Packers: Why 2019 is Blake Martinez’s year to lead
When the Green Bay Packers drafted Blake Martinez in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, he was expected to be a player to develop over time. However, with a thin linebacking corps, it became vital for his development and playing time to come sooner rather than later.
In his rookie year, he was immediately asked to contribute and started nine games. For most, being thrown into such a pivotal role right out the gate can lead to a mental collapse, but not for Martinez. His demeanor and presence made it feel as if he had been with the team for years. He truly appeared to be comfortable on the field.
In his first year, Martinez put up 44 solo tackles and assisted on 21 for a combined 65 tackles, one sack and four tackles-for-loss. He also played a role in turnovers by tallying one interception.
By Year 2, the emergence of Martinez had officially begun. In his sophomore season, he more than doubled his numbers by boasting 94 solo tackles, assisting on 48 for a combined total of 142 tackles, one sack and 10 tackles being for a loss.
He finished the season ranked second in the league for tackles combined. He also contributed more to the turnover game by netting one interception, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
During his third year, Martinez saw the same production, along with a slight uptick in numbers. The 2018 season allowed him to produce 91 solo tackles, 53 assisted tackles, five sacks and 10 tackles resulting in a loss. Once again, Martinez had finished the season ranked second in the NFL for tackles combined at 144.
Fast-forward to today, Martinez will be entering his fourth season with the Packers, and the expectations could not get much higher from fans. For two straight years, he arguably has been the gold standard for the Packers defense.
The area he can now look to improve on the most is turning into a commander for the defense. The Packers’ linebacker position remains a blemish, as it is filled with young and perhaps underdeveloped talent alongside aging veterans.
Question marks still surround Nick Perry and Clay Matthews, as the two may not even have a spot on the roster in 2019. Jake Ryan has shown promise, but his progress took a halt when he tore his ACL and was forced to miss the entire 2018 season.
Antonio Morrison displayed flashes here and there and should be able to further develop under a full year of coach Mike Pettine’s scheme. Oren Burks had the type of rookie year that is typically expected from a third-round pick, but did show promising signs of evolving into a solid player; his growth will be interesting to watch in the coming years.
The 2019 season seems like the perfect opportunity for Blake Martinez to take absolute control of the middle linebackers group and to begin molding them into a sustainable unit.
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Not only that, but he has an opportunity to become a true leader of the defense alongside Mike Daniels and other veterans. His actions on the field have clearly been seen, now it is time for his voice to truly be heard.