• Video: NU's quarterback situation:
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LINCOLN — Cody Green is done talking about things.
The sophomore, entrenched in a battle for Nebraska's starting quarterback spot, said as much following Saturday's first practice of the fall.
“It's got to the point now where it's time to just shut up and play,” Green said. “All gloves off, no holds barred, just go out there and compete. Simple as that.”
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Green started two games a season ago, becoming the first true freshman quarterback to start a game for the Huskers since Tommie Frazier. He took every snap in a win at Baylor, but was replaced early in the second quarter against Oklahoma one week later.
Afterward, Husker offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said Green was “nervous in the service.”
He attempted just three passes the rest of the season — one in the Big 12 championship game and two more in the Holiday Bowl, all incompletions.
“Coming out of high school, I was just gunslinging,” Green said. “Now I've got to the point where I realize that. I understand it. It's easy if you sit back and think about it.”
The change in Green is evident to Watson. The man in charge of the NU offense says Green is far more relaxed today than a year ago. Watson can see it in his play.
“He's more confident than I've ever seen him,” Watson said.
Before last year, Green hadn't been in a real quarterback competition since he was a sophomore in high school. He started a couple of games, stumbled and was replaced.
“But then I came right back again and basically set my team up to be successful,” he said. “So that's what I'm hoping to do here.”
Lee and redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez are splitting the practice repetitions with Green, according to Watson. That's the way it will remain until one of the three distinguishes himself.
“Only one guy gets to walk out there,” Watson said. “Somebody's got to go take the job. We're trying to find a starting quarterback. We are going to make sure that that guy earns that job and clearly walks away from the others.”
Green's position a season ago was much like the one Martinez finds himself in these days. A flavor-of-the-week of sorts.
Green said he's used far more of his energy improving and competing than wondering when his next snap might come.
“To be honest, I think Taylor takes some of the pressure off of me,” Green said. “Because now people can look at Taylor and say, ‘Hey, let's see what this kid has. We want to see what this kid has,' and I can sit back and not worry about what people are saying. I can worry about being more comfortable with the offense, managing the offense, things like that that a quarterback needs to worry about. Not what people say.”
As for what Green has to say, three little words sum it all up.
“Best man wins,” he said.
Contact the writer:
850-0781, nickrubek@hotmail.com
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