We got gashed up the middle last year
If he stalemates and holds his ground that’s what we need from
Martin and Campbell up the middle helps the run defense game tremendously
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This describes a guy who was a mid-2d Rd pick and 309 lbs.
Overview
DT is a powerful interior defensive lineman with size and persistence. However, he needs to play with consistent explosiveness early in the rep for decisive wins at the point of attack at the pro level. Block engagements become drawn-out brawls at times, but he does a nice job of defeating block sustains and often finds himself near the play. He lacks a wide base and sturdy anchor, so he’ll need to improve his pad level to prevent double teams from moving him around too easily. He’s solid and has flashed starting potential, but he needs to become a more consistently impactful force in the middle to make noise as an NFL starter.
Strengths
- Full-time starter for most of four seasons.
- Stout frame with proportional thickness and excellent length.
- Brute force to toss angle blocks out of the way.
- Able to shake center’s pads with his initial punch.
- Very challenging to knock him off his feet.
- Battles through initial adversity and fights back into the play.
- Clubbing, heavy hands help knock pass sets off-balance.
Weaknesses
- Below average snap quickness into neutral zone.
- Lacks hip flexion for desired base width inside.
- Slow to read and move with blocker’s initial reach steps.
- Gets pushed off of his grass when pad level gets away from him.
- Inconsistent corkscrewing his post leg to take on double teams.
- Very limited tackle window and will primarily be an A-gap finisher.
- Slow-moving train once inside pocket as a rusher.
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My concern is that he is “holding up” against very poor competition. I don’t know what he looks like against NFL level offensive lineman. I’d expect him to be bullying OL in CUSA with his size and length, but he just…doesn’t.
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That’s ok. Drafting a kid in the 3rd that has abilities but is raw is ok with me. Especially with a locker room full of guys that will push this kid and put in the work to get better.
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Thats why I said Sammie Lee Hill 2.0 reminds me exactly the same prospect.
This may simply be a case of Holmes & Co seeing the physical tools which need the refinement of pro coaching.
North Alabama & Western Kentucky aren’t exactly major college hotbeds with pro level coaching.
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I’m only a quarter in but couldn’t disagree more.
That was good info and video. Thanks.
Mentally, it sounds like Martin fits the Holmes player profile too.
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I saw it a little differently, though I admit there were frustratingly many plays just as you described. But I think it’s solely down to his technique. He’s a tall guy and when he stands up too quickly (which he does far, far too regularly), he essentially loses the play at the snap. The smaller OL gets up and under him and is in control of the rep.
But what encourages me about it is that despite “losing” the rep technically, Martin still holds his own. He rarely gets wiped out of a play, even when doubled, when 99% of DL would. The OL has won the rep but he doesn’t really win it, it’s more of a tie.
However there are also plenty of flashes of what he can be when he stays low, when he uses his length, man he absolutely annihilates some running plays from time to time. They’re just not consistent enough. I was really encouraged by his play at the Shrine Bowl especially, you could tell he’d spent a lot of time on those technical weaknesses. He had some dominant reps against some of the best college football had to offer.
He’s a ball of clay right now for sure, but I think his attitude and physical gifts were just too enticing for us to pass up.
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Good catch man… I was wondering what the heck was going on with those #s being so drastically apart
I thoguht maybe it was him being compared to other NT instead of DT
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I just think a 4th and two 5th’s is too much to give up. We kept moving down for more picks as the draft went along, then blew them all on this pick?
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That length while scraping the line on B and C gap runs excites me. That’s what I love about Stewart and Reader.
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It’s almost like we had a plan or something
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I think you worded this better than I could. He plays so upright that he loses his leverage so quickly. And yes, inconsistent is the word that I would use, because sometimes he doesn’t. And I do think that his technique needs a lot of refinement, which will be on the coaches. Because when you mention the times when he “ties” and doesn’t get wiped out, I’d expect to see some plays where he uses his hands to “win” and I just don’t see it. It’s something I want to see more out of when you’re taking a guy in the 3rd round - especially against lower tier competition. Granted, he is also dealing with lower tier coaching.
I haven’t watched his Shrine Bowl tape, which maybe I should.
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That right there…makes him worth the pick and gives him a role
Let Rodrigo & Campbell run and make plays
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Like we had a plan then blew the plan up in a panic move, or for a “I know better than everyone else” ego move.
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Oh absolutely, it’s by far his best tape. Don’t get me wrong he still gets upright too quickly on some snaps, but it happens a lot less than it did during the season. And it shows what he can be when his technique is right, which is pretty exciting.
The way Brad talked about him was Brad’s polite way of saying he hasn’t been well coached.
This is my guy now. I’m a sucker for stories like his. He’s going to make his brother proud and I’m grateful to get to witness it.
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Right, he shouldn’t be tying with guys at that level, I agree 100%. It’s just in the context of watching it, realizing right away that he lost the rep, and then watching as he doesn’t actually lose the rep, he just doesn’t win it either.
Which is unacceptable going forward, but I really do think it’s a technique thing. And remember he’s really inexperienced too, a one-year starter like Kerby was.