LB Blake Martinez
November 18, 2020
Q: Are you at all surprised at how quickly this team has taken shape and sort of formed to Joe Judge’s vison and identity?
A: Not really. Every single day you go to work and you see the guys that are on the team, the coaches that are around us. They just give you that sense of urgency. That sense of wanting to get better. Every single guy wants to get better every single day. Everyone is trying to the best of their ability to improve on their weaknesses and make their strengths stronger. It’s just been awesome to see that continual improvement. Like you said, you’re starting to see the type of team we can be when everybody is doing what they need to do on every play.
Q: Does it help that he (Joe Judge) is 38-years old and he is kind of like your age group?
A: I think so. I think at first, obviously coach Judge is a very serious personality at first. As you got to see him outside the meeting rooms and things like that, he’s able to connect to anybody. He wants to know everything about you, and I think that’s been an awesome aspect of him as a head coach. You’re not scared to talk to him as he’s always got a joke or two to mess with you about. It’s been fun.
Q: What’s your level of concern with this team that it’s going to be a full week without being on the field? I know you guys are doing virtual meetings now. Is that too much time off?
A: I think at the end, you can kind of take it as a normal bye week. Typically, in a normal season during the bye week most of the time you would have that whole week off. It’s something as professionals you know what you need to do during that time. I’m actually in our weight room at the apartment just trying to make sure I stay ready to go so when I do come back Monday, I’m all set and not rusty or more tired than I normally was before the bye week.
Q: For the defense as a whole, you guys have had pretty much the same guys in the lineup for the first 10 games except at that second cornerback spot. How are you guys managing to play good defense with kind of a revolving door opposite James Bradberry?
A: I think that’s just a testament to the type of group we have. Every single week we know that no matter who’s going in, just from the leadership from the top down on our defense and our team in general. Whoever is going to be in is going to be ready to go. For that given week, they’re going to know where to be. It’s just on us to make sure everyone is comfortable out there, everyone is calm. Especially me as a middle linebacker of the defense, just making sure if there are any questions, any adjustments, we get it expressed throughout the defense, all 11. No matter if it’s the second cornerback spot, the D- line, whatever it is. It allows people to play that much quicker.
Q: This is going to sound like a stupid question, but did you really only have four tackles last game?
A: One of those games where it’s just really good team defense across the board. Everyone around on the defense just made plays. It was a fun game to be able to go out there. Whenever the plays came, we made them. Obviously, there are things to clean up in every single game that I would want back.
