HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610) -- Texans outside linebacker Jacob Martin could see an increased role in his second season with the team.
Houston needs to improve its pass rush, which ranked 27th in the NFL in sacks last season, and Martin is considered to be one of the Texans' better players in that area.
Martin was traded to the Texans in the deal that sent former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney to the Seattle Seahawks.
He didn't make an immediate impact, recording his first sack of the season in Week 12 against the Indianapolis Colts. Martin forced a fumble on Jaguars rookie Gardner Minshew in Week 9, played in London. And perhaps his biggest game as a Texan came in the AFC Wild Card round, when Martin sacked Bills quarterback Josh Allen once and recovered a fumble by Allen in the same game.
Martin, who head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien has complemented for the energy he brings to practice and his quick first step as a pass rusher, has high hopes for 2020.
He's 21 pounds heavier to withstand the physical punishment of his position and has goals of reaching double-digit sacks this season.
Martin said Monday he's more comfortable in the Texans' system after being around for a full season and even the peculiar offseason with COVID-19 restrictions as a barrier to his normal routine.
"I would say there's a tremendous difference in returning after a season where I was kind of just thrown in the fire," said Martin, who arrived last year just 10 days before the Texans opened the season on Monday Night Football against the Saints.
"I think the sky's the limit. I'm excited to show what I'm capable of. I'm excited just to show off my versatility, my abilities to rush the passer and get after the passer. So, the ceiling's high for me. I'm not going to say what my personal goals are, but obviously double-digits sacks is what I'm chasing. That's the goal and that should be the outcome."
