Bobby Rainey Was Dominant; Martin Out?
September 14th, 2014
Jiminy Christmas, the Tampa Bay offense was awfully predictable today. The Bucs ran Bobby Rainey left and right, and rarely up the gut.
Third down? No problem. It was Rainey time. Even with all that predictable pounding of Rainey, the Rams didn’t slow him down much.
The little guy in the Bucs’ backfield came up huge, 22 carries for 144 yards. That’s 6 1/2 yards per carry, just half a yard short of what the Bucs needed on 3rd-and-7 from the Rams’ 9 yard line, when they inexplicably ran Rainey for six yards to close the third quarter and set up a field goal.
Rainey deserves massive praise, seizing the starting job today. Doug Martin was nursing a not-serious banged up knee, but Joe has to wonder whether Rainey has now won the starting job.
The reality is Lovie Smith has no allegiance to Martin, who was drafted by the previous regime and hasn’t done anything since 2012.
Rainey was plucked off the street by former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik last season. And Rainey is the textbook case of why you don’t need to draft a running back early in the draft. There are just too many cases of good backs getting drafted late or coming off the street.
The Rams’ Zac Stacy comes to mind, a fifth-round pick last year.
The Bucs also have rookie third-round pick Charles Sims, who is expected to return from ankle surgery in midseason and, allegedly, is a perfect fit for Jeff Tedford’s offense (whatever that really is.)
Joe’s not rooting against Martin, but how do you tell Rainey he’s not starting in four days in Atlanta? The guy just earned his shot.
September 14th, 2014 at 9:15 pm
Martin hasn’t been himself ever since that shoulder injury. Not sure what he’s lost, but he’s definitely lost something.
September 14th, 2014 at 9:15 pm
Yes he did but the blocking is still terrible bc I can’t spell atrocious.
September 14th, 2014 at 9:16 pm
On another note, I was surprised we didn’t have a Jorvorskie Lane sighting today. Was he even on the active list?
September 14th, 2014 at 9:18 pm
Joe what the f**<* do you expect when you have a career back-up QB with a coach that wants a running team in a passing league with a horrid OL running a outdated cover 2 defense with absolutely no up front pressure.
September 14th, 2014 at 9:20 pm
@FLBoy,
A Javorski Lane run would’ve been too much like trying to score a touchdown
September 14th, 2014 at 9:20 pm
yeah, get rid of another good RB!! the Buccaneer way! ship him to NE. thats what we do with our good players right? they are nothing more than fodder for the rest of the league. the bumbling idiots on someones highlight reel.
September 14th, 2014 at 9:21 pm
They just want to keep Javoreski Lane’s avg yds per run where it is.
September 14th, 2014 at 9:22 pm
Y draft Evans if we are not going to throw the ball downfield? We have to big vertical receivers use them. And pass this to Lovie Jeremy Zuttah is looking like an all pro. Ted Larsen is flourishing also! Smdh
September 14th, 2014 at 9:22 pm
To The Players Reading This:
We don’t blame you… We just blame your HC who just cant seem to get the best out of you.
September 14th, 2014 at 9:25 pm
Mike Evans catch at the end of the game, where was that in the red zone three times, not using our receivers for what we got them for. I do think they missed ASJ today
September 14th, 2014 at 9:28 pm
I am glad Rainey is shining. We will need every back we can get our hands on before this season ends. Maybe Rainey can throw?
Joe I beg that you don’t follow others attempts later in the week to spin McCown’s performance as somehow positive. 2 running scores that result as a lack of ability to find wrs doesn’t equate to an acceptable performance.
September 14th, 2014 at 9:37 pm
Really nice piece of running today by Rainey. Oline was spotty at best and the kid ran that ball with style. So impressed!
September 14th, 2014 at 9:38 pm
Feed the hot hand. Rainey should start until he proves otherwise.
September 14th, 2014 at 9:43 pm
Rainey was maybe the sole bright spot. No, Mankins too. In the 4th Qtr, I watched Mankins, very briefly help block Collins man, then turn around a help double EDS’ man, and Rainey had a hole you could literally drive a truck thru. It was friggin impressive. So, 2 players out of 53 were awesome (yeah, glass is half empty at the moment)
September 14th, 2014 at 9:43 pm
Martin was never great he had 1 huge game against Oakland 2 years ago and that was it! He’s not a bad back but just not an Adrian Peterson or Steven Jackson type of back he’s definitely replaceable.
September 14th, 2014 at 9:44 pm
Mathius blame the QB for this loss? He didn’t lose the game and here’s a news flash I just want my team to score touchdowns be it buy running back, receiver QB, special teams or the defense. How can that not a positive thing. Do we have a franchise QB? Hell no there is no illusion there but this QB didn’t lose the second game!
September 14th, 2014 at 9:46 pm
Rainey has great vision and second effort. He was one of the only bright spots today.
September 14th, 2014 at 9:48 pm
Rainey is a more consistent runner than Martin, it is really that simple. Week in and week out you will get more consitent production. I think 150 yards is more the exception than the rule with him but I’ll take close to 100 yards of total production from Rainey with some Mike James mixed in there over the 35 yards and a bobbled reception that Martin has been giving us as of late.
Martin looks like he has lost any confidence in himself out there to me.
September 14th, 2014 at 10:14 pm
What I love about Rainey is he makes the defense WORK to bring him down. He makes contact and turns it up a notch or two. It was like as soon as a ram got a hand on him he started fighting even harder.
September 14th, 2014 at 10:15 pm
Trade martin to Baltimore for Timmy Jernigan.
September 14th, 2014 at 10:40 pm
I keep saying it: rainey>martin
Anyway… Still losing
September 14th, 2014 at 11:53 pm
I think Rainey is a good player, but the line actually played really well. Martin would of of gone if healthy today. I think James’ first touch cold off the bench was for around seven yards or so.
September 15th, 2014 at 12:56 am
Martin can’t pass block, thus he is not useful in a lot of 3rd down or long yard situations. Rainey and Mike James both have shown they can do an adequate job though the fumble last week really can not be overlooked either. Right now I would say that Rainey deserve the start against the Falcons.
September 15th, 2014 at 9:21 am
I guess if there is any positive about this team, maybe it’s Rainy and the offensive line being not as bad as we thought… still pretty bad thou!