Martez Wilson?

[RayClay]

Pats work out a grab bag of players including LBs, TEs and FBs.

Anyone familiar with Wilson? He seems like a real athlete, switching between LB and pass rusher.

Wilson, a 2011 New Orleans Saints third-round draft pick, might be the most intriguing option of the nine players hosted on workouts. After playing linebacker at the University of Illinois, Wilson has bounced between linebacker and pass rusher during his three-year career. He recorded three sacks in 2012 with the Saints while playing linebacker and defensive end. Wilson has experience playing in 3-4 and 4-3 defenses, and he impressed at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-4, 250 pounds.

Read more at: Report: Patriots Work Out Nine, Including Martez Wilson, Four Linebackers | NESN.com

 

[Sciz]

He got cut by the Cowboys, who on paper look like they could have the worst defense in NFL history. That's not a good sign at all, regardless of his physical tools.

 

[RayClay]

He got cut by the Cowboys, who on paper look like they could have the worst defense in NFL history. That's not a good sign at all, regardless of his physical tools.

Well, we can't pick up someone unless he was cut...

 

[mayoclinic]

I mentioned this a couple of weeks ago when Wilson was cut (at the 75 man roster cutdown). He is an impressive athlete, 6'4" 260#, with a 4.42 40, 36" VJ and 7.04 3C coming out of college. But he's always been a more impressive athlete than football player, a very inconsistent player who shows flashes but nothing more. He never really made it as a starter in NO despite being a top-75 pick in 2011, and was cut by defense-needy Dallas this year after being signed last November to a 2 year contract. My guess is that his inconsistency would drive BB crazy, but the physical skill set is intriguing. FWIW, the Pats showed interest in Wilson prior to the 2011 draft.

 

[Brady6]

I feel like Wilson has been misused during his time in the NFL with the Saints and Cowboys. Both teams wanted to use him as a DE/OLB because of the speed and explosiveness they felt he would project to be a good pass rusher. He is a better ILB or maybe a SOLB in a 3-4 defense he is not a DE. He played ILB at Illinois, was on the same team with Tavon Wilson, so there is some familiarity there. I would like to see the Patriots sign him, I think he is the type of talented player that Belichick could turn into a stud.

 

[PP2]

He got cut by the Cowboys, who on paper look like they could have the worst defense in NFL history. That's not a good sign at all, regardless of his physical tools.

You're assuming that they knew what they were doing when they cut Wilson.

If they knew what they were doing, they wouldn't potentially have the worst defense in NFL history.

As long as JJ, the GM, remains in charge, their reign of mediocrity is assured. Keeping in mind that Jone's mother lived until she was 90, the Cowboys could be in the cellar for a long, long time.

 

[mayoclinic]

I feel like Wilson has been misused during his time in the NFL with the Saints and Cowboys. Both teams wanted to use him as a DE/OLB because of the speed and explosiveness they felt he would project to be a good pass rusher. He is a better ILB or maybe a SOLB in a 3-4 defense he is not a DE. He played ILB at Illinois, was on the same team with Tavon Wilson, so there is some familiarity there. I would like to see the Patriots sign him, I think he is the type of talented player that Belichick could turn into a stud.

It's very hard to tell with some of this talented players who are high draft picks, and who don't seem to have the work ethic, effort, or whatever. Is it late blossoming, poor use, or just that they have more physical talent than football ability? Wilson seems like another Jerel Worthy - a talented player physical who shows flashes, but one who is inconsistent. He played for some very good defensive coordinators in Gregg Williams , Rob Ryan and Rod Marinelli, but couldn't really stick. Maybe you're right, but I think that at this point in his career the odds are low.

FWIW, here was one scouting report on Wilson in 2011:

Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois
Talent Board - Round 5

STRENGTHS

Martez has the size that you look for in an NFL linebacker. He has nice, long arms and looks really good in his uniform. That's it... that's all I got after looking at film of Martez. As of this writing, Martez is being listed as a player that should be selected in the first three rounds.

CONCERNS

In the film that I watched of Martez, I never saw him break a sweat. I never saw him go at full speed. I never saw him shed a block. The truth is, I'm not sure why the coaches had him on the field. He looks confused most of the time out on the field. He takes false steps and is fooled a lot. He trails plays and watches others make tackles. I know he also had a neck injury and that needs to be checked out.

BOTTOM LINE

I have spent way too much time watching film on this kid and wondering why he is even on the board to be drafted. I see nothing in his play that makes me think that he is going to be an impact player at the next level. I guess before his neck injury that maybe Martez was a pretty good football player. However, all I can tell you is what I see on the film and what I see is a kid struggling to get over a serious injury who is not close to being ready for the NFL. Personally, I would have a very hard time keeping him on my board and even looking at him as a free agent is a stretch. Maybe with a few years under his belt, this kid can turn it around, but for me I would let someone else take on this project. Remember, I do all my profiles from film. I do not copy what others are saying about a player and this is what I see on film. I don't understand why this kid is coming out early.

Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois - 2011 Profiles - The Huddle Report

Wilson has never produced more than 19 tackles and 3 sacks in a season. He's started 1 game in 3 seasons as a top-75 draft pick. Big time under-achiever.

I'd love someone to do a study of high-drafted (top 75) talented kids with work ethic/inconsistency questions vs. late round/UDFA guys with limited athletic ability and high motors. My guess is the latter are more likely to last in the NFL. Guys like Rob Ninkovich. Combine his work ethic and smarts with Wilson's athletic ability and you'd have an all-pro player.

 

[mayoclinic]

You're assuming that they knew what they were doing when they cut Wilson.

Rod Marinelli is a very good defensive coordinator.

Wilson played under Gregg Williams and Rob Ryan in New Orleans. He's been cut by 3 teams in the past year, has started 1 game in 3 years, and has never produced on a significant level. I don't think there's a hidden story here.

 

[PP2]

Rod Marinelli is a very good defensive coordinator.

Wilson played under Gregg Williams and Rob Ryan in New Orleans. He's been cut by 3 teams in the past year, has started 1 game in 3 years, and has never produced on a significant level. I don't think there's a hidden story here.

Marinelli is a competent DC, and Parcells was a very good coach, and so was Jimmy Johnson, but they all had something hanging over them: a very incompetent GM who, unfortunately, is also the owner.

I am not really addressing Wilson as much as I am addressing the notion that anything the Cowboys do should be taken as an indication they know what they are doing, e.g., "getting cut by the Cowboys" isn't necessarily a bad sign, or that a player could be that bad.

 

[Sicilian]

He got cut by the Cowboys, who on paper look like they could have the worst defense in NFL history. That's not a good sign at all, regardless of his physical tools.

To be fair, you don't build the worst defense in the NFL on paper if you're good at evaluating players.

 

[mayoclinic]

Marinelli is a competent DC, and Parcells was a very good coach, and so was Jimmy Johnson, but they all had something hanging over them: a very incompetent GM who, unfortunately, is also the owner.

I am not really addressing Wilson as much as I am addressing the notion that anything the Cowboys do should be taken as an indication they know what they are doing, e.g., "getting cut by the Cowboys" isn't necessarily a bad sign, or that a player could be that bad.

I don't disagree with that. But regarding Wilson specifically, 3 cuts in a year and a chronic history of under-production doesn't bode well.

The optimistic view of Wilson is that he's a talented athlete who hasn't been used consistently throughout his career. He's played under 6 different DC's in 3 years: Gregg Williams (2011), Steve Spagnulo (2012), Rob Ryan (2013), Jason Tarver (2013), Monte Kiffin (2013), and Rod Marinelli (2014). He's played in 3-4 and 4-3 schemes, as a 4-3 DE, a 4-3 SAM, a LEO, and a 3-4 OLB, and hasn't really fit at any of them. It is certainly possible that with some consistent coaching and use that he could develop.

OTOH, after 3 years of under-production in a bunch of different schemes and systems, the odds aren't in his favor. The story with Wilson has always been that finally he's a "diamond in the rough", and that this will finally be the time that he figures things out and turns it on:

http://theadvocate.com/csp/mediapoo...ates/FullStoryPrint.csp?cid=714963&preview=y
http://whodatdish.com/2012/05/25/linebacker-rich-saints-testing-martez-wilson-at-defensive-end/
http://saintstailgate.com/saintsnews/?p=3242
http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2013/05/new_orleans_saints_olb_martez.html
http://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/2013/8/14/4596882/saints-martez-wilson-2013-linebacker http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-find-a-diamond-in-the-rough-in-martez-wilson [/url]

I'm not optimistic that this time would be anything different. If the Pats end up signing him I'll hope for the best, but I just can't get myself too hopeful for this kid.

 

[Deus Irae]

Tarzan/Jane


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