SLEEPER SUNDAY: OLB Gabe Martin

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Chad Greenway is back, but that doesn’t guarantee the Vikings’ veteran linebacker a starting spot once the regular season begins. For 9 years, he’s made a living as Minnesota’s weak side linebacker, leading the team both on the field and in the locker room.

But, recent injuries and the emergence of players like Gerald Hodges sapped Greenway’s time in the starting lineup — he played just 12 games in 2014, recording a career-low 93 tackles. When the 2015 NFL Draft kicks off on April 30th, expect Rick Spielman to add a player late in the draft, one who could eventually compete to replace Greenway.

As Ryan Boser wrote in his guest post for Vikings Territory, Spielman used all five of his 2014 Round 6 and Round 7 picks on defensive players. This year, he holds two picks in the final round — surely, Spielman will stick to his preferences and add depth to Mike Zimmer’s unit.

If Spielman holds true to his draft tendencies, he’ll use of one those picks on a player like Bowling Green’s Gabe Martin.

Measurables

Gabe Martin, OLB - Bowling Green

HeightWeight40-Yard DashVertical JumpBench PressBroad Jump3 Cone Drill20 Yard Shuttle
6'2"234 pounds4.61 seconds35 1/2" inches23 reps121 inches7.26 seconds4.47 seconds

Martin won’t blow teams away with his size or frame like Anthony Barr, but he’s an athlete in his own right. At 6’2″ and 234 pounds, he’s a tad smaller than Chad Greenway, but the game film reveals a player who knows how to use his speed and range to make plays all over the field.

He ran a faster 40-yard dash than Gerald Hodges and even performed better in the broad jump. But, a knee injury in 2013 forced Martin to miss 7 games at Bowling Green. Although he rebounded with a solid showing at his Pro Day, Martin will need to prove that he can stay healthy once he enters the NFL.

Pros

Because he played at Bowling Green, a smaller Division I school in Ohio, few fans know of Martin. In his career as a Falcon, Martin recorded 246 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. On film, he shows an ability to diagnose plays in the backfield and react quickly to ballcarriers at the snap. Here, at the 2:45 mark, he blitzes from linebacker depth and finishes the play with a sack — reminiscent of a designed blitz in Mike Zimmer’s scheme in Minnesota:

On a designed stunt, the defensive tackle crashes through the B gap, forcing the tackle to pinch down and double team with the guard. This opens up the C gap, which Martin storms through, aggressively beating the slow-to-react tight end.

Once he reaches the quarterback, he doesn’t wrap up, but makes the stop on a critical down and distance. Because of his execution, UMASS is forced to punt and protect a small lead.

In the example below, an Anthony Barr sack against the Falcons, Zimmer uses his linebackers in similar fashion. Only this time, Barr makes the play on a delayed blitz:

I can see Martin being asked to do similar things from the weak side. He has shown the explosive ability to change direction and burst through a gap, which Barr does to perfection here. While not as fast or dynamic as Barr, Martin has the skill set to succeed in situations like this — he’s a much better run defender and blitzer than he is as a linebacker in coverage.

Cons

While Martin shows excellent range and ability in the run game, it was always against subpar competition. In 2014, Bowling Green’s biggest test was a matchup with Wisconsin, and they failed that test miserably.

Here, an excerpt from Optimum Scouting on the 68-17 rout:

[quote_box_center]”Martin was primarily tasked with covering up the Tight End against both the pass and run. He seemed to be routinely a step behind in man coverage, continually letting Tight Ends get behind him.  He also struggled mightily in run defense, finding it difficult to get off his blocks and making tackles in open space.  His change of direction abilities still look to be lacking from where he was prior to his knee injury, but his biggest challenge was taking on the larger blockers of Wisconsin and not having the strength to stack and shed to make plays.”[/quote_box_center]

Martin’s knee injury slowed him down considerably in 2014, but it was most apparent during the game with Wisconsin, in which he recorded just two tackles. This game was early in the season, but still raised questions about Martin’s long-term health.

Outlook

Martin won’t be expected to start immediately if he’s drafted, but he should be able to make an immediate contribution on special teams. Although the Vikings enter the 2015 season with questions at linebacker, there is enough depth to breed a competition during Training Camp. If Martin can shake questions about his knee, improve his movement in coverage, and excel in blitzing or run-stopping situations, he may have a chance to take over the starting weak side linebacker position.

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