A year after breakout game, Joe Martinek still relishing role as Rutgers' No. 1 running back
November 11, 2009, 8:01PM
Saed Hindash/The Star-LedgerJoe Martinek is concerned that the Scarlet Knights' rushing game has been dulled the last two games.Joe Martinek remembers three things from the days leading up to Rutgers’ game at South Florida last year:
- 1. Practices in the bubble were hot and humid.
- 2. The plan was to run the ball.
- 3. He was going to be the one running it.
That Saturday afternoon in November in Tampa would be Martinek’s first chance to show the Scarlet Knights had been wise to sign the leading rusher in New Jersey high school football history. And a chance to reward Greg Schiano and the coaching staff for trusting him as the primary ball carrier in a game that, if won, would level Rutgers’ record and dig the team out of a 1-5 hole to start the season.
“I just remember practicing hard during the week and getting a lot of reps,” Martinek recalled this week. “But I remember feeling good that day and the plan was to run the ball a lot. Just keep pounding it. In the end, that’s what we were able to do.”
Led by Martinek’s 21 carries for 98 yards and a pair of touchdowns, the Scarlet Knights left with a convincing 49-16 victory. And Rutgers, having used several players in its search for Ray Rice’s replacement, had its new No. 1 running back — the role Martinek still has as the No. 23 Bulls (6-2) come to Piscataway Thursday night to face Rutgers (6-2).
Martinek’s emergence a year ago didn’t come right away. He was called upon to run the ball only four times during the first half, gaining 20 yards. It seemed as though another opportunity would be lost for the man who had racked up 7,589 yards and 80 touchdowns at Hopatcong High School but had only 19 carries since joining the Scarlet Knights.
Even after Martinek gained 11 yards on three carries during Rutgers’ first possession of the third quarter, Kordell Young was inserted into the game as Rutgers drew closer to the South Florida end zone. But after Young was stuffed at the 1-yard line, Martinek went back in and scored to give the Scarlet Knights a 28-10 lead.
“That touchdown gave me a lot of confidence,” Martinek said. “I remember that play — the line blocked great and I got a 1-on-1 with a guy right on the goal line, and as a running back that’s exactly what you want. And I was able to put it in, so not only did it give us a (bigger) lead, but it gave me a lot of confidence for the second half.”
Not just the second half of the game, but the second half of the season.
“I think it gave people a lot of confidence in me, to trust me more,” he said. “It proved to people that if they need me to be back there and get the majority of the carries, that I can do that.”
Don’t expect Martinek to get all nostalgic Thursday night. What he’s concerned about is that the Scarlet Knights’ rushing attack has been dulled in two of its last three games — both Big East matchups.
So he has been watching tapes of last year’s South Florida game to see what went right and how to duplicate it.
“I think, for some people, it’s hard to do that,” Martinek said about forgetting about past success against a certain team. “But for me — I remember (the game) — but we’re in a whole different offense. This is a whole different team. I haven’t really thought about it too much. I just try to remember personnel, how they play. Things I might see again.”
Regardless, even the usually reserved Martinek admitted that last year’s South Florida game jump-started his Rutgers career. Since then, he has rushed for 769 yards and seven touchdowns.
But when asked if he felt as though he proved himself last year, Martinek politely deferred any attention.
“I don’t know,” he said with a half-smile. “Whatever opportunities they wanted to give me, I wanted to try and make the most of and just run hard.”
Brendan Prunty may be reached at bprunty@starledger.com