Mike Ferrell's Top 50 Quarterbacks For The 2022 Season

[Huskerthom]

1. Yes I did make a statement that AM out played most of the quarterbacks last year in response to the statement that there will only be two quarterbacks on the roster better than ours. My point is we were 3-8 with a quarterback who was better than the competition that year. I'll elaborate on that later.

2. Yes the team was that bad in wins and losses. Maybe we should blame the rest of the team a little more because they rarely out performed the opponent.

As for AM statistically out performing the other quarterbacks.

Passing percentage 61.7
Opponents 65.7

Yards 2863
Opponents 2457

Yards per catch 15.1
Opponents 9.9

Interceptions 10
Opponents 10

TD's 14
opponents 14

So when comparing passing statistics it is pretty even. Obviously difference is a slightly better pass percentage of 4 points by the opponent but considering the effectiveness in the average completion at more than 50% better its easy to see that the SF offense is asking for the ball to be thrown farther downfield which by nature reduces the completion percentage.

What you fail to calculate in the "outplay the opposing QB" is the rushing.

Rushing yards 525
Opponents -49

Rushing per attempt 3.9
Opponents -1.1

Rushing TD's 13
opponents 1

Fumbles 3
Opponent 2

I know it was previously stated he lost 7 fumbles but It was seven for the entire team. I can only find 3 that were him. Smothers had 2 and a punt return had 1.

In addition if you want to know how important his run game was to us.

From his husker bio
2021
Adrian Martinez started the first 11 games of the season at quarterback before missing the final game of the year due to injury. He completed more than 61 percent of his passes for 2,863 yards and 14 touchdowns, becoming the first player in school history with four 1,000-yard passing seasons. Martinez averaged 308.0 yards of total offense per game, breaking his own school record set during his freshman season. He also ranked fifth on Nebraska's season charts in total offense (3,388), sixth in passing yards (2,863) and ninth in completions (189). For his performance, Martinez earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten accolades from the conference coaches.

Martinez eclipsed 1,000 season passing yards in only four games, joining Tommy Armstrong Jr. as the second Husker to throw for 1,000 yards in the first four games of a season. In addition to his work through the air, Martinez rushed 133 times for 525 yards and a career-high 13 scores, leading the Huskers in all three categories. Martinez became only the eighth Husker to total 10 passing and rushing touchdowns in the same season. He also became the first Nebraska quarterback and only the fourth quarterback in Big Ten history with four 500-yard rushing seasons.

At the conclusion of the regular season, Martinez ranked second nationally n in 70-yard runs (2) and fifth in 60-yard runs (2). He also ranked seventh nationally in 30-yard passes (26). Martinez ranked 21st nationally in passing yards game at the conclusion of the regular season and 15th with an average of 308.0 yards of offense per game. He also ranked seventh nationally in yards per completion (15.2) and yards per pass attempt (9.4). On the ground, Martinez ranked 2nd nationally with a career-high 13 rushing touchdowns at the end of the regular season.

At the end of the 2021 regular season, Martinez was one of only three active FBS players with 8,000 career passing yards and 2,000 career rushing yards. He was only the fourth Big Ten quarterback and 24th quarterback in FBS history in the 8,000/2,000 club. Martinez ranked seventh in Big Ten history for career rushing yards by a quarterback (2,301) ands second among all active FBS quarterbacks with 2,301 career rushing yards. He also ranked seventh among all FBS players with 35 career rushing touchdowns and ranked ninth with 10,792 career total offense yards.

Martinez accounted for 343 yards of offense at Illinois, out-gaining the Illini by himself. He threw for 232 yards and one touchdown and posted his fifth career 100-yard rushing game with 111 yards on 17 carries with one score. In the win over Fordham the next week, Martinez accounted for 287 yards of offense in less than three quarters, completing 17-of-23 passes for 254 yards and one touchdown and rushing eight times for 33 yards and two scores. Against Buffalo, Martinez accounted for 354 yards of offense. He completed 13-of-19 passes for 242 yards, including a pair of 68-yard touchdowns. Martinez also had a 71-yard run en route to posting his sixth career 100-yard rushing game with nine carries for 112 yards. Martinez totaled 323 yards of offense and accounted for two touchdowns at No. 3 Oklahoma. He completed 19-of-25 passes for 289 yards and one touchdown, while rushing 17 times for 34 yards and one score. Martinez accounted for 316 yards of offense at No. 20 Michigan State. He completed 24-of-34 passes for 244 yards and rushed 21 times for 72 yards and two scores. Martinez played only 2 1/2 quarters in Nebraska's win over Northwestern, and he threw for 202 yards and rushed for 50 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Martinez also tied his career high with four total touchdowns against the Wildcats. Martinez accounted for 329 yards of offense against No. 9 Michigan, throwing for 291 yards and rushing for 38 yards. He tied his career highs with three passing touchdowns and four total touchdowns against the Wolverines. At Minnesota, Martinez threw for 241 yards and one touchdown. He threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns against Purdue, completing 14 passes to become Nebraska's all-time leader in completions. He also eclipsed 10,000 yards of career total offense against the Boilermakers. Martinez also had a four-yard touchdown run against the Boilermakers. Against No. 6 Ohio State, Martinez threw for 248 yards and one touchdown and added 51 rushing yards with one touchdown. The Ohio State game marked the 20th game of Martinez's career where he had both a passing and rushing touchdown. Martinez accounted for 374 yards at No. 19 Wisconsin against a Badger defense that entered the game No. 1 in the country in total defense, allowing only 216.3 yards per game. Martinez passed for 351 yards and rushed for 23 yards, posting both a rushing and passing touchdown while becoming Nebraska's all-time leader in total offense.

During the season, Martinez was recognized as oen of 20 national semifinalists for the Jason WItten Collegiate Man of the Year Award. The award is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player’s leadership, both on and off the field.

You are making a false argument. 2AM had nothing to do with how opposing QBS played against us. That is how we grade our Defense not our QB. Overall 2AM had the fifth rated QB rating in the B1G. We played all 4 QBS rated ahead of him.

Also you are trying to argue that 2AM kept us in most games. There is an argument to be made for that. I would again argue that had a whole lot to do with the defense.

One thing that can not be shown directly in the statistics but the evidence is their. He often passed up a short wide open WR to force a lo ger throw into double coverage. This more than anything is why he threw so many INTs in crunch time. Throwing short passes also helps cover for OL issues. As the ball gets out quicker. Add to that his failure to look off his primary WR and you have a recipe for INT.

Think about great combacks in football. With the exception of a hail mary here or there. Most comeback drives happen with short possesion type completions. As exciting as 2AM could be he was not good at those passes.

Was the line young and mistake prone. Yep. Did the RBs need to be better. Yep. Did the play calling appear questionable at times. Yep. All parts of the O need to except their role in losses last year. As do the ST.

The only part of the team I hold nearly blameless for last year is the Defense. That is not to say they made no mistakes. Just that on balance they kept us in a lot of games we had no business being in.

 

[Redleg]

I expect to watch 2AM at KSU this year and see him make some absolutely fantastic plays running and throwing along with some mind numbing turnovers at the most inopportune times. He'll also be a great teammate and stand up guy with the media. That's who he is.

 

[Hville]

 

[wcbsas]

Nobody said he was blameless or not one of the factors. Many are acting like he is the primary reason. All I’m guilty of is saying he outplayed most of the opposing quarterbacks.

I do not believe he is the primary reason ... that falls back onto SF and his coaching staff.

I believe SF:
1) Did not generate enough QB competition during the 2AM years. We literally had no better options.

2) Did not provide a good enough offensive line to protect 2AM. Much of that was schematic and coaching. Not playing the right players. Not doing a better job of coaching them.

3) Provide an offense that was conducive to 2AM's skill set. He (SF) imposed his offensive philosophy that did not utilize 2AM's skill set well enough. My biggest fear is that Kleimann will accommodate his offense to 2AM's strengths and they will be successful because of it.

Having said that:
2AM is a poor thrower. He doesn't check off primary receivers very well. He has no touch on intermediate throws and he makes bad throwing decisions. Some of this may be due to #2 and #3 above.

We are probably closer in agreement than we think!

 

[wcbsas]

Athlon’s KSU preview:

Kansas State Football: 2022 Wildcats Season Preview and Prediction

A complete preview and prediction for the Kansas State Wildcats in the 2022 college football season.

athlonsports.com

 

[Hville]

I do not believe he is the primary reason ... that falls back onto SF and his coaching staff.

I believe SF:
1) Did not generate enough QB competition during the 2AM years. We literally had no better options.

2) Did not provide a good enough offensive line to protect 2AM. Much of that was schematic and coaching. Not playing the right players. Not doing a better job of coaching them.

3) Provide an offense that was conducive to 2AM's skill set. He (SF) imposed his offensive philosophy that did not utilize 2AM's skill set well enough. My biggest fear is that Kleimann will accommodate his offense to 2AM's strengths and they will be successful because of it.

Having said that:
2AM is a poor thrower. He doesn't check off primary receivers very well. He has no touch on intermediate throws and he makes bad throwing decisions. Some of this may be due to #2 and #3 above.

We are probably closer in agreement than we think!

Yes we are. Especially with your statement that it could be due to 2 and 3. Let’s face it. We know offensive lines play into passing performance heavily and we know a strong running game keeps the defense honest. Am was asked to play short ball for three years and last year they moved to intermediate and long. He was 28th in the country in qb rating with no running game, a poor line and almost last in the country in qb hurries. I’d really like to see what his rating could have been with that better support.
My concern is fixing those items for Casey. I think we have upgraded our receiver coaching. I think we have a HUGE upgrade in Palmer. MJ has been named passing coordinator and whipple is offensive coordinator with a known passing flavor. I’m concerned that we still haven’t attacked the running game issues enough to handle the B1G. Raiola is a big risk. I’m just not sure he has the clout in the room to address the running attack. That is why I’m not sold on these changes to the extent most people are.

 

[NUinID]

I do not believe he is the primary reason ... that falls back onto SF and his coaching staff.

I believe SF:
1) Did not generate enough QB competition during the 2AM years. We literally had no better options.

2) Did not provide a good enough offensive line to protect 2AM. Much of that was schematic and coaching. Not playing the right players. Not doing a better job of coaching them.

3) Provide an offense that was conducive to 2AM's skill set. He (SF) imposed his offensive philosophy that did not utilize 2AM's skill set well enough. My biggest fear is that Kleimann will accommodate his offense to 2AM's strengths and they will be successful because of it.

Having said that:
2AM is a poor thrower. He doesn't check off primary receivers very well. He has no touch on intermediate throws and he makes bad throwing decisions. Some of this may be due to #2 and #3 above.

We are probably closer in agreement than we think!

All the problems and all the losing Nebraska has done over the last 4 years cannot be laid at the feet of one player. That is for sure.

But, I always come back to the fact that in all of the close games that Nebraska has been in over the last 4 years AM never once led Nebraska to victory. He never once led a game winning drive to a FG or TD that brought the team to victory.

That is not fair to put all that on his shoulders, but that is what a good/great QB does. They keep track of it in the NFL. Sometimes the QB has to will his team to victory. He never did that.

 

[MHKHusker]

Typical AM critic. We lose games because of him but if games are won it’s not because of him.

And they ignore the fact that we stayed close in those games because of AM. One could argue our defense which, yes, played very well, but there were countless times our offensive line would just let people through and he'd find a way out of it. One of the best at avoiding pressure in the pocket that I've seen. Did you know that he was pressured on a nation leading 47% of his dropbacks but averaged the 4th most yards per attempt?