In pro football's recent and ongoing evolution, increasingly fewer offensive concepts are heavily dependent on a left tackle being able to win on an island against a quality defensive opponent.

A lot of passing attacks these days operate primarily out of spread sets with three- and five-step drop-back timing. The objective is getting the ball out quickly to skill players in space. This naturally quells a pass rush, as it is physically impossible for an edge rusher to reach a quarterback on three-step timing and very difficult for him to get there against five-step timing. Besides, when pass-rushers do get there, good quarterbacks have learned how to compensate with pocket mobility, progression-read poise and pre-snap diagnostic skills. Many also have the athleticism to extend plays on the perimeter.

What's more, much of today's game is predicated on disguise and deception. When the offense does take a deep shot (which requires a seven-step drop), it's usually out of a running formation and involves some sort of play-action. (The key to most deep-shot designs is baiting the safety into stepping forward.) These deceptive tactics often have a tight end blocking on the edge and/or a running back staying in to protect. Which means the left tackle is usually getting help.

The run game is changing, too. Yes, there will always be situations in football where an offense has to move the chains by ramming the ball through the A, B and C gaps. But more and more run games today are predicated on agility and deception. This is seen most starkly in the rise of toss sweeps and delay handoffs out of three- and four-receiver sets (including shotgun). And it's especially seen in the increasingly popular read-option (where the left tackle can essentially be something of a decoy, as the offense's objective is to force an unblocked edge defender into making an either/or decision on the ball). Gone are the days when left tackles have to constantly pile-drive opponents off the ball.

All of these trends point to less being demanded of left tackles. Where teams once needed a great player at the position, a lot of them now just need a player who doesn't stink.

So all we need to do is hope Martin develops to the point where he "doesn't stink" ???

Martin put on 15 pounds, so, let's hope it's muscle. I think he was a little above "stink" last year, but not by a whole lot. A lot of the draft analysts said that he was NFL ready going into last year.

There was concerns about Jonathan dealing with power coming out of Stanford, and that was his very biggest problem last year.

This is not a stupid kid. He a Stanford grad, so he knows better than anyone what he needs to improve. He needed to get stronger both in his base and in his upper body. I feel comfortable that the 15 lbs that were put on was muscle.

It seems that Miami is leaning towards possibly signing Eric Winston. If that does happen, Jonathan is the OLT. I think he will be ready.

I disagree with this article as quarterbacks still lack awareness and a good portion of the league's QB's take too many coverage sacks.