Mix It Up More
April 4th, 2016
Perhaps more touches for Charles Sims is a good thing.
Despite the outrage from Le’Veon Bell, the Bucs had the best one-two punch from running backs last year. That would be Doug Martin and Charles Sims.
The good thing about using Sims was, he’s not just a better pass catcher, but he helps cut wear and tear on Martin’s wheels.
Because of this, Jeff Smith, formerly of FOX Sports and now working for something called “Today’s Pigskin,” believes the tandem worked so well Sims should get more touches.
Between both Martin and Sims last season, the Buccaneers rushed the ball 395 times for 1,931 yards and six scores. While obviously you’d like to see more touchdowns than that, it’s apparent that the combination of these two backs is more than capable of controlling the clock and dominating games. Even more than that, Sims had 51 receptions last year for 561 yards and four scores out of the backfield. Both players are major playmakers, and will have big roles in the gameplan. For Tampa Bay, they absolutely have the talent in the rushing game to control the clock, and that’s exactly what they should do in 2016. Doing this not only wears down opposing defenses, but it will also open things up for Winston in the passing game.
The combination thrived but many Bucs fans were angered. You won’t believe how many Twitters Joe would get in the third quarter from folks all bent out of shape because Sims was in the game and not Martin.
The Bucs have a major investment in Martin. So with his injury history, it is smart to make sure he gets breathers. The worst thing the Bucs could do is grind him into sawdust.
April 4th, 2016 at 7:15 am
I believe sims led the league in yards per touch. How much you wanna bet he shows up jacked this season like martin did last year
April 4th, 2016 at 8:01 am
They can wear down all the defenses they want to but if we are going to win they have to rush for more touchdowns than our rookie quarterback
April 4th, 2016 at 8:09 am
Totally agree, give Sims more touches and keep the wear and tear to a degree with dougy.
When a RB average’s 6.9 yard per carry and leads the league it’s time to get him more carrys. Chuck is a big part of the reason dougy has such a successful season I think. He kept doug fresh and was the perfect compliment to his style of running.
April 4th, 2016 at 8:34 am
Martin gets stronger as the game goes on. When he is on a role and gashing defenses it is stupid to take him off the field. Sims is okay and benefitted greatly from Martin softening up defenses for 3 quarters. Don’t put the better rusher on the sidelines because you want to get the round 3 reach his touches. It stinks of fevered GM egos.
April 4th, 2016 at 8:37 am
I do like Charles Sim and think he helped keep Martin fresh but we have to be careful not to get ahead of ourselves. I read a stat yesterday that Martin had a grand total of 19 carries in the second half of games last season. Nineteen. I’m all for mixing it up throughout the game but Koetter has to be careful not to take Martin out of the games in the 4th quarter. That’s actually when he’s at his best IMO.
April 4th, 2016 at 8:55 am
If you want to get Martin more touches……and also Sims for that matter…..then force more 3 & outs and quit letting teams complete 70 percent and keep the ball…….and yes, I will say it….”It’s as simple as that”
April 4th, 2016 at 9:03 am
I’m in agreement with the last two posters. While keeping Doug healthy is important, you don’t take the ball away from the hot hand. I like Sims, but not at the “expense” of Doug.
There’s a way to incorporate both runners without effecting rhythm.
April 4th, 2016 at 9:16 am
Amen Joe! Let’s be wise with our big investmen! Martin helps Winston, Sims helps Martin. Teamwork at its best and smartest!
April 4th, 2016 at 9:51 am
Jameis Winston and Doug Martin got all the accolades last year, but I personally think that Charles Sims deserves a lot more credit for the Bucs’ improvement in offensive production than he got. Had the same 4.9 yds/rush that Martin had for starters … pretty impressive. Caught 73% of the balls thrown his way (51 of 70) for an 11.0 yds/catch average … very impressive. Contributed 1,090 yds from scrimmage playing Robin to Doug Martin’s Batman … again, quite impressive.
Sims has definitely earned a bigger role in my opinion. And if the Bucs defense does its’ job this year and gets off the @#$%& field on 3rd downs and creates more turnovers in the process, Sims will end up getting more touches. So will the rest of the offense.
April 4th, 2016 at 9:56 am
Koetter broke records last year, and our RB’s dominated in most games. How about letting Koetter do what he does.
April 4th, 2016 at 10:21 am
Sims was in most the second half of games because we were in passing situations thanks to our dreadful defense
April 4th, 2016 at 10:32 am
@San fran…I completely agree…I have been mentioning this since the Texans game…RUN THE BALL…dirk gets a little too pass happy from time to time…winstons best friend will be the run game, special teams and defense…GO BUCS!!!
April 4th, 2016 at 11:17 am
I just hate seeing those wasted plays where we give it to Chuck up the middle for -2 yards. He needs space! He’s more of a third down back but we play him for drives at a time. I get it, it really opens up the offense. But he’s not getting more than 5 yards up the middle ever. Doug can rip one loose
April 4th, 2016 at 11:20 am
@Buc since ’74-
amen. if we weren’t chasing the other team so darn often (2 or 3 times due to jameis, but more often because of the tissue paper defense), they would have added quite a bit more. if both stay healthy and the defense can tight up, 200 yards from scrimmage a week seems doable.
April 4th, 2016 at 11:27 am
Sims and Martin are a productive pair. I’m comfortable with these guys running the ball. With the O line improving, opponents will struggle to keep the Bucs running game in check.
April 4th, 2016 at 11:43 am
San Francisco Joe Says:
April 4th, 2016 at 8:37 am
I read a stat yesterday that Martin had a grand total of 19 carries in the second half of games last season. Nineteen.
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I call BS on that claim. Source please!
Martin had 288 carries in 2015. So 269 were in the 1st half of games and 19 were in the 2nd half? No way.
April 4th, 2016 at 1:52 pm
“You won’t believe how many Twitters Joe would get in the third quarter from folks all bent out of shape because Sims was in the game and not Martin.You won’t believe how many Twitters Joe would get in the third quarter from folks all bent out of shape because Sims was in the game and not Martin” -Joe
Given the predominance of our publicly educated society, that isn’t at all surprising, but still assinine beyond all get out. What defense wants to see a fresh legged #22 in the fourth quarter after getting run ragged by Sims for the past 2 qrtrs with a small dose of Martin sparingly in-between for breathers? Smh…
April 4th, 2016 at 2:36 pm
@Pickgrin
Here’s where I read it. Can’t confirm 100% but why is that so hard to believe? Martin got most of his carries in the first & second quarters.
https://thepewterplank.com/2016/03/31/buccaneers-go-as-doug-martin-goes/
April 4th, 2016 at 5:39 pm
San Francisco Joe Says:
April 4th, 2016 at 2:36 pm
“why is that so hard to believe?”
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Because its not true – LOL
Thanks for the link. Whoever wrote that is very mistaken.
I have like 8 Bucs games from 2015 still on my DVR. So decided to take a look and see about disprove that claim. It didn’t take long. The first 2 games I looked at were all that were needed.
TB vs Washington 10/25/15 – DM had 11 runs in the 2nd half
TB vs Atlanta 11/1/15 – DM had 14 runs in the 2nd half (including 5 in OT)
That’s 25 runs in the 2nd half of 2 games.
April 5th, 2016 at 2:38 am
Why not change it up and have more two back sets instead of taking one out for the other. Sims could play slot from time to time and greatly benefit from the threat of Dougie running. Plus it can keep defenses honest. Both of them gives you something different.
Does anyone know how often the two of them were on the field together last year?
April 5th, 2016 at 5:18 am
Sims led the league in yards per touch. He’s earned more. Team stats trump individual stats. A divided load moves farther faster, and lessens the chance of injury. Defenses know Dougie is most likely to run the ball. They don’t know what Sims will do. They both can be fresh and effective for four quarters. It might even actually extend their careers.