“Doug Martin Is Not Going To Come Back”
December 11th, 2017
Finished.
With another horrible day running the ball and a ghastly fumble that killed a scoring drive, the dye has been cast.
That’s the word from Bucs beat guy Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Speaking on the “Rick and Tom” podcast with his colleague Tom Jones, Stroud said it is all over for Doug Martin. Stroud explained with conviction that Martin has three more weeks with the Bucs and his days in Tampa Bay will be finished.
“Look, we all know, including Dirk Koetter, I will tell you who is not going to be back next year,” Stroud said. “I’m still not sure about Dirk Koetter. I am absolutely sure about Doug Martin. I don’t care who coaches here. Doug Martin is not going to come back after this season. There is no way.”
There shouldn’t have been a way this season.
Joe wrote all through the offseason it was unlikely Martin would return for the 2017 season because he had a horrible 2016 season and was a boom or bust running back who had much more bust in his resume than boom. And Joe was killed by readers for speaking what they considered heresy.
Yet the Bucs, after a controlled substance suspension, brought him back anyway at full pay. And guess what? He was his usual bust self.
Who could have seen that coming? And yet Koetter continues to the start the guy.
December 11th, 2017 at 10:03 am
Yeah….there will be a whole new RB look next year….Barber is the only one I see returning
December 11th, 2017 at 10:05 am
Joe u ur beating that dm bust train all summer and I thot u was dumb. I admit I was dumb. Sorry. Dm is toast. Idk the drugs smoke him.
December 11th, 2017 at 10:08 am
How can the Glazers even contemplate bringing back Koetter after the AZ, Bills, Packer, and Lion losses where his play calling, decision making, and time management directly led to Ls. His refusal to intervene with Smith’s inept offense (the debacle in the ATL comes to mind is the icing on the cake). Koetter coached this team into the ground with his stubborness and inability to adapt. How can Stroud even think this guy has any chance at coaching past the Saints finale???? Question is about Licht, does he get held accountable for not drafting a RB or DE or for all his misses on the FA signings as well as Hargraves and Aguoyo? The Martin decision alone has to be enough merit to seriously question Koetter’s ability to function as a mediocre OC let alone head coach. The guy is over his head, cut bait and try again Glazers unless you want a run at the Browns or Giants as the worst run franchise in the NFL….
December 11th, 2017 at 10:10 am
Smith’s inept offense= inept defense though Koetter’s play calling and scheme are pretty below average as well, simply another nail in his coffin on this free fall to 4-12…..
December 11th, 2017 at 10:13 am
Gotta give credit where credit is due, Joe has been calling this since the end of last season when Martin got suspended. Everyone bashed Joe (and continually does when he brings up benching Martin) but he has been spot on that Doug is DONE.
December 11th, 2017 at 10:15 am
Turning 30 and doing drugs are a bad combinations for a running back. The real crime is Koetter and the rest of the staff refusing to make a change when it was painfully obvious in preseason that Doug wasn’t going to be the guy he was in those two years. No explosiveness, no vision, and no power, yet he has started every single week he’s been healthy? Makes no sense, and might very well be the most damning evidence that Koetter doesn’t belong as a head coach of the Bucs.
December 11th, 2017 at 10:18 am
Good. He sucks. Btw, so do the putrid uniforms. Look like 1970’s Burger King, employee uniforms.
December 11th, 2017 at 10:19 am
Joe has it right about Licht, his drafting acumen is really without parallel, FAs, not so much. Took a swing for the bleacher seats on Spence and J. Smith as pass rushers and got torched. Passing up C. Campbell really hurt his resume as far as free agent signings. Dirk on the other hand is going to have to spend some hard time in front of the mirror. Predictable offence, DM
December 11th, 2017 at 10:19 am
Play calling….LOL…when a play does not work it is bad play calling….when the play call works everybody takes it for granted….the earth is flat logic
December 11th, 2017 at 10:25 am
I can promise you that Klueless Koetter & Licht both won’t be back either next year. There is so much i fighting & backstabbing happening right now inside the house halls of One Buc its so damn comical. People are taking sides & hunkering down. Both sides are telling team Glazer that the other is causing issues within the building & team.
December 11th, 2017 at 10:25 am
Not by this loyal JoeBucsFan reader. The day Drug Martin was a healthy scratch for the Saints game last year is the last day he should have ever suited up for the Bucs.
December 11th, 2017 at 10:35 am
Joe mad, bro.
December 11th, 2017 at 10:37 am
Yes, Howard was one that argued vehemently that Martin would turn it around in 2017. Howard throws himself on the mercy of the court.
December 11th, 2017 at 10:38 am
Not really sure Licht simply passed on Calais Campbell. Koetter comments almost sound bitter and seem to hint it could have been an owner decision. At least that’s what it sounds like to me when he says they woukd have liked to have him, but says I don’t exactly have 16 mil lying around. In other words the people who do have that kind of money lying around didn’t agree. Maybe I’m reading into it tok muxh? But they did have the cap space. Note he didn’t say cap room he said money
December 11th, 2017 at 10:42 am
Going to be repetitive, and have abstained from posting for weeks. For a coaching staff that hired and uses a Time Management employee during games….either that guy is completely inept, or the Bucs coaches arrogance overrule the guy’s direction.
Either way, we will be welcoming a new coaching staff in a few weeks….hard to believe we were all freaking out over a Kicker weeks ago.
Pistol
December 11th, 2017 at 10:46 am
This team isn’t even close to playoff ready so at least the owners were smart enough to not to drop the bank on Campbell. He is the type of signing for a team that is playoff/Super Bowl ready to make a push. Even with him the Bucs would be last in the division still.
December 11th, 2017 at 10:50 am
Trade whatever veterans are worth a dime (McCoy, Jackson, etc…) and stock pile as many draft picks as you can. There are so many holes on the D Line and in the Secondary it may take two years worth of top picks to even come close to fielding a competitive Defense. Might have gotten a fourth or fifth for Martin this year but will never know.
December 11th, 2017 at 10:53 am
Coach Koetter certainly gave Doug Martin every chance to prove himself, and he did so to the detriment of the team. Barber was on a roll yesterday, and then, he was mysteriously on the bench. Either Barber shot Coach Koetter’s dog, or Martin is holding Coach Koetter’s dog hostage.
December 11th, 2017 at 11:01 am
Patience Coach Hoppers….
December 11th, 2017 at 11:01 am
Look, everyone knew that Doug was being phased out anyway. Dude’s 30’ish, not a good age for RBs. The sample size that we had for ALL our RBs was relatively small and unproductive leading into the season and our offensive line has woefully under-performed in the run-game.
It’s easy to say, in hindsight, that we probably should’ve moved on from Doug. While Barber has looked better than Martin over the course of a couple of games, you can’t say unequivocally that he’s a better overall back. I hope that he continues to improve and get playing time. It would be a luxury for the Bucs if RB is not a high priority in the draft. Consider that, we will be losing Martin AND Sims. Someone’s got to tote the pill.
December 11th, 2017 at 11:10 am
“Joe wrote all through the offseason it was unlikely Martin would return for the 2017 season because he had a horrible 2016 season and was a boom or bust running back who had much more bust in his resume than boom. And Joe was killed by readers for speaking what they considered heresy.”
In other words, Joe was wrong. That’s okay. But it wasn’t only likely Martin would back, but it was reality. He DID come back. He was probably always going to come back.
Should he have come back? Yup. They still got to evaluate him. I think most fans will agree now his time is done, should be done.
December 11th, 2017 at 11:11 am
I couldn’t BELIEVE he runs Sims again after that decent run. Why the H was Sims even in there!? We were set up to win the game and he pulls Barber for Sims!? That was truly UN.BE.LIEVABLE!!!
December 11th, 2017 at 11:14 am
Oh, yeah, we were STILL evaluating him. Um OK. Glad you’re onboard now Roy.
December 11th, 2017 at 11:17 am
I had your back Joe. So did Realist and a few others – but yeah most fans here loved Doug Martin for some reason I do not understand.
December 11th, 2017 at 11:24 am
Mik…how many times have you seen the Bucs cut loose a guy who went on to do very well elsewhere? The debate for whether he should be back in 2017 had merits on both sides and was not the issue Joe is talking about here. Those who supported Martin coming back in 2017 made a valid point he was due for another good year among his bad if he stayed clean. That’s the evaluation part. Whether he should have been or not, Joe argued that he likely was not coming back in 2017, and that’s where the heat from readers came. I’d bet those who wanted Martin gone were also the ones who wanted to draft Manziel, cut ties with Michael Bennett, L Blount, etc.
December 11th, 2017 at 11:24 am
Keeping Martin was the right move given the set of circumstances. I was in support of this. However, not moving on (still not convinced he won’t start next week) way sooner is a travesty. Given Martin’s contract situation, there was zero liability for keeping him to see what he could do. Watching film, there was no reason after his third game back to give him any more time as the feature back. Watching Cross lead block also raises the question of why we didn’t have a fullback. Koetter’s view of the running back makes me honestly wonder about the evaluation of Jeremy McNichols.
December 11th, 2017 at 11:29 am
Jeremy McNichols….I think last years draft was turned upside down with OJ Howard sitting there….everything else was attempts at catch up make up for what they thought their board would deliver….Jeremy McNichols was a late round dart pick for a position of need….that said I think the Bucs would have taken a D player with their first pick and a RB early
December 11th, 2017 at 11:41 am
Cutting Alan Cross was also a mistake. The guy can play both FB and TE.
I know of few teams in the NFL that can run consistently without a lead blocker…and running the same running play over and over.
December 11th, 2017 at 11:47 am
All you Nostradamuses out there don’t forget that the Bucs own several dubious distinctions in the run-game that DIRECTLY effect production. I’m sure your predictions took into account the number of plays made in the backfield by defenders knifing through our “wonderful” offensive line.
Yea you can point to Barber’s production over a couple of games and go, “See, I told you so!” You can also point to the fact that the Bucs finally dusted off the FB and started using him too!
December 11th, 2017 at 11:51 am
I have heard that the pro personnel scouting staff is to smallest in the entire NFL.
This is probably the reason why we are so putrid with FA pick ups.
If this is true why not invest the money into sufficient, qualified talent evaluaters so we can discontinue wasting millions on the Bakers of the world. Most of our FA signings appear to have been based on one good year or players who may have been better than average at one time but are past their prime and cut loose by their former team because that staff rightfully predicted a decline.
No free agents past 30 please. No free agents coming off serious injury please.
And while we are at it, how did the medical staff NOT know Sweezy (another bust)
was damaged goods?
December 11th, 2017 at 12:00 pm
As far as trusting an undrafted RB as your lead back instead of using a high pick, not 1st but 2nd or 3rd, on a talented back only need to remind everyone of Keith Tandy limited sample size versus superior athlete, talent will always show through
December 11th, 2017 at 12:03 pm
There’s a whole lot more players/staff other than Doug Martin that’s not coming back. And this not a prediction, this is fact!
December 11th, 2017 at 12:06 pm
This is my question
Why would Doug Martin want to come back, and run behind this pathetic O-Line?
December 11th, 2017 at 12:20 pm
Lakeland
The same reason GMC and others come back every year…….
The money for nothing.
December 11th, 2017 at 12:21 pm
One of the dumbest Koetter play calls, which he does have a lot of, is he always runs a single back set. Cross is a good FB and Simms also is large enough to pave the way. But…you know Dirk.
December 11th, 2017 at 12:27 pm
Go bucs
December 11th, 2017 at 12:28 pm
dooshlarue
This is what the Bucs has become for players
A 24 week paid vacation
No state taxes
No overtime (playoffs)
A higher salary than other teams will pay
Just show up and get a check
Easy Money
December 11th, 2017 at 12:32 pm
People still think GMC is the big time D-Lineman he once was. I don’t think that’s a fact. And if we traded him he would probably become All-Pro again and kick the Buc’s ass every time he came in contact with us. But a trade of him and Doug Martin could get us some serious cash back and possibly some nice players in return.
December 11th, 2017 at 12:36 pm
@Lakeland,
Barber ran for 100+ yards after to OL starters went onto IR.
Maybe the OL isn’t the source of Martin’s inability to run?
Look at the yards per carry of Martin in this past game vs Detroit as compared to Barber. Both ran behind the same OL.
December 11th, 2017 at 12:38 pm
C’mon Soe – D Martin wouldn’t fetch anything for a trade. SMH again at our fan base!
December 11th, 2017 at 12:42 pm
Trade him to DALLAS for a 4th or later. That would be perfect for and need
December 11th, 2017 at 12:46 pm
In the end, Doug being here is due to Licht’s decision to not draft one of the many, many, capable starting rookie running backs in the 2017 draft, well until he drafted Playbook McSnoopdog in the 5th round.
I fully expected him to draft someone along the lines of Joe Mixon, Kareem Hunt, Alvin Kamara, Samaje Perine, Tarik Cohen, or Jamaal Williams in the later rounds of the draft, a point upon which we would no longer need Doug Martin. Too bad I guess.
December 11th, 2017 at 12:53 pm
Mike James ran for a 100+ against the Seattle Seahawks and threw a TD pass. But that was just one game. Jazz Rodgers ran for a 100+ a few times last season. That don’t put them in the Pro Bowl. They will have to do it for 16 games before I buy it.
December 11th, 2017 at 1:04 pm
*die
The DIE is cast.
Alea iacta est.
December 11th, 2017 at 1:12 pm
BartButtPlug
How long is it now before we can change those horrific jerseys? I’ve always thought that the old red with a pirate slash type font for the numbers would look pretty cool. Every year when they come out with what could be the new looking helmets the Bucs are always awesome. When the time does come, I will beg for a new, cool looking jersey so I might actually buy one.
December 11th, 2017 at 1:15 pm
TouchDownTB
No but GMC could. Was talking about both.
December 11th, 2017 at 1:15 pm
LOL.
Everyone knew he would be gone after this year, not sure how this is news to anyone.
BTW did you know Doug is the only running back on this team to have a run over 20+ yards this season?
December 11th, 2017 at 1:51 pm
@unbelievable- For some reason, some Buc fans just yearn for validation. I’d like to hear from the folks who predicted THIS mess; that the Bucs would be 4-9. Because not a single person here predicted any of it, and those saying they did are full of $hit.
BTW unbelievable, don’t post those YPC stats that show the Bucs near the top of the league in hits allowed behind the LOS. Those get in the way of validation!
December 11th, 2017 at 1:59 pm
Lets not get ahead of ourselves here. Joe is far more wrong than he is right. Unfortunately he was right about Dougie. I believe Koeter did the right thing though in this instance. You had to give Dougie 1 last chance. Now we know. We have given up on to many only to see them go off and succeed with someone else.
December 11th, 2017 at 2:21 pm
So…. we are all in agreement that he wasn’t using Adderall , right?
December 11th, 2017 at 2:41 pm
@Bucsfanman-
Yea it’s not like that has any impact on a RB.
Just like when you have 51 total rushing yards for a game, but actually had 52 yards after contact. But that’s meaningless, I’m sure. Cuz wtfdwk?
Validation for the win!
December 11th, 2017 at 2:52 pm
“Inconvenient facts” I think is what they’re called. I’m sure that Barber would’ve had a 1,300 season if not for Martin! SMH!
December 11th, 2017 at 3:11 pm
LOL.
And look, I actually really like Barber and I’m happy to see more of him. He is a more bruising downhill back vs. Martin (I think that has been obvious to everyone), which I think is a great think to have.
What’s obvious to me is that since Marpet left the lineup at center, our running game has been much improved (Doug was even having a good game before the fumble). Pass protection though… not so much.
December 11th, 2017 at 3:13 pm
Hey guys, thanks for the kind words. Joe didn’t write this story to look for a cry towel. He was just pointing out how people went mental to defend Doug Martin when the evidence was clear as day he wasn’t getting the job done.
December 11th, 2017 at 3:23 pm
I thought so too. There appear to be actual holes to run through. That, and nobody in the backfield when the ball is handed off.
I love the way Barber runs, I’m “old school” like that! If he continues his success, it can be nothing but good for the Bucs. They need to keep a FB in though.
December 11th, 2017 at 3:53 pm
There was way too much Doug love on here. You know you you are. And there will be way too much JW love on here well past his time too.
December 11th, 2017 at 5:28 pm
The only person happier with this than Joe is Peyton Barbers agent.
December 11th, 2017 at 5:33 pm
Sometimes a player needs a change of scenery to up his game. I have no doubt Dougie will go elsewheres and come back to Haunt us. Most of our ex players do. Thanks for your contributions here Doug. I’m sure you will find..new life elsewheres.
December 11th, 2017 at 5:39 pm
Neither should most of this team. Doug will be a stud on a better team.
December 11th, 2017 at 7:46 pm
the scary thing is I think dirt will be back and the gm and smith will not we will see how this plays out but that’s my gut . unless we lose in epic blow outs these last 3
December 11th, 2017 at 7:49 pm
I don’t think chucky will come back here the bucs humiliated him and you do not go back to the bad ex
December 11th, 2017 at 8:10 pm
My predictions
Martin- gone, Finally
Mike Smith- gone
Koetter- stays. New oc. New Qb coach
Licht- stays
I still believe they both should be fired, for their stupidity in not getting this team some Defensive ends
The shocker!
If Jameis is found guilty of grabbing that Uber driver- ges hone.
His lack of progress, and repeatedly bad decision making- has him closer to being traded than many would believe