Koetter Expects Jacquizz Return
January 1st, 2017
Dirk Koetter plays agent for his prized free agent. Did the head coach also take a shot at Doug Martin?
Tampa Bay’s leading running back, the mightiest nearly 5-foot-6 man in the land, Jacquizz Rodgers, will be courted to return to Tampa Bay next season and not test free agency.
That was the smiling word from Dirk Koetter this evening in the happy bowels of the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway.
Koetter wants Jacquizz back.
“Quizz has been a great addition to our team and hopefully we’ll be able to get him back in the future,: Koetter said after today’s Panthers beating. “I got a good firm handshake on it today on the field. So I’m going to hold him to that in the offseason.
“Quizz is one of those guys. For our fans, Quizz is the Adam Humphries of running backs. He does what he’s supposed to do and you can count on it. He’s not flashy. He is very tough. He’s very consistent. Extremely smart player.
“You know, we had a big dropoff in explosive plays from our running backs this year. And Jacquizz came in and filled a big void for us.”
And who could blame Koetter? Did anyone miss Doug Martin in New Orleans or today against the Panthers?
Rodgers did what Martin didn’t this season: produce. Simple as that. Film don’t lie, and neither do the basic numbers.
There’s a reason Koetter is talking about “explosive plays” and a “big void.” Martin was subpar through the season.
Rodgers toted the rock 129 times for 560 yards and two touchdowns. He proved versatile and capable of shouldering the load a feature back, at least for a handful of games, and he bounced back strong from an in-season foot injury.
Today, Rodgers, 26, was a downhill fire hydrant hammering away at the Panthers, 17 carries for 75 yards.
Pay the man. There’s no reason Jason Licht can’t drop a couple of years of guaranteed money on Jacquizz, perhaps $2 million annually plus incentives.
January 1st, 2017 at 7:11 pm
Jacquizz was a solid add, I hope he’s back, and I hope he’s not starting – because if he is, that doesn’t sound good. Wow though he’s only 26? He seems like he’s been around a longtime. Still the best RB out there is Martin, and he’s an All-Pro every odd numbered year, so hopefully they just keep him around on a cheaper one year contract because he’ll be back and will be dominant – or more likely the team will listen to the fans and do the same thing they did with Talib and Blount, then next year when we play the Patriots at home Martin will rush for 170 yards and 3 TDs.
January 1st, 2017 at 7:11 pm
Dougie Fresh is so gone
January 1st, 2017 at 7:12 pm
@ Rod Munch
……..you’re living in the past
January 1st, 2017 at 7:14 pm
Agreed!!!!
January 1st, 2017 at 7:16 pm
The bucs would be absolutely stupid to bring Martin back. Martin deserves to be Toothless pushing a shopping cart on Nebraska with the rest of the dumbasses who make bad CHOICES. Doug screwed us and his teammates screw that bum.
Drugs and alcohol are bad choices not diseases that is a just BS crutch for insurance companies to have to pay for treatment that RARELY works just look at relapse rates. More personal responsibility and less labeling bad choices a disease to justify stupidity.
January 1st, 2017 at 7:20 pm
@ tmaxcon
Pretty harsh on dougie fresh…….aren’t you????
I’m sure you’ve never made bad choices / decisions in your perfect life???? (rolling eyes)
January 1st, 2017 at 7:23 pm
Uh, no. Quizz IS FLASHY and that’s exactly why the fans like him. He is a cross between Doug Martin and Warrick Dunn. Dirk lost the fact he’s not flashy in money, which fans don’t care about. Now, I take who I think is flashy as a guy in for $10K a year on season tickets. That’s MY money. I don’t give a hoot about who has the cool contract. I say that because Dirk compared him to Humphries…another FLASHY guy on a CHEAP contract. Again, I don’t care. I expect the Bucs MUST sign Rodgers to three years, work Martin to three years on a cheaper contract, draft a top RB in two years (stop this nonsense thought of doing it this year), and a competition at camp with Rodgers, Martin, Barber, Sims, in that order in July. Here’s the deal. I am in this thing for 10 grand. I expect the Bucs to spend their $60M plus cap space to make my 10 worth it.
January 1st, 2017 at 7:24 pm
Martin isn’t going anywhere. Doug will bounce back and a healthy Doug Martin is crazy good as we’ve all seen. Nice to have Jacquiz to light a fire under him. He’s taken his starting role for granted…let’s see how he responds. You’d have to be an idiot to go all moral high ground and lose Martin like we did Blount
January 1st, 2017 at 7:24 pm
Tmax might be HARSH BUT he is not wrong.
January 1st, 2017 at 7:25 pm
Fred – totally agree. Maybe next year or two for a high round RB in the draft. Too many other needs
January 1st, 2017 at 7:39 pm
I honestly dont know what to expect with the Martin fiasco. But I think he’s just been way too inconsistent to rely on, plus he’s not getting any younger. Now Quiz is a good guy and a good back, but if the Bucs are thinking Super Bowl we need a better RB.
January 1st, 2017 at 7:42 pm
Doug didn’t screw the Bucs, it was a coach decision to bench him. Doug could have played the rest of the season, he wasn’t even suspended against the Saints. When the suspension was finally announced, he could have appeal it and continue to play. Tom Brady fought his suspension for over a year, he finally gave in after the Patriots had an full off season to prepare for his suspension.
January 1st, 2017 at 7:43 pm
That’s an easy one
January 1st, 2017 at 7:47 pm
I know we have tons of needs but I wouldn’t mind seeing us pick up Dalvin Cook or that beast from Texas.
January 1st, 2017 at 7:53 pm
Lakeland
He and the bucs knew about the suspension against the saints. But the bucs were kind enough to let him make his own decision on whether or not to appeal before they put out a press release. Martin screwed the pouch, and the fans/organization in the process. I don’t feel sorry for doug, he made his decision to use whatever banned substance it was. And that’s on him.
January 1st, 2017 at 7:56 pm
St pete
If cook falls past 10 I think we could try to jump in front of the Colts for him. But I really don’t want to do that. If he falls to us then yes by all means take him. But some mocks are projecting Mike Williams to be there @ 18, in that case take the wr and get the Texas rb in the 2nd. May have to trade up for him tho. Either way, we NEED a rb in this draft.
January 1st, 2017 at 7:59 pm
For the #draftOline crowd
Ronald Leary G of the COWBOYS will be available this offseason, as will Riley Reief RT of the Lions. We get one if not both of those in Free agency then a C like the Ohio State or LSU kid this line will be NASTY.
January 1st, 2017 at 8:01 pm
Well you don’t let Martin playout his current contract, you tear it up and up and give him a one year deal that pays huge money if he plays like a superstar – I’m all for keeping him but not with his current deal. If he busts, oh well, the Bucs have so much money why not do it with Martin since he could be a huge difference maker. If the Bucs do cut him then watch as he signs with the Pats or Denver or the Raiders or Seattle and goes on to have a huge huge year while the Bucs are wondering whats wrong with Rodgers when he’s getting 3.4 ypc and isn’t the everydown featured back the Bucs thought they were getting when they signed him mid-season as an unemployed guy off the street.
As for Martin, as far as I know the guy has never done anything bad off the field, he’s not a problem guy – the only negative mark is his hatred of the Muscle Hamster name, which is one of the best nicknames in sports.
BUT with all that said I don’t know anything special about Martin behind the scenes, so perhaps there’s more to all of this, but he doesn’t seem like the type of guy who is going to turn into Josh Freeman, he seems like a guy that will be mad at himself for screwing up and will go on a rampage to make it up on the field. I could be very very wrong of course, but I don’t think am I as of right now and what I know.
January 1st, 2017 at 8:08 pm
Quizz is a championship element. Best be a Buc next year
January 1st, 2017 at 8:08 pm
Plain and simple
Dalvin Cook only if hes there though
January 1st, 2017 at 8:09 pm
I like Wayne Gallman in the 3rd, that’s the back that I have my eye on.
January 1st, 2017 at 9:48 pm
“t(a)m(p)axcon” – your remarks are unbelievable and it only proves how damn ignorant you really are !!! The only reason you would make such uneducated remarks is to piss other Bucs fans off, and try to make up for your lack of knowledge. Please go find another NFL team you can support with your hate, and leave JBF for real Bucs fans to enjoy. I’m sure you can find another website to post your ignorance on, so that you can still feel like people really give a s&#@ what you think !!!! GO BUCS 2017 !!!!
January 1st, 2017 at 10:34 pm
We have too many holes to hit up RB. Be a wasted pick. I like our depth. I agree with tmax. But he will be back. Shoot, we took a shot with Huff and his case was much worse
January 1st, 2017 at 11:16 pm
I don’t see Martin coming back. You have an injury prone RB with a drug problem coming off a horrible season. That doesn’t sound like someone a young team on the rise wants to rely on. Bring back Quiz and maybe Cook falls to us. Doubtful but hey you never know.
January 1st, 2017 at 11:29 pm
I was against resigning Martin in the first place. I would be all for moving on from him. But I think they bring him back. Sign tmaxcon in free agency he could average 2.9 yards a carry
January 2nd, 2017 at 3:31 am
Martin needs to be gone. He proved he is part of the old losing ways.
January 2nd, 2017 at 5:59 am
tmaxcon, this is a sports blog take your political BS elsewhere. Besides your ignorance is showing!
January 2nd, 2017 at 7:13 am
Let’s draft a runnng back and let Martin go, really. First of all what’s the guarantee a RB will be there when we definitely have greater needs (We have seen the Martin/Sims show look like the best combo in the league, we have seen the posters here scream for Dan Vitale, we have seen Quiz have a resurgent year, we’ve seen the offensive line be offensive and seen them dominant, (nothing we have seen is the norm). Give the Martin and Sims show a shot again, they are weapons in the passing game and can get yardage, this we know. As for Doug, guy had a serious injury and probably like many just tried to get back too soon, this is his livelihood, none of us expect this to be ongoing (I could be wrong), but many of you thought DM was a solid guy before you heard about this. It’s a tough position and RB’s have off years, see Todd Gurley. Mark Ingram just had his first 1000 yard year and that guy drafted ahead of Doug, Trent Richardson….
January 2nd, 2017 at 8:42 am
Obviously people differ on this per the various posts above. We all have opinions but I trust the the powers that be at One Buc Place have much more knowledge about the situation and will make the right choice. If it was something like Adderall I am sure they will welcome him back. If it was something else I doubt they will. I have heard rumors from a supposedly “reliable source” that it was definitively not Adderall and something that I would be very concerned about. Ultimately though it is just something I heard and I don’t know if it is accurate or not. I assume the guys at One Buc have a good grasp of the situation and will make the right choice. Regardless though he has been injury prone and was at the bottom of the league in yards per carry last season. Quiz looks to be the much better back at this point in time.
January 2nd, 2017 at 9:06 am
Drugs and alcohol are bad choices not diseases that is a just BS crutch for insurance companies to have to pay for treatment that RARELY works just look at relapse rates.
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I didn’t know we had a doctor on board! Pleases share more of your expertise with us!!
January 3rd, 2017 at 5:50 pm
You have to bring Quizz back with the uncertainty of Martin. But being that the Bucs aren’t on the hook to pay Martin, I don’t see why they couldn’t try to restructure his contract to a cheaper deal and say take it or leave it. I personally would like to see Martin stay on the team. We know what he is capable of when he is healthy and if it doesn’t pan out, we still have Quizz and Simms on the roster. I think we have bigger needs than RB for the draft.