Martin Matches 2016 Production
January 1st, 2018
NFL career likely over
As expected, after -3 yards of rushing in yesterday’s season finale, Doug Martin gave the 2017 Bucs exactly what they got through 2016: a starting running back who finished the season averaging 2.9 yards per carry while other running backs around him were significantly more productive.
As they say in the Guiness commercials, “Brilliant!”
Joe still can’t believe so few saw this coming, though regular readers here know Joe believed Martin’s failure was the clearest writing on the wall entering the ’17 season.
Oh, well.
Scouting and player evaluation is not a perfect science, even for the men in charge. Sometimes they get too close to a situation. They get blinders. They have favorites. They are human. They make mistakes.
Heck, the Dolphins hired Bill Parcells to take over their football operations and promptly decided to pass on Matt Ryan with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft. The Dolphins are still paying the price. Atlanta drafted Ryan at No. 3 overall.
It happens every year on every team in the NFL, though it’s rare to see such a grand miss in such a public fashion as the Bucs did with Martin, a player they should have known so well. He never should have been on the active roster.
The frustrating thing at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters is that Joe wrote over and over and over that the running game simply would be better with the sheer absence of Martin. He was that bad. But Dirk Koetter just couldn’t let go.
Everybody was more efficient and productive than Martin this season by a wide margin.
Peyton Barber – 3.9 yards per carry
Jacquizz Rodgers – 3.8 yards per carry
Charles Sims – 4.5 yards per carry
Joe sure hopes the Martin nightmare is over in Tampa. He gave the Bucs two fantastic seasons out of six, 2012 and 2015, and Joe is grateful.
Frankly, Joe would be surprised to see Martin make an NFL roster next season. He’s not a starting running back, he doesn’t play special teams, and there’s no evidence to suggest Martin has what it takes to be effective in part-time duty.
When you have more baggage than burst, you rarely stick in the league.
January 1st, 2018 at 10:40 am
bye…bye…
January 1st, 2018 at 10:44 am
Well, he deserves to be gone.
I never wanted him resigned. I wanted him tagged so that he could prove he was consistent. Then came the drug thing, which negated his contract guarantees.
While I understand keeping him this past year from the point of view of Licht and Koetter, and I think giving him a second chance was important to the locker room, that time is now passed.
Time to move on.
January 1st, 2018 at 10:45 am
Wonder who will be wearing 27 next year….
January 1st, 2018 at 10:45 am
screw the failed gerbil… hopefully his relapse is more entertaining than his career highlights it surely won’t take much… he only had few good games. he never was a weapon nor was he ever consistent just another wasted 1st round pick from the failed bucs organization led by the glazer clowns.
January 1st, 2018 at 10:46 am
One thing is sure…the talent evaluation, while very good in the draft, must significantly improve for free agents. We must also stop kidding ourselves about what we have; which from a defensive standpoint…ain’t much, a great deal is needed. Licht and Koetter had better wise up and stop trying to make chicken salad out of chicken – – – -! We need pass rushers, we need corners, we need another proven running back AND we need a kicker!
January 1st, 2018 at 10:47 am
Eating my crow. You were absolutely right Joe. And i was 100% wrong on this topic. Barber was indeed the better back and you said to give him a chance from the very begining.
January 1st, 2018 at 10:47 am
Buccaneer Bonzai
bucs giving losers and failed picks second chances is exactly why they are permanent residents of the basement… they let the talent walk out the door and give second chances to failed choirboys with no future and injury prone has beens…. bucs deserve the basement.
January 1st, 2018 at 10:54 am
The drug martin nightmare might be over, but the Buc’s run game still needs to be fixed the Guards and Rb’s on the roster will need to be upgraded to be finally consistent!!! No sense thinking too point out one guy’s absence will solve the issue!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 1st, 2018 at 10:56 am
Cut Martin. Let Simms walk.
Pick a RB in the 3rd round and someone in FA for depth.
For those of you who want Barkley, he will be gone by #7. No doubt.
January 1st, 2018 at 11:00 am
Hey all
Jameis is the best ever
January 1st, 2018 at 11:03 am
I dint trust losing head coach Koetter to do the right thing. 4-12 next year here we come!
January 1st, 2018 at 11:04 am
When I saw them put Martin in yesterday after Barber pounded the ball on the first drive I just figured Dirk was playing for draft position and tanking the game.
January 1st, 2018 at 11:06 am
NFL nut.
Worst poster of the year award. You and the Joe’s are the biggest Jameis ball gargalers of 2017
January 1st, 2018 at 11:07 am
We had our chance and a premiere back yesterday. Barkley would have made a nice edition to this offense. I would have been just as happy with Chubb on the opposite side. Now that we have our “win” yesterday, we have to be lucky to get the players that we need. Flame away.
January 1st, 2018 at 11:07 am
I am a loyal fan to all players on the Buc’s Roster and always pull for them. I hoped for Martin’s return to form, but it was not meant to be.
Having said that, it is now officially the Buc’s offseason.
Goodbye Doug, and I don’t care if the door hits you on your way out.
January 1st, 2018 at 11:08 am
He won’t be on the Bucs but someone will pick him up for next season. Wouldn’t surprise me if he becomes productive again somewhere else for 1 more year.
January 1st, 2018 at 11:10 am
The bucs janitors were the reason Jameis turned the ball over this year. I hope the glazers realize this.
Nfl nut has some stats showing otherwise
January 1st, 2018 at 11:16 am
I don’t think he ever plays again. For any team. U can’t show up to a job interview with ashy lips. Dm looks toast.
January 1st, 2018 at 11:23 am
Bird
jameis is the most important buc of all time and will go down as the greatest buc of all time. might want to get used to it. Not like he has much competition outside of leroy selmon…. jameis will easily surpass the underachieving has beens from the failed dungy era.
Jameis is the future accept it and love it… he’s your guy!!!!
January 1st, 2018 at 11:27 am
Lets not pass on the next alvin kamara in round 2 for another safety. Lets not keep trading picks to move up for anybody except a defensive end. Lets get rid of mike smith today so dirk can get his boy marvin lewis once he becomes available. Then lets hope licht drafts a rb and dirk helps out his new d coordinator by running the ball more. It appears we are keeping dirk but getting rid of the special teams and d coordinator. Last i checked they werent the ones making elementary clock management mistakes and not running the ball enough with the better running back. The glazers got turned down by gruden so they kept dirk. Bad decision. Gruden isnt the best and only option out there dummies. I wish dirk well but it doesnt take an expert to know he isnt an nfl head coach. I wonder if he will just skip training camp altogether next season. Whatever makes his boys comfy and keeps em healthy. At least he has his indoor facility so they dont have to sweat. Unprepared team all year. And we get another year of it. Hoooray.
January 1st, 2018 at 11:28 am
Tmaxacon
Best ever man. You are
So right.
January 1st, 2018 at 11:30 am
Most important. Best looking. Great leader.
Only 3 wins this year is not his fault.
damn koetter. Damn McCoy. He is the real problem. Not Jameis.
Right tmaxacon You are the best ever too
January 1st, 2018 at 11:31 am
bird
i am always right. I have been wrong once i think but can’t remember when or what it was about…. Sapp is by far the best buc off all time and he only won 5 playoff games in his career won’t take much for winston to pass that if the glazers get out of the freaking way…
January 1st, 2018 at 11:33 am
Ball gargalers unite.
Tmaxacon and lamarcus and db55 will keep joebucsfan professional.
Joejameisfan.com.
He is he best ever
January 1st, 2018 at 11:34 am
bird
8 years and your super hero has led more flat performances and blowouts than any other captain in team history. that is a fact that can not be challenged… i stated 4 years ago the bucs would never win a meaningful game with cancer93 wearing the C… I am 100% right on mccoy… hopefully the crying clown has played his last down for the bucs. the losing culture is real and it’s led by the pos locker room cancer with a smile and no heart gmc.
January 1st, 2018 at 11:35 am
Tmaxacon.
Yah man. Keep preaching bro. Jameis won that game yesterday.
January 1st, 2018 at 11:36 am
BEST E-V-E-R
January 1st, 2018 at 11:36 am
🐦
Let it go man. We get it. JW sucks and should be released immediately. We should draft a QB and wash rinse, repeat every 2-3 years. Yes we will be Sb champs with your idea.
January 1st, 2018 at 11:36 am
bird
how many 4th qtr leads has the crying clown and his soft pansy arse defenders given up this year… i guess you have selective memory…
January 1st, 2018 at 11:39 am
bird
would you rather have the failed heartless glennon under center
January 1st, 2018 at 11:43 am
Joe…..please stop beating a dead hamster……
January 1st, 2018 at 11:46 am
If you don’t get the carries …you will not be productive …if your O-Line is not even average …you will likely not be productive …good luck to all the other running backs, for they were not as productive as we need them to be, and it’s not their fault !!! CONTINUE TO BUILD A WALL …TAKE A KNEE …KEEP AMERICA FREE!!
January 1st, 2018 at 11:51 am
if you all you jameis haters would take losing as bad as you do when jameis turns the ball over… you cry over every turnover and would rather have a check down heartless loser like glennon who is afraid to make a play… that conservative thinking is why dungy failed and why the bucs have never won consistently in franchise history. conservative offense and being scared to win is exactly why dungy has a career losing playoff record… get over the defense wins championships that is farthest thing from the truth yet you fools actually believe that nonsense… none of the dynasties or multiple winning super bowl teams did it with conservative scared coaching playing. defense can win a championship every couple of decades but NONE of the great defenses won multiple super bowls… ravens, bucs and bears never matched their success meanwhile with franchise qb and good offenses the patriots, cowboys, steelers and 48ers have all won multiple championships… the team needs a top 5 offense and top 15 defense. defense steals a championship ever decade an offensive threat can win multiple championships…. dungy failed because of his scared conservative philosophies and the team will fail if they continue to try and recreate a failed past. just like dungy wasted 55,99 and 47 he also wasted a franchise qb that could arguably be the best qb of all time. conservative scared coaches like dungy do far more harm than good.
January 1st, 2018 at 11:57 am
Here we go talking smack about THE GREAT GMC, Bls Bla Bla and more Bla Bla Bla ,,, that’s about all I can say with out getting thrown off the air! Go ahead and rule the day TMAX …but when he gone…who will be your next target! TAKE A KNEE …KEEP AMERICA FREE! …BIG UPS TO P DIDDY AND CURRY “THE GOAT”!
January 1st, 2018 at 11:59 am
He will soon turn on JW mark my words!!
January 1st, 2018 at 12:02 pm
BigHogHaynes
i only turn on racist scum like you and heartless quitters like gmc, martin, dotson and the rest of the holdovers from the losing culture…
January 1st, 2018 at 12:05 pm
LOL – a tmax admirer. now that chits funny
Joe – you were right about Martin. So I guess this chest beating article is deserved. THIS article. But please don’t go writing 17 more just like it in the off season – I beg of you….
January 1st, 2018 at 12:06 pm
If licht doesn’t cut him, koetter will be dumb enough to make him the starting running back on opening day again. no one in this front office has shown they are bold enough to make common sense decisions or go after players sitting out there for the taking
January 1st, 2018 at 12:09 pm
Happy New Year to you all!
Love that ME13 got the necessary yards to break 1k mark for the Fourth str8 year!
Elite company he is in now!
January 1st, 2018 at 12:13 pm
Lol Pick!
January 1st, 2018 at 12:19 pm
You should stop talking about Father Dungy …he got his and you’re beginning to sound like a drunkard ..HAPPY NEW YEAR …TIME TO PUT THAT BOTTLE BACK ON THE SHELF!!!
January 1st, 2018 at 12:22 pm
Playing Drug Martin and Chris Baker told me everything I need to know about Dirk Koetter for 2018. It’s going to be more of the same, folks. He gets the vote of confidence from ownership and what should be a clean slate to start anew and what does he do? He gives the *real* locker room cancers playing time.
January 1st, 2018 at 12:26 pm
And yet some dumb Bucs fans think we can trade him haha
January 1st, 2018 at 1:08 pm
Some players just need to play in a different system. McCoy isn’t a fit in this defense as there is no one on the edge to help him maybe a team like the Lions would trade for him or Seattle. With better defensive coordinators he can be coached to be more dominant than here. He’s definitely worth a 2nd and 3rd round pick to a team that can take advantage of his speed. We don’t need it we need more power on our d and stronger players not just fast guys
January 1st, 2018 at 1:11 pm
Absolute stupidity to say hes done. Someone will sign him and anywhere he goes he will have a better line than he did here. Our starters suck and backups don’t even belong in the NFL. New England will pick him up on a 0ne year deal minimum salary and hell get 5 per carry.
January 1st, 2018 at 1:54 pm
Isn’t he about due for a good year? Yes? Maybe. No way in hell?
January 1st, 2018 at 1:57 pm
Cut this a-hole today.
January 1st, 2018 at 2:13 pm
There’s at least 8 RBs in the NFC South better than the Bucs RBs.
January 1st, 2018 at 2:59 pm
Bird,
Don’t spend so much time thinking about me … it’s kind of creepy and can’t be good for you … it’s also a waste of time as you are completely irrelevant to me.
Have a happy New Year!
January 1st, 2018 at 4:16 pm
Joe, I admit when I am wrong, and I was wrong. The O line didn’t do him any favors, but he made a lot of bad reads and cuts and still couldn’t separate from anyone. I thought the drug problem was the main reason he sucked. If he’s truly off the drugs, I guess I was fooled. I’d go all Defense in the draft and give Barber the job. He might not be great but he showed enough for us to not draft a RB high over a DE or CB. I think the offense fan grow with all the young players we’ve got. We’ve got to start building a pass rush or we’ll never make the playoffs.
January 1st, 2018 at 4:18 pm
it happens…he blew out his wheels from drug use at a young age…like a hoe workin’ the streets has a gap the size of the holland tunnel…these things just happen sometimes…
i met doug back in the day, nice guy, and he signed my authentic jersey i have of his on the shoulder with a marker…
what should i do with it now, hock it for something special by drew park?…hehe
January 1st, 2018 at 5:19 pm
If the Bucs were to get Quenton Nelson in the first, I might have to guarantee all short yard first downs and TDs from Barber. With him being on the left side to help the not so good OT D.Smith and lined up next to Ali, this awful O-line could become much better with this one pick. He’s one of my non-possible busts in this years first round.
January 1st, 2018 at 8:32 pm
Are the holdovers all black too? TAKE A KNEE…KEEP AMERICA FREE!!!
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:18 pm
12-13 million in 2 years is pretty decent scratch following up a 1st round rookie deal. take your money, enjoy your life, and show up from time to time. and yet, there are enough teams struggling with the RB position (baltimore, detroit, green bay, and the giants all come to mind quickly) that they’d invite doug to camp in hopes of finding lightning in a bottle
after the incredibly promising rookie campaigns of Doug Martin and Cadillac Williams, both first round backs sure let the bucs down hard. At least in Caddy’s case we know how much he sacrificed to try to contribute to the bucs, while in Doug’s case it looks like he has made a choice to not put the team first most offseasons