On Cody Green
We were taken to task for not jumping on the story sooner, but the departure of Cody Green isn't something that was particularly surprising or concerning. It's a bit like seeing Joe Dailey transfer in 2005. Sure, all else equal it would be nice if he stayed. But he really hadn't proven to be a positive playmaker for the offense.
Cody Green was a very likeable player. He stayed positive and seem to give his best effort. But fans were hoping for the second coming of Vince Young. Instead, it was more like the second coming of Mike Grant. His running ability didn't scare opposing defenses and his passing didn't threaten them either. So while you'd love to have a player with an undefeated record as a starter in reserve, those wins seemed to come in spite of Green rather than because of him.
His first start against Baylor produced one offensive touchdown and a of pair field goals. His second start against Oklahoma saw him pulled for Zac Lee who connected for the game's only touchdown. His starts against Iowa State and Colorado seemed like exhibitions of Rex Burkhead's ability at quarterback rather than Green's. His last impression in the rematch against Washington didn't leave you wanting more either. He went 3 for 12 passing for 45 yards with 3 rushes for minus 2 yards.
Green was only a true sophomore. He could certainly improve. But was he likely to surpass Taylor Martinez, Brion Carnes, Jamal Turner and even Rex Burkhead at quarterback? Or even Ron Kellogg? No hard feelings about Cody. Wish him the best. But to say he constitutes a real loss for the team seems like a stretch.
6/3/2011
Glad someone finally says this. Watching him play was painful at times. I’m glad he gave it his all and was a hard worker, but he just didn’t seem to fit at NU. I wish him luck wherever he lands.
6/3/2011
Now that Green is transfering, Martinez has a real threat behind him. Carnes so far seems to have something Martinez does not and that is poise. If Martinez can’t produce, Carnes will be in there very quickly. Yes, another Freshmen Quarterback, a true freshmen, but his cousin, Tommie Frazier wasn’t too bad as a freshmen. So, hoping Martinez grows up, and becomes a man, but if not, Carnes is in waiting mode, ready to go.
Springfield, MO
6/3/2011
Ya the kid is a great kid he just was way overrated. He doesn’t have any acceleration and he was terrible throwing the ball. I remember in the Holiday bowl he missed several wide open men that were easy passes. Let’s just hope Bubba Strarling decides to play for the huskers next year or we could have a depth problem at qb.
6/3/2011
Best of luck to Cody Green. Great kid, and I hope he succeeds somewhere. Can’t blame him for leaving, it was pretty clear he was going to be the #3 QB. Does Kansas need a Quarterback?
6/3/2011
Matt, the way it sounds is that NU has I think 5 scholarship offers to quarterbacks for next year. While they would be freshmen, there would at least be a few to lean on.
6/3/2011
I still think that Starling would be crazy to pass on the $$$ but having dual sport Erstad as baseball coach should make the decision a bit harder to pass on the $$$.
6/3/2011
Finally an article painting the true picture of Green. Was going to be 3rd or 4th on the depth chart this year…Enough Said.
6/3/2011
Although Green didn’t quite live up to expectations, his attitude was exceptional. I still feel that had Nebraska had a better playcaller, he would have made great strides. Best wishes Cody, you will be missed.
6/3/2011
I am one of those who falls into the camp that believed Cody for all his virtues was not a good fit at quarterback at Nebraska. He was a wonderful performer in high school but just could not make the transition. He was by all accounts a great kid and a hard worker. He just did not have “it”. I certainly wish him the best of luck wherever he lands.
6/3/2011
See ya mr. waste of a scholarship
6/3/2011
Best of luck to green. Didn’t fit in to nu but he was an experienced player and has playd in games. Carnes hasn’t and in spring game he was payn against 3rd and 4th stringers. Green leavn does afect nu only bc of his experience. Hpefuly carnes wil get alota playing time our 1st 3 games.
Springfield, MO
6/3/2011
Last time I checked we currently have three scholarship QBs left with the departure of Cody Green and Cody Spano’s career cut short by injuries. That leaves us with Taylor Martinez still inexperienced, Biron Carnes who hasn’t played a snap for the Big Red yet, and Ron Kellog who hasn’t had much time either. So I would say the QB position is in deed lacking a little of depth. Maybe Jamal Turner will end up taking a few snaps at QB all though you would love to see him stick to receiver since he has shown he can make plays.
6/3/2011
Ron Kellog is a walk-on. The 3rd scholarship QB would be Jamal Turner (at least he was recruited as a QB.)
6/4/2011
Glad to see him go, I believe he has to rank high of having the highest play to turnover ratio. I remember him for always turning over the ball and failing to move the sticks, by definition that is the main job of the quarterback, adios cody….
As for Starling, he would be a fool not to get a college education, besides who really pays attention to MLB draft. I cannot tell you who went number 1, ever. Whereas the NFL draft, is another story. Besides playing for Erstad and his big league experience could only help the kid grow.
6/4/2011
We saw the future during the spring game…. There was this moment in the second half, Carnes rolls out, looking, downfield to Turner for a TD. In that moment, it became clear what our offense should be.
Cody will be missed. Martinez wont be.
Carnes will take the job this year, Kellog will back him up, and we will be extremely thin at QB.
I am assuming tmart will transfer when he is no longer the starter.
6/4/2011
I think NU will regret Greens departure and how QBs are handled as the season rolls along. Instead of developing a kid with multiple skills (which need improving), we are leaning on someone who is one dimensional and easy to defend against. Hopefully the red shirt Freshman is really, really good.
6/4/2011
AZ Husker
As far as Bubba Starling , I value a great education as much as you seem too.. Im a UNL alumn, but the thing everyone keeps forgetting is that he can come back to college after signing what will likely be a 5 million dollar bonus if things don’t pan out.. The normal college graduate is coming out of school now with something like a $30,000 a year job .. Of course thats the average and some make significantly more but thats a lot to risk.. Smart Business says take the money , especially with a kid as sound as Starling seems to be.. His family appears to value education and he’ll more than likely go after a degree eventually regardless of the outcome…
Don’t get me wrong , I want him wearing red.. I also believe college helps you in terms of development as a person, but $5 + Million is a lot to risk if he was injured.. Either way its a hard deciscion , good luck with it Bubba!!
6/4/2011
Twauto,
“The normal college graduate is coming out of school now with something like a $30,000 a year job”
Don’t think so. The average kid who goes to college doesn’t even graduate in 6 years. The average kid who graduates from college is unemployed an moves back in with his parents…and has something like $20,000 in debt.
I’d love to see Bubba on campus, but it would really be an insane financial decision. Twauto is right about one thing—he can go to college after playing baseball (maybe even play football then like Brandon Weeden at Okie Lite).
San Diego, Ca.
6/4/2011
“It’s a bit like seeing Joe Dailey transfer in 2005.”
It is really, except we didn’t get to see him suffer through a whole season as a starter in an obviously ill suited offense with blithely stubborn, arrogant coaching, like Dailey did. Green only started a few games, with similar coaching…
I’d way rather QBs transfer, if they’re starter level athletes, than watch them “ride the pine” through a Nebraska career.
In Dailey’s case, he never really had a chance, with the HC and position coach turnover he faced, almost every year he was in college.
I wonder how he’d do in this offense? Size and athletically anyway, he’d fit right in.
Hopefully, Green doesn’t follow that frustrating track.
He’s got to take a real clear viewpoint of himself and the level and system he wants to move to.
Des Moines, IA
6/5/2011
I don’t understand why some people are trashing Cody Green. Sure he might not have played as well as we might have thought, but for personal character he is about as good as you can get.
The kid just wants to play football, isn’t that enough.
6/5/2011
Exiled in VT
“The average kid who graduates from college is unemployed an moves back in with his parents…and has something like $20,000 in debt.”
First of all I was talking about the average kid who does take a position out of college, I have no clue on how many of them are unemployed ( and dont pretend to ) but I was just trying to prove a point that its a huge difference in the money.. Also you brought a good point that I didnt about debt.. They might make $30,000 grand but $10,000 probablys go back to paying debt..
Bubbas Baseball coach put it something like this.. He told Bubba he could a paper next week that would be worth more than him coaching for the next 90 years… Thats pretty Crazy..
DrZodiber
I totally agree with you , bubba was a great kid.. He just didnt fit the system here with what were running.. Good Luck to him on his next venture!!
6/5/2011
who cares about cody green? the kid never did anything but fumble or throw ints, always moved slow, and couldn’t hit a receiver past ten yards. it was painful watching him take snaps. i’m not talking about character or anything, i never met the guy, i’m sure he’s nice. but that doesn’t win championships. goodbye, won’t miss ya!