Mike Martin adapts to versatile new role on Michigan football team's defensive line
Michigan's Mike Martin has played nose tackle throughout the first three years of his career, but coaches are experimenting with expanding his role on the defensive line this spring.
AnnArbor.com file photo
Fifteen minutes before a recent spring practice, defensive tackle Mike Martin was on his way to the Michigan football team’s locker room when he was detoured into the office of defensive coordinator Greg Mattison.
“I want you to try this out,” Mattison told him.
The veteran defensive coordinator then diagrammed eight plays in about five minutes for Martin, the team’s best defensive player last year, and they all involved him shifting into different positions along the line.
As quickly as he shuffled into the office, he left with new instructions.
"I was like, 'OK, I'll try and remember it," Martin said.
A few minutes later, he practiced the new set of plays. His orders became apparent to everyone else Saturday during the Wolverines annual spring football game, in which Martin displayed newfound versatility. At times, he lined up at defensive tackle. At others, he lined up in a two-point stance at rush end. Martin even dropped into coverage on a few occasions.
It’s a far cry from how he spent last season, constantly constantly double-teamed while playing nose guard in the defense’s 3-4 system. Coaches hope moving him around the line in the revamped 4-3 can catch opponents off-guard.
“On defense, you have to put guys who can make plays in position to make plays,” coach Brady Hoke said. “There (are) some things Mike does as well as anybody that we want to do a good job with, and see exactly what he can do.”
What can the 6-foot-2, 300-pound Martin do? Six practices into this experiment, he’s not sure yet.
“It’s different, totally different, than what I’m used to doing,” he said, “but Coach has done a good job of teaching it to me.”
As a junior last season, Martin was one of few bright spots on a defense that gave up more points and yards than any other in school history. He was named to the Big Ten’s second team by coaches and recorded 37 tackles, six for loss and 2.5 sacks.
He used to joke with coaches and plead for a chance to line up as a pass-rusher.
“I’d be messing around and say, ‘Hey, put me outside, I can do it,’” Martin said. “Now, I guess I’ve got to back up those words.”
Pete Bigelow covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2556, via email at petebigelow@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.
Comments
truebluefan
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 : 10:28 p.m.
The look on Mike Martin's face in the picture above is exactly how he would look after reading the comments section on this article.
Nic schweigert
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 : 1:38 a.m.
All you rich rod lovers need to go back and watch the film the last three years. Defense doesn't win in this day and age? That's funny cuz we didn't have any defense the past threes years. Worse in school history. And how was our records? Worst in school history. Get off rich rods pole and join the new Michigan master. Or go be part of the sweater vest club
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 1:09 p.m.
Gotta love Lorraine. The WCiMFH was on track to win 9 games this year. This conclusion, of course, is built on the geometric "logic" of 3 wins in '08 plus 5 in '09 plus 7 in '10 equal 9 in '11. "Wrap it up boys. The 2011 season is over. Our plots on an X-Y graph shows conclusively that Michigan will win 9 games in 2011!!" Wait, I have a better idea. Let's look at the 2010 record for hints at what might happen in 2011. In 2011 Michigan won 7 games by a total of 93 points, 44 of which were against that football powerhouse down at BGSU. Taking BGSU out of the mix, Michigan won 6 games by a total of 49 points, for an average differential of 8.1 points per game. The difference in four of those six games was less than 7 points. In other words, Michigan was one mistake/penalty/turnover/bad call/incompetent coaching move away from losing four more games. By contrast, Michigan lost 6 games by a total of 125 points, for an average differential of nearly 21 points. Two of those losses were by 10 points. The other four losses were by 17 points or more. In other words, none of those losses were close. Michigan lost all of them by at least two scores and four of them by at least three scores. And, as the MCC wants to point out endlessly, the WCiMFH history left a team with a lot of experience. Yes, he did. The "experience" above. So, with the same staff and the same players for whom 7 wins was a stretch in 2010 (it just as easily could have been 3 wins), we are supposed to make the geometric jump that the WCiMFH was going to magically win 9? "Magic" = MCC logic. Good Night and Good Luck
missionbrazil
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 10:21 p.m.
come on Ghost, everyone knows we would have won the crystal if we had kept whatshisname... Lorraine is selling him short with the 9 win prediction.
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 4:27 p.m.
That's an awful lot of words to just say, we'll never know.
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 12:59 p.m.
Yes boys and girls, you sort of get it, the point is, Oregon lost to Auburn, but they both ran a style of spread and Stanford ran a pro style. I'm saying, why can't Mich. run spread and a pro style and get mobile QB's. Yes, we have mobile QB's now, but what about the future? The current crop came out of RR's stable. I think that spring fiasco was a sample of what Brady intends to do or try to do.
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 2:26 p.m.
Tp you could very well be right, I like what you have to say.
UKWolverine
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 1:08 p.m.
Who won the 2009 national title?
umgoblue47
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 8:27 p.m.
mike martin is a beast and i like the idea of him moving around to different positions on the defense. the defense will be improved from last year and more disruptive to the offense. portage. . . you are 100% right about the spread and need to keep some part of it in the offense. mobile qb's and spread the field 50% of the time will equal more W's. . . GO BLUE. . .
PortageLkBlu
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 7:15 p.m.
Well Mean, "it's all over but the shouting", you couldn't have said it better. I truly like to think that that practice or game or scrimmage or whatever that was is not indicative to what we will field this coming season. "I'm going to go with Tp on this one, "oh please, what did you expect"?
Meangoblue
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 6:45 p.m.
At night I walk this stinkin' street past the crazies on my block (Theo n Portage) And I see the same old faces and I hear that same old talk (King, RR Speed, blah blah blah) And I'm searching for the latest thing, a break in this routine I'm talkin' some new kicks, ones like you ain't never seen (like making field goals) This is home, this is Mean Street This is home, the only one I know An' we don't worry 'bout tomorrow 'cause we're sick of these four walls Now what you think is nothin' might be somethin' after all (Hokes offense) Now you know this ain't no through street, the end is dead ahead (end of the MCC) The poor folks play for keeps down here, they're the living dead (dead king) It's always here and now my friend, it ain't once upon a time (the king is bye bye) It's all over but the shouting, I come to take what's mine (Hoke led crystal) We're searchin' for the latest thing, a break in this routine (whining about the king) Talkin' some new kicks, ones like you ain't never seen ((like making field goals) Meango Van Halen --2011
PortageLkBlu
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 4:19 p.m.
Last year Jim Harbaugh over at Stanford recruited well and fielded a team Mich. fans can dream about for the future. That Stanford team was solid, study it. I actually thought they, Stanford was going to win vs. Oregon, no way Jose. Last year that Alabama team (Pro style also) was tough as nails and then some, I thought they would beat Auburn, again no way Jose. Back when Oregon came to Mich stadium (Mike Bellotti) Mich. was left chasing their tails in a pathetic manner. Again, that spread, I like the spread Oregon runs. Usually out of the shotgun, spread the field with receivers, lots of room for running and passing and make no mistake, I predict Oregon will be knocking at the door again this coming season. Auburn ran a power style offense all about running the football out of spread formations although the mobile QB makes it all work. My hope since Brady is our coach is a little Stanford, Oregon and Auburn incorporated. If we're just going to run the Pro especially after these current Mich. QB's are graduated well, life is just to short to follow that old game.
truebluefan
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 : 10:27 p.m.
Murrow -- maybe you missed my point. The 2005 through 2007 defensive recruiting disasters would've provided the upperclass leadership from 2008 to 2010. But the decline of the defense from 2007 to 2008 and 2008 to 2010 is not completely caused by The Decimated Defense. As I stated, some of it was players rebelling and some of it was poor coaching on that side of the ball, some of it was caused by Michigan's attrition, especially in the secondary, from 2008 to 2010. There are many sources of blame but the right DC should've been able to at least improve the defense from 2008 to 2010. And if RR made a strong DC hire in 2009, we wouldn't be having this discussion because RR would likely still be coach. But he hired the worst DC possible and IMO it's the main reason he's now gone.
Dusty
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 : 7:59 p.m.
MGoBlog has was around long before Rich Rod ever came to Ann Arbor.
Dusty
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 : 7:57 p.m.
Are we really citing schools who either buy and pay for their players (USC) or coaches who over-recruit then cut players who don't pan out (Nick Saban) as "proof" that the pro-style is better than the spread at the college level? Playing a pro-style offense puts you at a disadvantage in today's college football landscape. If you use it to win, you need to do it with the kind of talent advantage you can only get by cheating or screwing the kids.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 : 3:17 a.m.
tbf, Read it a long time ago. Realize, that article was written BEFORE the 2009 season. It's thesis, not well supported, is that the 2005 defensive class was a disaster. So, even if one were to accept that as being the Gospel truth, are we really to believe that the 2005 class is the reason the 2010 team was 110th in the FBS? Excuses, excuses, excuses, excuses, excuses, excuses . . . Good Night and Good Luck
truebluefan
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 : 2:21 a.m.
missionbrazil -- just read the comments of players on the team over the past year or two regarding this topic. It's all the proof you need. It is pretty obvious that the upperclassmen save maybe Minor and Brown didn't accept RR. No sweat if you don't believe it. I'm not in the business of changing your views, as if that was even remotely possible at this point. Murrow -- The Decimated Defense presents nothing but facts. You asked for facts. Read it or remain ignorant. Your choice. Bottom line is, RR is guilty of a knee jerk reaction to fire Shafer and hiring a horrible defensive coordinator in Greg Robinson. If Michigan's defense was just average, RR would still be here. In essence, RR's choices regarding defensive leadership proved to be his demise.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 : 12:39 a.m.
"The failure of the Carr regime from 2005 to 2007 to adequately recruit and hang onto defensive talent is well documented in "The Decimated Defense" posted at mgoblog.com." And when the "Defensive Coordinator" gambit fails, fall back to the "Lloyd Carr/Cupboard Bare" defense while blaming the players he left behind as undermining the WCiMFH. M-Go Blog? You mean the official website of the MCC? Yeah, there's an authoritative source. Excuses, excuses, excuses, excuses, excuses . . . . Will they never end? Good Night and Good Luck
missionbrazil
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 : 12:23 a.m.
tbf "It is also pretty much known as fact now that many upperclassmen on the 2008 squad essentially thumbed their noses at Rich Rod and aided in creating discord." If it's pretty much a fact then it won't be hard for you to prove that, right ?
truebluefan
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 11:42 p.m.
Murrow -- The failure of the Carr regime from 2005 to 2007 to adequately recruit and hang onto defensive talent is well documented in "The Decimated Defense" posted at mgoblog.com. Great read. It contains nothing but facts and it is very enlightening. It ends the debate when the HMLC spouts off Carr's recruiting class rankings for the past 10 years. Lack of upperclass talent on defense is the primary reason the defense fell from 24th in 2007 to 67th in 2008. It is also pretty much known as fact now that many upperclassmen on the 2008 squad essentially thumbed their noses at Rich Rod and aided in creating discord. The D dropped over 40 ranking spots in one season and it was Shafer's job not to let that happen. How much fault can be attributed to the talent level? How much fault can be placed on Shafer? Word amongst the HMLC was Shafer and RR didn't get along. Who knows? The scrutiny was intense on RR after a 3-9 season so Shafer was sacrificed in favor of Greg Robinson, who in my opinion is THE worst coach in Michigan history...bar none. Enter 2009 where the defense now has a multitude of youth, combine that with GRob and we had a recipe for disaster. Make no mistake, Rodriguez deserves ALL of the blame for hiring GRob. I honestly believe RR would still be here if he took the bull by the horns and fired GRob after PSU. Fire GRob and hire who? Well, RR's defenses at WVU were orders of magnitude better than they were at Michigan. Rankings-wise, RR's WVU teams were up there with Carr's teams. So it's not like RR teams have never had defensive success. RR needed a guy like Jeff Casteel who would take full control of the defense. So, why not try to recreate WVU and hire Casteel? I guarantee you he would've jumped ship if they offered him Mattison type money.
missionbrazil
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 10:50 p.m.
The MCC keeps talking about the spread as if it is a guarantee to the NC. There are 4 important aspects of the game: offense, defense, special teams, and coaching. Oh well MCC, 1 out of 4 (decent offense) the last 3 years ... could be worse I guess.
mun
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 9:30 p.m.
USC's teams under Pete Carroll ran pro-style and they won national titles in 2003 and 2004. Rich Rod at WVU ran spread and won how many national titles?
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 7:06 p.m.
Yes, but some of us have actual facts to support our opinions. Good Night and Good Luck
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 7 p.m.
Ed ghost, I guess what your trying to say is, everybody's got an opinion.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 5:31 p.m.
Ahh, the "Defensive Coordinator" gambit. Scott Shaffer took over the D-coord in 2008 and the defense fell from 24th to 67th in the FBS. So Shaffer got fired and G-Rob came in, and the D went to 84th, and then to 110th. In the meantime, Shaffer went to Syracuse where, in 2010, he had the nation's 7th ranked defense. So tell me, please, how it is that the D-coords were the problem? And, even if you can make the argument that they were the problem, the WCiMFH was the person who hired them. Why should anyone have any confidence whatsoever that, after having hired two disastrous D-coords, the WCiMFH was going to hire someone who knew what they were doing? But the loyalty of the MCC is striking. It was Lloyd Carr's fault. It was Scott Shaffer's fault. It was G-Rob's fault. It was Brandon's fault. It was the fans' fault. It was the former players' fault. It was Obama's fault. It was Granholm's fault. It was . . . It was . . . It was . . . . Official motto of the MCC: The Buck stops someplace else. Good Night and Good Luck
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 4:24 p.m.
Tp, that could very well be true, we all know RR was a stubborn man but then again, it might have worked bringing in a DC, one thing we do know, we'll never know.
Blu n Tpa
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 2:04 p.m.
tbf Out of respect for your opinion let's take the next step in your thought. You keep 'him' but bring in a new DC. He would have to be established for recruiting and he would have to have independence to come to Michigan and rebuild a dreadful defense. He would be the 3rd DC in 4 years and that doesn't play well with high school seniors. The HC is a lame duck coach because he's not getting an extension and he's coming up to the end of his contract. (His contract will expire before any incoming freshmen graduates, which could mean new HC, something recruits also dislike.) Even if all those things were doable, where in the WCiMFH's past do you see his giving up control on any part of the team? That's how the "D" and special teams got to where they were in the first place. His ego just wouldn't allow any change that would hurt his image of self. He was in a "Catch 22" of his own making. DB had no choice. For Michigan football to move forward it had to move without the WCiMFH. Thank goodness. TiM Go Blue!
UKWolverine
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 10 a.m.
@Portage, Who won the 2009 National Title? An effectively coached, manned and prepared Pro Style Offense can be just as successful as a Spread Offense.
truebluefan
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 4:58 a.m.
Auburn and Oregon were both spread teams with mobile QB's. Florida was a spread team. Texas. LSU runs a lot of spread formations. The fact is, the spread is wildly successful in college football. Of course, a good defense is also necessary to field a championship caliber team. Michigan did not have a good defense so changes were necessary. I just didn't think we needed to change the whole coaching staff to get a better defense.
riverraisin
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 3:43 a.m.
You left out the part about Oregon beating Auburn for the NC. Oh wait..... No way Jose
Theo212
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 4:28 p.m.
You speak the truth, Portage! It's a crime that we're not paid for the knowledge we spew forth on this blog. One good thing, though, is that ed and mission are lying low. They saw the spring game and said: uh oh!
Lorain Steelmen
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 1:54 p.m.
Interesting aray of commentary. Having observed first hand, the new defense on saturday, it is obvious that the defense is not any better than it was last year. Turning to the offense, it was obvious that UM has taken a significant step backwards. Had RR stayed another year, we can safely project a 9-3 season. I hope Hoke succeeds, but after saturday, it appears that UM may be closer to 3-7.....again. Ughhh. Watching two missed field goals. It also appears that the special teams are also unimproved. On the bright side, Brandon has raised ticket prices, so that even if UM doesn't win, at least his revenues will increase.
Dusty
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 : 7:52 p.m.
Individual players, Blu. Individual players get better naturally, as a general rule. When there is turnover, the unit as a whole can regress despite the returning starters being better. When there is minimal turnover, you can expect progression in most cases. Seriously, your arguments are really getting weak. You're not even debunking the things I say, instead completely twisting my words/meanings and going from there with absurdity after absurdity.
Blu n Tpa
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 : 1:31 a.m.
What, bring another coach from WV to Michigan? To prove that the Big East defensive coaches aren't any more successful than the offensive coaches at Big Ten football? tbf where were you last season with this "theory"? I'll give you credit for being creative. Next I expect to hear someone offer the UFO/alien abduction of the real WCiMFH sent 70 million light years to destroy Michigan football. TiM Go Blue!
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 11:32 p.m.
Given time!
missionbrazil
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 9:56 p.m.
this stellar prediction and analysis from the same expert that predicted that whatshisname would lead us to many national championships and would own the BT like Tressel has ... comedy show for sure.
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 9:42 p.m.
Yes, but I'm not going to.
mun
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 9:20 p.m.
"Had RR stayed another year, we can safely project a 9-3 season." While you're at it, can you tell me what tonight's Powerball numbers will be?
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 7:04 p.m.
Then again, Lorrain could be right and you boys and girls could be wrong.
Blu n Tpa
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 1:41 p.m.
Dusty, how could you "assume that players get better..." based on how the defense digressed three years in a row? Special teams got better? Yes, in a lot of instances players skills improve from year to year. So if that's true, what's the obvious answer why Michigan didn't get better from game to game and year to year? Now you understand: It's COACHING. Work with that, build on that and you will get where the whole country got midway through last season. The record, the coaching, the record, the bowl game = the WCiMFH. TiM Go Blue!
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 12:39 p.m.
"Interesting aray of commentary. Having observed first hand, the new defense on saturday, it is obvious that the defense is not any better than it was last year." Lorraine, you need to take your comedy show on the road. Say, to Columbus? Good Night and Good Luck
UKWolverine
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 10:01 a.m.
@Dusty, So players that sucked a lot would only suck a little, please, were you not watching last year, between game 1 and the bowl game the team if anything regressed. The WCiMFH and his merry band of incompetants COULD NOT gameplan, COULD NOT devise a defense, COULD NOT consistently recruit Big 10 Calibur and COULD NOT coach up players. Denard hit his ceiling in the RR offense last year and still had to come out of most of the games as he was getting dinged up all the time. He was not going to get any better due to a lack of coaching or game plan besides 'snap the ball to Denard and see what he can do'
Dusty
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 7:49 a.m.
DonAZ "I didn't see anything in 2010 that would suggest any improvement in any facet of the game." You mean other than the fact we could assume players get better between their sophomore and junior years and the whole team was returning?
DonAZ
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 4:39 p.m.
"We can safely project a 9-3 season." I'm not so sure of that. I didn't see anything in 2010 that would suggest any improvement in any facet of the game. So, extend 2010 into 2011 and I saw a 6-6 team with a good chance of being 5 - 7: WMU - W ND - L EMU - W SDSU - W Minn - W at NW - W ... I could flip this to L without too much hearburn at MSU - L Purdue - W at Iowa - L at Illinois - L Nebraska - L OSU - L
Blu n Tpa
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 2:41 p.m.
Oh please. What did you expect? OK, you have a lot of work to do and not much time. Do you do a little of everything or do the most important first? Most important might be working on the defense but I don't think so. Finding out who can play is the most important thing for this new coaching staff to establish. You got your long DRob run. You got a 'pick six' and you got to see some good D line play. LBs were active but not overpowering and the RBs and O Line has to be hashed out. Special teams is for after you get an idea who bring the attitude and hustle. The kickers are still the same so what did you want, someone with a magic wand? One of them might still be a factor come fall. If not there's a new guy on the way. And, no way this teams goes 3-9 and only in your dreams would the WCiMFH EVER go 9-3 since everybody now knows how to stop DRob and that Michigan offense. But why waste my time with a member of the MCC. TiM Go Blue!
Theo212
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 12:31 p.m.
Again, defense means nothing. It's dumb. It doesn't win anything in this day and age. Unless, of course, you've got some quick DBs and they pick off pass after pass. Not only that, but they start lateraling. And if they can't lateral, then they heave it 'cross field to another fast guy. Those kind of plays are what demoralizes the other team, not "stuffing the run" or "being tough". That kind of bunk is for the blue hairs. 'Tis a new century, A century of speed. The MCC is here indeed. Meangoblue, you've had your say. Hear us now: please go away. A new era has dawned; Please make no mistake. Tradition now drowns Beneath Evans Lake. "Since You're Gone" by The Cars (greatest song ever) plays loudly on the PA at Chapter 52-14 while meangoblue drives off in his Gremlin, no damsels in sight...
PortageLkBlu
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 8:15 p.m.
Now, if I or we could get Hoke to listen to Theo we just might have a future. Keep up the good work Theo sooner or later Hoke will know it to be true after all, "This is Michigan".
RJ12688
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 10:24 a.m.
I cant wait to see the defense back on the attack, instead of sitting on its heels letting the offense come to it. i wanted to tear my hair out last year while watching only 3 rush while opposing QBs had what seemed like an eternity to dash our secondary.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 10:08 a.m.
I'd like to see Martin line up as a 5-technique on occasion and see what he can do against a backpedaling tackle. Though at his size he can certainly handle the 1- and the 3-. I remember the standard media spew about Greg Robinson was that his defense was too complex for mere college athletes. Then we saw a lack of imagination, Martin constantly in the same role fighting the same double-teams, quarterbacks with far too much time to pick apart the secondary. This is a welcome story. A good attacking defense has to give you at least a dozen different looks during a game.