IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys knew they were getting just about a sure thing when they took Zack Martin with their first round pick in May.

They just didn't know he would be this good, this fast.

"He's pretty good," coach Jason Garrett said in a massive understatement. "The biggest thing with him for me is he just plays so maturely for such a young guy and has right from the start. We put him in on minute one and he acted like he's been doing this for a long time at this level against really good players. Never seems too big for him. He has all the physical traits that you want to do it.

"He's strong. He's quick. He's explosive. He's got good hands. He's got good feet. He's mentally tough. He's physically tough. All those things. Now, he has to get a lot better, don't get me wrong. He ain't perfect by any means. But there's so much good there and the fact that he plays so maturely emotionally, as well as technically and otherwise, for a young guy is pretty impressive."

Martin started every game he played at Notre Dame at right and left tackle. He is 6-for-6 with the Cowboys at right guard.

Offensive line coach Bill Callahan believes that experience at tackle has helped Martin inside at guard because his athleticism stands out on the interior. Callahan also loves the perfectionist in Martin. He noticed Martin was down after getting tossed by Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt two weeks ago.

"I just kind of laughed and said, ‘Look it happens to everybody. Everybody is going to get rolled up. Everyone is going to get run over, get trucked as we call it. It happens.'" Callahan said. "It's just something that's going to happen to every lineman. He takes such great pride in what he does. Every time he takes a rep, he's competing to win everything he does. That's what you love about him. Every time he steps up to the plate he's trying to hit a home run."