The Wolverine Now

yards of total offense than the two signal-callers that will meet in Lincoln this week- end. Michigan's Denard Robinson has racked up 9,785 with 83 to- tal scores, while Nebraska's Taylor Martinez has 7,577 yards and has accounted for 65 touchdowns. The two signal-callers are linked, O whether they want to be or not, but this fall, while Robinson has continued to struggle in the pass- ing game, completing only 53.5 percent of his 155 attempts with nine touchdowns and nine inter- ceptions (and a passer rating of 129.6 that ranks 64th nationally), Martinez is flourishing. The 6-1, 200-pounder rates 15th nationally and first in the Big Ten with a pass efficiency rating of 162.79, completing 124 of 185 throws (67.0 percent) for 1,615 yards with 15 touch- downs and only four interceptions. "He's become more of a rhythm thrower," Husk- Junior Taylor Martinez Has Found His Rhythm At Quarterback ver the past three seasons, no active player in college football has accumulated more while adding 65 yards and a score on 18 carries (3.6 yards per rush). "You take away some of the plays that happened to him at Ohio State and I think he's played really well all year, so I'm not sure I'd call [his game against Northwestern] a game changer," head coach Bo Pelini said. "Even in the fourth quarter, there were some things that he'd want back and that he could do better. "He can continue to work on his Martinez ranks first in the Big Ten with a pass efficiency rating of 162.79, hav- ing completed 124 of 185 throws for 1,615 yards with 15 touchdowns and decision-making, his checks, but what I've seen from Taylor is that the more he plays and the more experience he's had, the better he's played. I hope that will continue. One of the conference's top pass- " only four interceptions. PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA erOnline.com publisher Sean Callahan said. "He's done a better job setting his feet before he throws. In the past, he didn't have his feet set and that would lead to floaters and poor passes, but you don't have a 14-to-four touchdown-to-interception ratio, an almost 70.0 percent completion rate, and the best passer rating in the Big Ten because of luck. "His confidence is better, and when he gets into problems, he's become better at managing a game and controlling his emotions to live for another play instead of trying to get it all back at once. five weeks into the season, but that dream campaign came to a crashing halt against Ohio State Oct. 6 when he threw three picks in a 63-38 loss. Two weeks later against Northwestern, Martinez completed 69.2 percent of 39 attempts for 342 yards — the third 300-yard game of his career and second this fall — with three touchdowns and no interceptions, Martinez was enjoying the best season of his career " carries this season. He's averaged 4.7 yards per at- tempt and has 403 yards and six touchdowns on the ground this fall. In the past two NU games, Martinez has had 18 rushes apiece, helping to fill a void cre- ated by senior tailback Rex Burkhead, who has suf- fered an MCL injury to the same knee three times in eight weeks. "I think Rex probably came back too fast after he ers, Martinez has still carried a heavy rushing load, ranking sec- ond on the Cornhuskers with 86 2012 NEBRASKA STATISTICAL LEADERS Sophomore tailback Ameer Abdullah leads Nebraska in rushing with 615 yards and seven touchdowns on 105 carries (5.9-yard average). PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA Passing Taylor Martinez Ron Kellogg III Ameer Abdullah Rex Burkhead Taylor Martinez Imani Cross Rushing Braylon Heard Receiving Kenny Bell Quincy Enunwa Ameer Abdullah Jamal Turner Kyler Reed Ben Cotton Will Compton Tackles missed the UCLA game because they weren't ex- pecting to lose that game, and it seemed like there was a sense of urgency with him," Callahan said. "He probably should have sat out against Idaho State and Wisconsin, and given himself more time to rest, but it's too late now. greater onus on Martinez to deliver like he has this season. His teammates are confident the new-and- improved version will be up to the challenge. "No matter the situation, no matter the score, no Burkhead likely won't play Saturday, putting a " — Michael Spath " Baker Steinkuhler Alonzo Whaley Eric Martin Daimion Stafford P.J. Smith Cameron Meredith Josh Mitchell Ciante Evans Interceptions Josh Mitchell Ciante Evans P.J. Smith matter how late in the game it is, he's going to stay calm," senior tight end Ben Cotton said. "He's going to stay confident and he's going to do his thing. THE WOLVERINE • PAGE 4 Brett Maher Brett Maher Punting Kicking Comp. Att. 124 3 185 5 Att. 105 47 86 32 31 Rec. 26 23 15 13 13 8 UT 22 28 22 18 11 16 13 18 15 No. 1 1 1 36-36 No. 28 Yds. 615 405 403 244 226 Yds. 540 286 129 178 177 77 AT 36 19 21 11 17 10 13 6 7 Yds. 0 29 0 Yds. 1174 Yds. 1615 19 Avg. 5.9 8.6 4.7 7.3 7.3 Avg. 20.8 12.4 8.6 13.7 13.6 9.6 TD 15 1 LG 45 73 92 44 27 LG 74 35 26 36 22 26 3-11 8-31 4-11 2-6 0-0 29.0 0.0 54 TD 0 1 0 LG 64 6-28 1-16 6-10 5-9 INT 4 1 TD 7 3 6 2 2 TD 5 1 1 0 2 2 Tot. TFL/Yds. Sacks/Yds. 58 47 43 29 28 26 26 24 22 5.5-30 3.0-10 1.0-1 0.0-0 Avg. 0.0 PAT FGM-FGA LG 9-14 Avg. 41.9 3.0-26 1.0-16 1.5-4 1.5-3 1.0-8

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