Lovie Digs Doug Martin
April 24th, 2014
When Joe had a chance to talk one-on-one with Bucs new coach Lovie Smith at the NFL Combine, Lovie emphasized how Doug Martin will be his bellcow back but that doesn’t mean Bobby Rainey and Mike James won’t get any touches.
But Lovie was somewhat hesitant to totally drool over Martin because, at the time, Martin was not yet cleared medically to begin working out and practicing.
Martin, indeed, did get that medical clearance and now that Lovie has had a chance to see Martin with his own eyes on a football field, Lovie is as excited for him as Martin is excited to be back on the field.
“Is he coming off an injury? Can’t really tell,” Lovie said. “He’s done everything, taken every rep we’ve asked him to. No seriously, Doug has been around here rehabbing a lot but to finally see him on the football field – he’s compact, he runs downhill an awful lot, but the wiggle that he has of making people miss in the open field. Happy guy, I like being around him, takes coaching.
“If you’ve seen (running backs coach Tim) Spencer, he’s had a smile on his face quite a bit. Not just Doug, Bobby Rainey is a good football player, same thing can make you miss, and they’re compact players. If we say that we’re going to be a team that runs the ball, those guys need to be that way and be guys that we can count on.”
It’s good to know Martin is 100 percent and impressing his coaches. Oh, and he is still biting the football in practice this week, an ode to the Greg Schiano, toes-on-the-line tactic and teaching.
A good run game opens up the passing game. Always has, always will. Former Bucs outcast quarterback Rip Van Freeman’s best games were when he had a strong running game behind him whether it was LeGarrette Blount or Martin or Earnest Graham.
Joe can only imagine what this Jeff Tedford offense can be if Martin and James and Rainey are running wild.
April 24th, 2014 at 8:23 am
Need a good O-line if any of those backs hope to run wild this season.
April 24th, 2014 at 8:26 am
^^^
Didn’t come out right those RB’s have the talent but need a better O line than what the Bucs currently have on paper anyway. Draft some O line help
April 24th, 2014 at 8:33 am
Heard Earnest Byner on NFL Radio last night raving about Doug Martin, too.
Said he’s the best RB he’s ever coached personally.
April 24th, 2014 at 8:36 am
Everybody loves Doug….
April 24th, 2014 at 8:54 am
Dougie is the man, no doubt. Still think Charles Sims would be an amazing option to add to the RB corps, especially with the emphasis on catching the ball.
April 24th, 2014 at 8:59 am
Let the fireworks begin!
In an article printed April 13, 2014 titled Is Doug Williams Safe?, JoeBucsFan said the following: “The Bucs could be tempted to use Martin in a move to trade up in the draft, or to trade him if they could get, say, a second- and a fourth-round pick. Maybe that trade is next month, or at the trading deadline, or next season. Just don’t discount how NFL hierarchy collectively believes good running backs can be had on the cheap. Also remember that the new Bucs regime isn’t married to Martin, no more than they are to any other former member of the New Schiano Order”.
Joe was roundly chastised and accused of Buc blasphemy for thinking such a thing. And then out of the blue the Bucs brought in RB Charles Sims, 6-0, 214lbs out of West Virginia for a workout at OBP. Sims is a Jahvid Best lookalike that has the size, speed, moves and pass-catching ability that no other Buc RB possesses collectively. NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks says “Charles Sims has Matt Forte-like talent” .YouTube highlights verify this similarity. Could Lovie want another Matt Forte? Could Tedford see Sims as a RB/WR skill set needed in his new offense?
Now, I’m not crazy enough or brave enough to suggest that Martin could be traded. But somebody needs to explain why the Bucs are seriously (brought him in for a close-up, didn’t they?) looking at a RB slotted to go in the 4th round with all of the other more pressing offensive needs. The Joes may not be all wet either!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_ZLITZeRZ4
April 24th, 2014 at 9:26 am
@Macabee considering Tedford’s past in consistently using two different backs (Justin Forsett/Beast Mode Lynch, Jahvid Best/Shane Vereen）, Id expect Sims to complement what the Bucs already have, rather than substitute for Doug.
Come draft day, I’d look out for a Glennon trade.
April 24th, 2014 at 9:45 am
There is a price on everything and the Bucs have been pretty clear in establishing what each player is worth thus far.
In today’s NFL RB’s are worth about as much as used Josh Freeman tampons. With Martin coming off a poor sophomore campaign, we’d get very little. Blowing another 1st round pick is just ludicrous. He’s got the kind of talent you don’t just ship off.
April 24th, 2014 at 12:29 pm
biff barker Says:
April 24th, 2014 at 9:45 am
“.. we’d get very little. Blowing another 1st round pick is just ludicrous. He’s got the kind of talent you don’t just ship off.”
I agree but that didn’t stop the current Bucs regime from cutting Revis and basically burning a 1st and 4th round draft picks to let him rehab for a year
April 24th, 2014 at 12:52 pm
Apples and oranges. Revis’ salary was obviously the issue. Dougie is still on that rook contract. The whole Revis thing is one of the biggest bungles I have ever seen from any team. Disgusting.
April 24th, 2014 at 1:02 pm
Why draft another rb they have martin james rainey demps n smith.
April 24th, 2014 at 8:14 pm
I’ve seen no mention of Michael. Smith, has he even been on the practice field? He certainly must be recovered from the injury he had last year by now.