Looking Good
August 10th, 2015
This is the season of the notorious question, “Who is looking good?”
Joe gets it all the time in August. All the time. Joe’s knee-jerk reaction is to mention a Bucs cheerleader of the past. However, these questions are about Bucs players in training camp.
Joe is always hesitant to answer. First, it’s early. All kinds of guys in the past have practiced really well and found themselves applying for a job at a car rental agency after a couple of preseason games.
Besides, training camp if not preseason can often mislead. Take the “Muscle Hamster,” Doug Martin. The Bucs’ running back had a productive half of a preseason game in Buffalo last year (two receptions for 27 yards, plus a touchdown run and 12 rushes for 38 yards.) In the regular season? Martin stunk up the joint.
One man who thinks Martin is rejuvenated is Woody Cummings of The Tampa Tribune. Appearing with local sports raconteur Dan Lucas on Sunday Sports Extra on WFLA-TV Channel 8 last night, Cummings believes Martin may just be better than he was as a rookie Pro Bowler.
“I think he might be the most impressive player in camp,” Cummings said of Martin. “There have been a lot of guys who looked good. Rannell Hall is a guy at the bottom of the roster who has looked good. Logan Mankins looks like a different player. Jameis Winston looks good. Bruce Carter, [Gerald] McCoy of course. I’m not sure anybody looks better than Doug Martin.
“You can sense in him a real sense of urgency, a real desire to be the player he used to be and prove that he is still that guy. It is showing up on the field. The lack of agility that was missing a year ago, that burst that has been gone since 2013 when he had the shoulder injury, for whatever reason, that is back. He just looks like a better player now than he does in 2012.”
And while Martin may be running with more quickness in training camp, Joe cannot forget the memory of Martin shining at Buffalo and then laying an egg.
It’s still early and that’s why Joe rarely answers “Who is looking good?” Don’t want to mislead or offer too much false hope. Let’s see how a couple of preseason games shake out.
August 10th, 2015 at 9:11 am
I am really glad to see Cummings mention Carter as another player who is shining. MLB and safety are the potential weak spots (in addition to DE) in the Bucs D this season. If Carter does a good job that could take them a long way.
August 10th, 2015 at 9:14 am
5 days and we will finally get to see!!! Training camp is just practice so some of us take it with a grain of salt!! preseason games are just practice 2.0 but at least a little closer to the “Real” thing!!!!
5 days until we get a glimpse of Buc Football!!!
August 10th, 2015 at 9:23 am
Is it just me or is it kind of questionable if the girl in the picture is actually….a chick? There’s something bulging down there
August 10th, 2015 at 9:32 am
@CreamsicleBananaHammock
you have been waiting years to say that right???
August 10th, 2015 at 9:44 am
@CreamsichleBananaHammock
Thats just something to prevent cameltosis…
Rachel W. < Tricia C. btw Joe
August 10th, 2015 at 9:54 am
roll of dollar bills.
August 10th, 2015 at 9:54 am
Martin looking good, that’s good to hear. In the TC recaps I see a lot of stuffed at the line comments. Joe, you have come down fairly hard on Martin’s vision and running ability past his rookie year. I realize there are other capable RB’s ready to take his place should he fail to regain his former production. A question mark for sure. I’m pulling for him to be that bowling ball bruiser he once displayed.
August 10th, 2015 at 10:20 am
LOL @realist
I won’t deny I have been studying thepictures on this site for years, but there is definitely something going on….and my theory is a bad tuck job
August 10th, 2015 at 10:31 am
Rainey/Sims can take the pressure off (or apply pressure to) Martin.
August 10th, 2015 at 10:59 am
Wow… Catelyn Jenner is looking good these days!!!
Go Catelyn tuck those balls!!!
August 10th, 2015 at 11:03 am
MLB looking good id great news. That will allow the newly re-signed King David to really do what he does well, without having to pick up the slack of his MLB. That was a problem last year in my eyes.
August 10th, 2015 at 11:54 am
If Martin gets anywhere close to the 1400+ yards he ran for as a rookie – this offense is going to be formidable with Winston under center and all the other weapons he has to throw to.
August 10th, 2015 at 12:07 pm
Pick the only thing you left out with that amount of yardage from Martin is a deep tournament run.
August 10th, 2015 at 12:10 pm
12 rushes for 38 yards is hardly shinning. It’s actually a worst YPG than he had in the regular season.
August 10th, 2015 at 12:53 pm
Just writing what Joe saw. Nothing against Martin.
August 10th, 2015 at 12:54 pm
It’s you.
August 10th, 2015 at 5:02 pm
Remember, it is a ‘contract year’ for Martin. I believe he will do well.