were hearing from New York Husker

[BigRedOhio]

I'm expecting big things from Martinez this year...I'm predicting a breakout seaon for him.

[MadTownHusker]

Martinez has attempted 30 or more passes in only two games of his NU career. And in those games — a 51-41 win over Oklahoma State in 2011 and a 28-25 loss to Northwestern last year — Martinez completed 51 of 72 passes for 612 yards and seven touchdowns. The completion rate: 70.8.

http://www.omaha.com/article/2012080...ompletion-rate

Why couldn't TM do it agian?!?

[Pop Corn]

I hope he concentrates on completing every pass, reading every read and making every play possible. Let the stats fall where they may. Strive for excellence every play.

That is exactly what I expect he will do and the coaches will expect him to do. 70% is just as realistic and another goal he mentioned which is to win the National Championship. Both are odds on against either one of them coming to fruition.

BTBR already mentioned that it is probably not realistic but why not set goals high? I totally disagree that this has anything to do actual performance. I have heard coaches state that you strive for perfection even though you realize that perfection is impossible to achieve. I personally prefer that goals be set high and apparently so does TM.

So what if he comes up short and only hits 63%? Anybody going to complain?

[Greatest Fan of All]

http://www.omaha.com/article/2012080...ompletion-rate

Why couldn't TM do it agian?!?

I guess he could do it, but as much as I like him, it is a near impossible goal for him. Yeah, he's done it in one game (Northwestern 2011) and was close in a second (Oklahoma State 2010), and if you add the numbers from his two best games ever, in two different years, he makes it for two games...but he's started more than twenty games. I wish him luck on reaching his goal, but I will be proud of him if he gets it near 60% and continues the improvement in other area's as well.

PS--I think he will play terrifically well this year with over 1000 yards rushing and 2500 passing, wiith a 60% plus completion percentage. He looks really good, but I'm afraid the rest of the team may not give him the support he needs.

[denisonred]

NOTE: please excuse the typo in the title "see" should be "seem"

I've been following the Husker's for 50 years and haven't yet seen a 70% passer at Nebraska who threw more than a few passes. Yeah, a RB or 2 might have done it, maybe even a backup that had very few passes. I think Joe Ganz came fairly close and probably Craig Sundberg back in the day, but we have had some pretty good passers that never made 60% let alone 70%. I have a feeling that his coaches have let TM set a unrealistic goal for himself. There is no magic in individual goals on a team. I'd like it better if his coaches had helped him set a lower goal so that he actually has a shot at meeting it...frankly, I think 60% would be an outstanding goal, but anything over 65% is just setting him up for likely failure. I would hate to see him start pressing if his completion percentage was low. I like TM and think he will do well this year, but he truly is a dual threat QB, not a pure passer, and a goal of 70% seems odd.

Yes 65 per cent would seem a reasonable goal. However, many on here have gotten upset for the team as a whole not setting high enough goals so guess he may as well set the bar high. I am not sure but would not be surprised if Keithen McCants had a high completion percentage his senior year. I recall one game where is was something like 15 for 17 passing.

[MyBraska]

what's wrong with being the best you can be? Go for it TM!

Yep. Goal-setting is a good thing. So what if he doesn't make it? He's proven he can do it at times. If we get a whole season of it, we're likely in the NC game.

[ChitownHusker]

Not surprisingly, I think FLAS pretty much nailed it. If TM improves his footwork on his drops, gets the ball out of his hands on time, and finds a way to effectively move in the pocket, his percentage will increase. Beck's history seems to suggest that he likes the quick, short passing game, which lends itself to some higher percentage throws. Better ball placement, better routes by receivers, and a better understanding of the offense (and opponents' defenses) will all help. I'd be disappointed if he didn't reach 60%, would be tickled if he reaches 65%, and will be shouting for Heisman consideration if he averages 70%.

Perhaps more importantly, though, will be overall efficiency. Yards per pass, yards per completion, and TD-to-INT ratio may be equally telling as his completion pct.

Pretty much my thoughts.

[Husker Country Doc]

NOTE: please excuse the typo in the title "see" should be "seem"

I've been following the Husker's for 50 years and haven't yet seen a 70% passer at Nebraska who threw more than a few passes. Yeah, a RB or 2 might have done it, maybe even a backup that had very few passes. I think Joe Ganz came fairly close and probably Craig Sundberg back in the day, but we have had some pretty good passers that never made 60% let alone 70%. I have a feeling that his coaches have let TM set a unrealistic goal for himself. There is no magic in individual goals on a team. I'd like it better if his coaches had helped him set a lower goal so that he actually has a shot at meeting it...frankly, I think 60% would be an outstanding goal, but anything over 65% is just setting him up for likely failure. I would hate to see him start pressing if his completion percentage was low. I like TM and think he will do well this year, but he truly is a dual threat QB, not a pure passer, and a goal of 70% seems odd.

His goal should be to put the ball in the receiver's hands, so they are in a position to get YAC.

Also, his goal should be to limit the int's.

[Husker Country Doc]

Agree on the OL. We need to have an effective running game to set up the pass.

I'd like to see more elusiveness out of TM, whether it be in the pocket, or in the open field.

He needs to put his head down, and take on tacklers, to get the extra yard and the first down, rather than veer to the sideline, and come up short, as has been his inclination.

[Porkchopexpress]

Is it realistic? Probably not. But I bet Iowa State has as their ultimate team goal, to win a national championship. That's not realistic either, but you've got to set the bar somewhere, and you may as well set it pretty high.

[ColoREDo]

Is it realistic? Probably not. But I bet Iowa State has as their ultimate team goal, to win a national championship. That's not realistic either, but you've got to set the bar somewhere, and you may as well set it pretty high.

I wonder which is more likely?

[Porkchopexpress]

I wonder which is more likely?

IMO, neither will happen, but I'd like to believe that TM would have a better chance of throwing for 70%, than ISU winning the MNC. Besides, ISU has to be perfect to make the BCS title game, while TM just has to be 70%.

[ksuhusker]

I think that the team chemistry is better this year than it has been in the past, so why would he not get the support from his team members.

[Train]

I don't know if we get to 70%. The good thing about this season is Martinez, Carnes and Kellogg are in the second season of Beck's offense. Just the familiarity of the playbook and the many reps over two camps and a full season imbed the progressions into their memories. This receiving corp has the potential to be the best overall group in school history, though that could be a bold statement. Bell the returning leader in receptions is pure speed. Enunwa looks to be a tough guy over the middle. Two quality tight ends. One with speed down the seam, the other with size and strength. Both with experience and that safety valves when they get to the quarterback. Marlow our version of that pesky guy who finds space. Then there is the wild card in Turner. If he can mature and become as cerebral as he is allusive, then maybe he can become our jet in the slot. Then there are others recruited as receivers and all with a real pedigree to catch passes.

I recall Kinnie making several catches. I also remember some big drops that would have sustained drives. He's been replaced. I remember some balls throw late or behind open receivers. In year two with better familiarity, better understanding, better fundamentals you must expect better numbers. Yet to be proven, but it's usually the case under such circumstances. Burkhead alone in the flats is enough to raise the percentages. If in doubt look for Rex. If the backers are in his face then that means the tightend should be loose somewhere. Just maybe a hint of pocket presence lets Martinez set sail for open waters. 70% would be great but not a must when you don't turn the ball over. We have won more than one title with less.

This offensive line should have some serious push to them this year. Lean on a couple of strong drives cramming it down their gullet and you would be surprised the increase in open receivers when they add numbers in the box to stop it. We could win more games with less than 70. It wasn't that long ago all we wanted was a viable passing game to compliment the best rushing attack in football. Somehow we threw out the baby with the bathwater. I still love that baby known as smashmouth. It's a pretty good offspring to have. When it's working well 60% will get you a championship.