The book on him coming out of college was that he was a productive tackler, but a throwback type of linebacker. Leading his conference in tackles as a senior, he brought a thump when given the ability to line up a ball-carrier. However, the concerns swirled around the idea that he wasn’t able to get off blocks and be a true run-stopping run-stopping force, nor was he quick enough laterally to make plays on the edge.
As a rookie, Blake Martinez seemed to have little success changing that narrative. He played in thirteen games and started nine of them, but after starting next to Jake Ryan to begin the year, he ceded significant playing time to Joe Thomas in the second half of the season.