Cory's Corner: Blake Martinez has proven me wrong

I’m not going to waste any time on this.

I was wrong about Blake Martinez.

I didn’t think he’d be able to transition into not only being a starting inside linebacker, but the rookie that has become the voice of the defense.

That’s not an easy thing for any rookie to do. Just imagine your first defensive huddle, trying to tell guys like Mike Daniels and Clay Mathews what to do.

What I like most about Martinez is that he is shedding the image of a defensive player from being just a guy to seek and destroy the ball carrier. Martinez is very cerebral. He studies tendencies, what coaches and players are likely to do in certain situations and he rarely takes chances and whiffs on a play.

And that’s why he’s third among all rookie linebackers for tackles with 18, trailing Miami’s Xavien Howard (28) and Atlanta’s Deion Jones (25).

Martinez came into this job with pretty lofty expectations. Before Mathews was flip-flopping between inside and outside linebacker, A.J. Hawk was the team’s mainstay. And while Hawk struggled to keep up physically, he was a very good leader and well respected by all of his defensive teammates.

The scary thing is that Martinez can do both. Granted, he has shown some struggles with coverage but he isn’t afraid to put his head in the pile and make a tackle. And I really think that mentality has lifted the entire defense. Jake Ryan, who’s in his second year as a pro, sees that and says to himself, “Why can’t I do that?” Ryan and Martinez are 1 and 2 in tackling for the Packers.

Other than some coverage snafus in a secondary that has been ravaged by injury, the defense has played great. Daniels is the team’s MVP, Nick Perry is the most improved player and Martinez is the surprising leader.

And it sure came at the right time too, because I don’t think the offense is hitting on all cylinders just yet.

I was wrong about Martinez. I didn’t know he was this humble, honest and hard working. Those three traits will be lapped up at the trough of Packer Nation every single week.

Just a word of caution. Don’t let the amazing start give rise to insurmountable expectations. Allow him to miss an assignment, be unable to shed a block or whiff on a tackle.

Because we all know he’s not going to do those things consistently. 

 

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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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Comments (28)

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Rossonero's picture

October 01, 2016 at 08:13 am

He's another one of Ted's 4th round discoveries. I won't use the word "gem" just yet because that would be premature, but I'm really excited about him.

What I like the most is his willingness to lead and be that vocal leader. Mike Daniels is the only vocal leader that I know of, but by and large, many other leading defensive players like Peppers, Matthews and Shields are quiet. At some point, a leader needs to emerge and that's what championship defenses need.

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TKWorldWide's picture

October 01, 2016 at 01:40 pm

Dedicated, studies, works hard, has talent.
Doesn't even eat junk food!
Good player who will only get better.

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Amanofthenorth's picture

October 05, 2016 at 04:10 am

Some guys make everyone better. Blake is one of those guys.

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Tundraboy's picture

October 01, 2016 at 08:20 am

Love the way things are shaping up. If CBs return to form, Shields is back, we are one hard hitting safety (Brice? ) away.

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Hematite's picture

October 01, 2016 at 09:29 am

I'm afraid that our secondary is going to have to learn to win without Shields.

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Chad Lundberg's picture

October 01, 2016 at 03:22 pm

Why's that? You have some info on whether or not he's retiring? Please explain.

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MarkinMadison's picture

October 01, 2016 at 05:17 pm

Five concussions. Multiple games missed last season. Even if he comes back he can be lost at any time. I wouldn't have made the comment yet myself, but I understand the concern.

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Chad Lundberg's picture

October 01, 2016 at 09:44 pm

That's not the same as having a source saying Shields is considering retirement. Fas as we know, he'll be playing next week.

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Hematite's picture

October 02, 2016 at 05:30 am

I didn't claim to have a source saying he is considering retirement!

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Hematite's picture

October 02, 2016 at 05:28 am

No inside info.
I just feel that with concussions mounting I'm afraid that even if he does come back IF he's cleared, it won't be long before he suffers another one.
Hence my opinion that we better prepare to win without him.

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Tundraboy's picture

October 02, 2016 at 06:38 am

Agree.

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Hematite's picture

October 01, 2016 at 09:30 am

I'm afraid that our secondary is going to have to learn to win without Shields.

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calabasa's picture

October 01, 2016 at 08:26 am

"Before Mathews was flip-flopping"

C'mon man!

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Hematite's picture

October 01, 2016 at 09:24 am

I had high expectations and Martinez is exceeding those expectations.
The entire ILB position group are exceeding my expectations.
It bodes well for the future having a young leader like Martinez.

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ray nichkee's picture

October 01, 2016 at 09:30 am

So far, so good. I like the future of the linebacker situation. To me it seems TT is very patient and then does what he can to fix glaring needs. It's like saying a prayer. It may not happen right fucking now but it seems to always happen, too late or not too late, it's all a crap shoot. Imagine if nick collins could still play. How is trevathon doing? Martinez is the prototipical pick for TT. I like the under the radar, low profile, high character guys.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

October 01, 2016 at 09:42 am

I'm with you. I was off on Martinez too. I thought his size would be a problem outside of just a "nickel role". I figured he would be better than what we've had in previous seasons when it came to covering, but he looks just as good in the run game too. There are a handful of plays that stand out to me that shows he belongs. He just gets it. Lol, he's so good at such an early stage that I find myself giving Ryan the side eye at times.

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MarkinMadison's picture

October 01, 2016 at 05:27 pm

I was high on Martinez, but they were asking a lot of him this year. He's been very good all things considered. I was not high at all on Fackrell. Looks like I may be wrong about that one.

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stockholder's picture

October 01, 2016 at 10:50 am

Great pick for Bargain Teddy. But you said a mouth full when you pointed out that Deion Jones has more tackles. While many including myself wanted Jones. TT still took a tackle that sits on the bench. It's no shock. TT still misses the sure thing and picks the alternative. The "system" thing works great for TT when a Bargain is a bright spot on a team in need. And TT still shows he can take players to keep the packers competitive. Time will show how good Martinez will be. My bet is Jones still ends up having a better career than Martinez or Spriggs. So I'm happy Martinez has done well for the packers. He's been given a big opportunity! Because it's all about winning, and not where or who you pick.

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TKWorldWide's picture

October 01, 2016 at 01:41 pm

Impatience, anyone?

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stockholder's picture

October 02, 2016 at 01:45 pm

Let's compare the Spriggs or Dieon Jones pick to Tony Mandrich, or Barry Sanders. (Who will be the All-pro.) My thinking is you always take the guy who can be the all-pro.

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Ibleedgreenmore's picture

October 01, 2016 at 10:50 am

I thought Martinez would be good but that this soon. I also like Fackrell a lot and he seems to be playing faster and who knows this might be the best draft in years.

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Allan Murphy's picture

October 01, 2016 at 01:11 pm

Is Sam Sheilds done ???

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Allan Murphy's picture

October 01, 2016 at 01:12 pm

I want to see Byrce on the field more please .........

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Pack88's picture

October 01, 2016 at 02:35 pm

Cannot agree more with the decision to select Spriggs over D Jones. Tackle was a huge need going forward and he was the best player available left in the O-line queue when selected. A better case might have been made for selecting Vernon Butler over Clarke (short term) but I can see why Thompson made the selection he did! This is a long season and if the injuries that plagued the O-line returned this year GB would be dead without Spriggs and I suspect that GB will be just fine with Martinez rather thn Jones

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MarkinMadison's picture

October 01, 2016 at 05:25 pm

Around January I pointed out that this would be the last year for a cohesive offensive line - there would be a transition in 2017 with 3/5 starters having their contracts come up. Such transitions lead to lost years for many teams. Since then TT has replaced two starters (one by injury, the other by choice), locked up the LT and added quality depth that can take over in the event that Bulaga gets injured again (which he seems to do most years), and the 2017 OL situation no longer looks scary at all. Yeah. I'd call that pretty genius.

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Tundraboy's picture

October 01, 2016 at 08:56 pm

So true. Who ever would have thought all this would happen and so soon.

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ricky's picture

October 01, 2016 at 06:54 pm

Wrong on Martinez?
That is why pencils have erasers.
Or why everyone should re-read anything that will be posted online before pressing "send".

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PETER MAIZ's picture

October 04, 2016 at 12:56 am

Remember, Martinez went to "cerebral" school which is almost up there with Princeton, Harvard, and Yale. Of course, Stanford does have a football team. The other three cited do not.

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