Hard-hitting Eric Martin's method is mostly mayhem

n.e.husker

n.e.husker

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http://www.omaha.com/article/20110822/BIGRED/708229831/-1#hard-hitting-eric-martin-s-method-is-mostly-mayhem

It was Eric Martin's freshman year, and all he had to do on this particular play was hit somebody.
Baylor had settled into its punt formation for the first time in the game, lining up two beefy three-year letterwinners about 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage, 5 yards in front of the punter. Martin's goal was to torpedo himself into one of those veterans, so forcefully that he'd power his way to the football before it was booted downfield.

The Nebraska coaches didn't think it'd work. Martin didn't care.

He accelerated to full speed and lowered his shoulder into a lineman who had at least a 25-pound advantage (never mind the fact that Martin ended up blocking the punt, helping Nebraska grab an early 7-0 lead in that must-win game in 2009).

Martin's fearless embrace of the sport's physicality is what defines his style. He's addicted to contact.

"If the coaches tell me to do something that's going to help our team, then that's what I'm going to do," Martin said. "That's why I play hard. I figure if you play hard, you're always helping your team no matter what. If you mess up, you finish strong."

It's no wonder that the coaching staff has tried its best to get Martin a consistent role on the defense. Unable to break through at linebacker, the junior from Moreno Valley, Calif., is a defensive end now. He's 20 pounds heavier but just as vicious as before.

Defensive coordinator Carl Pelini called Martin freakishly strong, so much so that the staff's overlooking his 6-foot-2 frame as a potential downside at the position. Martin's former linebacker coach, Mike Ekeler, characterized Martin as a "movie stunt man."

"He can pick guys up, and just hold them up there," said Ekeler, now a co-defensive coordinator at Indiana. "He hits people, and it's like they stepped on a land mine. He has an incredible ability to strike people."

But there are downsides to that approach, especially for a well-known bulldozer like Martin.

He's merciless in practice, which can occasionally cause conflicts in the heat of the moment. "Our offensive tackles don't like me," Martin said, smiling.
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If our offensive line doesnt like him, neither will opposing teams.

maybe Martin is the reason our offensive line is so beat up already

 
Yep Martin Single handed-ly hurt the Left Tackle in front of him... then he hurt the left guard and then just continued to cross the field until he hurt all the OL on the right side too. He ran out of Olinemen to injur so now he's just taking out running backs and quarterbacks. If he doesn't watch it we won't have any offensive players that aren't on injured reserve. :throwdabones1: :throwdabones1: :throwdabones1:

 
I really want to see this guy on the field more. I hope like hell his doing the work necessary to get there because the guy hits like a freight train.

 
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