Not sure what to make of Kareem Martin

[SissyBoyFloyd]

Awesome size, speed, etc., but why doesn't he play to the expectation of that. Do the Cards see him as a soon to be OLB even though he projects as a DE in a 4/3 D? Is he the best player we could have taken with the 84th pick to immediately help this team? Does the coaching staff think they can turn water into wine with this kid?

He was the biggest questionmark pick of all we had. Anyone have the real "skinny" on this lad?

 

[BigRedRage]

well they keep comparing him to campbell, maybe the plan is to move him around for now but in the long run to play olb or play docketts spot.

Either way he is long, fast and fierce and should be good in any of those positions. He can OLB/DE as a sub and get plenty of playing time.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

I pretty much think the coaching staff thinks he is going to grow into the starter and capabilities that they see in Campbell. Always a bit harder to judge some college athletes when they don't seem to be done growing - took Campbell some time to develop as well.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Awesome size, speed, etc., but why doesn't he play to the expectation of that. Do the Cards see him as a soon to be OLB even though he projects as a DE in a 4/3 D? Is he the best player we could have taken with the 84th pick to immediately help this team? Does the coaching staff think they can turn water into wine with this kid?

He was the biggest questionmark pick of all we had. Anyone have the real "skinny" on this lad?

That is ok and nothing to be alarmed at Sissy, you're not a NFL scout so being baffled should not cause any concern lol

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Pass rushing prospect in the 4th round, that many analysis had going in the late 2nd.

Don't see the worry here.

 

[BigRedRage]

Pass rushing prospect in the 4th round, that many analysis had going in the late 2nd.

Don't see the worry here.

3rd round :BIM

 

[Chaz]

If Shaughnessy can play OLB in this scheme then so can Martin.

From what I have seen this kid has his head on straight and is physically gifted not sure what else is required.

You just need players. Coaches figure out how to best use them week to week.

 

[outcent13]

I think a common misconception is that BA and SK are only trying to win now. Although the opportunity is there I think that the last two drafts show that they are trying to build something that can sustain. In regards to Martin he seems to be mature and commited to putting in the work. I think he will start off in some special packages and but much like Watford, Okafor, And Minter I see their biggest impact (the plan anyhow)coming in his second and third years.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Awesome size, speed, etc., but why doesn't he play to the expectation of that. Do the Cards see him as a soon to be OLB even though he projects as a DE in a 4/3 D? Is he the best player we could have taken with the 84th pick to immediately help this team? Does the coaching staff think they can turn water into wine with this kid?

He was the biggest questionmark pick of all we had. Anyone have the real "skinny" on this lad?

Not sure what exactly you expected him to do in college, but the guy was a beast this past season. He had 82 tackles, 21.5 for a loss and 11.5 sacks. Seems like he played pretty darn well to me. That was easily the best season of his college career, but it seems like he might just be a bit of a late bloomer.

Also just for some numbers comparison, Clowney in his best statistical season (sophomore year) had 54 tackles, 23.5 for a loss and 13 sacks. Martin had very similar numbers this past season to Clowney's best season.

 

[football karma]

Awesome size, speed, etc., but why doesn't he play to the expectation of that.

he did have 11.5 sacks last year. Its not like he wasnt productive at all

 

[Seandonic]

I'm a little confused about this kid as well. Looks like a prototypical 43 end. 34...not so much. Kind of a tweener. From what I've heard and seen though, the plan is play him as a 34 OLB for now, to provide depth and pass rush ability. Then, as he matures and puts on weight and muscle, move him to 5 tech 34 end. Basically, depth to Campbell and maybe an eventual replacement. Or maybe the starter on the opposite side.

No matter how it plays out though, he is a project and it will be interesting to watch his development.

 

[D-Dogg]

I'm a little confused about this kid as well. Looks like a prototypical 43 end. 34...not so much. Kind of a tweener. From what I've heard and seen though, the plan is play him as an 34 OLB for now, to provide depth and pass rush ability. Then, as he matures and puts on weight and muscle, move him to 5 tech 34 end. Basically, depth to Campbell and maybe an eventual replacement. Or maybe the starter on the opposite side.

No matter how it plays out though, he is a project and it will be interesting to watch his development.

This is exactly what I've been gleaning on the plan for him. And it seems he is athletic enough to man the OLB, but that's not where he wants to be.

He's intriguing to me, because he could be a short term bandaid and a long term solution, at different positions.

Love this draft, just in the interest I have in all the picks overall having some angle I can't wait to see in training camp.

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

Well, I am just going on everything I seem to read about him on a variety of football and scouting sites and blogs. In fact I have not found anything differently said about him. Here is an example:

"Despite beginning his tenure at UNC with plenty of fanfare after earning starts in the first three games of his collegiate career, Martin's time in Chapel Hill has featured more flash than dominance. After consecutive four-sack seasons during his sophomore and junior years, Martin totaled 11 sacks in a breakout senior campaign that earned him an invitation to the Senior Bowl. Martin continued his strong senior campaign in Mobile, with a solid week of practice and four tackles (including 1.5 for loss) during the game, itself.

So where was this production earlier? The truth of the matter is, Martin is better against the run that the pass and has been effective in this role throughout his career, averaging nearly 15 tackles for loss a year over the past three seasons. His game is built upon his length and power to control at the line of scrimmage rather than burst or fluidity, making him an ideal base (left) end in a traditional 4-3 alignment."

 

[52brandon]

From all I've read on him... he's our future DE. He very well may see time on the field as OLB but that's not his position. It's only a temporary thing to get time in real NFL games. They want him at DE and are grooming him for DE. He came into the league a couple inches shorter, but exactly the same weight as CC. What he lacks in length, he makes up for in athleticism. He's noticeable the better athlete of the 2. So I don't believe it's much of a stretch to fit him in that mold. Nothing is guaranteed. But A) physically, he fits where they wanna go with him, and B) I believe in our coaches and their decisions. I think he will be impressive by mid-2015

 

[BigRedRage]

Well, I am just going on everything I seem to read about him on a variety of football and scouting sites and blogs. In fact I have not found anything differently said about him. Here is an example:

"Despite beginning his tenure at UNC with plenty of fanfare after earning starts in the first three games of his collegiate career, Martin's time in Chapel Hill has featured more flash than dominance. After consecutive four-sack seasons during his sophomore and junior years, Martin totaled 11 sacks in a breakout senior campaign that earned him an invitation to the Senior Bowl. Martin continued his strong senior campaign in Mobile, with a solid week of practice and four tackles (including 1.5 for loss) during the game, itself.

So where was this production earlier? The truth of the matter is, Martin is better against the run that the pass and has been effective in this role throughout his career, averaging nearly 15 tackles for loss a year over the past three seasons. His game is built upon his length and power to control at the line of scrimmage rather than burst or fluidity, making him an ideal base (left) end in a traditional 4-3 alignment."

it is common to get better each year you continue to work at the same thing.