Dan Quinn, Commanders Plan ‘Traditional’ Role for Breakout Candidate
laying below their potential has become the norm for members of the Washington Commanders’ defense, but Quan Martin can be a breakout player under new head coach Dan Quinn and a staff who envisage a “traditional do-it-all” role for the second-year defensive back.
That’s according to the Draft Network’s Justin Melo. He described how even though the regime fronted by former head coach Ron Rivera and ex-defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio “saw Martin as a slot corner, the new one sees him as more of a traditional do-it-all safety. Peters drafted former Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil to be the nickel. He’ll join Benjamin St-Juste and Emmanuel Forbes at cornerback.”
Quinn’s new, or more accurately old but new again, position will involve Quinn and new DC Joe Whitt Jr. deploying the 47th-overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft starting at safety next to Jeremy Chinn.
As Melo put it, “Quinn and Whitt envision Martin and free-agent signing Jeremy Chinn as their starting safeties. Versatility and football IQ make Martin an outstanding candidate to thrive in this role. He’s capable of playing both safety spots, playing down in the box towards the line of scrimmage, or roaming the defensive backfield. He can still line up at nickel on occasion if Sanristil kicks outside.”
The different role has already shown success in some stellar contributions from Martin this offseason. Those contributions have only added to the buzz about the former Illinois ace emerging as a breakout player this year.
Quan Martin Taking to ‘Traditional’ Role
Moving from slot cornerback to a traditional free safety role doesn’t necessarily mean less responsibilities closer to the line of scrimmage for Martin. He’ll still get chances to attack the line of scrimmage, the way he did to notch this tackle for loss against the New York Jets in Week 1 of the preseason, highlighted by Mark Tyler of SB Nation’s Hogs Haven.
Martin’s already proved he can thrive closer to the ball, but what’s different this season is how long he’ll spend in the deep third. The 24-year-old will be asked to be the last line of defense more often than not, give how often Quinn has favored single-high safety looks, dating back to his days as defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks and the famed ‘Legion of Boom.’
Fortunately, Martin took to extended time playing deep during the 20-17 defeat to the Jets. Martin “played 100% deep,” according to Jon Macri of Pro Football Focus.
