Nebraska has played 32 total games since 2018, when Frost took over. In the first 16 of those 32 games,
Nebraska averaged 470 yards and 32 points per game.
In the last 16 games, Nebraska averaged 382 yards and 23 points per game.
In the first 16 games, Nebraska threw 27 TD passes.
In the last 16 games, Nebraska threw 9 TD passes.
Those numbers don't only include just Adrian. Andrew Bunch and Luke also threw 5 TD passes combined from 2018 to 2020.
So what happened after week 4 of the 2019 season? This kid flaked the fvck out:
In 2018, Nebraska averaged 456 yards per game and 5.4 yards per rush because defenses were forced to defend the whole field.
- Devine was a really good running back.
- Stan and JD were really good on the boundary
- Mo Washington was dangerous as hell in the passing game, and his presence alone forced defenses to change the way they defended Nebraska.
1. The first read on every pass play in this offense is the Vertical Route on the perimeter. If Nebraska has big play receivers who can stretch the field, this forces the defense to keep their safeties back and makes the corners almost irrelevant in run support. Suddenly, the running game is often defended by 7 instead of 11.
2. When you have legit boundary receivers, this forces the linebackers and/or the nickel to become over exposed in coverage of the Slot/ a RB/ and/or the TE.
3. If there is a legit "take it to the house" playmaker at RB in the passing game, like Mo and even Devine to an extent, this creates serious mismatches at the backer spot and forces the back 7 to defend every inch of the field vertically and horizontally.
So what happened to Nebraska's offense? Many of fans, who lack a conceptual understanding of football, blame Adrian Martinez for the struggles.
In reality, this is Scott Frost's fault for failing to sign difference makers at the skill positions.
Nebraska went from Stan Morgan, JD Spielman, Mo Washington, Jack Stoll, and Devine Ozigbo at the end of 2018, to Levi Falck, Kade Warner, Wyatt Liewer, Wandale, and Ronald Thompkins by week two of 2020.
That's on Scott Frost.
He never should've let Nebraska get to that situation from a skill talent standpoint. Part of that is on Walters, sure, but he should've been all over an elite WR recruiter by the time he arrived.
Secondly, Frost needs to learn to coach to his personnel. Its maddening to see Nebraska try and run the same offense with dramatically less talent. Don't try to throw the football 35 times when Kade Warner is your #1 option on the boundary.
These are many of the reasons why I will defend Adrian Martinez to the hilt. Its also why I laugh, like honestly mockingly belly laugh, at posters over here that think Nebraska could've done better in the transfer portal.
- There are 67 Power Five Football programs in College Football. When Nebraska started Falck, Warner, and Robinson the first 3 weeks of 2020, Nebraska ranked roughly 60th in overall receiver talent out of the Power 5.
Now... back to WV's initial point:
Adrian's fumbles are too many, and usually the result of trying to extend plays in traffic where he leaves his feet. His interception numbers are actually well below the average INT# of a D1 starting QB.
He's averaging an 1 Interception every 38 attempts.
Tommy Armstrong had 1 INT for every 26 passes.
Taylor Martinez had 1 INT for every 33 passes
Tanner Lee was 1 for every 26
Zac Lee had 1 INT for every 32 attempts
Joe Ganz wad 1 INT for every 32 attempts
Zac Taylor is the only QB with a better INT ratio of 1 INT for every 41 attempts.
Joe Dailey had an 1 INT for every 16 attempts -- YIKES