Indispensable: Doug Martin
May 28th, 2013
Adam Schein
Joe could point to all sorts of players who, if lost to injury, could screw the Bucs.
The first who springs to Joe’s mind is defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. The next one would be Pro Bowl receiver Vincent Jackson. One also could make an argument for safety Dashon Goldson (Bucs fans should really watch the Saints-49ers playoff game on NFL Game Rewind from 2011 to get an idea of how Goldson lays the wood to receivers and running backs).
But Adam Schein disagrees.
The popular sports radio and television personality has typed a column for NFL.com and argues that not only is Doug Martin irreplaceable, he has Martin as the ninth-most “indispensable” player in the NFL.
9) Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs rightly don’t trust quarterback Josh Freeman. The drafting of Mike Glennon and the ensuing comments from head coach Greg Schiano (who said the rookie “can play quickly”) are further proof of this.
The Bucs are all about Martin. They are going to pound the ball with the second-year stud, especially with offensive guards Davin Joseph and Carl Nicks returning from injury. When opponents stack the box to stop the human bowling ball, Vincent Jackson will dominate down field.
Joe just can’t argue with Schein here. Last year, when Martin was running rampant through defenses, the Bucs generally won.
Here’s the thing, though, if Josh Freeman struggles, defenses are just going to load up with eight or nine guys in the box and basically dare Freeman to throw the ball.
As always, the Bucs’ success this season begins and ends with Freeman.
May 28th, 2013 at 4:03 pm
And for the past 4 seasons Freeman’s season ends in failure. Hopefully there is enough team to drag JFro and the Dline to a playoff game.
May 28th, 2013 at 4:04 pm
Training camp cant get here fast enough!
May 28th, 2013 at 4:21 pm
A bit of news…Ronde Barber would have been listed at #55 on the Top 100 if he had not retired.
May 28th, 2013 at 4:38 pm
I wouldn’t say Freeman’s last 4 seasons ended in failure, Realist. He had a 10-6 season mixed in there, and he didn’t start his entire rookie year (though he didn’t win many anyway that year).
I think Adam Schein is wrong about Josh Freeman.
May 28th, 2013 at 5:18 pm
I mentioned this the other day. That Doug Martin would hurt the Bucs more than any other player to go down. He really is the engine of this offense.
May 28th, 2013 at 5:21 pm
It’s not just Schein who thinks this about Freeman. He’s in the vast majority.
A good DC will gamble on Freeman’s arm beating him, not on Martins legs.
May 28th, 2013 at 5:29 pm
I have no idea why Freeman wouldn’t be success this year. Prove it Freeman!
May 28th, 2013 at 5:34 pm
Don’t agree. Jackson is the guy. Jackson is the catalyst, the one who forces teams to pull a defender away from the line. Martin benefited greatly from this, as that extra seam is what he needed to break through as the season progressed.
You take away Martin and there still aren’t 8 guys in the box. Jackson guarantees that. Whereas you take away Jackson and Martin will be lucky to find a hole to run through, there will be so many defenders stacked on the line.
May 28th, 2013 at 5:40 pm
Jackson definitely would be a huge blow to the offense. I just don’t think it is more of a blow than Doug. Jackson and Doug feed off each other in game. Jackson keeps them from stacking the box while Doug makes them keep their eyes in the backfield. The only difference is there isn’t as dramatic of a dropoff from Vincent to Mike Williams as their is from Doug to James/Smith/Leonard/etc.
May 28th, 2013 at 6:11 pm
I agree that Martin is indispensable. That is why I am puzzled we let Blount go.
There is something about the Blount relationship with the Bucs that we don’t know and may never know. They didn’t want to play him and didn’t want to retain him.
Also, we have seen no development with Smith.
Hopefully, James will fill the backup role. Even muscle hamsters can pull up lame on occaision.
May 28th, 2013 at 6:24 pm
Load up the box! Take away two games with 8 interceptions and I’ll take another 4000 yards from Freeman. I’d also love a defense that did not give up a touchdown every time you blinked. With a little luck, we might have both.
May 28th, 2013 at 6:30 pm
“if Josh Freeman struggles”
After 4 seasons it has shown to become a pattern and most if not all defenses will likely be counting on it…. I know many Bucs fans are expecting it as well!……. RUN DOUGY RUN!!!
May 28th, 2013 at 7:06 pm
One thing Rah said that was true was “It’s all about number 5”. I’m going to hammer the 6.5 over and root for Josh and the Bucs all year long.
May 28th, 2013 at 7:32 pm
In reference to Goldson laying lumber…you could just ask Mike Williams if his head is still ringing from that hit he took in 2011 during that drubbing the Niners handed us. I am glad he is a Buc and I am sure Mike feels the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39AsbvKfNPQ
May 28th, 2013 at 7:50 pm
If Freeman is given the freedom to audible on any given play instead of having to follow a somewhat unflexible script, then I think if defenses try to stack the box, Freeman can burn them if allowed to change the play. But if he has to follow a script then a lot of times we will run into the teeth of the defense. Sometimes this can work if we get constant penetration that demoralizes their front seven but we would do better by keeping them honest and that means Freeman making accurate throws underneath on more audibles. But…. My question is … “Is Freeman proficient at decyphering defensive schemes from one play to the next”? This is a trait that elite QB’s possess and is why they excell at their game. Can Josh be more than a system QB? and if so, would Schiano trust Josh to make these split second decisions on running the offense. My gut says Schiano would never give Josh that much autonomy to make unscripted audibles. Whereas the rookie QB Mike Glennon may be given that trust. The dude is incredibly smart and I think if their is any drop-off on Freemans play, Schiano wouldn’t hesitate to try out his new prospect.
May 28th, 2013 at 7:53 pm
@TimBukTwo@OneBucPalace
I agree with most of your post but I can already tell you if stevek sees your post he will just complain about the one play where Freeman’s headset went out.
May 28th, 2013 at 8:01 pm
Nice vid Rob.
The one with him laying out Early Doucet was ridiculous. The guys an Assault Weapon. Please dont ban him Mr President.
May 28th, 2013 at 8:26 pm
Once Again!
The Fate of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the hands of their DEFENSE!!
Josh Freeman IS NOT THE ALBOTROSS! He is the Team’s Strength!
Play Long Ball and let Josh move to different Launch Points. 10 wins will be a lock. Good Defense is what will get Bucs OVER THE HUMP!
Dang! Stay Focused & Chant DEFENSE — DEFENSE—DEFENSE!
May 28th, 2013 at 8:45 pm
Put 8 in the box…
The Dougenator will still rip em apart!
May 28th, 2013 at 9:07 pm
WestCoastBucsFan,
In a way stevek would be right because that is a perfect example of a QB that appeared to be lost and struggled to perform without a scripted play called. Not, that it really was Josh’s fault, when you’ve been in a system where the decisions are strictly made by the OC and then all of a sudden he had to make a crucial play call on his own. I want to see the team allow Josh to perform this year without all the restraints in the final year of his rookie contract. If the team wants to see Josh succeed then let him use all his tools. That means making audibles, designed or audibled QB runs.
May 28th, 2013 at 10:28 pm
Bounce passing the ball to Doug on a 20 foot throw behind the line of scrimmage…DOESN’T HAVE S.H.I.T. TO DO WITH BEING ALOUD TO AUDIBILE!!!!
Josh was/is extremely inconsistent in college and the pros; to try to make an excuse (i.e., blaming the coaching) for Free especially trying to give him more play calling authority would just put more thoughts in his already shaky decision making-HEAD.
WAKE THE H UP!!!! SOME OF YOU FANS ARE IN A FANATSY WORLD!!!
May 28th, 2013 at 11:29 pm
I’m fine with teams thinking Josh is predictable. I’m fine with them thinking he will make mistakes thru the air. Because thexonly reason he made those mistakes was because the defense lost the lead game after game and the offensive line played inconsistently, allowing teams to get to Freeman much of the time.
I suspect Sully will mix things up this year, allowing Freeman more latitude to run and call plays. And even if there are some turnovers the defense will hold…assuming our DT position does.
May 29th, 2013 at 5:46 am
Seems to me the Freeman to Jackson and Williams connection was just fine and what opened things up for @ 22. Other than 2 to 4 games last season Josh’s play was outstanding. The media just keeps echoing what they hear and distort. Not what they know.
May 29th, 2013 at 7:08 am
Freeman made mistakes because the defense lost the lead? No fair, no fair, you can’t do that to Josh!
Which is the point, a franchise QB gets better when the going gets tough. The rest of the NFL is shaking it’s collective head, wondering why such a supposed talent has a glass dome.
Freeman got a little help with Jackson, Nicks, Martin and yes even a somewhat diminished version of Dallas Clark. The D got LaVonte David.
Sorry Chief, your an apologist, the epitome of a homer.