Williams: Zack Martin ready to learn the right guard position

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Cotton

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Zack Martin ready to learn the right guard position

Zack Martin's versatility is a big reason scouts were so excited about him. The Cowboys will start him at right guard, a position he never has played.

“It’s good just kind of learning how to play on the right side again and playing inside rather than tackle,” Martin said Wednesday at a rookie event at Pantego Christian Academy in Arlington. “It’s been going great. Coach [Bill] Callahan and Coach [Frank] Pollack have been great teaching me. It’s been a fun first two weeks.”

Martin, a Notre Dame product, was the No. 16 overall pick. He is expected to start, but he'll have to hold off veteran Mackenzy Bernadeau, who made 11 starts at right guard last season and 14 in 2012.

Veteran tight end Jason Witten said earlier this week that the selection of Martin over quarterback Johnny Manziel signals the direction of the team. The Cowboys drafted Martin to better protect quarterback Tony Romo and with hopes of running the ball more and better this season.

“It’s a huge compliment,” Martin said. “I know we want to control the line of scrimmage, and when we were winning in the ‘90s, that’s what they did. They controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. You can tell they’re invested in that. It’s going to be fun to be a part of it.”

-- Charean Williams
 
Iamtdg said:
Martin, a Notre Dame product, was the No. 16 overall pick. He is expected to start, but he'll have to hold off veteran Mackenzy Bernadeau, who made 11 starts at right guard last season and 14 in 2012.
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That shouldn't be hard. Burnindeuce sucks.
 
Keep him at RG and let him build rapport with Frederick.

Please no flip-flopping him out to RT. Is Parnell still on the team?
 
I hate to repeat the "safe pick" mantra but I believe Martin is just that. He's rock solid, has the ability, the attitude and a good enough head on his shoulders to contribute wherever necessary. I like the idea that he can push every position on the line outside of LT to elevate their game. Part of the problem with this team is, there is nect to no one to push the starters, even when they're marginal at best. That needs to change.
 
I kind of would rather keep him on the left side. I'm sure they want him next to Free but I'd rather he was next to Smith, the better player. Move Leary and have him and Bernadeau fight it out. That would help make Martin's transition to little easier keeping him on the side he's more familiar with.
 
Genghis Khan said:
I kind of would rather keep him on the left side. I'm sure they want him next to Free but I'd rather he was next to Smith, the better player. Move Leary and have him and Bernadeau fight it out. That would help make Martin's transition to little easier keeping him on the side he's more familiar with.
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They were actually better running to their left so that suggests Free and Bernadeau were taking away half the options.

I don't especially like having him learn a new stance to play on the right side, but if he's as good as advertised, it shouldn't be a problem.

The idea of even drafting him was to solidify the whole line, not just the left side.
 
boozeman said:
They were actually better running to their left so that suggests Free and Bernadeau were taking away half the options.

I don't especially like having him learn a new stance to play on the right side, but if he's as good as advertised, it shouldn't be a problem.

The idea of even drafting him was to solidify the whole line, not just the left side.
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Personally I don't like drafting a guy to play a position he has never played but that ship has sailed.
 
ravidubey said:
Bernadeau came around last season, and I like how Martin's presence is going to force him (and Leary) to keep competing.
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I thought he was our best G at the end of the year.
 
Carp said:
I thought he was our best G at the end of the year.
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Yep, he really came on strong towards the end of the season. If he can keep it up and Free stays strong, we will have one of the best OL in the league next year.
 
Free should be pretty effective if Martin is as good as advertized. Free seems to be very strongly affected by the RG play next to him.
 
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