Dec. 22, 2011; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Boise State Broncos running back (22) Doug Martin against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the 2011 Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium. Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Doug Martin, RB, Boise State
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 223 lbs
Arms: 30-1/2″
Hands: 9″
40-yd Dash: 4.55 sec
Bench Press: 28 reps
Vertical Jump: 36″
Broad Jump: 120″
3 Cone Drill: 6.79 sec
20-yd Shuttle: 4.16 sec
60-yd Shuttle: 11.29 sec
Watch his combine workout here.

NFL Mocks breaks down Doug Martin’s game into the following pros and cons in their scouting report:

Pros
Really good compact build…patience with good field vision are probably his best attributes….pretty good receiver…durable…shifty…some kick return ability..productivity, work ethic, drive, finisher, big play ability, always gives 100% effort, shifty.

Cons
Doesn’t have great top end speed…plays in a kind of goofy offense…On his build you think he’d break even more tackles, loses his balance quickly when hit, though he can make defenders miss, and he does break arm tackles (not a big knock more of an observation)…competition level

Doug Martin isn’t the type of running back that brings a facet of the game that will wow fans but he is regarded as a solid all-around back. He can run, block and catch the ball out of the backfield – all traits that will appeal to the Lions. It is public knowledge that the Lions interviewed Martin during Senior Bowl week so they have shown at least a basic level of interest.

Because Martin lacks an elite area of his game, he likely won’t get drafted in the first round but his overall skill set will set him up to be a solid player at the NFL level and should keep him from falling out of the second round. This year’s class of running backs is thin on elite prospects with Trent Richardson as the only running back sure to get drafted in the first round. Still, Doug Martin is regarded as one of the top five running backs in the class so it’s quite possible that Martin comes off the board sometime between the Lions first and second picks later this month.

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Chris Polk is one of at least three running backs interviewed by the Lions at the Senior Bowl. Photo: Chuck Cook-US PRESSWIRE

While the reported list of players that the Lions interviewed at the Senior Bowl is probably not exhaustive, it does appear heavy on offensive linemen, particularly tackles, and running backs. Doug Martin, Chris Polk and Daniel Herron are known to have talked with members of the Lions organization the same week that reports surfaced suggesting doubt as to whether or not Jahvid Best ever plays football again.

The unavailability of Jahvid Best would certainly represent a problem, but I’m not convinced that drafting another running back is the solution to that problem. (more…)