Bucs Thinking About Managing Martin
September 5th, 2013
Joe does not think for a minute that the Bucs will be concerned about Doug Martin’s workload early in the season.
Why exactly would the regime care in September? They need wins and confidence, and if riding Martin achieves that, then that’s what the New Schiano Order will do.
But the Bucs are at least thinking about managing Martin’s punishment, says offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan. It’s a challenging task, given that everyone around the NFL considers Martin a true every-down superstar.
Yesterday, Joe asked Sullivan whether there’s a plan for preserving Martin, and Sullivan said it’s a work in progress that started in preseason with a goal of having Martin ready for January and (gasp!) February football.
“Well, [he] certainly wasn’t overused in the preseason. Doug didn’t get a whole lot of work. That’s a valid question, and we’re constantly [looking at] what a great player he is, not just carrying the football, but in his route running ability, catching the football, yards after the catch, protections, he’s an every down back,” Sullivan said. “That’s where I think we’re very fortunate where we have some of the depth that we have, as far as with [running back] Mike James and [running back] Brian Leonard and [running back] Peyton Hillis to go ahead and be a complement on first down, second down, as well as third down. So that’s definitely a part of our thought process, because we want to have this guy that’s going to last us throughout the year and into, hopefully, a season that gets us into January and February; that’s what it’s about. So that is a part of our thought process, but as of right now, we’re just trying to do what we can to get the ball in his hands, because he’s a playmaker. He’s going to help us.”
Greg Schiano loves having a “bell cow” back, and the Bucs shouldn’t be worried about Martin. This is the time to use him. The window for coaches and players is small in the NFL.
The best time to rest Martin is when he says he needs it, or when it’s apparent he needs it, or when a Bucs game appears to be decided.
Martin really shouldn’t take one meaningless snap this season for the sake of padding stats or easing coaches’ fears of disaster in an already decided game.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:45 pm
Smart move by Bucs bass and coaches to at least be thinking about ways to not overwork him. With that said, the Muscle Hamster was born to do work and Schiano will work him hard. As we move along and if we are fortunate enough to be in the hunt, you start paying attention to his workload only when the game is out of hand.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Bucs brass
September 5th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Agreed. We have a deep back field. No reason to over use Martin. To me, our RBs are the most exciting part of the offense. Use all 4.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
The great aspect of using Martin is the opposing team has no earthly idea what sort of play.
He is such a good reciever/blocker that, for example, lets say we gain 2 yds on first down with Leonard.
What play is next with Martin…run, pass to Martin, play action?
The problem with Blount is that you could almost guarantee that we were running.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:51 pm
You use Martin & Hillis the same way Dungy used Dunn & Alstott. You let Martin wear out the defense chasing him all over the field in the FL heat for 3 quarters, then you turn loose Hills and let him run over the tired, sweaty, arm tackles to seal the deal.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:57 pm
@Adam L. Very possible thats exactly how Leonard and Hillis are used and that would be a good thing.
Sometimes we get so hung up on Freeman. We all know the importance of the Qb position but let us not forget we won a SB with Brad Johnson and the Ravens won with Trent freaking Dilfer. There’s 1 thing both of those teams had and we all know what that is. That’s what we need.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:01 pm
You can also rest Martin by getting more production out of the fullback position. I think we need to use the fullback more in our offense….especially with the lack of emphasis on TE. I think Hills would do well in that positon on occaision.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:06 pm
I think it’s smart not to run Martin into the ground – especially since the Bucs have a couple of competent RBs on their depth chart. (not good for my FFL since he’s on my team, but who the hell cares about FFL when it comes down to having Martin fresh for the entire season and hopefully beyond).
September 5th, 2013 at 2:12 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says
“You can also rest Martin by getting more production out of the fullback position. I think we need to use the fullback more in our offense…especially with the lack of emphasis on TE. I think Hills would do well in that position on occasion.”
I agree. You know who would be great for it?
JOHN CONNER!!!! hehe (sorry had to get my daily plug in, though I haven’t checked today to see if he got signed somewhere)
I seriously agree though. And I also think it’s wise to spell Martin every once in a while. For once we have to backs to do it with.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:16 pm
WOW JOE…….you got the slave mentality huh!!! We’ve got capable backs, 4 to be exact so how’s that for depth? There are too many injuries going on in the league to run him into the ground and he is not our only weapon because for all the drama surrounding our quarterback, we did manage to have the #9 offense in 2012 and stat espn and nfl network have conveniently forgotten and martin didnt start his breakout season until after the bye week
September 5th, 2013 at 2:25 pm
buc4lyfe,
Slave mentality? Really?
September 5th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
Hillis is a walking injury waiting to happen. Depth or no depth upright runners dont last long and Im amazed he is still on the team.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:47 pm
The gameplan needs to change somewhat to rest Martin….I am sick and tired of watching Buc games when we have a lead and try to sit on it by running on every down.
It seems that we are trying not to lose rather that trying to win.
Afraid to pass….haven’t we all seen it…deep in our own territory….late in the game…we run three times…get nothin g and punt only to have the other team get good field position…then our defense can’t hold.
This started long before Schiano. The only benefit to this is a close game.
How about when we get a lead…keep doing the things that got us the lead and go for the jugular!!!
September 5th, 2013 at 4:06 pm
Dougernaut can’t break records if he’s sitting on the bench. Ask the man if he’d like to be in the HOF someday. I bet he says yeah, and he knows the only way to get there is to tote that rock as much as he can. Ask if he wants to be a bell cow? I bet he says yeah. I bet Dougernaut would carry it over 30 times a game if you let him. He wants the ball. You can’t break records sitting on the bench and the average window for a RB is about 6 years.
September 5th, 2013 at 4:29 pm
Fools gold.
The only time he won’t be used is injury or the bye week. We’re fooling no one.
September 5th, 2013 at 5:34 pm
China: Eric Dickerson
September 5th, 2013 at 6:52 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says:
“It seems that we are trying not to lose rather that trying to win.
Afraid to pass….haven’t we all seen it…deep in our own territory….late in the game…we run three times…get nothin g and punt only to have the other team get good field position…then our defense can’t hold.”
Ummm the Eagles game comes to mind… I was at the game.
September 5th, 2013 at 11:47 pm
The Bucs have been that way since the Dungy days. With Garcia, Gruden had a few games where he ran up the scores. Mostly though it was get the lead and protect the lead.
RBellBuc Says
“Dougernaut…”
I prefer Muscle Hamster, but that’s not a bad name either. Though it suggests something very large…which Martin surely is not.