Martinez Making Most Of Early Opportunities

Green Bay Packers rookie inside linebacker Blake Martinez came into the offseason with a good amount of anticipation from fans and media.  Touted for his above-average pass coverage ability in college, Martinez was tabbed as a player who could finally offer improvement to an area that has plagued the linebacker group in Green Bay.  That and the fact that he attended Stanford lends itself to the idea that Martinez likely had an advantage as far as the mental and learning aspects of the game.

He had a good spring at the organized team activities and mini camps.  The coaching staff praised his ability to pick up the scheme and have no worries that he can continue to do so through the preseason.  That is typically a luxury with a fourth-rounder but with Sam Barrington on the physically unable to perform list and still recovering from a foot injury suffered back in week one of the 2015 regular season, the Packers need Martinez to be more of the exception than the norm.  

He's been taking snaps with the first-team defense so far in training camp and that can only help in Martinez's development.  The mistakes he makes in this controlled environment and among "friendlies" is much preferred to a regular season game that counts in the standings.  We're not hearing about any splash plays or examples of Martinez lighting it up on the practice field, but we're not hearing anything to the opposite effect either.  

Last season when Barrington went down, that left the Packers with Clay Matthews and Nate Palmer on the inside.  Eventually, Jake Ryan unseated Palmer and proved a bit more effective.  Palmer was released earlier this spring and before the NFL draft, which meant the Packers either felt very good about who they already had or were very confident they would address the position in the draft.  With reports that Matthews wants to get back outside and that the team wants more of the same, it would stand to reason that either they feel Barrington will be ready by the beginning of the season or that Martinez and Ryan can hold down the fort in the middle.

As Packers fans continue to chase the answer to Desmond Bishop, who was the last stalwart the Packers had at inside linebacker before being lost before the 2012 season, they may find the closest thing to that production in Ryan and Martinez.  Both are steady, albeit young and with much to learn.  In one week's time, the preseason games begin and we'll get a chance to see Martinez in game action.  With Barrington not expected back anytime soon, Martinez should see quite a bit of game time.  He knows many eyes will be on him and that there are many hoping he can be the man on the inside.  

The Packers have forged their reputation for using and counting on rookies and younger players more than most teams, Martinez is another example of how this team prefers to fill needs.  There is a higher risk of a bust or less-than-desired results but general manager Ted Thompson and his personnel team spend countless hours trying to avoid that letdown.  Thompson has been far from perfect in that quest, but overall he has done the team well.  The Packers and fans will be closely watching Martinez (who wears #50, the number A.J. Hawk wore for nine seasons) and hoping this is another diamond in the rough.

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Jason is a freelance writer on staff since 2012 and also co-hosts Cheesehead TV Live, Pulse of the Pack and Pack A Day podcasts.  You can follow him on Twitter here

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Comments (31)

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Turophile's picture

August 01, 2016 at 05:33 am

Assuming he is good to go week 1, Barrington, along with Ryan and Martinez (and Matthews if disaster strikes), seems a better combo than the Pack have had there for several years.

What the Packers lose (for now) is Hawks pre-snap diagnostic skills. Although I anticipate that will be worse this year, the increased athleticism and coverage ability we have now from the new no.50 is solid compensation, and the coverage calls will improve over time.

For the first time in a while, I feel good about this unit, which I think will soon be solid (not great). Of course, this assumes Martinez and Ryan can get better, but Ryan was touted in the 2015 draft as a very instinctive (and versatile) guy, while Martinez was known to have top coverage ability in the 2016 draft.

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NickPerry's picture

August 01, 2016 at 07:36 am

I think Barrington is going to have a tough time getting his job back whenever he is ready to start practicing. If you look at the top 3 players looking to be the starter, Martinez and Ryan both had better combine numbers than Barrington.

Ryan http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=111962&draftyear...

Martinez http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=124191&draftyear...

Barrington http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/profilexnews.php?pyid=90672&draftye...

Personally I like the idea of Ryan and Martinez as the Packers starters at ILB. If you notice the link for Ryan, he was actually classified as an OLB coming out having played both at Michigan. Ryan struggled in coverage last year at times but most rookies do in Capers defense. Ryan is one of those guys the Packers always look for to make the big year 2 jump, and I think he does, and then some.

The Packers may not have a Luke Kuechly, but they have 3 competent players who I think can do the job and get better as the season progresses. Something they didn't have last year.
Ryan is also a guy they can use to blitz having played both positions at Michigan. I think he could be used to blitz and be successful doing it.

Edit... Fixed the Barrington Link...Thanks TGR

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 01, 2016 at 06:41 am

Barrington's isn't coming up in Nick's link: Here is it below:

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=90672&draftyear=...

IDK, something must have been wrong with Barrington at the combine. Players don't improve 2 tenths of a second. At any rate, Barrington had a very strong pro day, especially in his vertical and broad jump. Shows a good athlete.

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NickPerry's picture

August 01, 2016 at 06:45 am

Thanks TRG....I copied Martinez twice I guess.... : 0

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

August 01, 2016 at 10:08 am

"Ryan, he was actually classified as an OLB"

I would argue that the Sam and Will 4-3 LB positions are different enough and the OLB designation for drafts gets even more convoluted when you add in the 3-4 edge players.

OLB is basically a useless term to figure out what kind of Linebacker is actually being discussed.

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Bearmeat's picture

August 01, 2016 at 07:09 am

Again. I understand the excitement, but this is too early. Ryan was average to below average last year. Barrington might never be the same. And who knows with Martinez? There's some potential there right now. But that's it.

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NickPerry's picture

August 01, 2016 at 06:27 am

It is early, but it's still exciting. We have a GM who refuses to fix anything with FA, at least for years at a time, so draft choices are what Packers Fans have to get excited about during TC each year.

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Bearmeat's picture

August 01, 2016 at 07:32 am

I didn't say I'm not excited about the team. I'm just not excited about draft choices yet. They have to prove they can play with the big boys - and none of them are close to doing that.

I'm excited about Rollins and Randall. I'm excited about RRod looking good. I'm excited about Abby. All have proven they can do it - just not consistently.

I'm not excited about any rookie making regular contributions just yet. It's just really rare.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 01, 2016 at 07:30 am

I agree that Ryan was probably below average last year, but he did seem to improve over the course of the season. Beating out Palmer is not much of a recommendation: Tennessee picked him up but their SB Nation blog projects him to the PS, though this was done before camp opened.

http://www.musiccitymiracles.com/2016/5/19/11713544/titans-projected-sta...

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dobber's picture

August 01, 2016 at 08:04 am

You mention Rollins and Randall...an interesting piece from the now-USA-Today-esque JSOnline.

http://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2016/07/31/steady-ro...

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Bearmeat's picture

August 01, 2016 at 11:11 am

Don't you HATE the new JSOnline layout? It's so... Gannett... So Mc-Newspaper... so....corporate. :(

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dobber's picture

August 01, 2016 at 08:35 pm

Yep.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 01, 2016 at 07:21 am

Off topic, but there are a bunch of articles about Datone Jones looking quicker now that his weight is 275 rather than 295 pounds. Kinda news to me: I thought I read that Jones had difficulty maintaining his weight and had been in the 280s during the season for the last few years?

Oh well. Sounds like Datone had a good night Sunday. Did some damage, albeit against 2nd stringers, but that's what the staff put out in front of him.

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 01, 2016 at 07:30 am

I'm looking forward to watching our Pass rush this year. Mathews, Peppers, Perry, Jones, Elliott I think all could be terrors for offenses.

Watching last night I thought both Jones and Elliott looked quicker/faster.

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Tundraboy's picture

August 01, 2016 at 07:50 am

Great to hear.

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dobber's picture

August 01, 2016 at 07:51 am

Could be that now he's playing an OLB/Elephant role that he has the opportunity to look quicker?

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DrealynWilliams's picture

August 01, 2016 at 01:13 pm

It's easier to look quicker when you don't have to second guess getting double-teamed and you can just -- go. I don't have high expectations for Jones this season, but I'm confident this will be his best season (if healthy).

I just hope he's been working on a 2nd move. Hell, he and Perry need 2nd moves. Are they not picking Matthews/Peppers brain?

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 01, 2016 at 07:21 am

One play really stood out to me last night in Family night. It was a screen pass to Starks with Tretter out in front. Martinez diagnosed that play fast and got passed Tretter who is one of the most athletic Centers i have seen, to stuff Starks for a loss.
I am trying to not get over excited for that play since it was against the same offense he has seen everyday, but it does show he has really good instincts, and the speed to make the play.

I think Martinez will be the 3 down ILB we have been waiting for. I am looking forward to watching him in the preseason.

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Tundraboy's picture

August 01, 2016 at 07:52 am

As they say, from your lips to God's ear! Wouldn't that be something.

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 01, 2016 at 08:03 am

I'm trying to not get over excited. But i do see why he has been working with the number 1 defense.

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Amanofthenorth's picture

August 01, 2016 at 07:58 am

Yah know how ya watch a play develop on TV and you can just see a tight end or a running back go out for a short pass and ya say to yourself , "Cover him" but the LB doesn't for some some reason? I got this strong feeling last night that Martinez is a guy who will cover them!

Awareness off the chart!

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 01, 2016 at 08:06 am

Big time right... I saw that also. That screen pass that I mentioned really flashed to me.
I don't want to get to excited because he has gone against that offense for a while now, but the fact that diagnosed it so quickly and completely blew the play up.
The only question i have of him is, how will his tackling be? Since we haven't seen his tackling at this point yet, I want to see how he tackles.

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dobber's picture

August 01, 2016 at 09:02 am

Even if he's just an average tackler (and he has a reputation as being a good tackler in college) by NFL standards, the fact that you can -- hopefully -- expect him to be there makes him better than what the Packers have had in recent years by default.

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 01, 2016 at 09:24 am

I completely agree. I think he will be fine there just want to see him when live football is played.

The other area i want to focus on him more is in the run game. You can see he can cover but how stout is he in the run game?

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DrealynWilliams's picture

August 01, 2016 at 09:54 am

Well, there goes my post. Thanks a lot, RC! Sheesh! Lol

I wasn't able to catch this scrimmage but I've read a lot of good things about him. I'm interested in seeing/reading how he holds up against the run as well. I don't remember him effectively taking on blockers in college (that DLine really helped).

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 01, 2016 at 11:30 am

lol, your welcome. Just saving you time. lol

I just was impressed with how quickly he diagnosed that screen play and how fast he got to Starks. And beat Tretter who is one of the most athletic OL i have seen.
very impressive.

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Since'61's picture

August 01, 2016 at 11:00 am

Too early to tell about either Martinez or Ryan yet or how they will work out when the games mean something but regrettably I am pretty confident that "there ain't no Nitschkes" again in the ILB position group. Thanks, Since '61

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Tundraboy's picture

August 02, 2016 at 07:48 am

Gave up waiting for another Ray a long time ago. Still hope to see another one on our team in my lifetime. Will settle for Ray lite of course.

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Finwiz's picture

August 01, 2016 at 12:18 pm

I'll tell you what....after watching that scrimmage last night, I have a prediction. Barrington just became a 2nd stringer with the drafting of Martinez, because this guy is in proper position on every play I could see, and he has very good speed to run with receivers in the middle zone. I was very impressed with his instinctive reaction to plays. I think he was the star of the evening. 84 looked good too, and so did Geronimo Allison....but the night belonged to Martinez IMO.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

August 01, 2016 at 01:07 pm

I don't think Barrington has been demoted. Not yet - at least. Martinez hasn't played a game and Barrington hasn't even practiced. I'm thinking Martinez will come in on obvious passing downs in Nickel/Dime packages when Barrington is cleared.

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al bundy's picture

August 01, 2016 at 03:04 pm

Lets hope he doesnt have a minor undisclosed foot injury, misses the season and next year at this time he 's still questionable. Hate to be sarcastic,. This team has two guys still injured since last season, both foot injuries. I dont get it. Even with surgery they would be healed by now. Unless they had numerous surgeries that they dont want to reveal?

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