Ravens cornerback Derrick Martin saw Minnesota quarterback John David Booty make an enormous mistake as soon as the ball was snapped: he stared at receiver Nate Jones.
So when Booty released the short pass to the sideline, Martin broke in front of Jones and intercepted it and ran untouched 22 yards into the end zone to for an easy touchdown.
The play was just another in a long list of big ones for Martin, who played extremely well as he tries to establish himself among a group of nine cornerbacks fighting for as many as six rosters spots.
“I think right now I’m well-rounded,” Martin said. “I can play up in press, I can run with the guys, I just feel like I’m on top of my game. I feel like I can run with anybody.”
Martin, who has sat out practice the last two days with a shoulder injury, has taken advantage of prolonged absences of projected starters Chris McAlister (knee injury) and Samari Rolle (bereavement) during the preseason.
The 5-foot-10, 202-pounder has made four tackles and a team-high three pass deflections in two preseason games, and will look to possibly secure a roster spot with a strong performance against the Rams on Saturday night at 8 in St. Louis.
“Derrick Martin has had a really good camp all the way around,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s been making plays every day. He looks likes he’s improved tremendously from last year, so he’s in the hunt.”
Last month, it didn’t appear the team’s sixth-round pick out of Wyoming in 2006 had a future in Baltimore.
After playing in all 16 games and finishing with 26 tackles — 17 on special teams — to go along with two interceptions, Martin got into legal trouble last month.
Martin was cited for alleged drug possession at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport when security officials discovered three small packets of suspected marijuana. Martin has declined to comment about the incident, but the Ravens’ spoke loudly by acquiring veterans Frank Walker and Fabian Washington to compete for Martin’s job. The Ravens’ secondary ranked 20th out of 32 teams in passing defense last season, allowing an average of 222.3 passing yards per game.
“He’s done a complete [180-degree] turn in the time he’s been here,” Rolle said. “He’s having a great camp. He’s just making plays and that’s what being a DB is all about. Of course there are time when you are going to get beat, but it’s how you bounce back from that that’s important.”
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