To all those skeptics, Martin has officially MADE IT.
With news coming out of the Chargers’ camp that starting defensive end Luis Castillo’s broken leg (suffered in the season opener) will keep him out until at least Week 8, Martin has been handed the starting role on the team’s defensive line.
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2009 draft by San Diego, the team’s 13th pick that season has played 10 games in each of his first two years. Not only will he see himself taking regular snaps as the new starter, he will be thrust into the role against one of the league’s best teams this week in the New England Patriots – and asked to put pressure against Tom Brady. Also consider that Brady opened up his season last week against Miami by setting a team-record with 517 passing yards. So much for easing into the new role!
In an interview with ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli back when he was drafted in 2009, Martin commented how he knew that there would be “alot to learn” - but if the powers that be had some patience with him, he would “pick up things pretty fast." The Chargers are now being repayed for their diligence.
Rating the effectiveness of the 6’4”, 308 pound Martin playing every down for the Charger's 'D' will obviously be up for debate come the Monday morning after. But for one weekend at least, Western fans and haters alike should put their hands together and applaud the man who’s not only representing the OUA, but Canada as well.
(If you’re still up in the air about this guy, you will have a new found respect watching this feature profile done by The Score a couple of years ago.)
From the pressbox: For those who may have missed it, Windsor Lancer starting quarterback Sam Malian was taken off the field on a stretcher in the first quarter of Saturday’s game at Laurier. According to the Waterloo Region Record, he was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital to address a dislocated elbow.
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