Running Back By Committee
November 9th, 2016
Committee member.
Bucs fans are getting impatient.
Bucs fans want Doug Martin on the field. They need Doug Martin on the field. But Doug Martin’s hamstring has its own time frame.
As we have learned the hard way, hamstrings cannot be rushed, unless you want said player out for the year. So while Bucs fans gnaw their fingernails awaiting word if Martin walks onto the practice fields at One Buc Palace today, the battleplan is running back by committee.
After Martin went down, the Bucs turned to Charles Sims, who himself went down. Then the Bucs turned to Jacquizz Rodgers, who himself went down. Then the Bucs turned to Antone Smith, who himself went down.
So the Bucs are now looking at Peyton Barber, Mike James and Russell Hansbrough. By committee, said Bucs offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
“It has kind of gotten to that,” Monken said of the march to the trainer’s room by Bucs running backs. “To where you have to continue to rotate guys. When we lost Vincent [Jackson], we have had to do that [at receiver] and we will do that with the running back position until someone takes another step forward.
“You have to be careful how much you put on one individual player. Hard for them to grasp everything.”
So there it is. As many as three running backs could share the rock this week. That will continue until or unless Martin gets healthy, or like Rodgers and Smith before them, the new running backs prove they deserve to be fed the ball.
November 9th, 2016 at 1:54 pm
Doug Martin practiced today tho
November 9th, 2016 at 2:07 pm
He “practiced” before too.
November 9th, 2016 at 2:28 pm
We’re doomed! We’re all doooooomeeeeeddd.
November 9th, 2016 at 3:19 pm
ahhh my fantasy team, I NEED ANSWERS!
November 9th, 2016 at 4:31 pm
RB is a huge need. Martin is too unreliable and can’t be counted on. He will just tease his fan boys the rest of the season. just IR him and move on
November 9th, 2016 at 5:25 pm
Pulling for a big game from PEYTON BARBER….Hit that hole like your life depends on it.
November 9th, 2016 at 5:59 pm
The way Barber carries the ball scares me.
November 9th, 2016 at 8:04 pm
This is where Jason Licht should make bold but not risky moves to salvage the season or we may be headed for another 6-10 season or worst yet 3-13.
We’re playing with a stable of UDFAs and probably not much production can be expected from this group. IMO, this is the time when raiding a practice squad or two in the dead of night might yield some much needed help.
Winston’s former FSU RB Karlos Williams is currently rehabbing his career on the Steelers PS and according to rumor had regained his 2015 form (released from Bills out of shape and PED suspension).
A fifth-round pick last season, Williams 6-1, 230, 4.48/40, played in 11 games, starting three. He gained 517 yards on 93 carries and scored seven rushing touchdowns in addition to two receiving touchdowns.
No doubt in my mind he’s better than our current stable of emergency roughriders called into duty. Below is the latest info I could find on Williams. Go get’im Licht!
http://www.pennlive.com/steelers/index.ssf/2016/10/steeler_karlos_williams_practice.html
November 10th, 2016 at 4:27 am
I’m always amazed at a coach saying “You have to be careful how much you put on one individual player. Hard for them to grasp everything.” Seriously, hard to grasp everything?? Either they lack the intelligence to grasp the plays or the plays are so complicated it will take years to grasp. Besides, these are full time employees that should understand their craft. It’s mid-season. If they don’t know the playbook by now they will never know it. Pathetic bunch these Bucs. The product on the field is very sub-par as it is across the league (except for the elite teams). The NFL is just a few seasons from irrelevance.
November 10th, 2016 at 5:37 am
Should have never cut Mike James!