Halftime Of Doug Martin’s Dash For Cash
November 13th, 2015
Doug Martin is on a two-game streak of sour play, leaving the Bucs’ bell cow running back at a crossroads.
In 50 short days, the NFL regular season is over.
Martin’s rookie contract will be up and the Bucs will be faced with a decision.
In total, Martin had a very strong first half of the season. He’s on pace for 1,286 yards rushing and six touchdowns on 286 carries. But Martin has coughed up a couple of balls, dropped a likely touchdown last Sunday, and he’s been a non-factor out of the backfield. He’s also certainly not much of a pass blocker.
And then there’s those last two games, a combined 102 yards on 34 carries, with a drop and a fumble — and a quick locker room exit.
Joe is not down on Martin. Not at all. Joe never thought the guy was the next Adrian Peterson. But these are judgment days upcoming for The Muscle Hamster.
Charles Sims has been surging, and young productive running backs are easy to find on the cheap or in the later rounds of the draft. Plus, Lovie Smith might have a simmering Matt Forte yearning, as Forte will be a free man after the season.
Martin is a big key to the second half of the season. He’s healthy and has everything to play for, and a strong offensive line. He has to produce.
November 13th, 2015 at 7:12 pm
Your headlines are better than the papers.
And you are the among the few calling the Bucs out compared to the Philly and NY and Chicago media.
November 13th, 2015 at 7:41 pm
I like Doug and hope they can resign him to a reasonable contract but you’re you can get decent RB’s in later rounds in the draft for cheap.
November 13th, 2015 at 7:54 pm
The good news is that running back is now the least of our worries…most of which have moved from the offense to the defense.
Sims is decent and getting better and has a high upside if he reaches it. I think we are seeing Martin’s upside or the top of his ability which means mediocre hands out of the backfield and poor blocking with good running skills.
I agree with Joe and Waterboy…”good” running backs are readily available…every now and then an AP comes along and is special. This year it appears that Todd Gurley might be that guy…whatever he’s certainly justified his high pick…but for every AP or Gurley there are many examples of first round RB’s who never justified their selection. It’s easy to find competent RB’s.
November 13th, 2015 at 8:57 pm
LOL JoeBucsFan, Doug could give 2 sh*** about what you think about him because I guarantee you he’s going to get plenty of interest in free agency. Doug’s production throughout the first half of the season ranks him as on eof the most productive backs in the league.
November 13th, 2015 at 9:26 pm
This is a very good time to negotiate a contract….after a couple of bad games…..I think he has more value to us than others and would probably like to stay…..I hope we resign him….always liked him and his 100% effort.
November 13th, 2015 at 9:51 pm
I don’t know why I don’t like Sims. He’s made some great plays and I don’t dispute that he may be up and coming but I see little shiftiness and ability to break tackles. I just am not his biggest fan. RB’s can be had anywhere in the draft. We have bigger concerns. DE, CB, TE, DE, DE, DE, DE
November 13th, 2015 at 10:13 pm
Joe you go ahead and put surging Sims as the starter next year and watch this offense sputter. Licht should have just given Martin that option year and we would be in control. Then again, I can’t really think of any decision they have done to be sound. Seriously, I don’t hate Jamies but Mariota is clearly the better QB, just watch the tape. Barron is suddenly a pro bowl player with the Rams and leads the team in tackles. Revis just held Watkins to 3 catches last night. Penn is playing great as the left tackle for the offensive powerhouse Raiders. So to circle back to this post, Doug Martin should leave, the club didn’t believe in him so why should he sign back with them. I like him and think we will regret another departure from this team next year.
November 13th, 2015 at 10:52 pm
Thank you Brett.
November 13th, 2015 at 11:37 pm
Kareem Hunt, Toledo, with our 3rd round pick. This kid is a stud.
November 13th, 2015 at 11:54 pm
@I know why
Barron was also moved to WLB because he can’t cover WR’s which exactly why they got rid of him. With David already playing WLB that wasn’t an option in Tampa. As far as Mariota he has looks much better than I ever expected but I’m still not sure about him just yet. They are throwing a lot of quick dink and dunk passes and screens I’m a little surprise teams haven’t adjusted to that yet.
November 14th, 2015 at 1:11 am
@Joe – How can you say Doug Martin is “certainly not much of a pass blocker?” To bad you are so ane-l about any statistical information websites or you would be aware of positive information regarding your team. I am not trying to put you or your site down, rather I am trying to help you understand that by being sarcastic and downplaying statistical analyst sites it diminishes your product. By not acknowledging all the resources available it limits your readers from all the information out there in which they can either buy into it or not. Martin leads the league and all RB in pass blocking efficiency per Pro Football Focus. Martin has allowed zero QB hits, hurries or sacks in pass protection. Which is a big improvement over prior year. Martin is on pace for a career year, he is currently PFF’s #2-graded RB, sixth in breakaway percentage and second in elusive rating. He gained 643 yards on 143 carries with three TDS on the ground. Bucs fans should be hopeful that Martin’s presence as both a premier pass blocker and reliable runner will maximize the growth of Jameis Winston this season. Yes, PFF said Doug Martin is a premier pass blocker.
The statistical analysis sites largely diminish themselves by putting out weak information. Joe’s not going to pretend. Joe wishes all their data was good. It would make for great study. — Joe
November 14th, 2015 at 7:56 am
I think doug martin has been a victim of his own success this year. Stopping him has to be the focus of opposing defenses,and with our depleted receiving corp it is stifles our offense.That said I believe to prolong his future production
use both backs to their strengths. Martin is better inside, Sims is a better receiver in space and should be used in screens and wheel routes.
November 14th, 2015 at 11:17 am
As Bob stated above, there shouldn’t be any doubt that the loss of Vincent Jackson and Louis Murphy is the true cause behind the drop in Martin’s performance. While he did lose a fumble and drop a sure touchdown pass, fumbling happens occasionally and he’s never been much of a gifted pass receiver. Not having VJax, Murphy, and even ASJ has allowed defenses to focus on stopping Martin first.
I’m curious why the Bucs haven’t played Charles Sims as the slot receiver. He’s fast, he has soft hands, he’s elusive in open space, and he’s big enough to handle the hits from linebackers and safeties. I think they’re missing the boat by not playing him there.
November 14th, 2015 at 1:16 pm
@I know why
Then again, I can’t really think of any decision they have done to be sound.
ANY decision? Really?
Let’s start with the #1 pick. You prefer MM…many of us prefer #3. Objectively speaking it’s far far too soon to anoint either of them as big successes or busts.
I think they both will have good careers barring injury…which appear to threaten MM at this point more than #3. MM has already missed games. At worst that pick is a wash and can’t be called unsound.
Revis did NOT want to be here. He’s a mercenary who simply was out to get the most $$$. A 16 million DB is simply too much for that position whether it’s Sherman, Peterson or Revis. I like Revis but he was demanding more $$ than any DB is worth and Adam Schein was on earlier this week pointing out that there is unhappiness with Revis this season claiming he’s not playing up to his contract.
The “powerhouse” Raiders? A .500 team is now a powerhouse. In addition Penn is playing a position OL where we are solid and don’t need him.
Drafting a Div III player who starts every game until this week is unsound.
I’m not Lovie defender. But I am a defender of balance and try to chill some of the hyperbole that Lovie haters fall into.
Most things in life are not really black and white but some shade of gray. Too many here are speaking too dogmatically about Lovie and LIcht and I still haven’t gotten the word from the Joes on who had the most input into this year’s draft. Whoever it was deserves major props for making more that just sound picks but hitting home runs.