Mike Martin to Request Draft Prospectus, 100% for Bowl
Nothing to panic over as it's assuredly a cursory effort to see where he's at and (perhaps) what he can work towards next year. I think Donovan Warren is enough of a cautionary tale, just as much as Graham staying for all four years demonstrates how much success can be reached despite less than exciting season results.
Other news was that he hasn't missed a practice leading up to the Gator Bowl and feels "great."
December 30th, 2010 at 12:22 PM ^
This is normal.
December 30th, 2010 at 12:23 PM ^
Dear Quinton Washington: whatever happens, please, please live up to your hype as a physical freak of nature. Please.
Please...
December 30th, 2010 at 12:24 PM ^
stuff for NFL draft eligible players by submitting his name to the draft advisory comitttee. The draft advisory committee will give them a draft grade. If MM is not given a 1st round grade(he won't), he'll come back. More times than not when a highly touted player(aka Jake Locker) comes back, it's usually because they weren't given a 1st round grades and that has happened to several highly hyped(by McShay, Kiper and Mayock) players.
December 30th, 2010 at 12:27 PM ^
If MM is not given a 1st round grade(he won't)
He's an undersized (NFL teams like 6'3-6'5 NT) tackle with a somewhat harsh injury history. I'd tab him 3-4th round at best
December 30th, 2010 at 3:28 PM ^
almost doesn't matter because it's about the ability to hold at POA and strength against the run. Mike Martin has it.
Casey Hampton played NT for the Steelers and he's 6'1".
December 30th, 2010 at 3:59 PM ^
There's an exception to every rule, and Casey Hampton is that exception. I'm not arguing that it has an effect on the ability of the player, but it does affect draft status. To be honest, GMs and coaches want bigger guys, and if you're smaller, they hold it against you. Casey Hampton was an exceptionally talented player.
December 31st, 2010 at 12:55 AM ^
isn't a 1st rounder because of his height is well sort of stupid because height will not limit a player from being drafted high. It's more about ability than size unless you're really really small.
December 30th, 2010 at 12:24 PM ^
Can't blame him for checking it out. Really really hope he comes back.
My completely uninformed perspective guesses that he might be more willing to head into the NFL with a less than desirable ranking if there's a coaching shuffle he doesn't completely approve of.
December 30th, 2010 at 12:27 PM ^
Been healthy enough. Nfl teams wouldnt take a chance with early round draft picks. He needs to be dominate week in and week out before he gets a real look imho
December 30th, 2010 at 12:34 PM ^
ala Matt Cassell! The only game the guy ever started was at RB! Look at him now. Just saying.
MM is strong and has a huge upside. I do understand the injury etc...but this still concerns me.
December 30th, 2010 at 12:35 PM ^
But Cassell was drafted in the sixth round...Martin's not going to leave if the board tells him he's worth a sixth round pick. I don't think I really follow your argument here
December 30th, 2010 at 1:18 PM ^
Just to add to what you said, a quarterback can learn while he's on the bench, especially if he has good coaching. That's why New England was willing to use a sixth round pick on him. Most teams don't rotate quarterbacks, so if the starter is healthy the backup may never get any real playing time.
However, for pretty much every other position (with the possible exception of running back) experience is important. Occasionally a backup will get drafted, but typically they won't go very high, they'll have gotten a reasonably amount of playing time as a backup anyway and the guy in front of them will have been drafted fairly high.
December 30th, 2010 at 1:48 PM ^
Good Point!
December 30th, 2010 at 12:29 PM ^
Maybe he really likes RR or something, but most of his recruitment was under Lloyd's staff. He committed to the university. Also, if there's a change in the defensive scheme, he'd either continue to get double/triple teamed by design (again, same as now), or he'd be even freer to wreck shit. I don't think a coaching change could really hurt him
December 30th, 2010 at 12:43 PM ^
Oh, I agree 100%. I'm just saying that even if he's planning to come back next year, this would give him some indication of what his options would be if a coach he really didn't like came in. (Chances of that are slim, like you said.)
December 30th, 2010 at 12:55 PM ^
A coaching change to Harbaugh would be beneficial for the defense because of the DC under Jim. If the defensive players have any sense they would realize that Greg isn't coming back and they'll have a new DC next year regardless of a head coaching change.
December 30th, 2010 at 12:26 PM ^
and now i'm not. Thank you sir.
I need to Reeeeellllaaaaaaaax
There is no face in that winged helmet and it's kind of tripping me out.
December 30th, 2010 at 12:26 PM ^
i am fairly certain he wants the degree and will stay for his parents. wasnt that mentioned in that background article a few months back?
December 30th, 2010 at 12:29 PM ^
I really think the 3-4 teams out there are going to look at Martin's tape and drool over bringing him in as a 3-4 DE. It wouldn't surprise me if the Pats or Steelers would spend a 1st round pick on him. And if that's the case, I feel the way I always do, he should go pro. Anytime a guy can get 1st round money, no matter how important they are to the team, I think they should go pro.
December 30th, 2010 at 12:30 PM ^
..But he's not going to get a first round grade, he's been injured too much and is too short. Also, he's not a 3-4 DE, although he played some this year (in those weird packages).
December 30th, 2010 at 12:48 PM ^
What position do you think he will end up playing? Or, is he a tweener at most positions?
December 30th, 2010 at 12:54 PM ^
He projects to the next level as a 3-4 DE, but he's not playing it in college.
December 30th, 2010 at 1:23 PM ^
Eh, 3-4 teams routinely draft 4-3 DEs as rush LBs pretty high in the draft. The teams that have run the system for a long time seem to know what they're looking for in each position, even if that player didn't play that particular position in college.
Now the injury issues from this season might be a concern, though I don't remember him having that many injury problems his first two years, and he's shown consistent ability to play through his injuries.
I hope you're right, but I wouldn't be surprised if a team without any major holes to fill would go after Martin in the first round to play 3-4 DE in the hopes that he becomes another Richard Seymour.
December 30th, 2010 at 4:01 PM ^
Then I guess my point is that even as a 3-4 DE, there are still many players way more talented than him, or at least with less of an injury history.
December 30th, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^
No matter how devestating it would be to Michigan, MM has to do whats best for him.
If MM is really 6'2, 300 he would be fairly typical built for a 4-3 DT or a 3-4 DE. I won't pretend to guess where he'll grade out but if he's a 1st rounder its almost always the smarter career move to go pro. Unless you have personal reasons for wanting to remain in college, its the intelligent move.
December 30th, 2010 at 12:46 PM ^
Unless you have personal reasons for wanting to remain in college
....Like getting a degree?
December 30th, 2010 at 1:40 PM ^
Turning pro and being paid millions of dollars does nothing to preclude you from getting a degree in the future. Especially if you only have 1 year of credits left.
December 30th, 2010 at 12:31 PM ^
What its like every year when you recruit top talent. The fact that we only have one guy going through the process is a very telling stat
December 30th, 2010 at 12:47 PM ^
..Come on, we have like three billion underclassmen starting, are you really THAT surprised?
December 30th, 2010 at 1:21 PM ^
Logic shouldnt we have maybe 3 o 4 million checking draft status?
December 30th, 2010 at 1:24 PM ^
the 'Too Many Men on the Field' penalties...
The real question is whether they should run the traditional 1,000,000,000-1,000,000,000-1,000,000,000 defense, the heavier 1,500,000,000-750,000,000-750,000,000 package or some sort of a hybrid defense (for example, a 1,256,119,230-890,014,337-853,866,433)
December 30th, 2010 at 12:33 PM ^
Mike Martin is not very good at football. He can be easily single-teamed, and rarely pressures the QB. When he does, he doesn't hit very hard. He lacks upper-body strength, and generates very little drive with his twig-like legs. He struggles to understand basic football concepts, and often cannot even find his helmet on the sidelines.
Beyond his on-the-field struggles, Martin is a serious liability off the field. His teammates dislike him greatly, and there are rumors about Martin, a dead hooker, and the deserts of Vegas. He also runs an opium den in his apartment. Trust me; you DO NOT want to draft this guy this year.
But you should really take him in the first round next year. He's a fricking beast.
December 30th, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^
TERRIBLE pad level.
December 30th, 2010 at 1:05 PM ^
The very fact that he played on a RichRod team raises the odds that he's too small. Probably not very tough, either. Oh, and he played in a spread defense, too, rather than a pro-style defense.
December 30th, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^
So that's why our defense struggled the last two years, it's a spread defense.
December 30th, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^
for the possible CC?
December 30th, 2010 at 12:38 PM ^
..But no, probably not. Maybe though
December 30th, 2010 at 12:44 PM ^
So there is no need for the panic button that produces unicorns when you click it?
December 30th, 2010 at 12:46 PM ^
But keep it in your back pocket. Just in case.
December 30th, 2010 at 1:15 PM ^
Don't panic. He will NOT be going pro. Call it GuaranSheed, Rabacked, whatever you wish...just had him at my house for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.
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<br>Nothing to see here. Move along.
December 30th, 2010 at 1:05 PM ^
It never hurts to know where you stand compared to the other great players in college. But there is no way that MM leaves for the NFL after this season.
December 30th, 2010 at 1:29 PM ^
With RR commitment to a strong defense why would MM leave?
December 30th, 2010 at 1:52 PM ^
The NFL Draft is my hobby and I follow it religiously, year-round. I can tell you that Mike Martin would be making a HUGE, HUGE mistake by entering this year's draft. The defensive line class this year is absolutely loaded. It will most likely go down as one of the best I've seen in over a decade. If you're not "hardcore" into the NFL Draft you will be shocked to see some of the defensive lineman available in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. A guy like Cameron Heyward, who was looked at as a potential top five overall pick before the season, will be lucky if he hears his name called in the first five picks of the second round. Right now, Mike Martin is a 4th or 5th round pick at best. If he stays for his senior season, he looks like a legitimate 1st or 2nd round pick in 2012. No reason at all for him to come out, unless he's really unhappy here and there really hasn't been any idication of that.
December 30th, 2010 at 1:57 PM ^
CC could affect this.