Freeman Says Fumble Was On Him
November 5th, 2012
Did LeGarrette Blount fumble yesterday?
TV replays seem to show Josh Freeman fumbling the ball as he stuck it a little high on Blount’s chest during the fourth-quarter handoff that hit the turf and was recovered by Oakland.
Per Freeman, that’s what happened and he took “complete credit for that” almost disastrous miscue. Freeman said in his postgame news conference that the ball was “slick” and he thought he secured it.
Freeman went on to praise Blount for almost recovering the fumble.
Hopefully, Blount’s confidence is in tact. The Bucs will need him going forward.
November 5th, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Yeah I saw that when it happened. Freeman threw the ball into Blount. Not his fault.
I think the fact that Blount has high expectations for himself after some early success might hurt his confidence but if he accepts the fact that he’s the number 2 (which isn’t a bad thing) he will be fine. Or maybe he can get out of Tampa and find a team that will give him a shot at starting. I think he can be a solid player in this league. Just needs to stay up.
November 5th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
I called almost everything in the game most important I called the win. At halftime everyone was down and I said martin would heat up,I was right becaue I beilieve in my team, thats all.
November 5th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
You mean all the fans calling for Blount to be cut because of the fumble are wrong???? REALLY???? /sarcasm
November 5th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
I saw that the ball was out of Freeman’s hand before it got to Blount, but fans are ranting about Blount should play anymore?? Doug have been running great recently, but if the Bucs want to make a run to the playoffs carrying the ball 25 to 30 times a game will wear out the rookie by week 14. Yeah he is Muscle Martin, but he is also a rookie.
November 5th, 2012 at 1:06 pm
As someone who wanted Blount to get more carries I can’t believe I’m saying this, but WTF was Blount doing in there in the first place. We were only up 11 and still 7 minutes to go. With our defense, that is nothing. I know they say they don’t want Martin to get too much punishment, but he hadn’t really been touched in the 2nd half. While you may want to limit his work, don’t do it on a day he is having his way with the opposing team’s defense.
November 5th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Blount will rebound. Good sign to see Freeman take the blame, he is showing some good leadership.
Blount can still be a productive piece to the puzzle, I just hope we can find a way to implement the “roadkill beast”.
November 5th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Blount’s fine and we’re damn lucky to have him. Anyone who doesn’t see that doesn’t no football.
November 5th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Gotta find a new nickname for Martin. Muscle Hamster doesn’t work anymore. How about Dynamart (i.e dynamite) or Dozer. Anything other than Muscle Hamster.
November 5th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
I think that stinger he got Is really still bothering him. But he is lying to the coaches. Just so he can get playing time. He is not good enough to be a number 1. Every time you see him on the sideline he looks like he does not want to be there even when the Bucs are Winning!!!
November 5th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Manster
November 5th, 2012 at 1:23 pm
@Macabee came up with DMX (Doug Martin Express). Has a bit of a ring to it as well.
November 5th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
It’s call giving him a breather lightning. Sprinting the whole field tends to wind people, just ask AP after he got caught from behind on the second play o the day. Martin was amazing yesterday, but he still is human.
November 5th, 2012 at 1:28 pm
Then why was he on the sideline jumping up and down, dancing around? If he was tired he would of been sitting on the bench still.
November 5th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Sweet vindication. Knew this admission would be forthcoming today.
November 5th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
I call Martin “The Flash”. The linemen and WR’s are always talking about blocking for him and how he’s past them in a flash. Fits his running style. Don’t know how catchy it is but that’s how I picture him.
November 5th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
It was easy to see that it was a Freeman miscue. Thankfully it should be equally easy to see by Coach Schiano. I couldn’t comment on Martin all day yesterday, but what a fricken back we got in this kid. Can’t wait to see him in person against the Denver Donkeys. Going to order my Martin Jersey today!!
November 5th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
The Bucs need a compliment back, and Blount is on the outs in Tampa. Hopefully this Smith kid will be the answer is Blount is not.
November 5th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
He was on the bench with the oxygen mask before that. He was bouncing around after to keep his muscles warmed up.
November 5th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
How about D-Rex as a nickname for Martin? Saw an interview where he said he’d like to be compared to a T-Rex. D for Doug -Rex. 😉
November 5th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
‘Dougie to the Houser’ …..OK…. you’re right…that is terrible. Sorry…
November 5th, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Rumors of Blount being traded for a 7th rounder were either unfounded or no one wanted to give up a 7th rouder for him….I think ther rumors are false because we need LGB. We are just one bad piece of luck away from an injured Martin….and you know Bucs luck.
As for the handoff….it hit Blounts chest on the fly….no way Blount is at fault. Our running backs have done a great job at protecting the ball this year.
I do agree that we shoul’nt have had him in the game at that time. And why we had Martin in the game at the end running the ball when the game was over is a mystery.
November 5th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Fumble aside, Blount has virtually no role on this team. His running style doesn’t dictate it. The root problem is that he is indecisive in his reads at the line. He’s fine when he gets to the 2nd level, but that’s the problem – he has to GET to the 2nd level.
He’s a RFA and I don’t see him on this team next year.
Martin, Smith, Ware, Madu…those are your backs. Shifty, quick, hit the hole.
November 5th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
^Madu was cut back on August 31st. He’s not a Buc.
November 5th, 2012 at 2:44 pm
@bucfanjeff
Its true blount is indecisive he waits to long to hits the hole and dances to much behind the line. I don’t believe that is what schiano wants. I saw one time him telling Blount to find the hole and hit it, and he seems incapable of doing that. Maybe if he works on his verticals a little more he can jump over the line.
November 5th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
It sure looked like Freeman’s fault. What a great teammate to admit it.
I know I’m being stubborn at this point but I still wish Blount gets his touches. When he’s on a roll, he’s handing out headaches.
November 5th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Aston Martin was running the ball at the end of the game specifically because of that fumble, I believe.
He’s “My favorite Martin”, cause he’s outta this world!
November 5th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
What about Cadillac?
What is his dance all about by the way??? He is like feeding himself like a hampster with a spoon… super fast.
November 5th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
I do believe that Schiano needs to get Blount in the games more though… the last thing the Bucs need is for Martin to get hurt by over using him when we are ahead by a bunch.
November 5th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
@FLBoyInDallas, My bad – I should have said ‘those types’.
November 5th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Josh was not sharp and it was his fault. Blount still a great back and hopefully but the end of the year will be closing a lot more wins out for us. Can anyone image if Martin and Blount both get hot?! Don’t give up on Blount ya’ll.
November 5th, 2012 at 4:02 pm
I like Blount, but hope to see Tampa trade him. He will be better off elsewhere.
He needs to be a feature back somewhere, and is not effective in a back up role.
November 5th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
everyone calling for madu, he is not on the team, he was released during final cuts, but i would like to have him back as we never saw what he could really do.
November 5th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
@Joe
Not related to this article, but I have a fitting name for Doug Martin.
QuickHatch is another name for a Wolverine. Wolverines are known for their strength, vision, quick reflexes, burst of speed, ferocity and are capable of killing animals many times their size.
QuickHatch fits Martin to a tee.
November 5th, 2012 at 4:29 pm
Or Wolverine sounds better.
What is up with his dance in the end zone??? I can’t get it out of my head now. He is like feeding himself pourage or something.
November 5th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
i don’t think blount is a bad RB, but he really doesn’t appear to be in a system that suits him anymore. his lack of vision is exposed time and time again. the team will struggle in a big way if they are ever forced to rely on him as the primary runner. when he manages to find a hole he is a nightmare at the second level, but an analogy involving blind squirrels and acorns comes to mind. all those explosive TD runs martin had would have been of the fall-forward-for-2-yards variety had the ball been in blount’s hands
November 5th, 2012 at 4:40 pm
“Smiling Doug ‘my favorite’ Martin”!!!!
November 5th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Hey, Bucobruco, when are u gonna stop asking for acknowledgement over your prognostications yesterday Man! It’s getting old dude…your crave for attention…Oh where where you when the Raiders where making there comeback and Blount fumbled etc…Shivering in the corner bitting your nails I assume ?
November 5th, 2012 at 7:55 pm
@FLBoy – I’m thinking Douggernaut
November 5th, 2012 at 8:10 pm
He was doing the Dougie. Maybe not the best job of it, but that’s clearly what he was doing.
November 5th, 2012 at 8:15 pm
I think im in the minority when i say that Blount should see more playing time.
Something tells me hes in Schianos dog house for some reason. Martin did great, but i feel he needs time off.
November 5th, 2012 at 9:56 pm
Blount needs more touches thats all and line him as a tailback with a fullback to follow behind and he’ll be pulling some big yard plays… remember 2010 he started the 4th game and rolled up 1007 yds on 201 carries for the season so he can get it done again! I’m really worried that we can’t Ride the Hampster to much I love watching the kid really do but it’s not if….. it’s when he gets hurt. They’re right they do need to limit the touches for him. As we saw with the Oakland and Minni game Lorig was in on the long runs of Martin and when Blount came in he was alone in the backfield as for the handoff I saw it wasn’t even close glad Free stood up on that one…
November 6th, 2012 at 10:21 am
The simple fact is Doug Martin kinda looks like a hampster, hence the nickname muscle hampster. I like it. Its original and speaks the truth. If I had to change it it would be Dart Martin.
November 8th, 2012 at 2:30 am
The problem with Blount is that he looks like he doesn’t want to be there, because martin is burning up the feild. You can THINK your an every down back in your head? When you step on the feild and show different? There you are… to the guy that said Blount is a keeper? Well if you knew football? You would have known how to spell KNOW! And not no!
Lol buc fan since 1976 Peace..