Shatel: Martinez, Green both make positive first impression

LINCOLN — About 35 minutes before kickoff, the world discovered the identity of Bo Pelini's quarterback. Taylor Martinez popped up on the giant video board. The crowd roared.

With 11:23 left in the first quarter, the world found out why. On Nebraska's third play from scrimmage, Martinez kept the ball on a zone read and dashed 46 yards for his first touchdown. The crowd roared louder.

Let the circus begin.

The curtain went up on the worst-kept secret of the week: T-Mart is the T-man. As Nebraska's 49-10 opening win over Western Kentucky began to unfold, Pelini's undisclosed “plan'' came more into focus.

For now, the Huskers are putting their 2010 hopes on the legs and considerable speed of Martinez, who can transform a zone read into something, well, magical.

Sophomore Cody Green is the backup and looked more able and confident than last year.

Senior Zac Lee came in for mop-up duty. Even though Pelini said he would use all three guys, it's hard to see a three-quarterback rotation in a Big 12 title hunt. It's even harder to see Lee getting much playing time with two young guys in front who need playing time — two guys with bigger upside and potential.

Oh yeah, and Roy Helu and Rex Burkhead had five carries each.

Near the end of the game, the e-mails were flowing in. One critical of offensive coordinator Shawn Watson for abandoning the physical run game. Another wondering if NU was going back to the long lost days when the offense was basically Eric Crouch or Jammal Lord taking a snap and looking for a hole.

It's one game, folks. And it's one game against Western Kentucky. Burkhead had seven touches for 104 yards and a touchdown. That's efficient offense, not wasteful.

Season openers against these types of teams are good for tailgating, playing time and first impressions, not necessarily in that order. This one delivered on all counts. It also provided an early theme.

NU's offense is better. The defense doesn't look as sharp.

Pelini can fix the defense. It was imperative that the offense look like a different animal. One with teeth.

Martinez provides that. His speed is impressive. He glides into second and third gear. Forget the Crouch comparisons. But Martinez has that kind of jet. He's here and then he's gone.

His arm is decent, nothing to write home to Corona, Calif., about. He can make some throws, has some zip, but he missed some easy throws, too.

That's not why he's here. Martinez got the nod because he has the thing that the offense really needed last year: he can make a play. Martinez's legs should keep the chains moving.

If Lee, a solid soldier, couldn't separate himself in preseason camp — and apparently he did not — then you had to go with a guy who could make some plays. Martinez will get extra attention from Big 12 defensive gurus.

Green showed that dimension, too. He looked terrific, and it wasn't just the lasers he was throwing all over Memorial Stadium. The tall Texan appeared more in control, less jittery and jumpy. He's maturing.

Maybe Western Kentucky has something to do with that. I may have compared Lee to Johnny Unitas last year after Arkansas State. My laptop will be slobber-free this year. Still, Green looked different. And that was good.

It's good because of the way Martinez plays. He likes to run a lot. When the defenders come a little faster and bigger in the Big 12, he's going to get hit a lot. How will he hold up?

Then again, should he have to get hit a lot? What about handing the ball off to one of those fine-looking running backs? Will they be bit players in the T-Magic Show?

Too early to tell. One game isn't a trend. The zone read is an option, and the defenses often force the issue. Crouch used to keep it a lot because he was the best running back on the team. Martinez is not. He should defer to Mr. Helu and Mr. Burkhead, too. Chances are he will.

On the other hand, this was the perfect game for Watson to showcase Martinez, get him some early confidence against Western Kentucky. These first two games are perfect for that, along with giving Washington and K-State something to chew on.

Either way, don't read too much into this one. Savor the obvious.

The cat's out of the bag. And that's one fast cat.

Contact the writer:

444-1025, tom.shatel@owh.com

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Photo Showcase: NU-WKU game action

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• Video: NU postgame analysis by Mitch Sherman:



• Video: NU-WKU highlight reel:



• Video: NU coach Bo Pelini at the postgame press conference:



• Video: Taylor Martinez at the postgame press conference:



• Video: Rex Burkhead at the postgame press conference:

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