RB Answers Hours Away
August 26th, 2017
More takes from JoeBucsFan.com Saturday columnist Gil Arcia (@PewterNerdGil).
By GIL ARCIA
The Buccaneers’ preseason is heating up with reps that mean a lot for many individual players. During tonight’s game against the Cleveland Browns at the soon-to-be Den of Happiness that is Raymond James Stadium, that bodes true for the starters.
The most crucial position to watch will be running back and what the cast does behind the Buccaneers’ offensive line.
That doesn’t include Doug Martin.
Why? Well, we saw what Martin did last week against Jacksonville and as he starts the season watching from home for the first three games, the team would be wise to use this game to see what Jacquizz Rodgers, Peyton Barber, Charles Sims, and the rookie Jeremy McNichols are about.
Now it’s unlikely we’ll see the latter in the beginning — during the first half. Tampa Bay will do itself a favor by seeing if the job Rodgers did last year was no fluke.
Sims may not be your main back each week, but he is good enough in the passing game. Barber showed a little brilliance last year — and last week — but not enough to be confident in him carrying the bulk of the load.
The way head coach Dirk Koetter has spoken of the Martin situation offers few assurances heading into the regular season. With that said, the running game remains a mystery.
Will Martin play again this preseason? Can Rodgers and Barber be the options to carry the load?
Whatever the answers to those questions, the Bucs must see Rodgers and Barber a lot more. And that needs to happen tonight.
Listen to Gil’s “Nerds In Pewter Podcast” right here on iTunes.
August 26th, 2017 at 8:36 am
Honestly I want to aee more Charles Simms, he has looked pretty damn good.
August 26th, 2017 at 9:16 am
Love it joe…..den of happiness!!!
August 26th, 2017 at 9:17 am
Gil, are you a gamer??? I bought this new Madden18 for the PS4 for my son yesterday. This s@$! is the greatest thing to ever happen to the history of gaming. No lie.
August 26th, 2017 at 9:19 am
Agree that we don’t need to see any of Doug tonight. We know what he can do and he appears to have regained his “health”.
I would love to let Doug have the bulk of the work in the final preseason game…he’ll have four weeks for bumps and bruises to heal and the other guys who will actually be doing the running in the first three games can have their health preserved.
August 26th, 2017 at 9:21 am
Nole
We might be seeing fewer and fewer of your posts. I remember playing Mario Brothers with a little girl…daughter of a GF and getting addicted. And that was PRIMITIVE technology.
I’m literally afraid to get a PS4..much less putting Madden in it…I fear I would never leave the screen!!!
August 26th, 2017 at 9:30 am
Nice piece Gil. Thanks.
Agree. Shelve Martin since it’s anybodies guess what he’ll do in the regular season anyway. We need to see both Barber and McNichols with the first unit.
August 26th, 2017 at 9:38 am
Good summary of the RB situation. A lot on the line tonight, it would seem.
August 26th, 2017 at 10:27 am
Could be super telling if the Bucs let The Muscle Hamster play much tonight.
If he does I wouldn’t be surprised. HE NEEDS THE REPS WITH THE FIRST TEAMERS.
Your first 3 games are not gonna require much of a running game. Meaning they are teams your gonna want to take advantage of in the passing game.
In fact those games will/should provide plenty of opportunity to run the ball late. OR not all that much.
I would assume this is when they are gonna kick the tires on who they really think will be The Muscle Hamsters back up for the next couple years.
We know what we have in all of our backs. Rogers is our starter the first 3 games. Chuck is Chuck. You know, the second half of the most prolific backfield in football when TMH Martin is right.
The Rookie is mehhh, a project to be sure. AND the wildcard is Barber. HE IS MY FAVORITE of the group simply based on his physical attributes. I would say he is the future if he stays the course. Him and the mehhh of a Rookie back are your future.
So really, TMH should get plenty of reps tonight to make sure he is indeed where you need him to be when he comes back. IF NOT. Well you have to cut him and move on with what you have.
Just my opinion.
August 26th, 2017 at 10:49 am
Good job Gil!
Be careful with mentioning the den. Word in the street is it will stay a depression until the 5th game won at home.
I’m looking forward to seeing the competition tonight at rb. I would love to see them look more solid. If at all, I hope Martin just plays one series.
I’m also looking forward to see Howard and Godwin blocking tonight.
Go Bucs!!!
August 26th, 2017 at 3:30 pm
Pete that’s a fact😀.