Brotherly (tough) love
With rookie season lost to injury, center returns, heeds advice
With an All-Pro as a sibling, center Nick Martin has been molded into a formidable NFL talent.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Nick Martin used to endure plenty of playful razzing from his older brother, Zack, along with more creative and painful types of punishment.
The brothers’ roughhousing as they grew up in Indianapolis knew few limits. That included Zack Martin jabbing his index finger like a weapon into his younger brother’s chest. The Typewriter was dished out by the future Dallas Cowboys AllPro Bowl guard.
Although the rough treatment wasn’t always fun to deal with as a smaller brother, it served a purpose: It toughened up Nick.
Separated in age by two years, the brothers became inseparable on and off the football field. Best friends, they were competitive at everything from weightlifting, climbing rock walls, football drills. Even table tennis.
Both emerged as highly decorated offensive linemen and team captains at Notre Dame after excelling at Bishop Chatard High School. Good example to follow
Now, Nick is following in his brother’s footsteps as a starting offensive lineman in the NFL. The Texans center relies heavily on his close bond with his brother, one of the top blockers in the NFL regardless of position who’s expected to land a blockbuster contract extension from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
“We’re really close and talk all the time,” Nick said. “I watch him, he watches me. We go back and forth.
“He goes out there and he’s the same guy every day. I was fortunate to grow up with him and learn from him. That’s what he is and that’s very important.”
And the importance of Martin’s healthy return to the lineup cannot be overstated.
Martin’s rookie season last year was lost when he was slammed to the ground during a blocking drill in a joint training camp practice with the New Orleans Saints.
Martin suffered a high ankle sprain that was serious enough the second-round draft pick underwent surgery from Dr. Robert Anderson, a renowned orthopedic surgery.
He was placed on injured reserve, ending his first NFL season before it started.
Martin had been penciled in to the starting lineup immediately last year and had to be replaced by Greg Mancz. Although Mancz did a nice job as his replacement, Martin’s gritty, technically proficient presence was sorely missed in the middle of the offensive line.
It was a rough time for Martin, 24, as he had to concentrate on strengthening his ankle after initially wheeling around the training complex as he regained the ability to put weight on his foot.
“It’s not easy to sit out and watch your teammates go play,” Martin said. “Went through it and now back out there working together. It’s awesome being out here in the middle of everyone.”
Getting to play in his first NFL preseason game Wednesday night against the Carolina Panthers was an enjoyable experience for Martin. He had waited a year for the opportunity to block someone in a different uniform.
“It was just fun, honestly,” Martin said. “Running around hitting people, being out there with your guys and being back out here again is really awesome. I’m just trying to focus on getting better every day.
“I haven’t been on the field in a while. I was able to play my first NFL game, which was really nice. I got to take from that game and learn from it and get better.” Intelligence an asset
The Texans are counting heavily on Martin (6-5, 300) to inject toughness and athleticism into a line that’s thin on depth. Martin is strong enough to budge hefty nose tackles and quick enough to peel off one block, get to the second level and wall off a linebacker.
An underrated quality for any center is his intelligence because he’s required to make line calls and work in tandem with the quarterback. By all accounts, those are strengths for Martin. Praise from O’Brien
“He’s a smart guy,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “He leads by example, but when he talks people listen because he’s running the show up front with the communication. Very smart guy.
“Obviously comes from a really strong football family. Football’s in his blood. Knows how to play, knows how to operate, knows how to do things right off the field. He’s just a very, very good teammate. Great guy to have on the team.”
Martin was a three-year starter and two-time captain for the Fighting Irish. He was named to the prestigious Senior Bowl allstar game where he played for the Cowboys’ coaching staff. The Texans wound up drafting Martin and former Notre Dame wide receiver Will Fuller with their first two picks.
Martin originally committed to play football at Kentucky, where his father Keith played. When a late scholarship opened up, Martin joined his brother at Notre Dame. They were roommates and started together on the line before Zack went to the Cowboys as a first-round draft pick.
“They challenged each other,” Notre Dame offensive line coach Harry Hiestand told Indiana reporters. “They’re very prideful guys. They really grind it out.”
Nick has run the 40-yard dash in 5.22 seconds and benchpressed 225 pounds 28 times. He’s tall, coordinated and feisty. Thumbs-up from Cushing
Signed to a four-year, $4.77 million contract that includes $2.78 million guaranteed and a $1.67 million signing bonus, Martin has impressed veteran players with his blocking skills and knowledge of the game.
“He’s tough to go against,” said Texans middle linebacker Brian Cushing, a former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. “That’s a guy that I’m going against a bunch, especially as a center and middle linebacker. He’s a force. He’s a good player.
“He’s smart. He brings a lot to the game and I know he loves playing it as well. He’s fun to play with and definitely a good teammate.”
Growing up in Indianapolis, Nick had a good football role model besides his father and brother. A diehard Indianapolis Colts fan, Nick Martin’s favorite player was Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday.
Saturday was a stickler for technique and was known as a consistent, smart lineman.
Those are traits Martin tries to emulate as he breaks the huddle with a loud clap and hunches over the football at the line of scrimmage to start every play for the Texans’ offense.
“The biggest thing I try to be is the same guy every day,” he said. “I love the game. I love the grind. You miss a year and you don’t take it for granted.”