Martin Churning Toward Another Pro Bowl
December 6th, 2015
Dirk Koetter was on a mission
Your unpredictable Buccaneers opened the game handing the ball off to Doug Martin six consecutive times.
Perhaps Dirk Koetter was doing some twisted self-punishment after senselessly giving up on Martin in the second half seven days ago.
Keep in mind most opening drives are scripted. Martin got 26 yards on those six carries, and a weird Bucs drive was stalled after a third-down completion to tight end Cameron Brate came up short.
But the tone was set. The Bucs were going to pound the rock. And they did.
Martin churned out 95 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown. Through just 12 games this season, Martin has 1,133 yards. Barring a meltdown or an injury, he’s going back to the Pro Bowl, as he did as a 2012 rookie.
Charles Sims was one of a complementary back today, too. His seven rushes for 56 yards were damn impressive, and his soft hands and quick feet had two catches for 21 yards.
Has a Bucs’ offense ever been so balanced and dangerous?
December 6th, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Credit Koetter for wanting to keep Martin this year. Martin was on the trade/chop block this past offseason until Koetter told Lovie and the front office that he wanted a go with Martin!!!
December 6th, 2015 at 5:48 pm
The run by sims in the 3rd quarter shocked me. Damn he’s fast. Like 25 yards in a blink
A very nice RB duo.
December 6th, 2015 at 5:52 pm
Break up the Bucs!
December 6th, 2015 at 5:54 pm
Yeah yeah yeah Realist. Credit Lovie for his defense carrying the load most of the game today. The offense finally stepped in the end after Jameis took the game in his own hands.
December 6th, 2015 at 5:54 pm
Realist, agreed my man.
I can’t help but to feel a bit of disdain when I see Martin break one off as I worry about the Bucs urgency to retain him next year. His vision, patience, and quick-burst speed have only grown with experience – experience that shouldn’t be confused with “miles”.
December 6th, 2015 at 5:56 pm
Dougernaut setting himself up for a nice payday. Good job Doug – Do the right thing and sign him to a worthy 2nd contract Jason Licht.
Simms looking more and more legit as the season progresses – A great 1-2 punch.
And congrats to Warhop and the Oline for making such marked improvement in such a short time.
December 6th, 2015 at 5:57 pm
So as of right now #3 can throw to #13 , #83, #87, and #22…or #34 on any given play! That’s insane!
YO JOE!
GO BUCS!!!
December 6th, 2015 at 7:28 pm
Love Koetter! When you can make David Gerard look good, you can do so much more with great talent!
December 6th, 2015 at 8:12 pm
I love Doug as much as the next guy but he’s been successful like this 50% of his seasons with the Bucs. Can we count on his health?
I wouldn’t sign him to any long term guaranteed contract. If they want to give him some big bucks for next year I’m cool with that…but we don’t know how much more of a pounding he can take…no long term guaranteed money.
December 6th, 2015 at 10:41 pm
It was nice to see our best players all playing on offense and healthy.
December 6th, 2015 at 10:53 pm
Sims has short choppy steps. Its weird to watch. It makes him look slow, but defenders seem to get fooled all the time. Perhaps those short steps make it easier to make quick cuts… Idk but i hope he continues to find success.
December 6th, 2015 at 11:22 pm
Jason Licht comes from the Belichick tree. And because of that, I keep thinking WWBD. What would Bill do? Belichick treats his running backs like Charlie Sheen treats his prostitutes. Oh, he loves him some prostitutes, but he knows there’s another one right around the corner. Younger and cheaper with less baggage. IMO Martin has become the straw that stirs the kool-aid around here, but I’m not convinced Licht feels the same way. I dont think running back is a position he wants to spend money on.
December 7th, 2015 at 8:12 am
No RB outside of Peterson is worth a guaranteed long term contract. Don’t get me wrong Martin is playing lights out this year, in a contract year. But the Bucs always overpay for players and they lay down right after the contract is signed. I find it odd that Martin sputtered the last couple of years and now that e is auditioning for a new contract he is playing out of his mind. Martin is playing like the FA that the Bucs typically sign away from another team and then fails miserably or ends up on IR for the year.
December 7th, 2015 at 10:51 am
I’m still not sold on Sims. He seems to hesitate on his cuts, stands-too-tall when he finally does, and then looks like he’s tip-toeing on a piano keyboard rather than stomping out a fire going through the holes, which by the time he hits them they are closing. On the other hand, the Dougernaut literally slips through those holes so quick that the defense is the only one getting burned.
There is a definite drop-off in the running game when he’s in the huddle and more often than the defenses are alerted to it more than likely being a pass play. Still don’t see what all the hype is about Sims. I will take Martin over Sims on any play every time.
December 7th, 2015 at 12:19 pm
Pay the man.
December 7th, 2015 at 6:55 pm
What a comeback year it has been for Doug Martin, who currently leads all RBs with a 3.5 yards per carry average after contact before Sundays game. After contact is what Martin is all about. He gets lost behind the wall of blockers and rarely goes down after the first hit. What makes him standout even more as a RB is how well he is as a pass blocker and receiver. Charles Sims looked sharp as usual. IMO they are the best RB duo in the NFL.