Martin’s Running Style Will Preserve Him
July 20th, 2013
Workhouse, “bell cow” running back Doug Martin is sure to get even more work this season.
Joe can’t think of why, in the win-now NFL, the New Schiano Order would be concerned with Martin being healthy and fresh in, say, 2015. There’s no reason to keep a valuable weapon like that on the sidelines, especially when the Bucs have a beastly, if healthy, offensive line.
Martin had the fourth-most carries in the NFL last year with 319, plus he caught 49 balls. Joe could easily see those numbers jump 15 percent this season.
The huge workload should be no problem for Martin, says former Bucs running back/fullback Earnest Graham. He explained Martin’s running style will preserve him, during a recent WDAE-AM 620 interview.
“I consider him one of the most in-shape backs in football,” Graham said of Martin. “The way I see him finish runs, the way I see him finish at the end of the game. I think for any running back [the punishment] takes its toll after a while, you know. But I think he’s one of those guys who has a heck of a work ethic and is in fantastic shape. Being his size, he doesn’t take too many, you know, square hits.
“He’s always under everybody else’s pads. So I think he’s one of those guys. I don’t think he’s going to be one of those guys you’re going to have much of problem with injuries.”
Surely, Graham is a credible analyst of Martin’s running style. But as Graham knows too well, injuries can happen in all kinds of ways. Hopefully, Bucs fans won’t find out. The ability of the running backs behind Martin is unknown, and LeGarrette Blount is a Patriot.
July 20th, 2013 at 3:08 pm
Not to jinx Dougie or anything, but I noticed something about him last season. When he runs through the line he’s very low to the ground, especially when he’s about to be tackled. Reminded me a lot of how Dunn ran when he was about to be piled on, he gets down low and does’nt take too many blows from the side. That’s what I saying every time I saw him run. I said to my wife I think this guy has a good shot to remain healthy most of his career on that alone. I don’t know if anyone else picked up on that, but I did.
July 20th, 2013 at 3:28 pm
Hopefully Doug Martin can Drag JFro-6 pak to a playoff game this year.
July 20th, 2013 at 3:28 pm
A healthy Martin is definitely a big boost. We could be looking at a top 5 running back in the making.
July 20th, 2013 at 3:37 pm
Hopefully realist, maybe Josh could pitch in a little help along the way.
July 20th, 2013 at 3:38 pm
Disagree on DMarts rushing workload increasing Joe. Spreading the ball around will make him even more effective.
What I would increase his number of passing plays.
He’s an absolute terror in free space.
July 20th, 2013 at 3:41 pm
Dougernaut made a name for himself last year even behind a decimated o-line. If he puts in the effort as last year he could possibly smash his own rookie numbers. On the plus side, I think our backup RBs are also shaping up quite nicely. We just need to get these guys through camp unscathed.
July 20th, 2013 at 3:49 pm
@Biff…maybe that’s why they aren’t too concerned about the TE position. Martin may see a lot more passes come his way this season.
July 20th, 2013 at 3:51 pm
Doug is a stud.
July 20th, 2013 at 3:58 pm
@Biff
I agree…I thinke we need to pass to Martin more often. I’d like to see a couple of shovel passes along with more pitch-outs. Getting him in space always has paid off. This is where the blocking TE & FB formations can help….blocking on short pass plays.
July 20th, 2013 at 3:59 pm
“JFro-6 pak?!” the_buc_realist is smitten with what he thinks is a clever nickname for Freeman. But I’m sure it’s not veiled racism or anything….Ha
July 20th, 2013 at 4:02 pm
I want more screen plays with Dougernaut!
July 20th, 2013 at 4:05 pm
Joe:
Give it up on Blount. He sucks. No one cares that he once ran for 1000 yards. So did Cadillac Williams. Blount is HORRIBLE in short yardage and is a huge liability on passing downs.
Leonard is a much better backup than Blount.
Blount won’t even make the roster in New England. His NFL career is done.
Care to wager on that?
July 20th, 2013 at 4:08 pm
I feel like he thinks Jfro 6 PAC is an insult but I really see nothing wrong with it at times he has had a Fro which is pretty nice hair style and there isn’t anything wrong with a 6 pac
July 20th, 2013 at 4:11 pm
Snook I think Blount has what it takes to be A good HB but I agree with what you said about Brian Leonard. I have seen a bunch of Bengals games in the last few years and he’s a beast out of the backfield.
July 20th, 2013 at 4:36 pm
Ooooooooh Snook I’m not the biggest Blount fan, but I’m tempted to take that not making the roster bet.
July 20th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
OK, some of you guys actually see the benefits of using Martin’s complete skill set! Doug in space. Cool, time to get the word out to Sully.
@ Walter
I hope we skip the screens, they are used mainly to counter when the OL is struggling with pass pro. I prefer to attack.
@ snook
I’m a Leonard homer as well. Massive upgrade here. Blount had a NASA spec pad level and hit the hole about as hard as a Girl Scout smack fight.
July 20th, 2013 at 5:06 pm
Martin will be thanking Freeman for making the right calls at the line and getting the OL in the right blocking schemes for Martin to run…..Martin and Freeman will be teammates here for years and years hopefully
July 20th, 2013 at 5:49 pm
“Joe can’t think of why, in the win-now NFL, the New Schiano Order would be concerned with Martin being healthy and fresh in, say, 2015”
yea… Im sure Gruden was thinking the same thing with cadillac and look how that turned out. Martin’s carries and catches probably will increase slightly but theres no doubt we will see Leonard and James in relief duty.
July 20th, 2013 at 6:12 pm
Biff Barker Says:
“Disagree on DMarts rushing workload increasing Joe. Spreading the ball around will make him even more effective. What I would increase his number of passing plays. He’s an absolute terror in free space.”
I have to agree with you. I would also like to see James and Smith get a few carries from time to time…especially James who is a complete unknown to me at this point.
What I wouldn’t give to have a Mike Alstott type of fullback also.
July 20th, 2013 at 6:25 pm
What I wouldn’t give to have a Mike Alstott type of fullback also.
@BuccaneerBonzai…dear lord I can close my eyes and imagine how that would be. Absolutely awesome!
July 20th, 2013 at 6:26 pm
Buc1987:
Blount has to beat out Bolden, Vareen, and Ridley who’ve already been in the NE system. And dont forget about Leon Washinton who’s a ST stud. So unless he beats out 1 of those 3 guys, Blount will have to hope NE keeps 5 RBs.
And I’ll take any of those 3 guys over Blount. And so will Belicheat.
July 20th, 2013 at 7:25 pm
Just watched the last 6 press conferences with Schiano…how can anyone not get excited for this year? lol
I have a good feeling about Eric Page too.
July 20th, 2013 at 8:11 pm
@ Walter
Martin was fifth in the league in rushing yards his rookie year. So, I wouldn’t say he’s a top five running back “in the making.” I’d say he’s a top five running back NOW.
July 20th, 2013 at 8:17 pm
Martin rushed for 1400 yards and it took him four or five games to finally get a feel for the timing behind our offensive line. He was a little jacked up early in the year and they had to adjust the time between when Freeman got the snap and when he actually handed it off, to slow Martin done a split second.
If Freeman is considered inconsistent, so too was Martin for a good portion of last season. If this entire offense can get on the same page all at one time it could be down right scary.
July 20th, 2013 at 9:01 pm
Blount’s not only big man that can hurdle. There’s the famous Leonard Leap, perfected by our own Brian Leonard at Rutgers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TN0WRV7aZw
July 20th, 2013 at 9:18 pm
Dom scored BigTime when he Drafted Doug Martin. The way he did it and right before the Giants picked. It was masterful and Martin may end up as the best player in that Draft.
And then he picked Lavonte David the absolute steal of the Draft. We have some really good players on this team now. I don’t think that even Josh Freeman can stop them from winning.
July 20th, 2013 at 9:19 pm
And I say “We” because this our team. Right?
July 20th, 2013 at 9:21 pm
T
July 20th, 2013 at 10:29 pm
“And I say “We” because this our team. Right?”
Correct.
I sure act like I have some stock in the team on Sundays anyway.
July 21st, 2013 at 11:07 am
Buc1987-I felt the same exact thing, the guy that comes to mind when evaluating Martin’s style is Warrick Dunn, who by the way had a long career with over 10,000 yards in his career! Doug Martin runs very low and runs skinny between the tackles, I think I seen like one good hit on him last year, and he breaks a lot of tackles too, which is an indicator that defenders are not teeing off on him, I also see a similar career to Maurice Jones Drew, either way, we have what may ultimately be the Bucs best all time running back when he decides to hang up his cleats. I think Dom & Company hit a grand slam while moving up to draft Martin, who was assured a spot on the Giants’ lineup!
July 21st, 2013 at 5:37 pm
Didn’t James Wilder have something like 419 carries one season?? & he had a style that took punishment, unlike Martin.
July 22nd, 2013 at 10:42 am
[…] Will Doug Martin be able to handle the increased workload this season? [JoeBucsFan] […]
July 22nd, 2013 at 1:49 pm
“and LeGarrette Blount is a Patriot…”
(wipes tear from eye…)