It’s easy to think of Birmingham’s Adrian Martinez as a “running” quarterback. After all, the Stallions signal caller leads the United Football League in rushing yards with 387 – and averages 10.2 yards per tote.
Then again, if you ignore his passing, you’re ignoring one of his greatest strengths.
A stat line of 138-83-1 for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns is even more impressive considering he has rotated starting duties with Matt Corral this season.
But regardless of what he can do with his arm and legs, it’s what’s between his ears that makes it all possible. And in helping Birmingham roll to a 7-0 record, he’s demonstrated that his head is always in the game.
“Professionalism is the word that comes to mind,” Stallions coach Skip Holtz said of Martinez. “He’s five minutes early for meetings. He’s got his notebook and he’s got a pen in hand and he’s taking notes. He watches film and he’s asking the questions like, ‘Coach, when that guy goes here do we want to go there?’ I mean, he is a student of the game.
“He’s a total professional. He’s not a roller coaster guy. He doesn’t just ride the highs and hit the lows. He is very steady and consistent in his performance each and every week.”
Last Saturday’s 30-26 victory over St. Louis was a prime example.
He lit up the Battlehawks defense for 230 yards and three touchdowns through the air, and ran for a game-high 60 yards.
But when St. Louis moved ahead 20-23, he wasted no time getting the lead back. Martinez hit Kevin Austin Jr. on a 40-yard TD strike and connected with Jace Sternberger on a 1-point conversion to register the final points of the contest.
It was the second game in a row Martinez had utilized 10 different receivers.
“We have a very talented roster and a lot of guys who – at any given moment – can take the top off of the defense, whether they’re tight ends or outside guys,” Martinez said. “I think all of them have shown that spurt of being able to do that.
“I don’t want to try and force the ball, it’s like, ‘Hey, let’s just read this, let’s stay within the offense.’ Any of these guys can win their routes, whether it’s press man or zone coverage. I have a lot of confidence that those guys will do what they need to do.”
When talking stats, he’s always quick to credit the guys on the money end of this throws.
“I think that really speaks to the job that (Mike Jones) has done as the receivers coach, and also the talent we have in that room,” he said. “I think everyone’s capable of having big games, and as I’ve gotten more comfortable, and as everyone else has gotten more comfortable, in this offense, we’ve been able to share the ball. I think all those guys deserve a chance to show what they can do. And they can all do it well. I mean, they have the talent, so it’s just my job to get it to the open guy.”
It helps, too, that the entire roster has an “all-for-one” attitude.
“We run an efficient team and an efficient offense and (Holtz) does a great job with that,” Martinez said. “And especially in-game, we’re able to communicate at a very high level and make adjustments on the field and he’s not afraid to do it. Again, I think that just speaks to Skip and the quality coach that he is.”
Holtz adds that Martinez stays focused throughout the week as well as in games.
“He gets into a routine and he follows it, which I, as a coach, love, because I’m a routine guy,” Holtz said. “Like, we do this on Tuesdays and this on Wednesdays and this on Thursdays … he’s a routine player and a student of the game. And he’s just been very consistent. He’s protecting the football, he’s reading defenses, he’s making good decisions.”
Birmingham doesn’t release its depth chart until Thursday of game week, and Holtz has made it clear since the 2024 UFL campaign began that he wanted to utilize both Martinez and Corral.
And he has, although Martinez’s play has earned No. 9 the start for three consecutive weeks.
“Matt and I are going to continue to compete and I think any given week, it could be either one of us,” Martinez said. “So, for me, that’s been my mindset. And that’s part of being competitive and having two talented guys who want to get to the NFL.”
Birmingham – already playoff bound – plays its penultimate regular season home game Saturday night against the Houston Roughnecks.
The game is set for 7 o’clock and will be televised on ESPN2.