OT Zack Martin film

[jim1]

Zack Martin is a powerful guy, but some things that stand out to me on top of the physical play are his quick feet, reflexes, balance and ability to shift effortlessly when engaging a DL. The guy plays hard and he has true athletic ability, I love the balance that he shows. Compare that to say a Jonathan Martin or a David Yankey- not to bash Stanford OL, but to me a lack of balance might be Martin's physical downfall as per playing OT, no need to comment about the other stuff going on with him off of the field. Yankey- I like him mainly at Guard, but you can see the difference when you compare him to Martin. Zack Martin was a force at LT for Notre Dame, but he has some subtle athletic ability that just stands out. Yankey doesn't have Martin's balance, feet or reflexes, not even close from what I've seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIOLT5BxzMg

In this clip you can see that athletic ability in the first play- the DE makes a nice, fast inside inside move after faking an outside loop and Martin is so quick to adjust to it. He slides effortlessly and engages the DE, stonewalls him. The video on that play is cloudy, but you can see it. At :33 Martin goes up against Trent Murphy- a nondescript play but Martin gets the job done. It's the quick feet that stand out- this guy has first round feet. 1:45- look how quick he is off of the snap and look at that footwork. 1:10- power run blocking. 2:15- look at how quickly he gets to the second level and blocks the LB. 2:30- power block, road grader, destroys the LB, drives him back five yards.

The thing that surprises me about Zach Martin is the combination of skills that he has- outstanding footwork, great balance and reflexes, and he can run block like a top notch Guard while having those quicks in pass protection. He's 6-4 .5, about 310 pounds and he is one heck of an athlete. I think that he certainly could play Guard, but I haven't seen anything that makes me think that he can't play LT, for sure RT. Imo he's too good of an athlete for Guard, too good in space. Part of me wouldn't mind seeing us draft a weapon like WR Brandin Cooks in the 1st round, but given our OL needs and how good Zack Martin is- sign him up. Pencil him in as LT, then hopefully get Trai Turner, Brandon Thomas or Weston Richburg at Guard later in the draft, maybe two of them if we're lucky. Take a flier on Matt Patchan late in the draft. I thought that Martin was good beforehand,, but the more I watch the more I think that he can become a very good to excellent NFL OT. Size, feet, balance, power and reflexes- this guy is a heck of a player.

Also, as well as Taylor Lewan physically tested out at the combine, I don't think that his lateral movement, quickness and reflexes are as good as Martin's. I like both and I'd be happy to get either one in the 1st round, but the more I look at it the more I think that Martin might be as good or better that Lewan. It's a tough call, and quite frankly it's hard to not be very impressed with Lewan as well. Power player, drive blocker, very good pass protector, compelling athlete with hulking size. That being said, I think that Martin;s footwork and ability to mirror is the better of the two. BTW, Martin's arms are only 1 inch shorter than Lewan's and 12 out of the 20 OTs at the combine had arms longer that Lewan's, which measured out at 33 7/8". That's kind of surprsing to ne given that he's 6-7.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1qJWC7lR1c

At the end of the day, especially given our needs on the OL, I think that we should be thrilled to walk away with either Martin or Lewan in the 1st round of the draft. I'm a little surprised that I feel that way about Martin now, but there it is.

 

[DKphin]

Call me crazy, but I think there is a strong possibility that they will both be gone when we select.

 

[jim1]

Call me crazy, but I think there is a strong possibility that they will both be gone when we select.

Could be. If that's the case then I might start thinking about taking WR Brandin Cooks in rd one and maybe Kyle Van Noy in rd 2, pick up a LT in FA and a RT later in the draft. Focus on getting at least one Guard in the middle rounds. And if both Soilia and Starks leave, then DT goes from a strength to a weakness, maybe we have to look at DT in the 1st rd. So much money and draft picks invested in the lines, and both might be hurting come draft time.

 

[DKphin]

If we pick up a LT in FA, we could trade down to the bottom of the 1st and pick up Jack Mewhort to play RT. He is definitely never going to be LT, but he can be a RT or even a OG.

 

[ITS!MATEO]

Getting Martin would be great. Excellent prospect.

 

[jim1]

If we pick up a LT in FA, we could trade down to the bottom of the 1st and pick up Jack Mewhort to play RT. He is definitely never going to be LT, but he can be a RT or even a OG.

No only is Martin a very good player, but if we draft him and he plays LT that'll be quite a bit cheaper than the top LT free agents out there. That money plus the money saved from dumping Wheeler next year and maybe Ellerbe as well can go a long way to rebuilding the offensive and defensive lines. Mewhort is ok, but drafting him in the 1st seems like a reach to me.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

I like Martin as a LG. He understands leverage and knows how to slither to the second level. He has a great feel for run blocking. As a LT, count me out. Murphy got him a handful of times but just didn't have the burst to take advantage. As a LT, I see Martin struggling with speed and strength - basically any good NFL DE. I don't at all see him as comparable to Lewan (let alone better) in his lateral movement. He was off balance multiple times in that Stanford game.

Matt Hegarty wasn't on my radar, and he had some so-so plays in the game, but he also made some outstanding plays - handling DT's 1-on-1 in the run and passing game, and he made a great play to get Trent Murphy blocked at the 2nd level at the 10:23 mark of the 3rd quarter. I'm curious to see how he develops. Lot to like about his game.

 

[jim1]

I like Martin as a LG. He understands leverage and knows how to slither to the second level. He has a great feel for run blocking. As a LT, count me out. Murphy got him a handful of times but just didn't have the burst to take advantage. As a LT, I see Martin struggling with speed and strength - basically any good NFL DE. I don't at all see him as comparable to Lewan (let alone better) in his lateral movement. He was off balance multiple times in that Stanford game.

Matt Hegarty wasn't on my radar, and he had some so-so plays in the game, but he also made some outstanding plays - handling DT's 1-on-1 in the run and passing game, and he made a great play to get Trent Murphy blocked at the 2nd level at the 10:23 mark of the 3rd quarter. I'm curious to see how he develops. Lot to like about his game.

I would absolutely put Martin at LT, and my guess is that Lewan would struggle more with speed rushers in the NFL than Martin. To me, Martin's quick feet, reflexes and ability to mirror make him well suited for LT. He's 6-4.5, 308 lbs and his arms are 1 inch shorter than Lewan's- no big deal. If not LT then he can play RT or OG. I don't see Martin struggling with either speed or strength, he's too strong and too good an athlete for that. My opinion- Taylor Lewan- very good feet, especially for his height. Zack Martin- great feet, a notch higher than Lewan's and a safer bet at LT.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

I would absolutely put Martin at LT, and my guess is that Lewan would struggle more with speed rushers in the NFL than Martin. To me, Martin's quick feet, reflexes and ability to mirror make him well suited for LT. He's 6-4.5, 308 lbs and his arms are 1 inch shorter than Lewan's- no big deal. If not LT then he can play RT or OG. I don't see Martin struggling with either speed or strength, he's too strong and too good an athlete for that. My opinion- Taylor Lewan- very good feet, especially for his height. Zack Martin- great feet, a notch higher than Lewan's and a safer bet at LT.

I'll agree to disagree. I don't see Martin as a high-level athlete with outstanding feet. He sometimes labors with his kick stride, and (imo) he's too often off balance in pass pro. I just don't like him pass protecting in space.

 

[Fin Thirteen]

I just don't see it with Martin. I dunno. So many of you are very high on him and he just looks OK to me. Certainly not a top 20 pick to my eyes. But the common consensus is so unanimous about him being a stud tackle/guard, I'm left wondering what it is I'm missing.

I think he'll be a mediocre LT and a solid LG. I don't think he has the power or balance to dominate at the next level.

I think Su'a Filo will be a mediocre/risky LT and a dominant LG. It's very likely both will end up as fulltime guards and Xavier will be the better of the two, I'm guessing. Su'a Filo is twice the run blocker, is much better equipped to handle big bullrushing ends and tackles and has great pulling ability and footwork himself.

Of the LTs that might make #19, if I'm choosing between Martin and Lewan it's a no-brainer for me. Lewan looks every inch the part of a career left tackle. His penchant for penalties is an issue, esp in a Joe Philbin offense. His leadership was absent when Michigan struggled against Nebraska, UConn and Mich St. (even if Lewan didn't himself struggle) Those are black marks. But if you believe he can rein in his love of opponents' facemasks and if you don't need him to be a team captain, you might just find yourself a player that holds down the blindside for a decade.

Given 80% of the known planet is mocking Martin to us at #19, I want to like him. But I really can't get excited about his potential.

 

[jim1]

I just don't see it with Martin. I dunno. So many of you are very high on him and he just looks OK to me. Certainly not a top 20 pick to my eyes. But the common consensus is so unanimous about him being a stud tackle/guard, I'm left wondering what it is I'm missing.

I think he'll be a mediocre LT and a solid LG. I don't think he has the power or balance to dominate at the next level.

I think Su'a Filo will be a mediocre/risky LT and a dominant LG. It's very likely both will end up as fulltime guards and Xavier will be the better of the two, I'm guessing. Su'a Filo is twice the run blocker, is much better equipped to handle big bullrushing ends and tackles and has great pulling ability and footwork himself.

Of the LTs that might make #19, if I'm choosing between Martin and Lewan it's a no-brainer for me. Lewan looks every inch the part of a career left tackle. His penchant for penalties is an issue, esp in a Joe Philbin offense. His leadership was absent when Michigan struggled against Nebraska, UConn and Mich St. (even if Lewan didn't himself struggle) Those are black marks. But if you believe he can rein in his love of opponents' facemasks and if you don't need him to be a team captain, you might just find yourself a player that holds down the blindside for a decade.

Given 80% of the known planet is mocking Martin to us at #19, I want to like him. But I really can't get excited about his potential.

That was my initial impression of Martin, but the more I watch the more I like him, ergo the OP. To those who don't see excellent feet in Martin, I would say look harder. The excellent feet, balance and reflexes are all there, the strength as well.

My basic point about Lewan is that he looks choppier to me in his kick slide than Martin- that doesn't mean that I don't like him, as I've said if either is on the board at #19 I'll be happy. Lewan looks choppier to me of the two in his kick- that's more of a compliment to Martin than a slight to Lewan. I like Lewan's feet and athltetcism, I just about love Martin's feet and athleticism. Who would I take of the two? Not sure. But as to Martin, the more film of him I see the more I like, I'm more comfortable now with him being the pick at #19 than I was before.

 

[Fin Thirteen]

To me, Martin's wide base and very active feet are symptomatic of power and balance issues. His athleticism compensates for a lack of solidity and composure. He's always up on his toes, whic means he overextends a lot in the run game and pass-blocking in space (totally agree with J-off on that). He should be back on his heels, set in position and managing his assignments with more poise, rather than jittering around with an ultra-wide, up-on-the-toes base to compensate for his size/power disadvantage.

Very athletic, great hand placement, by all accounts he is an incredible lockerroom influence. But he's maxed out imo, because his feet are masking a set of challenges that will prove very tough to beat in the pros.

 

[jim1]

To me, Martin's wide base and very active feet are symptomatic of power and balance issues. His athleticism compensates for a lack of solidity and composure. He's always up on his toes, whic means he overextends a lot in the run game and pass-blocking in space (totally agree with J-off on that). He should be back on his heels, set in position and managing his assignments with more poise, rather than jittering around with an ultra-wide, up-on-the-toes base to compensate for his size/power disadvantage.

Very athletic, great hand placement, by all accounts he is an incredible lockerroom influence. But he's maxed out imo, because his feet are masking a set of challenges that will prove very tough to beat in the pros.

I f you think that Martin has power and balance issues with questionable feet, I would say look again. A lack of solidity and composure? I just don't get your post at all. As to his frame being maxed out, he's 6-4.5, 308 lbs and he did 29 reps of 225 lbs at the combine. All of those numbers work for me. He's got very good size with good core strength, powerful player. Where you see negatives I see positive, but we all have our opinions.

 

[jim1]

I'll agree to disagree. I don't see Martin as a high-level athlete with outstanding feet. He sometimes labors with his kick stride, and (imo) he's too often off balance in pass pro. I just don't like him pass protecting in space.

You mean kick slide? I just don't see that. My best advice to you would be to watch more film of martin, I think that you're way off in your analysis and you are significantly underrating Martin, assigning weaknesses to him that don't really exist.

 

[hoops]

martins technique is very solid...he may not have ideal left tackle athleticism and i wouldn't draft him pegging him as a left tackle to begin with but if you want to see proper dropping of hips and footwork and the ability to drive thru with the hips watch his tandem blocking work on the move at the combine...it was textbook the way he came off the ball both to the inside blocker with the bag and from the inside out and the leg drive was apparent

as far as maxed out there is that possibility...but his maxed out may be good enough also...his work ethic is not to be questioned...his feet are pretty good as well...he also plays with outstanding leverage in the run game...turns guys inside all over the place...hands show real strength...i'm sure that ability to just turn guys wouldn't show as much if kicked inside but the leg drive and smarts and technique in that scenario should carry him...

if he was always on his toes in pass pro you'd see a guy getting jacked and put on his rear by power...same with the overextensions...i don't see it...trent murphy could do nothing against him...except get owned...