Surprise!
October 21st, 2015
Has the production of Doug Martin been a surprise?
Already through five games, the Bucs have had plenty of surprises. Not all good.
Was that defensive effort on opening weekend surprising enough for you?
However, that is not the type of surprise discussed in a Bucs podcast featuring TBO.com’s Olivia Stacey and the “Custodian of Canton,” eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune. They dealt with biggest positive surprises five weeks into the 2015 season.
Like Joe, Stacey believes the play of the offensive line is the biggest surprise, but Kaufman was not overwhelmed. Instead, Kaufman chose the running of The Muscle Hamster himself, Bucs running back Doug Martin.
“While I think the offensive line has over-delivered considering rookies and the injuries to [Demar] Dotson and Evan Smith, it is Doug Martin who week after week, Olivia, who continually makes the first defender miss,” Kaufman explained. “That’s the mark of a good running back. Now, he’s not getting [clobbered] in the backfield like he has the past two seasons as he returns to his 2012 rookie form.
“But, you know, Doug Martin is the biggest reason for optimism. For one, he is making Jameis Winston’s job a lot easier. Instead of throwing the ball 35 times like Marcus Mariota has had to in Tennessee, Winston is throwing 20 times. And that is a winning formula for Lovie Smith. That has been a pleasant surprise.”
It wasn’t like Martin running is an epiphany. He did it once before. No one credible thought the Bucs’ offensive line would be anything but porous prior to the season. Yet one could argue it has been the team’s strongest unit.
And speaking of surprises…
October 21st, 2015 at 10:06 am
Bucs are 2-3 afterall, they have been doing a few things right. Unfortunately the secondary looks like Swiss Cheese and both ASJ and Evans are beginning to make Lovie’s first draft look like a big bust but the Bucs are 2-3, after the way the Titans rolled the Bucs a lot of people would have guessed that they would be 0-5 with an interim coach right now… I just hope the bucs find a way to beat the Skins this Sunday as the schedule gets tougher as November football starts!
October 21st, 2015 at 10:12 am
I am hoping for some improvement and figured that if they won 5 – 6 games, that would be a marked improvement. Now that I see the possibilities, I began hoping for 7 – 8 wins but have to realize that they’re gonna suck every so often and need to temper that back to the 5 – 6 games wish list.
October 21st, 2015 at 10:13 am
I agree, Martin’s performance has been the highlight of the season so far.
October 21st, 2015 at 10:14 am
You are right joe Martin is no surprise. I’d have to vote for Ali “Bomaye” Marpet and Bobby Rainey for finally giving us a dependable return game but Ali takes the cake hands down.
how he’s simply manhandled some of the best DTs in the league has been mind-blowing. Bucs ROTY thus far in IMHO.
October 21st, 2015 at 11:23 am
While expected from most everyone. I would have to say my biggest supprise goes to the fact Americas QB has far exceeded my expectations OFF THE FIELD…. He looks comfortable for the most part on the field but is really doing what we only hoped he would do off it…
I think the OL is playing much harder in large part do to him… He is making The Musel Hamster better too!!! Let’s hope he vegans to spark the D’s passion to play better as well!!!
October 21st, 2015 at 11:28 am
*hope he “Finds a way to SPARK THE D… stupid smart phones, always messing stuff up.. What the heck is vegans replacing that…
October 21st, 2015 at 2:45 pm
I’ve been saying for the last 2 years, Doug Martin didn’t forget how to run, If you open up the running lanes, The yards will follow!
I’m glad to see he’s proving his doubters wrong!
October 21st, 2015 at 8:41 pm
Here is a comment from a Redskin fan on the Washington Redskins SB Nation site “he (Doug Martin) is a better overall back than either Freeman or Ivory and early on he looked to be near elite.. Very very tough”.. Comparing Martin to the last two RB the Redskins have faced. Their defense allowed Devonta Freeman to rush for 153 yards and Chris Ivory to rack up 146 yards on the ground. Both the Falcons and the Jets exceeded 175 rushing yards in the last two weeks against the Redskins. The biggest positive surprise? That Doug Martin is ranked number two overall by PFF for a RB and Charles Sims is ranked 12th overall and 3rd overall for a RB in receiving.