Was Doug Martin Benched?
September 9th, 2014
Lovie Smith weighed in on his radio show
Lovie Smith has called Doug Martin his bell cow back.
But with the game on the line Sunday, the Bucs with the ball and driving for the winning score, it was Bobby Rainey on the field.
Yes, Martin had his knee dinged up earlier, but Lovie Smith insisted last night that Martin was healthy in the fourth quarter and Rainey was a tactical choice.
“Doug did go down with a little minor injury there, so we had to make a change, and from there he was able to come back and he was ready to go,” Lovie said on Total Access on WDAE-AM 620. “Bobby had come and had given us a little bit of life, and as I’ve mentioned we want to play more than one running back throughout. So it was just a perfect time to keep both of them involved.”
Joe gets what Lovie is saying, the bottom line is Martin was off the field at crunch time, after only nine carries for nine yards, and two truly horrendous displays of pass blocking.
Joe thinks Martin’s status is one that bears monitoring.
September 9th, 2014 at 9:24 am
If that’s the case, why was McCown playing?
September 9th, 2014 at 9:29 am
I agree with Biff. McClown buckled under the pressure.
Have they signed Incognito, yet?
September 9th, 2014 at 9:35 am
I miss the good ol days when media didn’t try to make a story of every single minor little detail…..
Actually, in the good ol’ days, media talked mostly about on-field happenings and decisions and playing time and strategy, which is what this post is about. –Joe
Seriously does this really need monitoring Joe? Your saying Martin is in danger of losing his job to the guy who fumbled the ball away on a potential game winning drive? I called it during the game it should have been hard running technically sound Mike James out there.
September 9th, 2014 at 9:35 am
Bring in Incognito now!!
September 9th, 2014 at 9:36 am
I’ve said this a few times this off season and last season. Rainey is the better back as much as people find that hard to believe. He is more elusive and just has more pop.
September 9th, 2014 at 9:40 am
I’ve thought it for a while now, if not for that ankle injury to Sims, Martin was going to lose a ton of playing time this year. Might happen anyways.
September 9th, 2014 at 9:42 am
there is a reason they took a RB in round three. And it was not to rest Martin on a couple of plays.
September 9th, 2014 at 9:43 am
I look for Doug to pop back into the limelight.
September 9th, 2014 at 9:46 am
Ya playing Rainey really worked out well…
September 9th, 2014 at 9:47 am
Dougie has alligator arms and can’t reach out to catch a cold.
All three of our other backs can extend their arms to pick a ball out of the air.
I love the way Doug plays, but I think the team might feel he limits the play calls (ala Blount), because a very high percentage of his plays would be definite runs.
September 9th, 2014 at 9:48 am
Rainey, James, Martin…. I don’t give a rats arse who is the bell cow just get the job done. Too many times I saw the RB’s run right into the linemans backs. The play isn’t always going to go through the hole its drawn up to go through. Often times good RB’s see the play collapse and find the hole somewhere else. Cant blame it all on the line either…… If Lovie wants “pop” I can give him “pop.”… Can someone please forward coach my video. #RayRice #Elevator
September 9th, 2014 at 9:49 am
And let me add that he was horrible with his pass protection.
Whiffed on two blocks and he is just too small to take on a Kuechly blitzing up the gut or off the edge.
September 9th, 2014 at 9:50 am
Here’s what I would like to see…throw the football to o I dunno…maybe one of our gigantic targets at WR and TE, the positions intended to actually catch the ball. Or we could just continue to throw more 1 yard passes to our RBs with questionable hands.
September 9th, 2014 at 10:00 am
The one where kuechly got the sack was disgusting to watch. I wouldve benched him after that too, especially when we were in hurry up mode.
September 9th, 2014 at 10:01 am
I thought that Bell Cow garbage was over with when Schiano got fired. Doug needs to work on his vision on his approach to the LOS opposed to just trying to run up the back of the FB or OL, if the hole isn’t there cut to the outside like Rainey is late in the game. I want to see Mike James ASAP too, and too bad we can go and claim LaMichael James off waivers. Doug Martin is in a position now, where he needs to figure out what aspect of his game needs focusing on and to me, it’s keeping you’re head on that swivel and taking the best angles you can.
September 9th, 2014 at 10:02 am
RayRice…. you are not funny.
September 9th, 2014 at 10:26 am
Not one running in the Hall of Fame could run behind this offensive line…..
September 9th, 2014 at 10:26 am
Cut Ray some slack, he’s just looking for some attention. I’m guessing Mommy had the late shift at the Mons.
September 9th, 2014 at 10:37 am
Attention? None needed. @Biff….. lets get off moms. I just got off yours. #MartyMcfly. ….
September 9th, 2014 at 10:53 am
BEARS monitoring, eh?
September 9th, 2014 at 11:08 am
@ the “Sign Incognito” crowd:
Once the media has black-balled someone for
alleged racism you cannot reverse the judgement.
These are very rich people and they despise Incognito.
No amount of truth, sanity, justice, on-field talent or
equanimity will ever change that.
September 9th, 2014 at 11:40 am
Get rid of your best back for that couldn’t make it as a back for the ravens hmmm, he’s no game changer people but Martin had a better sample size as a big play back, no one but bucs dams talk about Rainey lol, in worried about some of our fans. The o line has been bad for two years. Why is it we can say Glennon sucked because he had no one to throw to but Martin should find holes where there are none. You work with the players you have. No one talks about Adrian Peterson or marshawn lynch or Chris Johnson or alfred Morris receiving abilities because their RUNNING BACKS
Sims a rookie was the only pass catching back on the roster so who’s fault is that? So using Martin as a pass catching or pass blocking back means this offense isn’t as diverse and fluid as you want to believe. Why not line herron up anywhere for passes? He could have done no worse than the others, the fullback had our longest run he’s big enough to block and run from shotgun. Our coaches were asleep at the wheel.
September 9th, 2014 at 11:44 am
Hey I noticed that same thing. You almost have to listen to the tone in his voice when he says “brought more life to the offense.”
Not that I necessarily agree, but Rainey was definitely squeezing every inch out of each rush – Douggy, although he didn’t have any running lanes, didn’t look like he was fighting for a job like Rainey did.
September 9th, 2014 at 11:54 am
Like it ray keep with the bucs comments who cares about the ravens…. quote the RAYven nevermore
September 9th, 2014 at 12:31 pm
Martin needs touches like most great backs.
September 9th, 2014 at 12:40 pm
Hey Ray Rice is available if the Bucs can get the NFL to lift his suspension.
September 9th, 2014 at 1:01 pm
@Ray Rice
I thought your comment was pretty funny!
September 9th, 2014 at 1:19 pm
Let me get this straight. Many of you were in love with Martin as a rookie. I was one of the few that argued that BLount still should be getting carries. Many of you would say that Blount was one dimensional because he could not catch or pass block. Many of you said how great Martin was at both and thats why Blount was on the bench. Fast forward two years later…..Now its Martin who can’t pass block or catch? Color me confused. I laugh at some of you. Just too funny!!!
September 9th, 2014 at 1:49 pm
I question whether Martin still wants to play football. he was tentative last year also before he was hurt, & his pass-pro Sunday showed a total lack of effort.
September 9th, 2014 at 2:11 pm
Martin looks like he is owed touches instead of working to earn them. Maybe this is what lovie and licht saw on film that “spooked” them into drafting sims.
September 9th, 2014 at 8:27 pm
Biff Barker Says:
September 9th, 2014 at 9:24 am
If that’s the case, why was McCown playing?
———————
Probably because there were no better options than him.
September 9th, 2014 at 8:54 pm
Joe…Love some of your articles but do you have to ALWAYS have to mention yourself in the third party? Juss sayin gets annoying…Love ya Bro
Been doing it for 6+ years. Not going to change, bro. –Joe
September 10th, 2014 at 1:37 pm
the real question is, “Could you tell?”