Report: Martin Expected To Start
December 8th, 2017
Green light Sunday.
Joe has to hand it to Bucs coach Dirk Koetter. The man is loyal.
But there is a difference between loyalty and blind loyalty. And we may have reached the T-intersection here. Per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, Koetter is expected to start Doug Martin Sunday against the Lions.
Yes, that is the same Doug Martin who hasn’t rushed for 100 yards in a game in over two years. Yes, that is the same Doug Martin who finished last in the NFL in yards-per-carry last year. Yes, that is the same Doug Martin who currently is last in the NFL in yards-per-carry this season.
This, despite the fact that in his first start of 2017, Peyton Barber ran for 102 on 23 carries last week at Green Bay, but also led the team in receiving with 41 yards on four catches.
No, Koetter won’t like how people — especially reporters — will react to this.
Joe has to apologize, but there is nothing the past 20 games that suggests Martin suddenly turns into Alvin Kamara Sunday. Joe hopes he does but if the past 20 games isn’t enough of a sample size, then Joe doesn’t know what is. This just in: we are less than four weeks away from 2018. It’s not 2015.
Koetter shouldn’t be getting mad at reporters for pointing out Martin sure looks finished. He should be upset with Martin for not rewarding the Bucs head coach for his devout yet unwarranted support.
December 8th, 2017 at 2:55 pm
He should be motivated….$$$$$$$$$$$
December 8th, 2017 at 2:58 pm
Two things I wonder…what does Putin have on Trump and what does Doug Martin have on Dirk Koetter?
December 8th, 2017 at 3:07 pm
I can’t wait to see Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith get fired! Please don’t hire Rex “foot boy” Ryan. There’s a reason why he got canned from the JETS AND THE BILLS! Give Jameis one more year for a “prove it to earn a big contract”. If not, which is most likely gonna happen, then we draft another QB. Dump the underachieving players with huge contracts and sign free agents that will definitely make a splash. Also, Licht needs to go come end of this season. Besides drafting 7 decent players, his misses are a huge waste to this Franchise. Nice job drafting Clay, Bell, Martin, Aguayo, Donovan Smith, Etc….
December 8th, 2017 at 3:12 pm
Good! This should help seal the deal for the Kut Koetter/Licht’s Out movement. And I hope Stafford plays…although lesser known backup QB’s have beaten the Bucs.
December 8th, 2017 at 3:17 pm
Koetter is done in Tampa Bay.
#hopefully
December 8th, 2017 at 3:18 pm
Bucssuccs:
Jason Licht did not draft Doug Martin.
This ought to enrage readers but Jason Licht is the best GM this team has had since Rich McKay. Yeah, Joe typed that.
December 8th, 2017 at 3:31 pm
It don’t make sense to bench the $6 Million Dollar Man. They brought him back, now they have to play him. It wouldn’t be a good look to bench the $6 Million Dollar Man for a guy that’s making $540,000.
December 8th, 2017 at 3:34 pm
@Joe
That’s 100 percent true, but tbh, he doesn’t exactly have a lot of competition for that award.
I’m rolling with the Peter King take for once, there are just way too many heavy hitters to retain Licht… At least as the head guy in charge.
If Licht is willing to take some kind of demotion that leaves him as head of the scouts, Ala Jon Robinson’s old role under Licht, then he can stay.
But otherwise he just has too many bungles/ non-signings to justify him remaining.
December 8th, 2017 at 3:35 pm
Ali Marpet was a horrible run blocker from the center position. This move proves that. I’m sure glad agenda-driven journalism isn’t running this team.
December 8th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Martin is your best running back. Why not play him.
December 8th, 2017 at 3:59 pm
“shooter Says:
December 8th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Martin is your best running back. Why not play him.”
Because he sucks?
In Martin’s 65 games played; he has rushed for over 100 yards just 11 times.
In Martin’s 65 games played; he was held under 60 yards rushing 31 times.
That’s absolutely pathetic considering he was the full time workhorse back most all that time. That’s absolutely pathetic for any RB being drafted and paid as he has.
For comparison – Jordan Howard already has 10 100+ rushing yard games and hasn’t even played 2 seasons – a 5th round draft pick.
Martin also has 2 huge 200+ yard performances that drive up his overall #s.
Even so – his YPC has been 2.8 and 3.2 the last 2 years – with over 100 carries each season which is more than enough of a sample size.
I’m honestly fine with any staff changes at this point. What a freaking joke.
Doug Martin has sucked for 2 years now as one of the worst RBs in the league; and f&cked the team last year. At his best; Doug Martin was a mediocre RB who would have a few big performances and completely disappeared in half of his games.
Yeah let’s sign him to a big deal and force feed him the ball.
#wtf
December 8th, 2017 at 4:00 pm
shooter Says:
December 8th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Martin is your best running back. Why not play him.
———————————————————————–
What part of – “no hundred yard rushing game in two years, last in YPC this year, Peyton Barber popping off for hundred yards in his FIRST start” do you not understand? What in the living hell makes you think Martin is still the best back.
December 8th, 2017 at 4:05 pm
Martin is signing Koetter’s coaching pink slip finally. Koetter can now blame no one else for his coaching demise. I wonder if he knows of his fate at the end of the year and is just letting Martin start for spite
December 8th, 2017 at 4:10 pm
What did I tell You Guys!!!!
Klueless and his coaching and how he uses the roster is the reason we are not successful and playoff bound
No targets to OJ
useless hump
predictable playcalling
5-7 step drop pass patterns on 3rd and long with the blitz coming
cant score tds in the red zone with 6’5 ME13 and 6’6 OJ
running up the gut at a stacked box
etc etc etc
***My Dad has been stating this for 2 years while he was being verbally impaled by the blind massess
“Get a legit offensive coordinator and we will witness the HOF career of Jameis Winston next year”
Son of Kobe Faker
December 8th, 2017 at 4:24 pm
Ok I’m officially done with koetter if true. FIRE HIM!. Play doug martin for what exactly? HE”S NOT GOOD!!!! 2 good years out of 6. Were what 2-7 since the career loser martin has come back no surprise. And he did absolutely nothing in those 2 victories. We started out what 2 and 1 without him? Would of won last week if we you know weren’t the bucs. Fire Koetter and if Dougillac Martin is here next year Im done with being a bucs fan in general. such a piece of crap organization.
December 8th, 2017 at 4:35 pm
Just another reason why I think Licht is letting dirk hang himself, to make a talented look like a Lovie throwback is pretty remarkable. I mean if Martin starts and does absolutely nothing and barber plays a better game getting backup reps I mean honestly if they lose her shouldn’t be allowed to speak after the game he should be fired immediately
December 8th, 2017 at 4:46 pm
So let me get this straight with everything on the line last year with the same players doug martin was sat down the last games of the season. But this year with nothing on the line except for trying to develop the young players doug is back as the starter for what? @Joe can you explain this?
I don’t even want gruden back but it will be an utter embarassment next week when after dougillac’s 2 yards and a cloud of dust run gets stuffed and then koetter goes 3nout the crowd chants Gruden! Gruden! Koetter deserves it. You make your bed now lay in it. Good teams like the patriots and steelers don’t keep a crap player and career loser like doug martin around for 7+ years and keep starting him none the less! I just hope licht doesn’t evade the $hitstorm that is coming!
December 8th, 2017 at 4:49 pm
This is truly laughable. Since week 2 I said why isn’t barber playing. He carries the running game and doesn’t start LMFAO good God Koetter. Every week I watch with my brother and say the same thing over and over again. How many times does Dez catch fades for touchdowns and guys like Fitz. You have a combined 13 feet of height between Evans and Howard and we just run the same handful of plays in the red zone over dnd over. How about a fade or a slant or a post to a 6’5 guy. Never in a million years expected Koetter to be this bad. There’s only one coach out there where I’ll say okay let’s give him 5 years and it’s Gruden. I’m not sold on McDaniels or whoever to be the head coach and be at the point where I’ll have faith after a good season because we were let down massively by Klueless Koetter
December 8th, 2017 at 4:57 pm
No. 🙁
December 8th, 2017 at 4:59 pm
Yucksville. Population: Tampa, Florida
December 8th, 2017 at 5:04 pm
Joe you say Koetter is loyal,I say he’s stupid. Last night Matt Ryan threw 3 picks, Brees threw a pick in the end zone to seal the victory for Atlanta. Guess they should be cut, or traded.
December 8th, 2017 at 5:18 pm
WTF. Guess I should be happy that Dirk is sealing his own fate. But seriously why would you not start Barber. The kid needs touches. I know a lot of us consider ourselves couch coaches but seriously I’m a stoner and can tell you 98 percent of the plays just by sight. Embarrassing. Been a die hard fan for 45 years and it’s getting hard. I’m willing to roll the dice with “Chucky “. I know he holds players accountable. We need his 🔥
December 8th, 2017 at 5:19 pm
If he starts Martin, it’s the equivalent of going all in. If Martin blows up with a big game and Bucs win, Koetter might win one more year, but if Martin plays like Martin and the Bucs lose, Koetter will have sealed his own fate.
December 8th, 2017 at 5:20 pm
What ever happened to getting your best players on the field? I thought Dirk said that once.
It seems like the same thing as with Humphries(who did look decent Sunday) who has made a ton of mistakes yet sees much more field then Godwin who has made given us many more yards per snap(guessing).
December 8th, 2017 at 5:23 pm
Conte I disagree……I believe the main thing that Dirk will be judged on is the same thing he was hired for………Winston’s progression.
December 8th, 2017 at 5:39 pm
Joe points out: “This, despite the fact that in his first start of 2017, Peyton Barber ran for 102 on 23 carries last week at Green Bay, but also led the team in receiving with 41 yards on four catches.”
20 games is a lot, but he’s been behind horrid run blocking this year. NO RB has burned it up, and if anything, Barber has shown he’s inconsistent…for he’s had terrible days this year as well. Sunday’s 4.3 ypc pulls his yearly average way up, but he is still not the best runner.
I think problems start with Marpet at Center, and last week was the first game without it. No, this isn’t all on the O line but it’s not all on Martin either. What is significant is Martin carries avg 3.2, Quizz 3.8, Barber 3.6. Before Sunday, Barber was 2.6 ypc. So let’s not annoint him as a starter going forward.
Frankly, after two years we know Barber is likely a solid backup and that’s likely it. I agree, if Martin ends the way he is now, he may be done…and we should look forward for a real feature back. And he isn’t on the roster now.
December 8th, 2017 at 6:39 pm
Wow this guy is trying to get fired… Damn I was huge supporter of this dude, but now I just can’t.He used to be so straight up and now he just make excuses. I don’t get it though why bench VH3 or demote him but keep handing Doug the starting job? This team is cursed. If you brought Bill, brady….the entire New England roster and staff over here and put them in Ray Jay with the Glaziers they would suck. It’s a curse.
December 8th, 2017 at 6:48 pm
If Martin starts then I am DONE with Koetter. I have maintained my stance that we shouldn’t fire a coach every two years, however if he starts Drug Martin I have had enough.
December 8th, 2017 at 7:53 pm
Should only play guys that will actually be on this roster next year that includes Jackson
December 8th, 2017 at 7:58 pm
If Koetter starts Martin, it would be another mark against his coaching acumen and retention for ’18. In 2017, RB position its best to play the hot hand (Barber) unless your have Walter Payton type-which we clearly do not have on this roster.
December 8th, 2017 at 8:00 pm
It’s the same old same old with you Jack A^^ Bucs fans, and I hope Doug leaves so that these same fans that are saying he sucks, wash up, finished, and that includes the some-timing media, when then go right into; Why he didn’t do that here ???
December 8th, 2017 at 9:20 pm
Give it a rest Joe. Do yourself a favor.
December 8th, 2017 at 10:01 pm
@G-Money, if Martin does go somewhere else and have success, he’ll only regress the next yr.
December 9th, 2017 at 5:47 am
Roy T may have a point. Pulling Marpet off of C due to injury may have actually improved the run blocking although the 7 sacks by an average GB D shows that Winston had no time whatsoever for Koetter’s 7 step drop plays where he has to sit in the pocket and wait for anyone to get open….. Still, as bad as Martin has been, does Koetter actually think he will get 60+ yards against Detroit? Why not put Barber in? Could be misdirection but I doubt it, Koetter seems stubborn to the point he’ll take a 4-12 record this season…. The news Martin is starting will probably shift the line which is listed at even by a couple of Vegas sites and Bucs a slim -130 fave on the money line to Detroit as a solid 3 point fave IMHO. Its a Buc Fan’s Life to expect the worst idiotic decisions. The only thing to look forward to before the season’s end is hearing the fans call for Chuckie at halftime vs the Dixie Chicks on MNF, hopefully Koetter/Smith won’t be getting boatraced 24-6……
December 9th, 2017 at 6:57 am
Only plus side to this season is a higher draft pick…. but they will screw that up too!
December 9th, 2017 at 11:04 am
Koetter refusing to adjust . He is sealing his fate .what a load of garbage being force fed to the fans !
December 9th, 2017 at 2:42 pm
With the money they pay Martin- either they start him or cut him – makes no sense to keep a large salary backup (if he’s healthy)
Coaches either think he is still best option (if he starts) or maybe they want to see how he does with this O-Line (several starters out)
Barber was impressive with this O-Line- can Martin be as effective?
Most would say no-
December 9th, 2017 at 10:54 pm
Awful coaching. Martin is worthless.
Please dump Martin.