Schiano Hopes And Thinks Doug Martin Will Start
August 10th, 2012
The leader of the New Schiano Order made his feelings known on Miami sports radio
LeGarrette Blount may now sit atop the Bucs’ depth chart at running back, and the competition between Blount and Martin may be a fair one, but Greg Schiano has already decided who he hopes will be his starting running back.
That would be Martin.
Schiano made the stunning revelation yesterday to former Dolphins tight end turned radio host Joe Rose on WQAM-AM 560 in Miami.
Joe Rose: A lot of people love your first three picks in this draft, from a safety to a running back to a linebacker. You expect all three guys, [Mark] Barron, [Doug] Martin and [Lavonte] David to all start?
Greg Schiano: Sure hope so. Yeah. I mean they’ve been doing very well in camp. And, you know, I think they’re really talented guys and they pick things up very quickly, all three of them. So, that’s our hope. That’s our plan. But you know you can’t make stuff happen. It’s got to happen on the field. But I think it will.
Well, the head coach has a favorite in the running backs race. And that likely means Blount’s going to have to look a lot better than Martin in preseason to be the lead back come opening day.
Schiano might be trying to publicly light a fire under Blount, but Joe suspects Schiano was just calling it as he sees it and opened up a bit more than he probably wanted to. Listening to the nearly 15-minute interview — quite long for Schiano — the head coach was very relaxed with Rose, who seemed to be an old friend from Schiano’s days at the University of Miami.
Regardless, the Bucs need both Martin and Blount to grind out significant carries for the team to have a shot at a winning season.
August 10th, 2012 at 7:07 am
The reality is, it doesn’t matter who starts, we need both to do well, if it’s Martin starting and Blount closing, so be it, because if Blount is on the field in the middle of the 3rd qtr that means we have the lead and we are in game shortening mode.
August 10th, 2012 at 7:34 am
I really don’t think he’s saying anything that any other head coach wouldn’t say. Of course you want a guy you drafted in the first round to start otherwise it may look like you made a bad pick. This is just fishing for controversy when there really isn’t any. Something the media seems to thrive on these days.
Look at another way. A guys that gets signed that went undrafted is better than a guy you drafted in the first round. By all accounts most would think the guy you drafted should be the starter. I do think Blount is going to have something to say about it but once again the Bucs win as long as both are productive. Who gives a rats arse who starts other than the two men in question. And they probably don’t care as long as we win.
August 10th, 2012 at 7:39 am
Meh, overblown. What’s he supposed to say, “Well, I hope the two defensive players start, but I’d really rather see Blount hold off Martin?”
He wants what they saw in the players when they drafted them to be realized. So of course they saw starter potential in Martin when they drafted him, or else they wouldn’t have.
There was really no other answer, so I don’t think it’s too revealing.
August 10th, 2012 at 7:55 am
great reporting thom…errr joe.
(just kidding :))
i agree with the above posters.
August 10th, 2012 at 8:32 am
I hope Blount mauls people tonight. Guess you’re destined to be the underdog for life when you’re undrafted.
August 10th, 2012 at 8:33 am
Yea I think your reading to much into this one Joe. Though I am sure 2.2 will agree with you for once.
August 10th, 2012 at 8:34 am
I would hope two 1st rounders and a 2nd rounder had “starter” ability.
You don’t trade up for Doug and LaVonte without starter aspirations.
August 10th, 2012 at 8:35 am
Some people think Martin was the best running back in the entire draft. Think about it ? How much have you heard about Trent Richardson, lately ?
Of course he will start, and Blount will probably finish. As long as Tampa wins, who cares ?
August 10th, 2012 at 8:36 am
Gotta say I agree with the other posters. Nothing to this. The words “I want Martin to start over Blount” did not come out of his mouth. This was just an run-of-the-mill response to an innocuous question.
August 10th, 2012 at 8:40 am
flmike, Brad, Fatmosh,
Ditto, ditto, and ditto!
lurker
You beat me to it!
August 10th, 2012 at 8:55 am
I think there is truth to his words. Regardless, it’s nothing we didn’t know already.
As long as we win, whatever that takes.
August 10th, 2012 at 9:38 am
I have to say that it’s a huge leap from “I hope all three of them eventually start but you can’t force things” to saying that Doug Martin is his favorite. He may be but I really didn’t come to that conclusion from what Schiano said. I think anybody you draft in the first two rounds you look at as eventual starters or why draft them? I think the Packers looked at Aaron Rogers as the eventual starter when they drafted him but it took 5 years. I believe Martin is the better back and will be the starter but I really didn’t hear “Martin is my favorite” in what Schiano said.
August 10th, 2012 at 9:39 am
“How much have you heard about Trent Richardson, lately ?”
Well, I heard he just had arthroscopic knee surgery but is “expected” to be ready for week one…not a great sign for your brand new “franchise” player.
August 10th, 2012 at 9:43 am
All you Blount lovers have blinders on. The head coach just said “that’s our hope. that’s our plan” when asked if his top rookies will start. How much clearer can he make it???
August 10th, 2012 at 10:13 am
very clear to me ^^^ # muscle hamster
August 10th, 2012 at 10:25 am
Props to Schiano for the candor.
Re: Martin. You trade up to the first round for a rotation guy?
Baron and David were drafted full knowing Geno and Tanard were gone too. This regime’s focus is on complete football players, not atheletic specimens with glaring flaws.
August 10th, 2012 at 10:27 am
Joe,
You say “stunning revelation” in jest right? I like Blount as much as the next guy, but the fact of the matter is that Martin has the potential to be a complete back. To me Schiano sees a little Ray Rice potential in him. I think Blount will get the starting nod until Martin develops. And once Martin develops we will have a tenacious 2-headed monster. Martin wearing them out in the 1st half and Blount destroying them in the 2nd. The possibilty of 2 1000 yard backs might happen in the near future.
August 10th, 2012 at 11:23 am
Martin is the proto-typical running back that can do a lot of different things well. His size – short, stout and fast – makes him ideal in what Schiano wants to do in the run game and outlet pass. Saying he has the attributes he wants and hoping he demonstrates them is one thing, but actually doing it in games will tell the tail of him starting.
August 10th, 2012 at 11:33 am
I told a tail once, and my dad beat my tale!
August 10th, 2012 at 11:46 am
Did I miss something? Schiano did not say Martin was his favorite to start. Another example of beat writer syndrome (fill in the gaps and make it interesting).
August 10th, 2012 at 11:52 am
@mikeck
Saw a very telling blurb about Richardson, Dr. Andrews has been his doctor since his days as a high school star. That is not a good sign.
August 10th, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Woah hold the phone there, Joe-boy! You’re telling me Schiano wants his first three draft picks (ever) to be starters in the NFL?
Well you don’t say! This has NOTHING to do with him wanting Martin over Blount, and everything to do with him wanting his picks to pan out as NFL starting calibur players. Way to stir the pot, though
August 10th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
Joe did stir the pot, i have about 20 twitter updates stating schiano wants martin to start. Even though he really never said that. Fantasy football nerds are twittering it out like fact though.
August 10th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Blount will be more suitable to man-blocking, Martin to zone. The play-caller has to avoid getting into a rut, though.
August 10th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
Doesn’t mean a thing, because both RB’s will be an integral part of the offense. Does it really matter what player takes the first snap? RB is unlike any other position, in which the term “starter” is used rather loosely.
August 10th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
It’s hard to be right so frequently while constantly being personally attacked for it.
August 10th, 2012 at 2:07 pm
A blanket statement that the HC hopes his three top picks will become starters IS NOT the same as him saying he like Martin better than Blount. This is a stupid and misleading article.
August 10th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Thomass
Your lack of tact, coupled with your “you ladies”, “sheep”, “idiots” and “dumb a$$es”, that are in your OPINIONS are the reason for the personal attacks!
Hope your arms are long enough to pat that back of yours!
August 10th, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Thomas…what exactly were you ‘right’ about this time?? If I remember correctly Blount is starting the pre-season game. On top of that, just about everyone realizes that Martin is going to be starting eventually. You are soooooo wrong about sooooooo much that you should just read more and post less.
August 10th, 2012 at 3:19 pm
@mikeck
I heard that too. Knee problems before his first NFL start isn’t a good look.
August 10th, 2012 at 8:20 pm
What would people be saying if Schiano said: No I drafted him in the first round to back up the undrafted free agent? Come on!
August 10th, 2012 at 10:36 pm
oar says:
“Thomass
Your lack of tact, coupled with your “you ladies”, “sheep”, “idiots” and “dumb a$$es”, that are in your OPINIONS are the reason for the personal attacks!”
i agree 10000%