No Cruise Control
June 13th, 2016
All out.
Joe admits to being a cynical, skeptical guy.
It comes with age and worldly experience, Joe believes, and by being a fan of an NFL team with five consecutive last-place finishes.
That brings Joe to Doug Martin. In the back of Joe’s mind, about 35 yards behind the cheerleader fantasies, lives a thought that Martin might be a guy ready to coast after cashing a massive check.
No, it’s not fair. No, it’s not a thought grounded with evidence, just a feeling that persists in the shadows.
It’s a small part of the reason Joe lobbied for the Bucs to drop the franchise tag on Martin this offseason, rather than dropping roughly $16 million of guaranteed cash in his lap.
Therefore, Joe made an effort to watch Martin closely through OTA practices. And Joe proudly will say Martin looks as driven as ever. He’s finishing runs to the end zone when he doesn’t have to. He’s stiff-arming guys who aren’t allowed to tackle him. He’s diving for balls in drills. He looks focused during mock pass blocking. Throw in that Martin looks happy and seems super relaxed on the sidelines, it’s easy to predict Martin’s stellar play last year will continue in September.
Now he just has to stay healthy, the challenge for every running back in the league.
June 13th, 2016 at 12:34 pm
I’m looking for 1600 yards rushing this season from Doug Martin.
June 13th, 2016 at 12:46 pm
I see his yards coming down a fraction, and his tds going up a tick…..
June 13th, 2016 at 1:23 pm
1600 yards that’s gonna be tough to do….I’d be more than very happy with 1200 yards rushing, 400 yards in the passing game…he is not gonna be a every down back or should I say used as much as he was last year! Our back field will be stacked this year, a rooki will show he can play at this level!!
June 13th, 2016 at 1:31 pm
I like Doug as a runner but he just cant catch a cold when we really need him to. its a shame because he can be always open on a fake handoff. He would be deadly in open space past the 2nd level but he just isnt a natural reciever
He cost us 2 games last year when he should of caught those easy wheel routes to ice the games. He can practice all he wants , but at the 4th qtr when its crunch time he will always drop it.
June 13th, 2016 at 1:44 pm
He gets run down from behind a lot.
June 13th, 2016 at 1:48 pm
He had over 1200 rushing yards but he gets run down from behind? LOL
June 13th, 2016 at 2:22 pm
1600 yards is a lot, but it averages out to 100 YPG. Doug gained 1402 last season, despite having 6 games with 15 carries or least. The reason for that ( we were always playing from behind). But this season ( with a much improved defense) he will get more carries. We shouldn’t play from behind ( as much) as last season.
June 13th, 2016 at 3:23 pm
Doug’s spirited play and overall happiness comes with financial security and waning muscle hamster talk. Overpaid? Hell ain’t they all! Ya
June 13th, 2016 at 3:32 pm
Kobe Faker Says:
June 13th, 2016 at 1:31 pm
“He cost us 2 games last year when he should of caught those easy wheel routes to ice the games.”
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53 guys on the team and I’m pretty sure Doug didn’t “cost” us any games. A solid reason we were even in the game… Doug Martin.
June 13th, 2016 at 3:34 pm
Kobe Faker Says:
June 13th, 2016 at 1:31 pm
“…but at the 4th qtr when its crunch time he will always drop it.”
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Speaking in Absolutes shows a bit of immaturity, if not ignorance.
June 13th, 2016 at 4:31 pm
In order for him to get run down from behind a lot…..doesn’t he have to get in front first?……I’ll take a back that gets run down from behind a lot….
June 13th, 2016 at 7:49 pm
You gotta reward the guys who produce so I was glad we did it. You don’t wanna be known as a cheap team that screws its best players over.
June 13th, 2016 at 8:01 pm
If he’s healthy he is a franchise back a bunch of teams would die to have.
June 13th, 2016 at 8:02 pm
Doug didn’t cost us any games last year. He single handedly put this team on his back. The number of tackles he broke was insane. Our running game was superb because of him and sims. You always have to worry about players becoming complacent after their first payday. All we can do is wait and see until the season starts. Keep doing your thing and stay healthy dougy!
June 13th, 2016 at 8:32 pm
He’ll only the rushing title this year.
There’s no Muscle Hamster doubt in my mind.
June 13th, 2016 at 8:32 pm
win*
June 13th, 2016 at 9:33 pm
Its $15M Guaranteed for 2 years + 3 more years of his services at a fair price at the Bucs discretion.
If Joe was GM – we would have paid just under $12M for ONE year and been in the exact same boat as this off-season of not having him signed and being worried about what to do and how much will he demand….
If I was Joe, I would quit reminding readers about lobbying (hard) for the franchise tag on DM. It was never a good idea – especially since he’ll now likely finish his career as a Buccaneer and both sides got a fair deal.
If Martin stays healthy – we are likely looking at 1500 yards of production from him again this year – and Sims will probably be close to the 1000 yard mark combined again as well.
June 13th, 2016 at 11:40 pm
I could see us being a lot more competitive in games. Which means we will be able to run the ball more late in games. I expect Doug and Charles to get a lot of work this year. Im confident that Dirk will find creative and conventional ways to get the ball to our 2 most productive players. We are still built to run the ball. We replace mankins with a road grader, we resigned Martin to a big deal, we signed/drafted 0 WRs. All signs point to pounding the rock.
June 14th, 2016 at 12:16 am
Lol @ Pickgrin! I remember saying the same thing about Joe playing GM and got told how I must be hitting the bourbon early by them. Lol
June 14th, 2016 at 12:17 am
That was back when he was boosting a team friendly AC contract
June 14th, 2016 at 12:20 am
I think you’re right on the money TBF22. I believe we’re going to start out firing for points and then run the opposing D into the ground with our running
June 14th, 2016 at 10:31 am
That is great news, Joe. I hope it remains the case.
I had the same fear. I still do…but what’s done is done. All I can do now is hope he is real.
Maybe being the #2 RB in the league, almost being the top guy, registered with him…an “I can be the best” message.
I sure hope so.
June 14th, 2016 at 10:32 am
Thankfully, it will be Rob Gronkowski on the cover of Madden.