Making Gilbert Eat His Words
Joe Namath's guarantee prior to Super Bowl III has probably given trash talk a better name than it deserves. Whether it's on school ball fields and gyms around the country or at the highest levels of sport, you'll see that many of the guys that do the most talking often do the least to back it up. At times, the trash talk almost seems like a product of the mouthy guy's fears. It's as if the trash-talker is trying to convince himself of something he doesn't fully believe. While the Badgers will do what they can this weekend to try to help defensive end David Gilbert save face after he disrespected the play of NU quarterback Taylor Martinez, you kind of expect him to be in for a major karmic smackdown.
Gilbert hasn't exactly been a star player at Wisconsin. He was a fairly highly touted recruit out of high school. So he might still be a star in his own mind. He sort of reminds you of former Husker Bernard Thomas. Sure, there was some talent, but at the end of the day the production never matched the hype.
Gilbert's remarks about Martinez might reveal the anxieties for the Badgers. Wisconsin's defense while above average overall has been middling to poor against the pass. One big reason is that they've gotten fewer than two sacks a game and not many tackles for losses. That's a reflection of your defensive ends. The interceptions by Martinez a year ago in Madison were a big reason for NU's lopsided defeat. But so far his passing this season has been a team strength. If he comes out with another hugely productive outing (like he did against Southern Mississippi) or another hugely efficient effort (like against Arkansas State), that would seem to leave Wisconsin with little opportunity to keep pace. U-dub also hasn't given up any long runs this year. T-Magic's 92-yarder against UCLA might give them some pause as well.
What is fair to say is that Martinez is not at his best under pressure (few quarterbacks are). If Wisconsin needs to blitz to get pressure, then the key will be how well NU can recognize and adapt to it. Can Martinez find the checkdowns and hot routes? Can he communicate blocking assignments to stop extra pass-rushers? That's the critical test for Taylor. He likely won't need to complete passes every time someone's in his face. Instead, it's just about avoiding negative plays if and when that happens. It will also be up to the offensive line to keep him from being under constant pressure. Missed assignments or just getting beat can't happen too often. If it does, it could make Gilbert look a bit smarter.
And if the Huskers are able to effectively run the football, look out. The Badgers have struggled against the pass when doing well against the run. How good can things be against a running game that's clicking? It could get ugly for Wisconsin.
So far, Nebraska hasn't stooped to trash talking through the media in response. Evidently, the plan is to let the play on the field do the talking. If they were speaking their minds, what might defensive ends Eric Martin, Cameron Meredith and Jason Ankrah (who all have more sacks than Gilbert) have to say about walk-on freshman quarterback Joel Stave? Would they point out that he had trouble beating out a guy who played his way out of a starting job at lowly Maryland before doing the same at Wisconsin? Would they point out he has as many picks as touchdowns (whereas Martinez has 9 touchdowns against 1 pick)?
Gilbert may accuse Martinez of throwing stones, but it may be the Badgers living in the glass house. We'll find out Saturday.
Kansas City, MO
9/28/2012
Well, looks like Gilbert’s the one who’s going to be skipping rocks. At least on the first play.
9/29/2012
This game is going to be a close one. Hopefully our o-line can give Martinez time to look at his secondary receivers. He has proven this year if he is given the time he has done quite well. It is gut check time for NU. I predict 24 to 21 NU wins a close one.
9/29/2012
Gut check time my a$$. Nebraska is going to kill these fools. I predict we put up 50 on them. We are # 5 in the country in rushing offense, 8th in scoring offense, and 9th in overall offense. They are 13th in defending the rush. That’s the closest battle there is. That’s the top national stat they have. From there it goes downhill…WAY downhill! Their offense is nothing short of offensive. Their passing offense is #110 in the country, as is their total offense. Their rushing offense is # 86. Their passing defense is #83. Our passing efficiency is #10. How are they going to beat us? With their cheerleaders? Their is literally no area where they have an edge on us. None. Even their turnover margin is worse than ours! Our offensive line will hold and give Taylor time…and when they do, Taylor will tear them apart in the passing game, then break it wide open with the running game. Look for Nebraska to throw the ball fairly deep fairly often to stretch the field then kick them in the teeth with our running game. They’ll know what we are doing but have no ability to stop it when it comes. We’re talking avalanch! We will have 3, 100 yard gainers. I see a big game from our deep stable of offensive weapons…I think in the end we will be teeing off on these guys. Pay back’s a what?
9/29/2012
Oh, btw, this wonderful Wisconsin team is 86th nationally in rushing and 110th in passing…I have a feeling our defense is going to absolutely have these guys for lunch…!!!! They can’t score!!!!!!! They are going to make our defense look legit for the first time since 2010!
Great momentum builder going into our game against Ohio State.
They’ve got a fairly fearsome foursome in their front 7, but it’s not going to be hard passing over the top of these bafoons.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see 48-17 in our favor? They almost scored 50 on us last year…why is putting up 50 on these guys out of the question? Your right…it’s not!
AVALANCH !!!
9/29/2012
Gilbert likely was simply echoing his position coach’s words on Martinez. Gilbert’s transgression was making them public.
San Diego, Ca.
9/29/2012
It’s a perfect “call out.” A call out to the linemen, anyway. To correctly establish what’s going have to be a “physical relationship” with Wisky. The Beadgerz are a physically confident bunch. It’s what their fine coaches have defined for them and produced, into the decades now. A great opportunity, for the Corn to meet that, head on, over and around.
Now, perceptions of my boy, T-Magic, don’t matter so much. It’s like what a commenter said of Scott Frost, at the end of his Junior season, during the Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech- “he’s not a great passer and he’s not a great runner. But, he’s a very good college QB.” That’s what Martinez is.
The difference last year, was QBs. At the time, who knew their “free agent” QB was that good? He put pressure on Martinez (and Beck) to match him, score for score. Same deal, this time around.
Martinez is an upper tier college athlete. As a QB, he still hasn’t reached his ceiling, with potentially 24 games still to play, with a spring and fall practice, plus more time with that QB guru.
9/30/2012
Hey PE, what happened? That was a very close game and we (Nebraska) pulled it off. I knew it would be close going in, I never think any game will be easy. I go into every game thinking that if we don’t play well and execute, we will lose. Taylor is an amazing quarterback and our O-line is very talented. The defense had some amazing plays as well. I’m confident that my team can win the conference title, but we will take it one game at a time. Win Lose or Tie, Huskers til I Die!