Jimmy Martin Season 2005

What can you say about the camaraderie of the offensive lineman?
We are all in the same boat. We don't get the press or make the flashy moves, so we have bonded by having each other's backs and tried to have our own fun. We are like a big family - like brothers - everyone gets along with everyone.

Why do you think the offensive line is such a brotherly unit?
We have to have good communication and we have to trust each other. It just comes with the position. If one guy plays well and four play bad, the team will suffer, we all have to play well to succeed as a team and unit.

Do you take greater pride in a 100-yard rusher or a 100-yard passer behind you?
Definitely a rusher. It means you are dominating the defense and the defensive line up and down the field. When Mike Imoh broke the school record for rushing in a game we felt very proud about it.

Is it more demoralizing to a defensive line to hold them to no sacks in a game or run over them for a long drive?
If you are running the ball down their throat, you are forcing them to give up yardage, whereas passing is going over their heads to take yards. If you are running the ball well, you are going off the snap and blowing them off the line of scrimmage and it can set the tone for an entire game.

What do you guys talk about in your sit-downs after practice?
After practice, we like to sit around on the field as a group and talk about practice, maybe relish in a good block, talk about a tough drill or get a couple of laughs at a fellow lineman's expense. It's like we are sitting around someone's house and just relaxing and talking about the day or week. It helps to bring the younger players into the fold of our group.

How have you tried to work with the younger players?
When I was a younger player, they made you feel like you had someone to talk to and that you were part of the group and the bigger picture. We try to do that with our younger players by talking to them and showing them how you do things, so they will perpetuate it when I am gone and they are the older guys.

Did you learn a lot from being around a player like Bryan Randall last season?
He was a good example for a lot of people and just the way he carried himself or the way he never gave in or lost his cool. He made us play up to his level and just went out there and got the job done.

What is the toughest thing about protecting a mobile style quarterback?
I feel like it's an advantage to have a mobile quarterback to an offensive line. If there is a lot of pressure, they feel it better than a standard drop back passer might. But also I think defenses against Bryan and Marcus [Vick] have restricted their pass rush a little to help contain them and cut off their rushing lanes.

What are some life lessons you will take from playing football at Virginia Tech?
In high school I think I didn't always listen to what people were telling me. Football here has made me to learn to work on the little things; being on time, showing up for class on time, doing the little things.

What are some of your favorite games or moments at Tech?
We talk about moments more than anything else, but our stories are always about funny things more than anything else. One story was how James Miller, who graduated last year, would pull outside on a cutback off tackle, but he had a hitch in his step, and Imoh would always have to almost push him along. It was funny because Mike would always come back to the huddle and laugh at him every time we ran the play.