Mierin
Assistant Coach
I don't even agree with the Martinez avoiding contact perspective. Remember his freshman year when nobody could ever actually bring him to the ground? 2-3 times per game he'd get stopped and stood up, and eventually swarmed with the play blown dead while Taylor is still standing up right with five defenders pushing him backwards. Later on he tried taking coaching to avoid contact, for sure, but never seemed natural with it.
I guess what I remember most (with the contact) is him slowing down as a defender was about to hit him and trying to cover himself, and then getting hit harder for it. Instead of just trying to plow through defenders.
Martinez was tough in that he played injured but as far as being tough and running through defenders he didn't do that much. He usually either ran past them or took a big hit.
Last edited by a moderator: