Tag: Jonathan Martin

Jonathan Martin struggles in Dolphins debut

Miami Dolphins 2nd-round pick Jonathan Martin struggled to protect his fellow rookie, Ryan Tannehill on Sunday against the Texans.

Martin allowed one sack and four hurries in 40 pass plays. In other words, once every eight times Tannehill dropped back to pass, pressure was coming from the right side of the line.

Martin’s 12.5 pressure percentage allowed is an abysmal mark and one that needs to improve if the Dolphins rookie quarterback is going to find success this season. Martin was matched up with Texans right outside linebacker Connor Barwin for most of the game – a respectable pass rusher, but not nearly among the game’s elite. A more difficult matchup could spell serious trouble for the Dolphins offensive line.

Philbin less than enthusiastic about Jonathan Martin

Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin wasn’t exactly supportive of 2nd-round pick Jonathan Martin after the rookie struggled against the Panthers:

“He wasn’t God awful. Wasn’t like he got beat right off the bat. He had a bad holding call. A really bad holding call, and I thought he maybe could have got called for another one later.”

Martin allowed two sacks and was called for a false start and holding (and apparently should have been called for another holding). It was a rough day to say the least and Philbin’s comments certainly don’t bode well for his future in the starting lineup.

Unfortunately the Dolphins don’t have many other options. Veteran Lydon Murtha or undrafted rookie Andrew McDonald would likely be next in line to replace Martin if Philbin believes he isn’t ready for opening weekend.

Draft Grades: Miami Dolphins

When you draft a quarterback in the 1st round, you’re staking your entire reputation on that one player, which is exactly what Miami Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland did with Ryan Tannehill. No matter what happens with the rest of this draft class, only Tannehill’s performance will be remembered.

I’ve been saying all year that Ryan Tannehill is not a 1st-round talent. I gave him a 3rd-round grade based on the fact that he has the raw skills to start in the NFL, but needs a considerable amount of development before he’s ready. And based on that assessment, I don’t like his chances to succeed in Miami. He’s the type of quarterback that needs to sit and learn, and he won’t have that luxury. The Dolphins are probably going to throw him into the fire, and that rarely works out well for developmental prospects.

Jonathan Martin was extremely overrated throughout the draft process, but he’s a solid 2nd-round pick for the Dolphins. He’ll be plugged in a right tackle where he should be an adequate starter.

Olivier Vernon is a run-stuffing lineman and I’m not sure how he fits in Miami’s 3-4 defense. He may be too small to play end but isn’t athletic enough to play linebacker.

Michael Egnew was a nice pickup in the 3rd round. He’s essentially an oversized receiver, and won’t be a three-down tight end. But they needed to add a pass-catching tight end, and he’ll be a nice compliment to Anthony Fasano, who’s more of a traditional tight end.

Lamar Miller could prove to be a steal in the 4th round, but the running back depth chart in Miami is crowded. He’ll have to fight for playing time behind Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas.

Josh Kaddu adds depth at linebacker and should contribute on special teams. He’ll likely play inside linebacker in their 3-4 defense.

B.J. Cunningham is a solid possession receiver who could be a late-round steal. He’s a strong route runner with good hands and has the skills to play immediately. However, he’s similar to some other receivers on the Dolphins roster, such as Davone Bess, which may hurt his chances of seeing any significant playing time as a rookie.

Kheeston Randall is a steal in the 7th round. He’s a tough, hard-working player who fits perfectly at end in the Dolphins 3-4 defense. He may only be a career backup, but in the 7th round he’s well worth the selection.

Richard Matthews will have a tough time making the Dolphins final roster cuts. He’ll find a job somewhere, but the depth chart is crowded at receiver in Miami.

The Dolphins made some nice picks in this draft, but it’s impossible to overlook the gamble on Tannehill. This franchise is headed in the wrong direction, and they don’t appear to have the decision makers in place to turn things around.

Jonathan Martin scouting report

Jonathan Martin OT Stanford #55
Ht: 6’6″

Wt: 304

Strengths:
Prototypical size and strength. Strong lower body gives him a good anchor against the bull rush. Physical run blocker. Does a great job staying low and using leverage to drive defenders back. Shows good awareness on the field; does a nice job recognizing and reacting to blitzes. Rarely misses a block due to being out of position. A team leader; well respected by teammates and coaches. Durable player with no significant injuries.
Weaknesses:
Athleticism is average at best. Footwork is slow in pass protection; susceptiable to the speed rush off the edge. Will struggle with elite pass rushers at the next level. May lack the ability to play left tackle in the pros.
Comments:
Martin reminds me of a smaller version of Jeff Otah or Phil Loadholt. He has the fundamentals and the strength to win any battle once he’s engaged with the defender, but elite speed rushers will be able to consistently blow past him in one-on-one matchups. I question his ability to play left tackle in the pros, especially right away, but on the right side or at guard he could be an elite lineman. He already has NFL-caliber run blocking skills, and if projected strictly as a guard, would still be a 1st-round talent.