Return Of The Muscle Hamster
October 11th, 2015
Doug Martin on one of his 24 carries in the win over the Jags today. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
If one was to point to a key to the Bucs’ win, yeah, you could argue six sacks on a mobile Blake Bortles was a key.
But more so was the running game led by the Muscle Hamster, Doug Martin.
The Bucs ran for 183 yards on 40 carries, the bulk of which came from the feet of Martin, who easily had his best day in a long time (24 carries, 123 yards). Two of his three touchdowns came on the ground.
Naturally, after the game it was a mutual admiration society in the victorious Bucs locker room.
“I got to tip my hat and give a lot of credit to the offensive line,” Martin said. “A lot of guys were down. That’s not our original offensive line. A lot of guys are stepping up. Kevin Pamphile stepped up in a big way today. I owe them dinner this week. I know we will continue to do that. Be just as good as we were today, throughout.”
Center Joe Hawley gave all the credit to Martin, and to Charles Sims (12 carries, 51 yards).
“A lot of times [Martin] should have run for three or four and instead ran for 12,” Hawley said.
Joe wants to think this is the start of something special. The Jags have a stout run defense. Then again, they are the Jags. Still, with a starting lineup like they had today, with three projected starters out (Evan Smith, Demar Dotson and Logan Mankins), the offensive line was impressive.
At worst, a unit Joe thought to be the worst entering the season not only may be a strength, but a deep stable, as well.
October 11th, 2015 at 5:55 pm
Go Bucs!!
October 11th, 2015 at 5:59 pm
Just got back from the game. It feels good, no matter who it was. I got up and walked into the shade in the 3rd qrtr. Why? Because I was LITERALLY disgusted at our fan base. When our D was out on the field you could hear a pin drop. That’s how quiet our fan base is. Then the Jags D comes out and the stadium gets booming loud with Jags fans. DISGUSTING fan base we have. Just sit there on you freaking hands Bucs fans. You make me sick. So I make my way to the shade and low and behold I see circles and circles of Buc fans not even watching the game, just chatting and texting. Not even looking up at the game on the screen. DISGUSTING. I could not sit in the stands any longer, because our fan base made me nauseated. I told them all that in my section when I left the game.
Oh Dougie….Dougie was a freaking workhorse out there today.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:05 pm
If the crowd doesn’t care. Why should the team care?
October 11th, 2015 at 6:08 pm
People are spending their sports dollars on the Lightning instead of the Bucs. Live hockey is a much better product than football anyway. Fans need to see consistent winner again before they come back. They’ve been sold on hope for 5 straight seasons.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:11 pm
Dougie has been looking good since preseason, hopefully he has another breakout year and gets resigned.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:14 pm
87
Cheering for the Bucs hasn’t worked….maybe not cheering does….
I’ll take a win anyway we can….and we also got the turnover monkey off our back!!!
October 11th, 2015 at 6:15 pm
bucrightoff…I’m not talking about fans not being there. I’m talking about the ones that were there. Jags fans are 10 times the fans that we Bucs fans are. That could be an understatement. I ran into a Jags fan that said they bussed in 2,000 Jags fans. Last time I checked the Jags sucked too. We outnumbered them by far in this one and it was like library out there when our D too the field. The difference of noise level for Jags fans to Bucs fans just disgusted me. Joe was there. He heard the difference. WOW I don’t even know if I want to go back into that stadium. That’s how pissed off I was at our fans today.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:17 pm
I share the disappointment…. Had season tickets for the first ten years after we got the new uniforms…. Decided not to renew when people started yelling at me to shut up and sit down on 3rd and 3 Defencive plays!!!! Hence why I am railing against Trolls!!!! I am back from being a Rays and Bolts fan to renew the life of would be BUCS fans…. Let’s rid the trolls of a place in Tampa!!!!
October 11th, 2015 at 6:18 pm
You got McCoy and Co waving their arms out there for the crowd to get loud. The jumbotron is flashing louder…and I ain’t lying, our fans just sat there with their mouths shut.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:22 pm
@87
If only people put in half as much effort at RayJay as they do on JBF. …
October 11th, 2015 at 6:24 pm
Joe, are you quoting the song “We belong to the mutual admiration society, my baby and me”. That goes back a ways. I guess Martin silenced the trade him away crowd from the preseason.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:25 pm
I think it’s time to trade Martin while he’s worth something. We won’t resign him at end of year. He’s a great change of pace back, but with sims looking deadly, Rainey can be the same change of pace martin is. Overall great performance by the team, huge going into bye week. With ASJ hopefully coming back we could string together some huge wins….. As long as lovie continues to blitz. Blitzing our athletic linebackers will be the key to the rest of the season, if lovie continues to blitz it will be a bright day in Tampa Bay.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:26 pm
Joe….Hasn’t Doug made it pretty clear he does not lime to be called muscle hamter? Why don’t you show a little respect.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:27 pm
@buccfan37 ^
October 11th, 2015 at 6:27 pm
Joe….Hasn’t Doug made it pretty clear he does not like to be called muscle hamter? Why don’t you show a little respect.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:28 pm
87 what do you expect? It was one of the worst matchups in the NFL this season. You aren’t going to draw a great crowd to that. Maybe if they had put together better performances in the first two home games more people would have come. NFL is truly a better TV sport though, even the Bengals don’t get many sellouts, they had their first in a while today against the Seahawks. A lot of the diehards would rather stay home and save the money, and get access to more games.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:29 pm
Look I talked it about it with a few of the RayJay staff they all said the same thing. They said it happens every home game. One guy said it was disgusting as he watched the game. That’s where I got the word disgusting from. I looked back at him and said yes, YES it it is disgusting.
Why bother going to game if you can’t stay off your idiot phones for more than 2 minutes? It’s hot out there. Just stay home. You’re not watching the game anyways.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:32 pm
bucrightoff…did I mention the that the Jags fans could be heard on Dale Mabry when their team was on D? Jags fans? Really? Jags Fans? But not Buc fans no, not us.
If the lightning ever suck some day. This area will drop them like a bad habit. That’s just the nature of hockey AND the bay area.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:34 pm
bucrightoff…once again it’s NOT about attendance. It’s about the ones that DO go.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:39 pm
I wouldn’t recognize a troll unless I saw a ragged disheveled bum crawling out from under the bridge, isn’t that where trolls live? And muscle hamster is a term of endearment, who cares whether he likes it or not? I didn’t like being called a beanpole growing up, too bad.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:41 pm
That’s what I’m saying. The ones that go are the ones who just want something to do on a Sunday. Bucs tickets are pretty cheap at this point, but die hards would rather stay home and watch on TV because a bad game is always possible so the ability to see other games is very nice.
I mean overall there’s no doubt the Bucs have a bad fanbase, but that’s a Florida sports problem overall. The Lightning truly are the only team who draws well consistently over the last few years besides the Heat when it was only people trying to be seen with LeBron there. Die hards have been sold on hope too long, they won’t be back until the hope becomes actual results.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:43 pm
October 11th, 2015 at 6:29 pm
Look I talked it about it with a few of the RayJay staff they all said the same thing. They said it happens every home game. One guy said it was disgusting as he watched the game. That’s where I got the word disgusting from. I looked back at him and said yes, YES it it is disgusting.
Why bother going to game if you can’t stay off your idiot phones for more than 2 minutes? It’s hot out there. Just stay home. You’re not watching the game anyways.
______________________________________________________
Because people have fantasy and follow other games too, and gambling of course, and football has about 5 seconds of action for every 30 seconds of inaction. People have short attention spans and other things going on at the same time. Not a good combination.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:45 pm
There was a Marine that surprised his mother at the game. The crowd was louder for that then they were for our D. Pathetic at the highest level. It’s going take a lot to bring me back to hearing that silence again from our fans.
I haven’t seen the attendance numbers yet, but the place had a lot more fans than I thought they would have. Bucs fans. The fans that outnumbered Jags fans by 15 to 1 were SILENT when the Bucs D was out on the field. This happened all game long. It gets to the point where you just say to yourself why am I hollering for our D, when practically no one else is.
Sorry Joe for taking a dump on your Martin piece….but it’s going to take me more than a week to get over what I just witnessed by JAGS fans that were outnumbered.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:45 pm
87
I see your point. But the jags scored 31 on the defense, not a lot to cheer about there. However a win is a win.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:46 pm
bucrightoff….so Jags fans are just special? I don’t think so…
October 11th, 2015 at 6:49 pm
I have no explanation for Jags fans being louder than Bucs fans, other than they care more than Bucs fans. Maybe because they were drunker?
October 11th, 2015 at 6:50 pm
I’ll add once again that 2,000 jags fans bussed in from Jax to see this game. They could have stayed home and watched it on TV or followed their fantasy team. No they showed up and it’s not some hop skip and a jump. You KNEW they were there. Yet the 35,000 or so Buc fans….silent. Yes great cheer when we score. I do too. No one will ever confuse a Buc fan for a Seahawks fan that’s for sure, or a JAGS fan for that matter. The Jags have sucked LONGER than us.
When was the last time our fans bussed to Miami or Jax or Atlanta to see the Bucs play?
October 11th, 2015 at 6:51 pm
87.. what do you expect when most everybody is from somewhere else. Why would the Bucs trade away Martin, and for what? Are the Glazers hurting for funds after wasting it on so many plugs? Trade Martin, no way!
October 11th, 2015 at 6:56 pm
Okay, I’m done ranting about this for now. If I go to another game this season. I have a plan. I’m going to randomly walk up to Buc fans in their sh!tty little texting circles and say, Hey do you know what the score of the game is? I’ll keep a tab just how many Buc fans have no idea what’s going on in the game.
Worst fans in the NFL. You get what you deserve. The Jags are terrible, but their fans actually acknowledge they are out on the field. 3,000 LOUD Jag fans vs 35,000 silent Buc fans. Sad.
Thee end. For now anyways.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:57 pm
Trading Martin has to do with him being a FA in the offseason. Obviously wouldn’t be great to lose him for nothing, but they also could have picked up the 5th year option but passed.
And when was the last time we won a playoff game? The Jags actually have one more recently than us believe it or not. I can’t imagine many of those who bused in will want to bus to another game anytime soon, they are in a really bad way too.
October 11th, 2015 at 6:57 pm
Buccfan37….35,000 Buc fans were there. Silent.
October 11th, 2015 at 7:03 pm
Look 87 what do you expect? It’s two bad teams playing, the fans aren;t going to get into it like it’s a huge divisional game against the Falcons are a big game against the Packers. It was week 5 with two teams who will be drafting in the top 10. You can’t expect a great atmosphere.
October 11th, 2015 at 7:22 pm
bucrightoff….once again not the 3,000 Jags fans though, because hey the Jags are a powerhouse. So I get where you are coming from.’
When 3,000 Jags fans are 10 times louder for their defense, than 35,000 Buc fans are at their own stadium. That’s a problem and I don’t think it’s the team either.
Jab83…you’re right btw 2 years ago this fan kept telling my wife to stop standing up and to stop hitting the seat in front of her. True story. This is our fan base.
October 11th, 2015 at 7:31 pm
Bucs have always had a fairweather fanbase. When your history is having the second worse record in NFL history, fans aren’t going to be that great when the team is awful. Maybe people simply expected to lose, I don’t know. It’s not a good fanbase and hasn’t given good support outside the 97-08 run. Like I said it’s Florida, sports teams just don’t get great support.
October 11th, 2015 at 7:33 pm
@87 I felt the exact same way the last 2 or 3 games I went to, it just utterly disgusted me how weak our fan base is.
And it’s always been that way, even during our better years. I would literally be screaming at all the fans around me to get loud, stand up, and make some damn noise. And I’ve havent been to a game in several years (moved to the west coast), so I can only imagine how much worse it is now. After all, we’ve had a pretty bad product on the field lately.
However, I can say that when the defenders started putting their hands up to get the crowd into it, they did sound like they got louder on the TV broadcast.
October 11th, 2015 at 7:54 pm
Hey ’87! Shut the H up!! You better than thou whiny bitch! We won!!! I’ve been to 130+ Bucs games. I’ve seen it all! Get over it!!!
October 11th, 2015 at 8:00 pm
unbelievable…well that’s what I’m talking about and anyone that went to this game today will back me up on what they heard or lack there of. When I turn around and see rows and rows of Buc fans just sitting on their hands when our D is out on the field I get pretty pissed off. THEN to top it of we have about 15-20 Jags fans behind all them sitting on their hands Buc fans hollering at the top of their lungs for their D.
Just don’t go to the games then. You’re not helping our D out at all.
How do Buc fans watch a Seahawks game and how loud their crowd is just sit there so damn silent? Clap, whisper if you have to. Just make some kind of noise. Jags fans agreed with me when I was comparing the 2 after the game. They knew exactly what I was talking about.
You’re right though in 2010 the Bucs went 10-6 and I went to 3 of those games. It was the same way back then too.
October 11th, 2015 at 8:02 pm
RayJay used to rock when the Bucs had a ferocious D and won games. That’s what happens when you have a cr@p team for 12 years – fans get apathetic.
October 11th, 2015 at 8:04 pm
Joe…I’m being provoked.
Can I attack without you screening me?
Because I can’t screen myself right now. I’ll do my best.
@McAHoleMike…I don’t give a shyte how many games you’ve been to. You’re probably one of the texters or the ones that just sit there.
October 11th, 2015 at 8:32 pm
You ever hear of cheering silently, they were probably all in shock that the Bucs had the lead with their fingers crossed.
October 11th, 2015 at 8:40 pm
Sign Doug Martin to an extension NOW!!!!!
October 11th, 2015 at 8:47 pm
@87 I feel ya brotha. Maybe if we ever turn this franchise around, the stadium will start to experience a home field advantage once in a while.
One can hope. Hey, at least you got to see a win! And a pretty entertaining game throughout.
October 11th, 2015 at 8:58 pm
unbelievable…but I’ve NEVER up and left the stands in the 3rd qrtr like that before when the Bucs were winning. I stayed in the stadium. I just couldn’t look at rows and rows of Buc fans not making a peep for our D. It’s not like they haven’t watched the Seahawks or Cowboys games before and see how loud their crowds get for their D. Jags fans get it apparently. If I up and walk out of the stands and I had really good seats, there’s a problem. It’s simply not like me to do so even when the Bucs are losing by 20 in the 3rd I stick around.
If most of those Buc fans I saw today were told they could not bring their idiot phones into the game. They would have no reason to be there. That’s fine though, I guess that’s just the way it is.
I lost my voice by halftime btw. Why? Because that’s how it’s done!
October 11th, 2015 at 9:03 pm
Buccfan37….it’s called being loud for your defense. I know it’s an odd concept for Buc fans, but most football fans around the NFL know how to do it. That includes fans of the sh!tty Jaguars. I ain’t lying and I ain’t whining. 3,000 Jaguars fans were 10 times louder for their defense than 30-35,000 Buc fans. It’s was so obvious decibel wise it made me up and leave the stands in disgust. Dude I don’t do that shyte.
It was so quiet at times for the Jaguars offense, you could hear a pin drop.
October 11th, 2015 at 9:47 pm
@1987,
I agree our fan base is pretty lame at the games, but in their defense, it’s kind of what happens when you have been a bad team for a while and you lose 11 in a row at home. Fans come to the game expecting to lose and our team to play poorly. They’ve literally forgotten how to cheer. That being said, there were some good, loud fans there today. I was one of them.
October 11th, 2015 at 10:10 pm
Hawaiian Buc…I think you’re partially correct, but they did cheer like hell when we scored. So they know how to do that. I thought it was just common knowledge that when your defense is out on the field you’re supposed to be loud. That’s why they flash LOUDER up on the jumbotron. What do Buc fans look at that and scratch their heads? Some of them just say, does that mean I have to turn up the volume on my idiot phone?
Wait a minute you were there? I don’t remember seeing any Mike Glennon looking dude at the game. LOL
October 11th, 2015 at 10:20 pm
Joe…Martin made a huge point of making sure people know he hates that nickname. In pretty poor taste to try to keep perpetuating it when I’m pretty sure you’re aware of that fact.
Great game Dougie!
October 11th, 2015 at 10:31 pm
@1987,
Luckily no one said that to me today. Almost every game at least one person says something to me about looking like him. I don’t see it. I’m 6’0 with a growing belly, and most of my previously brown hair has turned gray. Glennon better hurry up and find a woman, because it’s all downhill from here, lol.
October 11th, 2015 at 10:32 pm
LOL
October 11th, 2015 at 10:39 pm
Warren…the name came from college and he’s pretty much stuck with the name. Joe’s not the only site or writer for that matter that calls him Muscle Hamster.
I really don’t think he gets a say so in his nickname. I never got a say so in mine and my sucks worse than muscle hamster. I was nicknamed Flipper years ago and it stuck with me until this day and I’m not even playing the NFL. I’m just a nobody. I hate my nickname. It’s only because of my last name starts with Filip——–. Friends just took the first i out and instead of calling me Flip like my dad’s friends called him. They chose Flipper of all things. A fukin Dolphin.
October 11th, 2015 at 10:49 pm
Dougernaut, Dougie, Bad Ass running back, etc… Anything but Muscle Hamster please. Never liked the nickname either. #22 hates it. He is running for a new contract. Step up the negotiations Jason.
October 12th, 2015 at 2:15 am
Joe…Pretty classless on your part to continue calling Doug a nickname that he has made clear that he doesn’t like. What part of that didn’t you understand?
October 12th, 2015 at 7:13 am
Martin gets the game ball.
October 12th, 2015 at 9:50 am
If you think 2,000 Jags fans were loud, our next home game is Nov. 8th against the Giants…. where every transplant named Vinny, Joey and Guido, driving a ’78 Camaro are going to reminisce about how great everything was in Brooklyn and how everything sucks here in Florider. THAT will be a fun afternoon at Ray Jay dealing with that……