The Little Things That Kill: One Lions receiver figured out exactly how to make himself matter and he has one catch this preseason
Martin knows catches aren’t enough for a receiver fighting for one of Detroit’s final roster spots, and Dan Campbell says everything else he’s doing is getting hard to overlook.
Tay Martin has been doing the dirty work his entire NFL career, and he’s not about to stop now. The Detroit Lions wide receiver, an undrafted free agent fighting for a roster spot, talked to us after Satrurday’s win over the Commanders and discussed his role as a physical, do-it-all contributor on both offense and special teams. Lions coach Dan Campbell has noticed. Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp has been talking him up. And Martin knows exactly what it takes to stick.
“Being an undrafted receiver, you kind of have to [do the dirty work], whether it’s special teams, getting in there going and do the dirty work as far as blocking, the forced blocks, because that’s what a lot of coaches I played for want,” Martin said. “The receivers doing the dirty work, they want the receiver to have that mentality, go in there and be physical and dig out those safeties and make plays as well.”
That mentality has been on full display this summer and in Satruday’s game. Martin sprung a huge block on a Joshua Dobbs touchdown run and continued to make his presence felt on special teams. He also had an opportunity for a big catch that didn’t connect, something he wasn’t ready to let go of.
“I got to switch my hands around and I make that 9 times out of 10,” Martin said. “Just one I’m definitely going to think about all night. I kind of got to flush it now. I was able to make one before that, so kind of help it not be as bad as it would have been if I would have just had that one I missed. But I got to make those plays. I can make that.”
What making the 53 would mean
For Martin, the 53-man roster has been the white whale. Every year he’s been in the league, he’s landed on a practice squad and been elevated to the game-day roster. He played in the UFL this spring and performed well, building momentum heading into this Lions camp. But the practice squad cycle is one he’s ready to break.
“Making the NFL, it’ll mean the most to me just for knowing that my hard work kind of paying off, my trajectory going upwards,” Martin said. “It just means the most to me that I know what I’m doing is paying off. My family has supported me, my newborn, 10 months old. It’ll just be a great experience for all of us.”
Martin was honest about the reality of the situation, too. He wants to make the roster, but he’s at peace with whatever comes.
“That’s always the goal, but it is what it is. If it don’t happen, it is what it is,” Martin said. “God got a plan for me and I’ll just do whatever I need to do to make this team better regardless.”
The personal goal
Martin already has an NFL touchdown to his name from his time with the Tennessee Titans. So when asked what he wants to accomplish once he earns a spot on Detroit’s roster, he got specific.
“I would like to force a fumble, pick it up, and return it for a touchdown,” Martin said. “Or even just force a fumble, kind of like what (Lions tight end Jackson) Meeks did today. I wanna make some kind of plays like that to stamp myself as far as one of them best team players in the league, special team player-wise. So kind of my goal.”
That’s the thing about guys like Martin. They’re not dreaming about 100-catch seasons or Pro Bowl selections. They want to be the player coaches trust — the guy who blocks, covers kicks, and makes the hustle play that changes a game. Campbell and Fipp clearly see that in him, and now it’s about whether the Lions can find room on the 53 for a player who does everything they ask.
Campbell says the little things override some of the big misses
After the game, I asked Campbell if doing the little things like blocks and making plays on special teams can override or cancel out not making catches on offense and things like that. His answer says it all.
“The opportunities he’s been given don’t feel like this is something where he had these glowing opportunities and he didn’t capitalize on them. I don’t feel that way at receiver. I feel like he’s made a couple of plays that were there.” Campbell said. “Now listen, there’s two plays today where his number was called for an explosive, and he’s open, and we didn’t get it there. We either missed on the protection, you know, we didn’t block the guy who we’re responsible for. So we’re going to have time, so that takes that away a little bit, but man, he does all the dirty work. He’s pretty smart, and there again, special teams, he created another penalty. I mean he just continues to do good things, man, as a receiver and special teams. So yeah, I think it’s hard to ignore him.”
At the end of the day, when you’re that fifth or sixth receiver on the roster, it’s all about doing the little things and making sure you can help make bigger things happen if you’re not doing them yourself. That’s Martin all the way.
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