Martez Ivey, Florida: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
Florida’s Martez Ivey is a well-known offensive line prospect who is more hype than production at this stage of his career.
Martez Ivey joined the Florida football program as a highly regarded recruit who was projected to play left tackle. However, he has been shift inside to guard which better suits his skill set. Ivey isn’t a candidate to play left tackle mainly because of his lack of foot speed.
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Overall, this is a stiff athlete who doesn’t feature enough mobility or bend to hold up in space. He features heavy feet and a slow shuffle. Too often, Ivey will stand flatfooted which keeps him from mirroring the defender.
He’s also a waste bender who struggles to maintain balance. This lack of balance also impacts his ability to change direction and adjust. There are times where Ivey struggles to protect the quarterback from his guard position.
Ivey isn’t a complete liability in pass protect as he does a good job anchoring after contact. He keeps a wide base and has the raw strength to hold at the point of attack. However, Ivey must do a better job shuffling his feet if he wants to stick in the NFL.
Another strength of his game is his aggressiveness as a run blocker. Ivey routinely fires off the ball, gains inside hands and generates some movement. His aggressiveness as a run blocker would make him a solid fit in a power running scheme.
Ivey’s run blocking isn’t perfect as he does need to do a better job latching to the defender. Too often, he will slip off his block and allow the defender to purse. The ability to Velcro to the defender is important for an offensive lineman.
Overall, Ivey shows some promise as a run blocker but his struggles protecting the quarterback are a problem. He just doesn’t have the bend or fluidity to keep defenders out of the backfield.