The Pewter Plank
FanSided

Doug Martin: 3 preseason moments where he showed his rookie year form

By Jose Martinez

facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 2
Next

Aug 29, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) reacts as he scores a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Martin takes it to the house from 19 yards out against Browns (Week 3)

Look at the burst. No, no, really! Check out the burst. Look at how he’s able to clear the Browns’ first line of defense and then accelerate past the safety. As early as last season, Martin would get to the next level and struggle to turn a six or seven-yard gain into a 20-yard run.

This season, the combination of his weight loss and starting off the preseason with a clean bill of health has turned Martin into something resembling his old self. Bucs fans may still be cautious to say he’s gotten himself back to his rookie form, but the signs are pointing in that direction. Fingers crossed.

Next: Doug Martin: New, but is he improved?

Aug 15, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) carries the ball during the first quarter in a preseason NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Martin bobs and weaves his way around traffic for an eight-yard gain vs. the Vikings (Week 1)

In the box score, this run by Martin appears as an eight-yard gain. But it’s so much more. This play could’ve easily been a one-yard rush, at best, but his agility and awareness turned lemons into lemonade. Obviously, lemonade being a first down!

In the first game of the preseason and Martin didn’t waste time showing us that he wasn’t the same player we saw the previous two seasons. Throughout the 2014 campaign, Martin battled knee and ankle injuries, but those problems looked like a thing of the best. Or, at least, one can hope.

Next: For the Bucs backfield, three heads are better than one

Aug 24, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) runs past Cincinnati Bengals free safety Reggie Nelson (20) for a 30 yard gain during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Martin the magician turns nothing into a 30-yard rush on the Bengals’ defense (Week 2)

Even the NFL’s Twitter account sees it. I can see this run 20 times in a row and not get tired of it. It’s the 2012 version of Martin that we came to know and love.

More from The Pewter Plank

Home/Bucs News