2019 - phantom pre-season injury to QB caused horrific offense
2020 - having the same amount of practices as everyone else caused horrific offense
2021 - spin the excuse wheel!
2019 was about the offensive line and losing Morgan and Zig not about a mystery injury
2019 Worst interion oline in the big ten and that is not an exageration. Just you tube NU vs South Alabama and watch that game if you don't believe me.
8 available scholorship offensive lineman that year after Hixson awarded one as a walk-on and Jurgens converted from TE.
Jurgens starts at center even though injured in offseason and probably weighing 27. Jurgens has a great deal of potential but had not business playing in 2019. So Walkon Hixson starts at guard. Hixson has continued to develop an can pass as serviceable Big Ten player now but had no business playing, let alone starting on a big ten offensive line in 2019
Wilson starts at other gaurd and goes from being big ten well below average in 2018 (worst lineman on what was otherwise a pretty good line) to big ten bad with injury and playing next two guys that shouldn't have been starting on a Big Ten team
The short of it is your two best lineman and strength of you team in Foster/Farmer were replaced by guys that shouldn't have had to play and the drop-off was staggering. Throw in the extra weight Martinez and injury taking away a step that year and the fact there was no more Morgan to bail him out and you go from 2nd in total offense to bottom half of league in 1 year.
We know two things
1. Martinez can be effective if he has a running game and go to reciever. If you have a team that allows you to manage to his strengths which is utilizing his run/pass ability in advantageous down and distances this QB can be effective.
2. If you ask him to try to bail you out on second / Third and long with a line that cannot run block or pass block at a ten level throwing to and FCS player like Warner you are not going to like the results.
I personally believe the talent around him at WR and Line is finally back to and even exceeding the 2018 level. As a result, I expect him to equal or exceed production assuming he doesn't roll into season 10 lbs over weight or get hurt.