After losing All-Pro left tackle Jake Long to the open market, the Dolphins didn't address the position in free agency despite handful of visits and opted not to take one of the drafts high-profile left tackles. (photo: June Rivera, Flickr)
So it's all up to the sophomore Martin, who started 12 games on the right side and four on the left during his rookie season, to keep the second-year quarterback Tannehill's jersey clean.
“He looks good. I think he’s getting back to what he played in college and he’s comfortable there,” Tannehill recently told MiamiDolphins.com's Andy Kent. “He got to finish out the year there, and now he’s been working all offseason on that side, so I’m comfortable with him there and I think he’s comfortable as well.”
Martin gave up a sack Week 1 in 2012 but went the next six games without surrendering a quarterback takedown. However, he allowed a sack in five of Miami's next six games, according to Pro Football Focus.
With a game at left tackle under his belt, Martin bounced back with a pair of solid showings in Weeks 15 and 16 spelling the injured Long, but he was beat more times Week 17 than in any of his first 15 games.
“I played all right,” he said. “I definitely have a lot of room for improvement from where I finished up the year last year, so I think it’s a good barometer just in terms of how I played as a rookie, but it gives me a basis from which I can improve from this season.
"When it comes down to it left tackles have to protect the quarterback. That’s what you’re getting paid to do and that’s the job description.”
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