I'm more concerned with Martinez as a leader. A future winner usually pulls out a win early on in their career. So far all heartbreaking and no upsetting. Guys like Martinez are fun to watch, but I'm looking for game wins not moral victories. Jamal Lord blew away Crouch's records, and in the end "me-ball" sunk the team. Martinez is like Lord crushing the stats at the expense of game wins. Martinez is not the guy getting us to an undefeated season. Ohio State literally tried to feed him an upset situation, but he stubbornly refused to take the opportunity. The greats never seem to look gift horses in the mouth like that.
MadRat, unlike everyone else I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt on this one. You are correct. As of yet, we have not seen AM pull a game out of the fire for us. It's too bad he could not finish the Colorado game. I felt he was on the verge of winning that one for us.
Against tOSU, we came back and took the lead at halftime. In the 3rd quarter, when we could have put more distance between us and them, AM did not play his best and gave tOSU a chance to take command...and they took it. The 3rd quarter was the best time for AM to take his game to next level, but instead his game seemed to regress a little bit.
Is that a sign that AM may not have killer instinct or the heart and will of a champion?
I think it is too early to tell. AM certainly has the skills of a great QB, but at this point its not clear if he has the mindset and heart of a champion.
However, like you MadRat, I am also going to give AM the benefit of the doubt. Verduzco said the primary thing he wants AM to do is protect the ball. That's not exactly in line with the
"no fear of failure" philosophy. If AM is doing as he is coached, and thinking mostly about avoiding errors, then he is not going to be completely free to do everything he is capable of.
AM is very young. One day he will gain the confidence of SF, TW, and MV and they will just tell him to go out and do what he has to do to win the games. But at this point in his career, the coaches are telling him to go out and mostly protect the ball (and himself).
One day the reigns will be completely lifted from AM. Until then, it will be hard to determine if he can or will become a champion.
When I think of QBs who had the heart and will of a champion...along with the killer instinct...the first one that comes to mind is Jerry Tagge. That guy was money in every game he played. Then there is TF, SF and EC. Wisconsin's Russell Wilson comes to mind as well. And then there was that darn Jamal Holliway for OU. He was a pain in the rear.