Bombers go to Markett

Speedy defender gets his chance, plans to make the most of it

By: Tim Campbell Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Thursday, Jul. 25, 2013

The eyes have it.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/07/2013 (4434 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The eyes have it.

Marty Markett, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defender of few words but fast feet, will be another team member making his first career start Friday night at Investors Group Field against the Calgary Stampeders.

trevor hagan / winnipeg free press
Defensive back Marty Markett (27) works against receiver Rory Kohlert at practice Wednesday. Markett gets his first start Friday after a few games as backup. — trevor hagan / winnipeg free press Defensive back Marty Markett (27) works against receiver Rory Kohlert at practice Wednesday. Markett gets his first start Friday after a few games as backup.

The 23-year-old from South Carolina has been in the Bombers’ first four games as a backup defensive back but a series of dominoes — Johnny Sears Jr., is hurt again, so Demond Washington will go from defensive back to that nickel spot, creating the opening for Markett — put him into Game 5 with a decent amount of time on the learning curve.

Asked what he’s doing better since training camp, Markett was positively conversant with his list.

“Technique,” he started. “The small details. In and out of breaks. Where my eyes are. Those smaller details that coaches work with you on forever. These are small things but they play a big part, you know, what are my reads and what am I looking at?

“And my backpedal and staying low, things like that.”

Watching the right things has already led Markett to contribute four tackles, and three more on special teams, to this point in the season.

“I’ve definitely adjusted well, feel more settled,” he said. “Just looking forward to playing more.”

Is he viewing the start as a big personal event, something with greater meaning?

“I’ve already been playing,” he replied. “It’s just more playing time, really.”

Markett said his teammates, especially his comrades on the defensive side of the ball, have been more than encouraging and supportive.

“All of them. They’re just telling me to trust in myself, believe in myself, that I have a great talent and to just go out and play football,” he said. “They just say, ‘Don’t think too much, just line up and play.’ “

‘They’re just telling me to trust in myself, believe in myself, that I have a great talent and to just go out and play football’

— Marty Markett, on the support he’s getting from his teammates

For a player new to the league as Markett is, the subject of the CFL’s wider field usually seems to come up.

“It’s the same as practice, really,” he said. “We practise on this field every day so you get used to it really, around training camp time.”

With that major visual and “feel” hurdle dealt with, Markett said Thursday he’s already been able to feel positive about most of what he’s been able to do so far.

“Just playing 100 per cent every snap,” he said. “Just reading my keys, making good tackles. And when you’re out there on the field, you give it everything you’ve got because we’re all counting on each other.

“You have to be accountable. So when I’m out there, I give it 100 per cent effort.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca