Instant Improvement
February 20th, 2018
The Bucs enjoyed major addition by subtraction today.
Your Buccaneers have an analytics team, paid in-house folks charged with crunching the numbers and objectively sharing what works and what doesn’t on an NFL field.
For far too long, one man, Dirk Koetter, refused to believe the most obvious of data they served up.
Yes, it’s on Koetter for sticking with Doug Martin when he sucked in 2016, and then again after he proved to be a bad teammate.
It was Koetter who personally sabotaged the Buccaneers running attack last year by keeping Martin as his No. 1 back when it was painfully obvious he was not the best RB on the team. The analytics guys knew it. Joe knew it. Eventually, even the angry Doug Martin fan boys figured it out.
General manager Jason Licht has the most control of the roster, but who steps on the field is squarely on the head coach.
(Memo to fans and coaches and general managers who like to say how great running backs look playing in sandboxes in April or working out in OTAs and participating in contact-free practices. Pffft. Take your head out of the sand.)
With Martin getting cut today, the running game just got measurably better. Joe is celebrating with a trip to Hooters and a new garage door. This kind of merriment should have been happening a year ago.
Seriously, the Bucs’ poor rushing attack is instantly improved, just like it would have been if Martin was released one year ago when he should have been.
It still stuns Joe that Koetter, with his freaking job on the line, was handing Martin the rock in December. Crazy.
It is for that reason Joe is very concerned about how the Bucs evaluate running backs and about how they will proceed when the whistle blows in September. But today is a great first step. Sanity has been restored.
Now go sign Carlos Hyde, draft a running back and get the offense humming at maximum capacity.
February 20th, 2018 at 11:59 am
“now go sign Hyde and draft a RB”. – that deserves a resounding HELL YEAA!
February 20th, 2018 at 12:00 pm
Frittered away a one in a lifetime opportunity….
February 20th, 2018 at 12:01 pm
Hooters and new garage doors, this is what the Bucs have reduced our enjoyment to? My suggestion to Joe(s) is to get the garage door first, and spend most of the time at Hooters. Thank me later.
February 20th, 2018 at 12:10 pm
Wow. You sure can tell the difference between the two Joes, lol.
Martin was never “proved to be a bad teammate”. The rest of the team loved him.
But I do agree he went a year too late. And I would love Hyde her.
February 20th, 2018 at 12:17 pm
Hyde would be a horrible idea, he’s just the only potential workhorse reasonably available, Bell wants too much, McKinnon is better suited as a committee back, best remaining top 5 back in the 2nd is the best idea
February 20th, 2018 at 12:17 pm
“Now go sign Carlos Hyde, draft a running back and get the offense humming at maximum capacity.”
Boom!!!
February 20th, 2018 at 12:22 pm
@Joe … “With Martin getting cut today, the Bucs’ running game just got measurably better.” So right now the Bucs have 2 RBs under contract … Peyton Barber (undrafted back in 2016 who started 5 games in 2 yrs & who’s averaged just a tad over 300 yds/season) and Jacquizz Rodgers (a 5th Rnd draft pick back in the 2011 draft who has started a grand total of 14 games in 7 seasons & who’s averaged less than 300 yds/season). Yup, the Bucs just got ‘measurably better’ alright. Think I’ll withhold judgment on that one Joe until I see who we pick up or draft to replace Martin. And oh ya, until Licht takes action to improve the Bucs’ OLine this off-season. I’m rooting for him.
February 20th, 2018 at 12:23 pm
Man I hope Jeremy mcnichols doesn’t improve and become a beast. Would suck if he took over for Hyde and flourished. Which would mean the Bucs let go of two rbs to pick another RB at 7 in the 2018 draft? They’ll never build a line this way.
February 20th, 2018 at 12:28 pm
Cant wait to hear all that Saquon Barkley nonsense now.
February 20th, 2018 at 12:30 pm
I’m not sure why you continue to shy away from criticism on Licht.
Why not re-structure Martin’s contract coming into the season. You can’t pay him almost $7 mil. He’s coming off a poor 2016 and is suspended a quarter of 2017. But almost like picking Aguayo in the 2nd, he seals guys’ fate before they step on the field.
What shy away? Licht and Koetter wanted him. Koetter’s the one who chose to play him. It’s not that complicated. Very clear in the post. Joe wrote countless times about how Licht should have cut Martin or given him a rock bottom contract to re-prove himself.–Joe
February 20th, 2018 at 12:31 pm
So what do I do with my wife’s DM 22 jersey
February 20th, 2018 at 12:34 pm
Saquon Barkley chatter, more like Lev Bell chatter
February 20th, 2018 at 12:46 pm
No more limp D. Things are looking up!
February 20th, 2018 at 12:58 pm
I try to think outside the box sometimes. And when I look at the fact that this year has a lot of RBs in the draft I wonder if the Bucs looked ahead one year when they decided to stay with Martin and not draft a RB til round five last year.
For one McNicolos could have turned out to be a steal. If that didn’t happen it’s not impossible to believe Martin could churn out some big games for us. We also had decent guys behind Martin as well.
The biggest problem is how they stayed with Martin at all costs.
I almost liken this to 2014 where we had some options at QB but went with McCown. I believed the Bucs went with a bandaid for that season and looked forward into the next draft to find their franchise QB……..Imagine how bad this team would be right now had they invested the future into a Manziel or Bridgewater? Sometimes not selecting the wrong guy is just as huge at getting the right one.
February 20th, 2018 at 12:58 pm
I wouldn’t be opposed to hyde….tough physical runner…..
I say stick with barber….draft guice in the second or Michel in the 3rd and grab bo scarbrough with a late pick…..we need a derrick henry type bruiser…..
grab 2 OG’s in FA…..keep marpet at center….
then we just have to worry about play calling….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!
February 20th, 2018 at 1:01 pm
It does boil down to the coach for now all the players do…..
February 20th, 2018 at 1:02 pm
It does boil down to the coach for how all the players do…..
February 20th, 2018 at 1:11 pm
Last article one joe said “no celebrating here” the next article says “joes going to celebrate at hooters”
February 20th, 2018 at 1:14 pm
No way I’m n hell did we get better by just cutting Martin…who’s your starter now …Barber!…you making me laugh! RB has just become the number one need!!
February 20th, 2018 at 1:16 pm
“Now go sign Carlos Hyde, draft a running back and get the offense humming at maximum capacity.”
Come on, man. That’s it?
I love Hyde and am glad that Martin is gone. But this site has to start telling the real story about just how subpar the Bucs offensive line is. Seriously, it is. You can’t use metrics to tell us how bad Martin is and then ignore them or mock them when they tell us how subpar D. Smith has been thus far.
Yes – the Bucs can use talent at the RB position. But that is priority #3 at best. The two lines are exhibit 1 and 1A of what the Bucs need to improve this offseason.
FIX THE TRENCHES, FIX THE BUCS!!
February 20th, 2018 at 1:19 pm
Well it looks like they are trying a little bit over at One Buc.
New Dl coach, and cut Doug Martin.
Better than nothing I guess.
February 20th, 2018 at 1:30 pm
If Joe believed it, he’d write it.
There is enough evidence out there the problem wasn’t the offensive line — one problem just got thrown to the curb today. Folks unfortunately are not interested in facts.
But folks are convinced (thanks to PFF perhaps?) that the Bucs offensive line is the worst in the NFL. Joe’s not going to change crazy people’s minds.
February 20th, 2018 at 1:31 pm
Whoever it is, pretty safe bet he will be better than Martin.
It was in 2016, was last year and was this morning.
February 20th, 2018 at 1:47 pm
Tony from Los Angeles Says
“But this site has to start telling the real story about just how subpar the Bucs offensive line is. Seriously, it is.”
It was one of the better pass blocking offensive lines. It was new for the most part and needed time to gel.
Look through the history of offensive lines. None of them were instant great. They all needed 2-4 years to get great.
While I would agree we need a younger RT, that’s pretty much all I would worry about atm. Someone like Mike McGlinchey (in the draft) would be great to be the heir to Dotson.
February 20th, 2018 at 1:48 pm
I disagree that we got better. Yet. We made room to get better.
Frankly, I would not be heart broken if we flips all the RBs.
February 20th, 2018 at 2:09 pm
Thanks for the cap space dougie
February 20th, 2018 at 2:09 pm
@JimmyJack
I thought that after the draft last year. Jason Licht made a comment after they drafted Howard about how they started scouting him in 2015 thinking he would come out then.
And there are a few seniors that are towards the top of the class as well. Its interesting to think about for sure.
February 20th, 2018 at 2:28 pm
We looked a gift horse in the mouth on this one. The Molly suspension was like a gift from the gods, a chance to save a huge amount on a failed player. When Fischer went to FSU brass with Aggies offer, they said. “Don’t let the door hit you in the rear end on the way out,” and started partying with some of the 40m they were on the hook for if they fired him.
February 20th, 2018 at 2:34 pm
It was time to let Doug go. Now we must sign a RB in free agency (Hyde or Crowell) AND draft a RB in round 2/3 (Jones, Michel or Penny). Barber & Quizz (maybe even Sims) for depth. COMPETITION makes everyone hungry/better!!
February 20th, 2018 at 2:38 pm
Joe, i really like Justin Pugh to pair at guard with Marpet. If we can’t get a new G or C for the interior OL is Benenoch a better G or T? I like his youth & athleticism!
February 20th, 2018 at 4:17 pm
The way things work for the Bucs? Martin will probably go on to win 2 superbowls like Blount did. Why? Cause its a..Bucs Life!!
February 20th, 2018 at 4:21 pm
Complete nonsense to say Martin was the issue at RB – what exactly was he doing wrong on film that makes you say he alone was the issue in the running game? Watch him go to the Pats next year and put up 1200 yards at 5 yards per attempt – every Buc that gets ran out of town by the Bucs lynchmob goes to the Pats ends up doing well. Let’s see, Talib, Revis and Blount come mind. Is Martin next? For Martins sake I hope he picks a new place well and doesn’t go somewhere like Seattle since the last thing we need is for all of next year to have weekly articles about how Doug Martin stinks. If he goes to the Pats and does well it will be the last we hear of him.
February 20th, 2018 at 4:32 pm
I’m pretty sure that people who don’t want us to sign Hyde don’t realize how fast he is for a power back.
Hyde is a hard-nosed, complete back and probably a little stronger AND faster than Saquon Barkley… And obviously way more proven at the NFL level than any rookie
February 20th, 2018 at 4:40 pm
Hyde would be a good pickup – but the line has to be fixed first or it won’t matter, if we keep seeing the same garbage play up front then just keep Barber as your lead since he’s cheap.
February 20th, 2018 at 4:58 pm
They need to attack F.A. like there is no draft. Get linemen, corners, a safety and running back. Get enough people to adequately field a team, don’t have to be the best of the best, just guys that work well together. Then they can draft “the best player” on the board. First step is letting go of players that are not in the plan. That started today. The byproduct being more money for the free agents that can make the team better before a single player is drafted. It’s going to be interesting.
February 20th, 2018 at 5:05 pm
I dont know why folkd want Hyde, that dude stays hurt. we need to look at Jeremy hill or Isaiah Crowell
February 20th, 2018 at 5:56 pm
Sign Hyde and a good Center. Doesn’t have to be great but good will be nice. PUT ALI BACK AT OG YOU DUMB F#CKS!!!!!! Quenton Nelson at #7. Nelson/ good C/ Marpet/ Hyde/ Barber. Jameis’ missing running game has arrived.
February 20th, 2018 at 8:01 pm
How the hell do you think the O-Line wasn’t an issue?
No RB avged over 4 yds a carry lmao.
February 20th, 2018 at 8:15 pm
I see Barber having a breakout year. He’s the type of runner that gets stronger as the game goes on. I think he has all the tools. Don’t sleep on him.
February 20th, 2018 at 8:23 pm
Hyde would be a good fit to Barber. What about Jacquizz?
February 20th, 2018 at 9:40 pm
An NFL head coach and GM that don’t , I mean clearly don’t know who there best running back is and numerous posters correctly idenified this over and over and over and gave real reasons why , but coach and GM clearly didn’t know !!! This is a scary sign and remember this has happened before with c sims , this isn’t the first time these stooges had no clue about their own players true ability. How can these clowns not see it on film , Hell I can see it in real motion !!!
Let us not forget these are the same two bozos that haven’t had a short yardage run game for three years, I hope some of the peeps here understand how vitally important a short yardage game is for many many reasons !!!
Well your #1 overall qb ,the most important player on the field has not ever even once had the luxury of the def considering let alone respecting a short yardage game. Let Alone the luxury of moving the f ing chains without having to get murdered half the time on third and short.
The whole staff clearly makes no ,notta ,none effort in this area, I mean None !!!
Hell ,how can Mike Evans not catch on the run with his shoulders to the offense, he hasn’t improved on this since day one and may have gotten worse !!
I’m sure the new rec coach is really going to have mike and Desean listening , really ?? Get a dam experienced guy in here that those two strong personalities will respect, the new cat has almost no chance of making these guys better !!!
This is just plain common sense that is so lacking in Lovie 2.0 , renamed koetsmith family circus !!!
February 20th, 2018 at 9:42 pm
For the record posters saw and accurately idenified the rb situation with defined reason in Oct of 2016 not 2017 but 2016 .
February 20th, 2018 at 11:43 pm
Joe you spelled Dion Lewis wrong again
February 21st, 2018 at 12:17 am
Dork doesn’t want to run the ball!!!
February 21st, 2018 at 3:39 am
We are getting into the Browns territory….