Martin gets his second chance
Center tried to stay mentally tough after missing rookie year
Nick Martin barreled out of the Texans’ huddle, a young man in a hurry to get to the line of scrimmage and hunker down over the football to deliver the first snap to quarterback Tom Savage.
It was an exciting moment for the Texans’ starting center during an otherwise routine organized team activity practice this week.
Although it might have seemed like a mundane practice snapshot to most, it was especially meaningful to Martin.
That’s because the start of his NFL career was interrupted by a high-ankle sprain suffered during a blocking drill last August during a joint practice with the New Orleans Saints. The injury was severe enough that it ultimately required surgery. Martin was placed on injured reserve and missed his entire rookie season.
The loss of Martin was a heavy blow to the Texans’ thin offensive line. The second-round pick from Notre Dame was projected to have an immediate impact on the team.
Although Greg Mancz capably stepped in as a replacement and started every game, the Texans missed Martin’s athletic, aggressive presence in the middle of their offensive line. And Martin missed the game as he spent all of last fall rehabilitating his ankle, including part of the time regaining the ability to simply walk again around the Texans’ training facility.
“It’s tough, but I just tried to get better any way I could, especially mentally,” Martin said. “It’s just awesome being back out here. It’s definitely tough, but at the same time, you have to take the positives. There’s a lot of things I learned: routine-wise, learn from older guys, mentally, film, all of that. Really tried to make the best out of it.” Welcome return
Martin’s healthy return is expected to inject toughness, size and an ability to block defenders at the second level this season.
The younger brother of Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl offensive lineman Zack Martin, Nick was a threeyear starter and two-time captain for the Fighting Irish.
He excelled in the Senior Bowl all-star game last year, catching the eye of the Texans as they drafted him and former Notre Dame teammate Will Fuller with their first two picks.
Martin is now fully recovered from his injury and looks like he’s added some muscle in his upper body through haunting the Texans’ weight room this offseason.
“The ankle is good to go,” Martin said.
Even before the injury occurred last season, the Texans were upbeat about Martin’s potential.
Martin consistently drew praise from Texans coach Bill O’Brien last year. O’Brien is usually a tad hesitant to compliment rookies, but he singled out Martin for his intelligence, toughness and work ethic.
“Nick Martin is coming in here and so far it looks like a rookie who is mature beyond his years,” O’Brien said last season. “He understands the work ethic. I’m sure his older brother has helped him with that a little bit, but he has come in here and done some good things.”
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 linemen with his mental acumen and blocking skills.
“I think Nick’s going to be a great player,” Texans three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Duane Brown said earlier this offseason. “He showed some great flashes as a young player. That position is very instrumental to our success. The game isn’t too big for him. He showed a lot of promise, so I’m looking forward to getting him back.”
With Brown absent from organized team activities due to displeasure with his contractual situation, it’s imperative that younger linemen like Martin step forward and emerge as leaders on the offensive line. Experience helps
Unlike most NFL players who have yet to take a regular-season or preseason game snap, Martin has some experience he can lean on from his work last year during the offseason.
“That first spring, it’s a fun experience, but I definitely feel more comfortable now,” Martin said. “I spent a lot of time on the mental game and it’s just really nice being back out here every day. The biggest thing is stay up with the playbook.
“We have a large playbook and it’s an awesome offense. I was just trying to stay with it as much as I could, learn the in-game routine, run game, pass game, how we go about it. I spent a lot of time on the mental game, and it’s just really nice being back out here every day.”