“I Just Want To Hit The Defender First”
October 14th, 2015
Doug Martin is targeting defenders
It’s not just Bucs fans celebrating Doug Martin, who is tied for the second most rushing yards in the NFL.
It’s a national party for Martin, too.
Much of that is fueled by fantasy football players in ecstasy because Martin scored three touchdowns Sunday and ran for 123 yards. There are Fan Duel erections all across the nation.
But plenty of media types care about Martin the rejuvenated running back and real football player. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk Live on NBC Sports Radio is in that category. Martin joined Florio today and was asked about his running style and whether he tries to avoid injury.
Martin said you can’t play scared and explained he has his own method to absorb hits.
“My thing is, you know, I just want to hit the defender first before, you know, they hit me” Martin said. “And be able take out the man on and actually avoid the big hit and save my body.”
Keep in mind Martin is listed at 5-9 and probably stands closer to 5-8.
What football fan doesn’t love Martin’s mentality. This year, Martin has been running so freakin’ hard. It started in preseason and hasn’t let up, even though he’s not getting — or seeing — mass quantities of holes.
On Sunday, half of Martin’s 24 carries were for three yards or less, not counting his one-yard touchdown run.
October 14th, 2015 at 11:16 pm
More like tied for 6th…
October 14th, 2015 at 11:17 pm
Never mind tied for second!!! You’re right
October 15th, 2015 at 12:30 am
Doug Martin is mad we keep running cover 2
October 15th, 2015 at 12:38 am
Martin was a top 5 running back his rookie years then injuries took a toll on his performance. If he stays healthy this year he may very well end up as a top 5 back in the league again. I hope we can figure out a way to keep him. Between Martin and Sims this team may very well have one of the top tandems of running backs in the NFL, and that is just going to help in Jameis development considerably. And also an ever improving offensive line. This are looking up krewe. Go Bucs and haters go hate someone else you bunch of jack wagons.
October 15th, 2015 at 3:58 am
No question that Doug is running great this year. He looks to be seeing the holes a lot better and seems to be a lot more patient. Also quicker and faster … hasn’t been afraid to bounce it outside when the middle is clogged up.
What’s interesting to me is that so little is being said about his receiving. He’s been incredible there … 11 targets, 11 receptions for 94 yds through 5 games.
Charles Sims is viewed as being the better RB receiver by the media it seems… he’s been targeted 19 times for 14 receptions for 193 yds through 5 games. Bobby Rainey’s 2-for-2 for 12 yds but obviously isn’t getting much time in the backfield.
Put the 3 of them together and you’ve got 27 receptions out of 32 targeted for 299 yds. That’s almost an 85% reception rate for over 10 yds a pop. I’d take that any day of the year if I was Lovie Smith and Dirk Koetter.
October 15th, 2015 at 4:09 am
Bucs better find a way to lock him up or it will prove to be yet another miserable failure of talent evaluation and decision making by Incompetent Lovie Smith and his little lapdog GM.
October 15th, 2015 at 10:09 am
LOL. I haven’t been out here in close to two werks and the dullard DallasBuc. Is still spewing the same unimaginative anti Lovie hate at 4:09 am in the morning.
What a sad life you must have to be up so early and to be filled with so much hate.
October 15th, 2015 at 9:39 pm
It is such a breath of fresh air to see Martin work the way he works for extra yardage. You don’t see him running out of bounds. Its when he get into the second level that he really shines. The unsung hero’s of the Bucs running game is not just Martin and the OL. The FB, TE, WR and even the QB have all played a role in blocking this year. That was not happening last year.