Doug Martin Averaging 3.4 Yards Per Carry
September 23rd, 2012
Much like Chucky couldn’t figure out how to use both Antonio Bryant and Joey Galloway, Mike Sullivan can’t find a way to maximize the talents of LeGarrette Blount and Doug Martin.
Rookie Doug Martin has 63 carries under his NFL belt, and Martin is averaging 3.4 yards per carry.
The ol’ ball coach says, “Stats are for losers,” but Joe knows otherwise.
Look, Joe’s not down on Martin, but clearly his production is not what it needs to be yet for the Bucs to be successful.
LeGarrette Blount, who averaged 4.2 yards a carry during an “off season” in 2011, remains on the bench.
Clearly, Mike Sullivan can’t figure out how to use both players, let alone how dangerous the Bucs might be with a few plays designed to get both Blount and Martin on the field at the same time. This reminds Joe of how Chucky couldn’t find a way to get Joey Galloway and Antonio Bryant on the field together.
Joe just doesn’t get it, especially from Sullivan who comes from an offense that found a way to use three running backs successfully in 2008, and routinely rotated Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs for years after.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Martin is not too blame at all. I’m not putting it on DJ Ware either. Freeman couldn’t even get us into field goal range until the last 30 seconds.
We should’ve pulled Aikman out of the booth and asked him if he’s willing to un-retire.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:24 pm
Joe your bias towards Blount and hate for Martin is getting old. Anyone with a pair of eyes can tell that Martin isnt getting a fair chance. 1st and 10 is a dive up the middle, anyone who watches a bucs game knows is comming, so defenses sell out on that. Are you expecting a 5ypc when teams know its coming?
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Sullivan has zero feel for the game, obviously, with a running play call on 3rd and long in the last two minutes. He also has no feel for personnel and like Greg Olson, doesn’t know how to help recievers get off of man coverage with rub routes. It is beyond sickening and something needs to change.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:29 pm
We have the WORST offensive coordinator in the NFL. Abd Josh is just sux! When are we going ti use all of our SUPPOSED talent.
I love my team but this game was a complete embarrasment!!!!!
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:30 pm
@Travis – You’re an idiot. Everyone who was anti-Blount said that last year Blount was too predictable because his presence in the game meant a running play up the middle and the defense knew it was coming. Yet Blount still averaged 4.1 yards per carry.
Last year Blount was better than Martin is so far this year.
Blount had the SAME boat of predictable runs in 2010 when he ran for 1,000 yards in 12 games.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:31 pm
There is NO bias…Joes’ right on. Martin hasn’t outperformed Blount in ANY way. We will be force fed the hamster and we will like it, performance and production be damned. IMO, this is not Sully’s doin, but Shiano ego will not let Blount get in the game, cuz Martin is Napolean’s Ray Rice, although I’ve yet to see anything resembling Rice. Blount has nearly 2000 yds of proof why he should be the starter, and the hamster do what hamsters do…3rd down.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Yep agree completely. Blount has shown to be the better runner so far this season. That may be due in part to Martin running the ball every down and being worn out already after just three games.
Mike Sullivan should be ashamed after that game and hey we might as well let him finish out the season but if this is the best he’s got he had better be gone when the final game ends.
That was pathetic play calling wise. Not only pathetic but unnerving. I just can’t fathom a guy who has been coaching in this league like Sullivan is that incompetent. I just cant believe it.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:39 pm
It doesn’t help that we hired a Greg Olsen clone as our OC!
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:43 pm
Its time the coaches learn that in the NFL you are judged by the results you put on the field. This BS Schiano continues to feed about how they judge who plays at RB based off of “the feel of the game” is insulting to the fans.
Blount is a victim of bull-headed arrogance in my opinion because the coach has to take care of “his boy,” when the reality is that his boy isnt getting it done. Yes the play calling is very much to blame, and puts Martin at a disadvantage, but it’s been well-stated that Blount had the same handicap and put up superior results in 2 NFL seasons.
Also, how long will it take to see a QB sneak on these 3rd/4th and shorts? It took Olsen almost a whole season, I really hope it doesnt take Sullivan that long to figure out how sure thing Freeman is on those plays at least.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:54 pm
Big Picture you are spot on. The stubborness that this coaching staff is showing is incredible. They refuse to adjust their game plan, they claim they go with the hot hand running wise yet Blount comes in for two plays and gains 15 yards only to return one more time. The passing routes are plain jane and the receivers cant get open. Not only do we run way too much with no results, its the same dang run play with the same dang running back.
The whole thing was pathetic. This coaching staff thinks they are going to change the NFL, be successful without ever passing, use one running back to pound the rock over and over to grind out wins. Well we’ll see if you can change the NFL or if the NFL will chew you up and spit you out as it has done with so many stubborn coaches before.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:55 pm
I don’t know when Blounts contract is up but if I were him I would demand a ridiculous pay day, and if the Bucs don’t agree to it, he should take his talents elsewhere. I wouldn’t be mad at him at all.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:56 pm
I like our RB’s and I am completely lost on why we can’t get something going in the running game. Blount is our Power,Martin is our all around, and Smith is our speed. What more do you want to make it work Sullivan.
I’d like to see more Blount to the outside behind Penn and Nicks. Let’s see some toss plays with Smith to use that speed to the outside or mabey some QB option plays.
I know it’s a video game, but Madden 13 option with Freeman and toss to Smith I be taking it to the house all the time lol. I just want something quit being so predictable.
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:03 pm
what started out with a bang, ended prematurely,kinda like many adolecent boys first time. but damnitt we been trying for 4 years now freeman. what the hell is schiano thinking, we’ve got you a deep threat ,added the best guard in the nfl,traded up for supposedlly was the 2nd best back in the draft,got rid of prima donna winslow added a pro bowler tightend,got theee best field goal kicker in the game.and this is all you guys can muster and lets not forget damn blount had 1000 yard season 2 years ago what the buc is going on here? hate to say it but it’s going to be another long season if gregory does’nt get freemans head out off his ass! 3 quarters max if he can’t get it done bring in orlavsky. if were gonna lose i hope its enough to get first pick and maybe we will get the next rg3 luck newton or any damn qb that can play in the nfl if our qb play was average at best we would be 3-0
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:04 pm
Were the hell is Mike Smith for punt returns!!
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:19 pm
My voice is tired from yelling for Blount. By my calculations, Blount averaged 6 yards per carry today. I like Martin, but Blount is a beast.
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:24 pm
That was an embarrassing effort on offense, and it falls squarely on the shoulder of Mike Shula, errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, Sullivan. Even Clyde Christensen’s offense wasn’t this ugly.
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:29 pm
In Martin’s defense, the plays called kept him running between the tackles, even when there were no holes, repeatedly. How about some outside stuff every now & then? A toss play or sumpin??
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:33 pm
@Mike J – You mean have an O coordinator that actually is inventive? How about Blount and Martin in the same backfield to confuse the defense. We can still throw out of that.
Blount’s a good football player. It’s only Schiano’s ego and/or Sullivan’s stupidity that keeps a good player on ice.
Can’t blame Dominik on this one for all you Dominik haters.
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:42 pm
What were witnessing is the Dave Wanstedt brand of offensive football. He perfected “Lose close” and Schiano appears to have adopted his protocol.
I had hoped to never see it again.
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Our biggest trouble seems to be 2nd down. Martin has had some success gaining 4 yards or so on first down. However, it’s almost a guarantee we are going to run the exact same play on second down, and not surprisingly, we get no success. Believe it or not, we can actually throw the ball on 2nd and 6. It’s not a penalty. And once again, did we run one sweep or stretch play all game? We never run outside the tackles. I just don’t understand it.
I think Martin is fine, but we have to use Blount too. If we are going to let him carry the ball 3 times a game, then we might as well cut or trade him and get someone who can contribute. I thought for sure after he ran the ball well for 2 series he would get more touches, but I thought wrong. It really seems that Sullivan has no idea how to utilize both guys and be successful. It can’t be that hard, can it?
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:24 pm
I just watched as much of the game as I could stomach. I am really beginning to get the feeling over and over again that Freeman has had his natural scrambling ability taken away by coaches. It seems that there are times when he wants to escape the pocket, then thinks about what his coach has said and stays put. It really appears that these players have had their natural ability taken away. Similar to Blount is slow to hit a hole. It’s called patience and works very well for some backs. If there is nothing there bounce it somewhere else but all appearance is they are afraid to because the wrath of Schiano. A running back should never be so committed to a hole that he can’t react if nothings there. At this level you have to let natural ability take over sometimes. Can you imagine telling Barry Sanders to be damned hit the hole anyway?
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:37 pm
@1976Bucs,
That argument may hold water had the same thing not happened last year. Freeman stopped running the ball last year too, and Blount never hit the hole hard. However, I believe that the coaching staff needs to tell Freeman TO run the ball. How about a QB draw every now and then? There comes a point where we may have to face the fact that perhaps Freeman is just not what we want him to be. I listened to his press conference after the game, and it really sounded like he has absolutely no grasp of what he is doing out there. When asked about the 2 running plays on the last drive, he seemed to have no clue what drive they were talking about. How many last drives were there in the game? I never see him making any audibles, or even changing protection. I am very scared about this.
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:42 pm
I see nothing has changed on offense. Good for 1 Long drive ( only this one came at the end of the game) which will end in a TD or FG. Other than that same ol thing. There is not a station in the world that is not putting these problems on Freeman. When he has time to pass he can’t hit the open receiver. He still stares them down. Over throws, under throws, behind you name it. Dom got taken by Morris . Now the question is how long will this coach put up with it? If your losing now with these weapons then you better get ready to try something else.
@ Vic. Agreed. Well said.
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:50 pm
I agree Eric. However, I’ll still take it over last year’s “lose by halftime”.
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:50 pm
I hear what you’re saying Hawiian and think we agree on most. Freeman has been flushed out of the pocket with much running room and it’s like he forces the ball instead of even considering picking up the 10 or so yards in front of him. I do agree with you that Blount needs some coaching on hitting the hole especially on shorter yardage. I also think we can agree that there just hasn’t been that many holes to hit for him or Martin. Some plays just look awkward, for lack of a better word. Almost hesitation, like they are thinking “I know there is nothing there…but I have to go there anyway”.
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:58 pm
Yeah, I totally agree. I remember a while back Donovan McNabb decided he wanted to be a pocket QB, and all but abandoned the run. No coincidence, but he wasn’t in the league much longer. If you are a big QB that has running ability, it makes no sense to me to not use it. Especially if you aren’t throwing the ball well. If I were Freeman, I would have taken off many times today, just to keep the defense honest. I don’t understand what Freeman is thinking.
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:13 pm
One of the things that was sold about Martin vs Blount was his receiving ability out of the backfield. He had a good catch today but he has only 6 catches in 3 games with over 60 + carries. You would think that if his pass catching ability was so critical, he have had more receptions or at least had more passes thrown to him out of the backfield. In my mind, if this were the true reason, the Rushing/Receiving numbers would be a little more balanced.
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:15 pm
Hawaiian Buc , yeah, I did see one stretch play second half.
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:16 pm
@Pruritis Ani,
Perhaps he would have more receptions if Freeman could, you know, get him the ball.
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:17 pm
@Mike J,
Really, I don’t know how I missed it. What was the result?
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:26 pm
I wuld like to see the LGB start 3 straight games with the same carries that Martin is gettng and use Martin sparingly, i got a feeling the results would be different in these games.
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:29 pm
@Hawaiin Buc
You are right, also Michael Vick does not run as much anymore. Today the Cardinals defense crushed hi in the pocket. Run the dang ball Josh!!!
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:30 pm
@Hawaiian
Agree, but I think it is a lack of utilization more than anything. Right now, it’s a run on 1st down, on 2nd down and then…MAYBE a pass downfield on 3rd down…I think the swing passes are effective when used.. For some reason, they aren’t utilizing him in that fashion.
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Exactly Pruritis Ani. Our predictability on offense is mind-blowing to me. It truly seems as if we are running the same 4 or 5 plays over and over again.
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:52 pm
You know it’s bad when you are actually hoping for the Benn’d around.
September 23rd, 2012 at 9:03 pm
What is the coaching staff doing?? I can’t take much more of this offense. We have so much talent and run the same damn plays over and over again! It is stubborness on the coaching staff and inability to make adjustments!
Blount’s first carry was a 9 yard scamper/hurdle…geez what does this guy have to do to get more action! We have beat ourselves both games and will continue to if our offense stays vanilla!
Use multiple back formations and stop the Martin up the gut madness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 23rd, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Sadly, Greg Olson’s offense was less predictable than the debacle we saw today. My patience with this offense is all gone, I want explanations from somebody that I know I won’t be getting.
September 23rd, 2012 at 9:06 pm
I don’t even like Blount but I can’t explain why he didn’t get more carries.
Muscle Hamster is very average so far. Quick feet for short gains. Not striking fear into anyone.
September 23rd, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Hawaiian Buc , run left, about 8 feet IIRC.
September 23rd, 2012 at 10:32 pm
They’re trying to make Freeman be a pocket passer which he is NOT. He should be doing roll outs and bootlegs. He lost all that weight this summer to sit in the pocket and stand still? Freeman looks scared to make mistakes so he focuses too much on one thing. He should be playing like Big Ben. I have supported Freeman since we drafted him, but he DOESNT play like a big Qb. Did you guys see how inaccurate he was today? If this continues we will be picking in the top 10 of next year’s draft for sure.
September 23rd, 2012 at 11:09 pm
.. . and to think …
the Dallas D was NOT at FULL strength…
things that make you go hmmmhh!
September 23rd, 2012 at 11:24 pm
doug is a nice pro. i would have taken him with a 4th round pick. blount is better
September 23rd, 2012 at 11:28 pm
@John,
Then you wouldn’t have had him at all. The Giants were going to take him at #32. It’s not his fault he has nowhere to run, but I agree that Blount is getting screwed.
September 24th, 2012 at 12:55 am
Martin is basically a Pittman clone. Lots of feet movement, but in reality its 3 yards, contact, go down. Same damn thing except he doesn’t have Mike’s explosiveness.
It’s time for Blount to be the man again. All he’s ever done is produce. Tired of seeing backs get brought down by arm tackles or without the ability to make anyone miss. It’s gross.
And Josh sucks. That ship has sailed. 2010 was a fluke because teams didn’t realize how good Mike Williams was and Josh just chucked at him whenever he was in trouble and Mike made a bunch of plays. Now it’s the famous 3 yard check down on 3rd and 7. Josh is probably the worst starting QB in the league right now and I’m not sure it’s all that close.
September 24th, 2012 at 6:37 am
We need a combination of coordinators. Hire Greg Olsen for the second half and keep Sullivan for the first. It seems that that’s what they are best at.