Same Ol’ Doug Martin
January 18th, 2018
Consistent.
Folks were so hyper-focused on two words (cringed, expectations) that a fairly significant element was glossed over in the recent Jason Licht interview he granted the Tampa Bay Times.
In going over what went right and what went wrong in 2017 — a helluva lot more went wrong than went right — Licht cited the absence of a running game as part of the reason the season blew up in the Bucs’ faces.
“I think the lack of, or having a hard time getting the run game going was…you know, Doug just didn’t have…he just wasn’t ever the same,” Licht said.
Well, Joe will maintain that Martin very much was the same running back. He was just as terrible this season as he was in 2016. This season, just like last, Martin ran for under 500 yards. This season, just like last, he had the worst average yards-per-carry in the NFL, 2.9.
Yet, for reasons that cannot logically be explained, Martin started 11 games despite the fact the last time he had a 100-yard game was in November 2015.
January 18th, 2018 at 5:50 am
Isaiah Crowell can ball … as can Deion Lewis … as can Carlos Hyde … all three will likely be quite cheap, so I wouldn’t mind one of those three plus a 3rd-5th round back in the draft …
January 18th, 2018 at 6:25 am
Can we please let this story die? This horse has been beaten to the point where it is unrecognizable. ALL agree that Martin is done. Let’s move on.
January 18th, 2018 at 6:28 am
Doug Martin…..another eventual loser from the Mark Dominick years…………………………………………
January 18th, 2018 at 7:07 am
No to Crowell.. he sucks! Are you guys really suggesting we take cast offs from the F#$%ING BROWNS!!!??? WOW
January 18th, 2018 at 7:13 am
You don’t like Doug? Then go out and get somebody who can!! BUT YOU BETTER DAMN WELL CONTINUE TO BUILD A WALL!! TAKE A KNEE! KEEP AMERICA FREE! BURN MAR-A-LARGO BURN!!
January 18th, 2018 at 7:22 am
I see it already …the biggest mistake we make this year will be to think a free agent running back and a 5-6 round drafted running back + Payton Barber, with the same O-Line will make us a real force to deal with…..uuuummmmmm NO IT WON’T! CONTINUE TO BUILD A WALL! TAKE A KNEE! KEEP AMERICA FREE! BURN MAR-A-LARGO BURN!!
January 18th, 2018 at 7:32 am
Have to wonder if Barber’s production was also helped by injuries. Hawley at center and Sweezy’s loss seemed to have helped the running game IMO.
January 18th, 2018 at 7:47 am
Hawley got manhandled as always ! And hell no 2 crowell and some 5th Rd pick ! Oh so you want another Jeremy mcplaybook do ya ? No effin thank you.. Hyde wouldn’t be bad but I’d rather get Chubb in first then Sony Michel in second or take Barkley at 7
January 18th, 2018 at 7:51 am
Ok NFLNut, I’ll take Dion Lewis as soon to be 2-time Super Bowl champ anytime – but I don’t see him to be cheap for us. Crowell may be servicable as may Hyde, but these two are – IMHO -not the needed upgrade.
January 18th, 2018 at 7:56 am
It’s just me maybe but I prefer this team rebound and make the playoffs by continuing to build through the draft I prefer running back be one we drafted. No more jackass Rodgers or Charles Sims I want a feature back in the second or third round. The stage send set for this gm to do something crazy and desperate to improve all these areas of the team that have been ignored
My personal opinion is everyone fan and media typed screamed for a running back but because it seemed like dalvin cook was the only guy they scouted here was lost when the Vikings traded up. The beckwith pick was luxury pick and they could have addressed running back now we have a really good strongside linebacker they’ll have to put at d end in order to get him more than 40% snaps
January 18th, 2018 at 8:09 am
Don’t be surprised when Doug Martin is still on the team next season. And he will be the starter. Count on it with this leadership.
January 18th, 2018 at 8:15 am
Martin was horrible last year but we didn’t end up like we did because of him. He’s just a convenient target for fans and Joe’s ire. Not exactly hard hitting, breaking news stories running the same thoughts twice a week.
January 18th, 2018 at 8:23 am
So exactly what has changed to make anyone think Drug Martin will not be a buccaneer next year? After keeping him this year and starting him 11 games, I’m not convinced. A buccaneer uniform should never have graced his body last year, yet it did.
January 18th, 2018 at 8:26 am
I’m Sorry but Insisting on Starting Doug Martin for those Eleven games mentioned, was very poor decision making on behalf of Licht and Bucs coaching…. This team had Peyton Barber all along, and we all saw Dirk put Barber in a game on occasions and he gains 35 yards in 4 carries, and then Dirk goes right back with Martin for 12 more carries….. WTF?
January 18th, 2018 at 8:30 am
JWS Barber is a fumble machine. He isn’t the answer – not saying Martin is (or was) but with more playing time everyone will be less fond of Barber
January 18th, 2018 at 8:50 am
I’ll never understand the hate some people have for Gerald McCoy and I’ll never understand the *LOVE* people had for Doug Martin. There are still fools out there who believe Doug will turn it around with a different team.
Jason Licht was banking on Doug Martin in the same way he was banking on Noah Spence. No backup plan. Just a tremendous amount of hubris that everything would work out while cringing over the idea the Bucs could improve on 9-7.
As an aside, Jameis Winston publicly supported Jason Licht.
January 18th, 2018 at 9:03 am
Only FA worth signing is Lev Bell, otherwise keep Barber, because all of the other FA running back is like Robert Ayers on defense, keep with the youth movement, get one of those rookie backs who are probably going to be as good or better for the long run. The concern would be pass protection/blitz pick up, that is where you want Barber to improve
January 18th, 2018 at 9:14 am
“Can we please let this story die? This horse has been beaten to the point where it is unrecognizable. ALL agree that Martin is done. Let’s move on.”
——
That’s just the thing, the team hasn’t moved on. Most of us could see Doug was done last year, yet he remained on the team. Some more people realized it this preseason. By mid-season, everyone realized it. However, he still started. We all know he should be cut, just like we all know there should be some changes to the coaching staff. But there are no changes to the coaching staff, so what makes you think they will cut Doug? They seem poised to go into next season without making any changes.
January 18th, 2018 at 9:24 am
Poor offensive line play caused a poor running game, not only the backs involved.
January 18th, 2018 at 9:42 am
/signed.
January 18th, 2018 at 9:51 am
gotta give props when props are due….
@joe has been calling this one for a long time…..you were right….doug has lost “it”…..a change of scenery will be best for doug if he still wants to play….
I must admit, im disappointed joe was right about doug because I knew his production would be greatly counted on…..GO BUCS!!!!
January 18th, 2018 at 10:08 am
It ain’t all Doug people! No top running back in the league would be productive behind this O-Line!!! CONTINUE TO BUILD A WALL!! TAKE A KNEE!! KEEP AMERICA FREE!! BURN MAR-A-LARGO BURN!!
January 18th, 2018 at 10:11 am
It took this Bucs coaching regime 16 games and 2 quarters to finally decide to bench Doug Martin and Chris Baker. What the heck took so long? If any of those 2 players are back in a Bucs uniform that’s a huge problem.
January 18th, 2018 at 10:13 am
Doug Martin is currently the 3rd best running back on the Bucs alone. Every time Jaq and Barber get carries they always find a way to tear than Doug.
January 18th, 2018 at 10:48 am
Yeah, this gets banged on quite a bit. Maybe Martin was not the answer, sure. But, how the heck could you tell with this o-line?! Keep in mind Barber’s success came behind back-up offensive lineman. And don’t even get me started on play-calling!
You guys are funny sometimes with the rhetoric. I’m just not sure what you were watching this season. I mean, I agree that it is clearly time to move on from Martin but to assume that Barber is a 1,000 yard rusher behind the same line is just absurd to the point of ridiculousness!
But hey, lets keep beating the same old drum!
“Build a wall” then see what happens!
#BuildtheTRENCHES
January 18th, 2018 at 10:48 am
@rfdes
“Can we please let this story die? This horse has been beaten to the point where it is unrecognizable. ALL agree that Martin is done. Let’s move on.”
The Bucs entire 2017 coaching staff was beaten to a point that was unrecognizable and yet they all are returning for 2018. Koetter and Licht could certainly bring back Martin.
January 18th, 2018 at 11:37 am
I don’t care any of these FA RB’s. I wanna get Guice, Michel, or Chubbs.
January 18th, 2018 at 11:40 am
@BigHog do u think the Jags line is a wall? Pssh hell no, I actually think ours is better. We jus need somebody back there with actual talent.
January 18th, 2018 at 1:00 pm
Mr. Big Hog Haynes:
I doubt that the Secret Service monitors this board, but to repeatedly opine that you want to burn down the President’s house may not be a good idea. Maybe that is why you repeatedly misspell it. Hint: it’s Mar-a-Lago. I don’t know if Joe is worried that one of his guests is advocating such an action? Otherwise; carry on.
tickrdr
January 18th, 2018 at 1:31 pm
He has to be cut. No way we keep him unless we really are ok with below average goals and win expectation. Draft a RB in the 2nd or possibly 3rd and pair them with Barber and enjoy.
January 18th, 2018 at 1:50 pm
Until they cut Doug and release him this is a legitimate story. There are some negative nellies here who believe the Bucs plan to use him again next year…although in fairness I suspect I may have missed their snark.
As for backup plans versus gambles on Doug and Noah…there is NOT an unlimited pool of talent in the NFL!!! 32 teams all compete for that same talent. There is a salary cap limiting moves.
Hindsight is 20/20.
Look ahead…Licht is still working under the same constraints. He’s permitted 7 draft picks…50% of whom are expected to fail by NFL averages. He can dip into an FA pool and compete against 30 other teams for a player whose team doesn’t like him enough to keep him…uh red flag anybody. He has to find a GENUINE cap casualty whose team is crushed because they cannot afford him.
Do we see that with our FA’s? Their prior teams do not seemed crush by their losses. I doubt there are many Redskin bloggers who are whining about losing Swaggy like we do Bennett…Donald Penn etc.
January 18th, 2018 at 3:25 pm
their keeping everything the same…..that means players included….
doug will be brought back and given another chance where he’ll run into the backs of marpet and d.smith during the first 4 games and pull a hammy…at that point he’ll be placed on IR where he can happily collecting checks…..GO BUCS!!!!
January 18th, 2018 at 3:31 pm
Crowell has been good on a bad team. He could be a steal
January 18th, 2018 at 4:57 pm
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Some of ya’ll sound crazy … Isaiah Crowell can REALLY PLAY … he had a monster year in 2016 on a horrible Browns team with a bad QB … last year he had a decent year on a Browns team with an even worse O-Line (no Joe Thomas) and a far worse QB (DeShone Kizer) … Crowell can play!
As for Dion Lewis … he’s nice but I’d honestly rather have Crowell who is much younger and doesn’t have the crazy injury history Lewis has, and will probably be even less expensive.
Now, don’t get it twisted … if Saquon Barkely is there at #7, I would take him and not think twice about it, HOWEVER, I’d rather NOT spend a non-1st round pick on a RB if we can get one cheap in free agency as the pick could be much better spent on a position that represents a whole lot more value, as in $$$$, such as a DE, DT, CB, SS, OT, OG, C, etc.
So, yes, I would RATHER draft ALL defense and O-Line and sign a free agent RB or two, than I would spend a single draft pick on a RB … unless it’s using the #7 for Saquon Barkley.
Let me put it another way … a draft pick of an O-line or a defensive player SHOULD result in a decade player … a draft pick of a RB has a far shorter shelf-life … maybe 4 years on average. So … I’d rather use the picks on defense and O-Line and just give some cash to some free agent RB’s.
Finally, to those folks above who seem to think the free agent RB’s will be “expensive” … NO THEY WILL NOT, THEY NEVER ARE unless they’re superstars. Last year Rex Burkhead got $3.125 mil for 1 year from the Patriots and Legarrette Blount, a guy who had just LED THE NFL IN RISHING TDs got a whopping $1.25 mil for 1 year from the Eagles … free agent RBs are DIRT CHEAP!
I’d LOVE to see us sign Isaiah Crowell AND Dion Lewis or Jerrick McKinnon and pair them both with Peyton Barber and Quizz while letting Martin and Simms go … that would give us Crowell/Barber/Lewis/Quizz and a stable like the Patriots have with three backs that can really catch and one bruiser in Barber … that is a deep and very nice stable of RB;s and not draft pick had to be used!
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