HOUSTON -- Not all position competitions are equal and in the case of the Houston Texans' competition at center, there is one outcome they've been expecting. They wanted second-round draft pick Nick Martin to seize the empty spot in the Texans' starting lineup.
Martin is doing just that.
"He’s a good player," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. "He’s tough. He’s strong. Very smart guy. He’ll have his ups and downs, just being a rookie and having to deal with the different physical nature of pro football versus college football. But he’s one of the better rookies that I’ve been around."
That's high praise from a man who typically doesn't like to say much about rookies.
The Texans drafted Martin out of Notre Dame this year as the 50th overall pick. He filled an immediate need. A month-and-a-half prior, Houston let last year's center, Ben Jones, go to the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Jones had only been the Texans' center for one year, following longtime center Chris Myers, whom the Texans released in March of 2015.
They signed Tony Bergstrom in free agency, but Bergstrom was a career backup. If he won the job, it would be a clear sign that the Texans' lack faith in their second-round pick. It wouldn't mark Martin as a bust, but it would delay the contribution of a player they need to get up to speed quickly.
With a brother already in the NFL -- Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin -- Nick Martin had a head start in understanding what it takes to play professional football. He's also relying on his veteran teammates as he adjusts to the Texans' offense, which can be complicated at times.
"It’s a lot, especially mentally and from the offensive standpoint, but I’m just trying to work," Martin said. "It makes it easier when you’ve got veterans out there like Duane [Brown, left tackle,] and [right tackle Derek] Newton talking to you coming off the sideline. Playing next to Jeff [Allen] and Xavier [Su’a-Filo, the Texans' right and left guards], who have experience, it really makes you comfortable."
As Martin progresses, it should only help new quarterback Brock Osweiler. His being able to count on Martin will help the offense run smoothly.
So far, so good.
"He’s a great guy, but more importantly, as a football player he comes to work, he has an edge about him," Osweiler said. "... A rookie center coming into this system and going out there and playing at the level he is, it’s truly impressive."
