Dolphins re-sign TE David Martin! This is massive news IMO. This guy was the key to our 2-TE sets in 2008. And losing him last year was a major blow. If he's in shape, this is your #2 TE right here. A 265-pound former WR who creates mismatches down the field, makes the big catch and takes a big hit.
Glad to see he's made a return. If healthy, this would be great. He did a quality job as a seam buster for us a couple years back.
Wow.....awsome news...just posted this at Club.... Just heard it on the phinsiders.....Martin was practicing in the bubble.. Thought he was on his way to being one of the upper tier TE's before he got hurt. VERY HAPPY!!!
I remember there used to be a time when we (myself included) wanted David Martin gone. Lol. I'm glad he's back.
Best news of the week! Hopefully this lights a fire under the other TE's by signing an older guy who hasn't played since 2008. They should know they are replaceable.
This is great news! Fasano missed Martin BIG Time last year! If he can regain his form from 2008 this is will be a real good signing!
I'd love to get 2008 production out of our TE's this year. Especially with Marshall in the mix and an improved set of receivers. Barry Jackson said Haynos played 51% of the downs last year (to Fasano's 78%). That doesn't include Sperry's time. Suffice to say we were in 2-TE over 50% of the time last year. And it's always nice when you're #2 gets 14.5 ypc (as Martin did last time around). Fasano's average dropped a whopping 2.5 yards last year. And Haynos averaged a measly 8.5. I think that's a direct effect of no David Martin (not to mention a young QB, of course). Not saying he's the savior or that he'll make it back, but David Martin was able to create mismatches in his last go-around. If he can come back strong, we'll threaten people over the middle again.
Its not so much that he is the SAVIOR as much as he just really fits in well with our scheme.....he really is the perfect fit for an offense that loves to run a two TE set.... Whoa man......thats some size right there.....Marshall, Hartline, Martin, Fasano..... Given me goosebumps
Did we overnight become the Chargers? I think we became the Chargers. We have the better number 1. They have the better TE and we're close to even at #2 WR. But damn are we tall. Somehow full throttle anyone? I also remember Phillip Rivers sucking early then his WR's and RB's allowed him to progress.We have seriously given Henne a boost.
Let's hope we don't get the pre 2008 David Martin cause he couldn't catch a cold. The numbers were similar to his 2008 season but his play was awful.
I always thought that David Martin was a great TE and I welcome him back with open arms. I must wonder if he has anything left in the tank after some time away from the game, but I can't wait to see it. I wonder why they need another TE?? Is that position becoming a concern or something? This is worth keeping track of.
Am I the only one remembering David Martin dropping wide open passes that hit him in the hands? 2008 he did well. Seems like last year everyone wanted him cut.
Great signing. For a team that runs a lot of 2 TE sets, Fasano/Haynos is not good at all. Fasano and Martin compliment each other well. If they can produce similarly to 2008, TE won't be an issue this season at least.
In 2007, everyone wanted Martin gone myself included. Boy did he turn it around in 2008. Guy made some clutch catches out there, and his drop problem went away. Only 1 drop in '08.
I wasn't on this board last year and prior to 2008 I would have definately been on the cut Martin bandwagon. In 2008 he showed real production, far and away better than what we had last year. I did not favor cutting him last year and if he is healthy and can produce like 2008, I will welcome him back with opens arms.
I don't know whether we'll get the 2008 version of Martin, but if we do then our offense just improved dramatically. I do worry whether is hands will be as good catching Henne's much harder passes as they were in 2008 when he was catching passes from CP.
Considering that this signing takes place a week after camp starts, I would have to wonder how effective Martin can be.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw7CM0FJPCs"]YouTube- David Martin TD‎[/ame] Just a highlight on David Martin its short.
Henne's developing a soft touch, if you believe Davone Bess. I don't think that'll be an issue. I actually think we'll use 2 TE sets less this year. We won't need to max protect as much, and we'll need an extra receiver out there to take advantage of the double coverage on Marshall.
Exactly. He adds another dimension. Rather, he brings back a dimension we've been missing. I just wish they'd have done it sooner. Hopefully he can work himself into shape soon enough. I worry about the consequences (I won't utter the words!). The stat you have to look at is YPC. He went up almost six yards in 2008. YAC went from 2.6 to a career high 4.4. He had a career-long catch of 61 yards (previous was 35 in 2004). He was flat out a better player. Best he'd ever been. Lots of guys were once this regime got into town. To me he just became a tougher player overall once this regime took hold. The plays that stand out to me are the ones where he got blasted and held on. That's what impressed me most. In 2008 he had a toughness to him. I remember one play where I was sure he was done for the year. Looked like he'd broken his neck. He was back the same game I believe (if not the next week). We saw him concussed against the Jets in the Pennington game. Dude took a lot of big hits that year and kept coming. I don't think it's a question of whether or not we get pre-2008 Martin. It's just whether he still 'has it' and can get into shape. Then again, maybe I'm forgetting his 2009 preseason. But I remember being highly upset that he got hurt the day before the regular season officially started.
Opposing safeties can no longer roam free as they please! Good TE play to go along with a Brandon Marshall, will surely improve Henne's stats but I'm equally excited to see how the running game thrives from it !!!
My belief in Bess' assessment is somewhat tempered since the very next day the camp reports were all about how bad our screen offense was and how Henne seemed to lack touch on those passes. I'm hopeful he's improved in that area, but I'm also sure that regardless of his improvement he won't improve to CP's level. Now, I'm not saying I don't like the signing, I love it. I thought he was a huge part of our offense in 2008. And I felt that the loss of a seam threat was a huge factor in 2009. So, I was the guy screaming for a receiving TE during the draft. I'm just recognizing that we don't automatically get the 2008 version of Martin. There are some factors that could act against that including, Martin is coming off of a knee injury, he's now 31, an age where some players start to drop off, and he's playing with a QB who throws harder. When Martin was playing with Favre, he was known as a guy who dropped many passes. When he played with CP, he suddenly had his best year ever.
love this move. i never understood why we let him go last season, rather than placing him on IR. Another move that had me scratching my head was Matt Roth, who seems to be playing very well in CLE.