Why Jacquizz Rodgers Thrived
May 18th, 2017
Coach talk today about the team’s No. 1 running back in 2016
Did you know the Buccaneers have an official running game coordinator on staff?
Oh, yes they do. And you can bet that guy has an opinion on why Jacquizz Rodgers thrived when other didn’t.
That run game coordinator is offensive line coach George Warhop, who got the added title/duty for last season.
Today at One Buc Palace, Joe asked Warhop why Rodgers was so successful last season when others at his position were not.
“He’s knows how to run it. I mean, he does a good job getting to his aiming points. He’s very patient. If he sees a hole he takes it; he doesn’t panic,” Warhop said of Rodgers. “But I just think he’s very consistent about what he does, and he’s a tough kid.”
There are 32 NFL teams and Rodgers had the 32nd-most carries in the league last year — 129 for 560 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and two touchdowns. No fumbles. Charles Sims (51 carries) and Doug Martin (144 carriers) each averaged 2.9 yards per rush behind the same line with one fumble each.
There’s a load on confidence in Rodgers at One Buc Palace.
May 18th, 2017 at 4:30 pm
I like all the running backs. Except for (Charles) Sims.
May 18th, 2017 at 4:58 pm
Anyone want to guess how well he would have run on a torn hamstring?
May 18th, 2017 at 5:37 pm
I like Quizz. RB1 is his to lose at this point. Interested to see what the rookie can do.
May 18th, 2017 at 5:41 pm
I like him and think he is a solid #2 to Doug. Mix him with Sims/McNichols/Barber and we have a pretty solid RB group.
May 18th, 2017 at 5:45 pm
DallasBuc
hamstrings hold up much better when you are not a loser drunk popping molly and screwing your team over. hydration is key to those types of injuries hard to stay hydrated on molly and booze… give it up dallas martin is nothing but an unreliable bum who had a few good games and more bad seasons than good ones.
May 18th, 2017 at 5:53 pm
Tmaxcon u do realize rogers only had 2 good games as well. one was against the panthers and the other was against San Fran. I think he is a good solid 2. Nothing more and that was before we got mcnichols. Depending on how he does in training camp/ preseason
May 18th, 2017 at 5:53 pm
and to be clear nothing wrong with being a drunk on molly just don’t screw over your team or get caught. throw the drugs out the window and martin is still an unreliable back with more bad seasons than good which make him clearly NOT great.
May 18th, 2017 at 5:54 pm
Bucsfan4life
where was i promoting Rodgers… where did i say rodgers was better or the man. I just pointed out the facts about doug martin that the fanboys clearly leave out. .
May 18th, 2017 at 5:55 pm
i like you believe rodgers is a complimentary back at best not a workhorse. like him but not sold
May 18th, 2017 at 6:02 pm
Tmaxcon u are correct. I just don’t get how people are like oh Martin suspended for first 3 games due to failing drug test let him go. Laveon bell missed first 3 games as well a year or so ago and the same people will say that’s different. Those 2 players have almost identical yards, touchdowns, carries, you, and games in first 4 years so I’m trying to figure out what’s the difference.
May 18th, 2017 at 6:05 pm
Bucsfan4life
i was on the fence when the gave him the contract to begin with seeing he was a 50/50 back and nothing special in the first place. he does not score and he does not change games. he’s a plodder. that works well in the underachieving world of lovie and dungy but not what the bucs offense is being built for.
May 18th, 2017 at 6:10 pm
Tmaxcon
I agree with contract. I’m not saying we should keep Martin even past this year but unless mcnichols impresses I just don’t think we have another answer on our roster. And although Martin doesn’t score he does move the chains and is a threat for 20yd run here and there. That’s when he is on.
May 18th, 2017 at 6:15 pm
Dalvin Cook ran on bad hammys all of 2015 and still was a freak that defenses couldn’t stop. And honestly I don’t care what the excuse is – the fact is martin has been really bad 3 out of his 5 years in the NFL – for whatever reason.
And even his 2 good years weren’t that great at all compared to real elite backs:
Rookie year he only would have averaged about 4.1 YPC if you take out the insane Oakland freakshow game. That’s worse than Rodgers last year.
He had 5 games over 100 yards rushing. He had 66 yards or fewer in 7 other games. Basically half his games he wasn’t much of a factor for the offense.
His 2nd “good year” he went over 100 yards rushing 4 times. He had 66 yards or fewer in 6 other games. Take out his crazy Giants game and he had a 4.4 YPC average.
So in summary – even at his best; Martin was a back who was almost 50/50 in terms of having a bad to mediocre day at the office. That’s extremely inconsistent. He’s never been great in the red zone for whatever reason coming up short all the time. Not a great pass catching back. Not a guy who can break a long TD any play. He’s basically at best a slightly above average 2 down back. That’s what his stats say.
Jordan Howard had 7 100+ yard games already in his rookie year last year almost matching Martin’s best 2 year total; with only 11 starts where he actually got 15+ carries. There was only 1 game in those 11 games in which he had 66 yards or fewer. He was at 77-90 yards the other 3 games.
Zeke Elliot had 7 100+ yard games; and 3 more games where he was at 96+ yards. He was held to under 66 yards in only 1 of 17 games played.
Not sure how anyone can ignore numbers like that. People who’ve owned Martin in fantasy have known he was really unreliable even in the good years. Basically had 1 huge game a year; and like 3-4 more solid games; and was mediocre to bad every other game.
May 18th, 2017 at 6:16 pm
People are not saying release Doug Martin because of a drug suspension. Please stop giving that false narrative. People are saying get rid of Doug Martin because of Drug suspension + 3 bad years where he ran for under 500 yards + being injured most of his career in Tampa. He is not reliable.
May 18th, 2017 at 6:24 pm
I’m hoping JR, CS and PB play well in pre-season and have solid outings as a committee in the first two games. Sweezy and Howard should help the line create decent running lanes.
After the 2nd game if the above is happening, it will be time to offer DM a “2017 Sweezy contract” with a pay cut and incentives. Hopefully he signs it. We could then make DM our closer running back. Put him in the 4th qtr. to seal the deal. He should have a clause in the new contract that if he averages less than 5 yds a carry on two consecutive games we may cut him without salary cap consequences.
In Licht We Trust!!!
May 18th, 2017 at 6:24 pm
^and Mc Nichols too
May 18th, 2017 at 6:25 pm
“I demand a official Offensive Coordinator, not just a run game coordinator ”
Kobe Faker
May 18th, 2017 at 6:51 pm
If the Bucs were really interested in a high power running game they would have drafted Joe Mixon, period.
Trying to find the tallest midget among our RB’s is hardly encouraging.
Let’s hope the passing game is so powerful that our RB’s(?) will only face 3 in the box.
May 18th, 2017 at 7:49 pm
He don’t know how to run it. I mean, he does a poor job getting to his aiming points. He’s very hesitant. If he sees a hole he wont take it; he panics,” Warhop said of Rodgers, my bad, Sims. “But I just think he’s very inconsistent about what he does, and he’s a passive kid.”
May 18th, 2017 at 7:50 pm
Joe Mixon is a flat out Punk and never had a good a Season as Perine did. I don’t think he will even be in the league in 5 yrs.
May 18th, 2017 at 7:52 pm
Let’s see if I can flip this? Lord C pretty much laid out Doug Martin’s career.
The numbers speak for themselves.
But I am not here to bury Doug Martin. Why waste the time. I’m here to cheer big time for McNichols. Again we KNOW he can catch the football…he has decent not great speed,..still a bit faster than Doug…runs about as well as Doug…if he can put up yards like Doug and the other Boise back running for the Dolphins…we are set. If McNichols can put up 1200 all purpose yards we’re going to Minny!!!
800 running 400 receiving. I believe he has enough talent for more but it’s going to be tough to get offensive touches on this team…we are LOADED with options.
McNichols only needs to be decent…the offense is already explosive.
May 18th, 2017 at 7:53 pm
Also Mo Downs if you don’t realize that the reason our Run game sucked so bad was our lack of WR Depth then you don’t know much about football. Our RB stable is JUST FINE! Above average pass attack opens up the rush attack and vice a versa
May 18th, 2017 at 8:08 pm
Exactly SB!!! Our running attack this year is already improved because of the additions in our passing game.
In addition I believe our OL is going to be significantly better. LT and LG remain the same….Marpet is a huge upgrade over undersized Hawley who played on bad knees…Sweezy will not be an upgrade over Marpet but he’ll hold his own which leave us searching for an RT.
I just think Pamphile, Marpet and Sweezy right up the gut are three mean road graders who will improve our OL significantly. It shouldn’t be hard to improve RT given the total lack of play there last year.
So improved WRs and TEs in the passing game, improved blocking and improved OL play will mean a good run game that should be so good it can survive plug and play RB’s.
May 18th, 2017 at 8:34 pm
Yeah SPBF……I am completely excited as well. Some people like to pick out one deficiency and curse it while not understanding the source. I think that Every facet of our team right down to the Kicking game has improved and this may be the first time in 41 years that I can say that.
The only position group that really wasn’t addressed was OL That is firmly on Licht’s shoulders.
May 18th, 2017 at 9:08 pm
@SB
I completely agree! And even though we didnt really address the OLine, its not like our line was horrific. Well, at least we finally got rid of Gosder “The Human Turnstile” Cherilus. Improvements already!
May 18th, 2017 at 9:12 pm
To piggyback Pete and SB, during those coaches interviews today that can all be heard on the Bucs app. The RB coach stated Quizz has dropped about 6lbs and is looking faster. He also mention people shouldn’t sleep on Barber and that Barber is currently weighing in at 233lbs. Not exactly a small back. That pounder everyone was looking for may very well already be on the roster. He was little angered by McNicohls not being in the building but rather at the rookie symposium. Honestly his comments favoured Barber more so than any.
May 18th, 2017 at 9:28 pm
I really.wanted Perine. Rodgers is a high number 2 and Martin will be a solid number 1 when healthy. Cant wait to see the new kid I think Simms is gone but who kmows
May 18th, 2017 at 9:46 pm
Howdy Nos and I am right there with you Questioning our RB stable is just nitpicking right now Not really though because Journalists have to make hay like everyone else This is a team game and the Team got so much better in so many categories that it is not worth examining Which position group is the worst They All got upgraded Except OL
May 18th, 2017 at 9:48 pm
BucEmUp……..I think Perine has a chance to be special. I think a bunch of teams missed out Couple of years though before I find out if I was right.
May 19th, 2017 at 12:09 am
The Dalvin Cook and Joe Mixon narrative, to pick either of those players the Bucs would have to have passed on OJ Howard. Our only true choices were to trade back at 19 to pick either or to pick them directly at 19. Either would be a pass on Howard. Trading up in the second, was very expensive in a super deep draft. Trading up for Cook would have meant our 2 and 3 at least. Mixon, probably could’ve moved up for him with the 2 and 4, assuming Licht could find a trade partner.
My favorite player was Malik McDowell (I didn’t see any scenario that Howard fall to 19 and I didn’t want the Bucs trading up this year at any point) I think he’s going to be a Pro Bowler in three years, but there was no way I take him at 19, especially with Howard on the board. Howard is a rare talent. You don’t pass on putting that guy on your roster when the chance falls into your lap.
May 19th, 2017 at 12:19 am
May the best RB win. I am sure Quizz will start the season unless the rookie JM33 tears it up in Preseason. Simms will be 3rd down back and Barber at 240lbs will be short yardage. DM isn’t going anywhere, will be fresh in game 4 and offered a prove it deal. Great insurance we didn’t have last year…
We are going more two tight end sets so Quizz, JM33 and Simms should thrive. DM will give them juice after suspension. Pus one RB will go down before bid season and our bye isn’t until late in the season. We might carry 5.
May 19th, 2017 at 12:37 am
SB,
Joe Mixon is a baller.
We’ll see what’s what on 8-11-17 @ ~ 9:00PM when the rookies take the field.
May 19th, 2017 at 4:29 am
News flash, RBs can impact games without having to go for 100 lol
Quizz can be a productive back for us this year and will.
May 19th, 2017 at 7:53 am
Right now, Martin is the best back we have on the roster. That says that the RBs behind him are equally inconsistent and injury-prone or completely inexperienced. We’ll know by game #1 whether Martin is STILL the best RB on the roster.
May 19th, 2017 at 8:08 am
Doug Is a good RB. Sure he has had a few injury filled seasons, but as a RC he mad the probowl. In 2015 he was the 2nd leading rusher in NFL, again making probowl. We all have demons. At least he saw that it was becoming out of control and made the decision to go to rehab. I don’t know any loser drunk that pops molly that is getting paid 5 mill this year. If the GM and coach have faith in him and says he looks real good. The team has his back, and if ur a real fan, then u would hope the best for him. As a Buccaneer, he has flashed in a way that I haven’t seen since Dunn and Cadillac. What ur ready to cut him? Good thing ur not the coach. Shoot I’m excited to see after game 3 to see if he turns back to the monster, on the field.
May 19th, 2017 at 8:16 am
@Danati- I’ve maintained for quite some time that if Martin had not failed a wee test, he would STILL be the starting RB, end of story. The vitriol and hypocrisy of some fans makes me question their fandom altogether.
I have faith that the coaching staff will make the right decision.