Shawn Watson spent most of August playing coy.

Each time he fielded questions about the crucial competition at quarterback, the Nebraska offensive coordinator revealed as little as possible.

He joked last week that his wife didn't even know who was taking snaps.

Saturday night, after Taylor Martinez's sparkling debut, the coach finally opened up, dishing the goods on a range of topics.

He analyzed his freshman speedster's rise to starter, described the highest-profile position battle of the Bo Pelini era and explained where his offense is headed.

Start with Martinez's edge over Cody Green and Zac Lee, according to Watson.

Big-play ability.

Specifically the zone read, where Martinez lines up in shotgun formation, sticks the ball in the belly of the I-back and either hands off or keeps himself.

It's a critical play in Watson's offense, a play Nebraska runs from several formations and personnel groups. It's also a play Lee struggled to execute last year.

Martinez scored all three of his touchdowns Saturday on the zone read. The keys, Watson said, are quick feet and quick thinking.

If you're indecisive at all, it can kill the play,” Watson said. “He does a really good job of just being decisive.”

• Defensive coordinator Carl Pelini took the lead in recruiting Martinez, a native of Corona, Calif.

Watson learned more about him through Mike Moschetti, his former quarterback at Colorado who coached against Martinez in high school.

Martinez always wanted to play quarterback, but a lot of schools recruited him as a receiver or safety. Nebraska promised him an opportunity to be field general, knowing Martinez could switch positions if necessary.

“To get this kid,” Watson said of NU's recruiting strategy, “we'll tell him he can play quarterback. Give him a chance. If it works out, hey, it's a plus.

“Well, it was real easy to see when he got here that he had the skill. He's got a good feel for the game, he's an explosive player and then he's got a release and an arm to go with it. Just what you saw tonight.”

Watson was “intrigued” by Martinez's running ability last fall. But Martinez needed to improve his passing. He's worked hard to learn the system.

“He's a very good passer,” Watson said. “Very good passer. ... He's not a done product, but he's well on his way.”

Martinez's first impressive throw Saturday night went to Rex Burkhead for 28 yards. Watson said the play was an isolation route for Burkhead, but Martinez looked first to his right, opening the middle of the field.

“He's learning to use his eyes,” Watson said. “Those are the things I'm talking about, all the tools a quarterback has to have in his tool box. You can't just stare a guy down.”

»The offense under Martinez had back-to-back three-and-outs late in the second quarter.

Watson said Martinez misread the defense when he overthrew Mike McNeill downfield. But a few other incompletions weren't Martinez's fault.

“The two-minute drill was a little bit of a struggle for a lot of reasons,” Watson said. “We had some missed assignments out there.”

Martinez said he needs to work on staying in the pocket longer.

Watson acknowledged that a lot of running quarterbacks take off at the first sign of pocket pressure. But he hasn't asked Martinez to ignore his running instincts.

And he doesn't think the kid holds the ball too long or scrambles too much.

“He gets rid of the football. He doesn't hold onto it. He's got a fast delivery.”

• Watson said he divided snaps in fall camp almost exactly three ways. Martinez, Green and Lee “did a great job battling one another.”

“We set up a plan, and I graded every step they took, every move they made, kept the stats on everything they did. So there was a paper grade and there was a film grade.”

Watson recognized that Lee lost the most in the quarterback shuffle —- his starting job. Watson called him a “trooper” who has remained upbeat.

“Zac Lee is a competitive guy,” Watson said. “He's worked his tail end off to make himself a better player. And he has.

“In the long and the short, I think it's going to help him. He didn't look at it as a negative. Bo and I both understand, shoot, we're human beings. We understand how it hurts.”

»Watson said the offense, with a heavy dose of short passing and zone-read, now looks like what he wanted last year. That was before poor performances and injuries prompted NU to pack the backfield and play power football.

Offensive coaches refined the scheme over the winter, Watson said, with this year's crop of talent in mind.

“Those guys that support me and help me did a great job. We worked our tail ends off. ... We're a confident group right now.”

Watson said he hasn't simplified the scheme at all for Martinez. Multiple formations and personnel groups are still critical. Against great defensive coordinators like Bo Pelini, Watson said, “you're dead” if you're too simple.

“Ask those guys we played in the (Big 12) championship game.”

• What's next at quarterback? Watson promised nothing. “Stay tuned,” he said.

But clearly, he's found at least one QB he really likes. Martinez got an “A-plus” grade Saturday, Watson said. He kept his poise when things were good and when things were bad.

That's “a tribute to his character,” Watson said. “Your first start is always an emotional thing. He didn't bat an eye.

“I'm telling you, he's a cool guy.”

Contact the writer:

649-1461, dirk.chatelain@owh.com

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