He may not be a game changing star for us. But, he is definitely a much better LB and player than what we have had in here and should help improve this defense.
Should we expect them on field together often?
If we are have a 4-2-5 on a passing down, wonder if they will be the two often?
Or does Martinez supersede him?
starting to get a sneaky feeling that Martinez may be a better player than advertised.
I'll tell you this: I went over the Packer's forum and the fans posted a play that supposedly showed Martinez's weakness in pass coverage. It was a play where the DC required him to carry the TE into the deep third of the field. On that play the TE also split two safeties straight down the middle. Ridiculous.
In his Q&A with the press, Martinez seemed a bit annoyed at the perception that he can't cover. And it didn't come across as one of those things where the player is failing to admit the obvious.
starting to get a sneaky feeling that Martinez may be a better player than advertised.
Maybe so. Let's hope he is. If he's a significant upgrade from Alec Ogletree (and not just a "new and improved" version of David Mayo), he'll be well worth the cost. Time will tell.
In his Q&A with the press, Martinez seemed a bit annoyed at the perception that he can't cover. And it didn't come across as one of those things where the player is failing to admit the obvious.
This reminds me of what PFF wrote about him in their FA preview which was that he’s shown all the qualities necessary to become a superstar linebacker but never at the same time. At times grading high in coverage but not against the run and vice versa.
I thought Boley signing was a sneaky good at the time
you can't fake or get fooled by variance in LB tackling numbers. Boley didn't quite live up to my highest hopes, but I think Martinez is a similar floor of being a + guy like Boley at least.
Now non ER LBs who don't rack up the tackling numbers, wtf are they exactly doing then?
I'm in an IDP fantasy league (includes Individual Defensive Players)
Only Jordan Hicks, Joe Schobert, Darius Leonard, Corey Littleton, and Bobby Wagner scored ahead of Martinez in 2019 (among true LBs). In 2018 only Leonard, Wagner, Littleton, and Kuechly scored more than him. In 2017, only Mosley, Wagner, and Demario Davis scored more than him.
you can't fake or get fooled by variance in LB tackling numbers. Boley didn't quite live up to my highest hopes, but I think Martinez is a similar floor of being a + guy like Boley at least.
Now non ER LBs who don't rack up the tackling numbers, wtf are they exactly doing then?
Boley was excellent in the 2011 playoffs. We should be so lucky.
It’s a very cerebral thing. It’s as much about figuring out what to do as your physical skills. And that may be most true about LB who have to both run support and pass defense. Being a step ahead mentally is worth two steps physically.
It’s a very cerebral thing. It’s as much about figuring out what to do as your physical skills. And that may be most true about LB who have to both run support and pass defense. Being a step ahead mentally is worth two steps physically.
Yup, that clip is a good example of how a LB’s instincts and knowing his assignment can be equally or more valuable than his pure combine-measured ability.
Reminds me of how a guy like Antonio Pierce became a pro bowl caliber LB, despite being considered too small and going undrafted.
I’m not saying Martinez is Pierce just yet, let’s not get crazy, but I suspect he fits the kind of smart player Judge and company have talked about targeting.
It’s a very cerebral thing. It’s as much about figuring out what to do as your physical skills. And that may be most true about LB who have to both run support and pass defense. Being a step ahead mentally is worth two steps physically.
This. There were many times when Ogletree was slow to react and out of positions. We had guys running free way to many times. Martinez is going to be better at reading cues and lining up the defense. If these guys actually can get together I see hope for improvement on defense.
The Giants made him a top 5 paid inside LBer, he certainly should be able to diagnose pre-snap.
The skepticism after signing was never around his field IQ. It was primarily that he gets guys on the ground 5 yards downfield regularly. He'll need to improve that to be considered a good investment.
The Giants made him a top 5 paid inside LBer, he certainly should be able to diagnose pre-snap.
The skepticism after signing was never around his field IQ. It was primarily that he gets guys on the ground 5 yards downfield regularly. He'll need to improve that to be considered a good investment.
Not true. He’s the 10th highest paid inside linebacker.
The second part was in no small part due to GB’s scheme which has been discussed a lot already.
I do! But of course I've seen BBIers say he doesn't know what he's talking about. Personally, I think every morning after his coffee, Carl shits out more football knowledge than most BBIers, including myself, have in their brains.
...and that he was used more as a pass rusher in 2018 and generally wasn't used to his strengths last year by the new coaching staff. Stats seem to back that up.
What I'm confident about with this coaching staff is they won't hang a guy like Martinez out to dry by having him try to cover scat backs down the field. I can see Connelly and Martinez as the two inside backers easily. Assuming full recovery, Connelly's 40 time if I remember correctly, was pretty good. He's not a slug. I think he comes off the field for 3 safety looks, etc. though.
Not using him as effectively as they might have, and the Giants seeing something more. Judge's whole thing (supposedly) is putting players in positions to succeed, and "do what they CAN do." Maybe if they use him better/differently/correctly, he'll be better than we expect.
Was a canny 7th round pickup by which savvy BBI mock drafter? :)
EA, someone you know? (:
Notes re Pierce a good comp: I recall (and robbie will smack me down when I'm wrong on LBs) Pierce being more strongly built, more squat, but not as fast/quick as BM. Heady? For sure
He led the team in tackles every year and I believe was 2nd in the league last year. I see some downplaying this, but I'm hopeful he can really contribute. I always liked him, at Stanford too
The Giants made him a top 5 paid inside LBer, he certainly should be able to diagnose pre-snap.
The skepticism after signing was never around his field IQ. It was primarily that he gets guys on the ground 5 yards downfield regularly. He'll need to improve that to be considered a good investment.
Not true. He’s the 10th highest paid inside linebacker.
The second part was in no small part due to GB’s scheme which has been discussed a lot already.
He has the 5th highest salary among inside linebackers in 2020 at 14M. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/rankings/cash/inside-linebacker/ — that’s the measure I’m using, not cap hit.
If his unimpressive numbers on yardage are attributed to the system, he’ll have no problem doing better as a Giant and cutting that number way down.
He will be around the ball
He will have team lined up properly
He does not miss tackles
If we are have a 4-2-5 on a passing down, wonder if they will be the two often?
Or does Martinez supersede him?
Thanks Carl.
Please, make this be so...
I’m banking on a guy that isn’t special. Book it.
I’m banking on a guy that isn’t special. Book it.
We’re NOT great
A Connelly , Martinez combination is interesting.
I'll tell you this: I went over the Packer's forum and the fans posted a play that supposedly showed Martinez's weakness in pass coverage. It was a play where the DC required him to carry the TE into the deep third of the field. On that play the TE also split two safeties straight down the middle. Ridiculous.
Maybe so. Let's hope he is. If he's a significant upgrade from Alec Ogletree (and not just a "new and improved" version of David Mayo), he'll be well worth the cost. Time will tell.
This reminds me of what PFF wrote about him in their FA preview which was that he’s shown all the qualities necessary to become a superstar linebacker but never at the same time. At times grading high in coverage but not against the run and vice versa.
Now non ER LBs who don't rack up the tackling numbers, wtf are they exactly doing then?
Now non ER LBs who don't rack up the tackling numbers, wtf are they exactly doing then?
Boley was excellent in the 2011 playoffs. We should be so lucky.
Yup, that clip is a good example of how a LB’s instincts and knowing his assignment can be equally or more valuable than his pure combine-measured ability.
Reminds me of how a guy like Antonio Pierce became a pro bowl caliber LB, despite being considered too small and going undrafted.
I’m not saying Martinez is Pierce just yet, let’s not get crazy, but I suspect he fits the kind of smart player Judge and company have talked about targeting.
This. There were many times when Ogletree was slow to react and out of positions. We had guys running free way to many times. Martinez is going to be better at reading cues and lining up the defense. If these guys actually can get together I see hope for improvement on defense.
Whenever I would watch part of a Green Bay game, he would always stand out to me. He was always making a play that I noticed.
The skepticism after signing was never around his field IQ. It was primarily that he gets guys on the ground 5 yards downfield regularly. He'll need to improve that to be considered a good investment.
The skepticism after signing was never around his field IQ. It was primarily that he gets guys on the ground 5 yards downfield regularly. He'll need to improve that to be considered a good investment.
Not true. He’s the 10th highest paid inside linebacker.
The second part was in no small part due to GB’s scheme which has been discussed a lot already.
So maybe now we have "tuck and cover?"
I do! But of course I've seen BBIers say he doesn't know what he's talking about. Personally, I think every morning after his coffee, Carl shits out more football knowledge than most BBIers, including myself, have in their brains.
Quote:
starting to get a sneaky feeling that Martinez may be a better player than advertised.
Whenever I would watch part of a Green Bay game, he would always stand out to me. He was always making a play that I noticed.
I'm also optimistic that he was a big reason why GB D was suddenly good with him quarterbacking the D.
Can you blame us? We've seen an awful lot of "malfunctional" players at the LB positions, lately.
Notes re Pierce a good comp: I recall (and robbie will smack me down when I'm wrong on LBs) Pierce being more strongly built, more squat, but not as fast/quick as BM. Heady? For sure
Quote:
The Giants made him a top 5 paid inside LBer, he certainly should be able to diagnose pre-snap.
The skepticism after signing was never around his field IQ. It was primarily that he gets guys on the ground 5 yards downfield regularly. He'll need to improve that to be considered a good investment.
Not true. He’s the 10th highest paid inside linebacker.
The second part was in no small part due to GB’s scheme which has been discussed a lot already.
He has the 5th highest salary among inside linebackers in 2020 at 14M. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/rankings/cash/inside-linebacker/ — that’s the measure I’m using, not cap hit.
If his unimpressive numbers on yardage are attributed to the system, he’ll have no problem doing better as a Giant and cutting that number way down.