Keeping Doug Martin around could pay off for the Buccaneers.
I am going to start this one off by saying I disagree with the Buccaneers about this. They surprised all of us during the NFL draft by not addressing the running back position until round five. Bucs fans almost universally believed that by day two, a running back would have been chosen. Dalvin Cook, Marlon Mack, and many others were available, but none were taken until Jeremy McNichols was chosen in the fifth round.
As we talked about in the four takeaways, and the part I disagree with, is that Doug Martin clearly remains in the Bucs plans. McNichols is regarded as a steal in the fifth round, and could be a featured back at some point, but to expect him to be one out of the gate isn’t realistic. Jacquizz Rodgers will likely start in week one, and the Bucs go by committee for the first three weeks. But, when Martin returns from suspension, in all likelihood he will be on the field with the team.
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Let’s look at the concept from the Bucs point of view. Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times talked about this topic the other day, so let’s continue the conversation. If we look at it from the team perspective, it could work out to their benefit.
We talk a lot about the up and down nature of Martin’s career. It’s true, he has had two great years with three bad ones. But we have to remember how the injuries have played into those number, as Stroud reminded us:
"When he has something to prove, and can stay healthy, Martin is among the NFL’s best ball carriers. As a rookie, he rushed for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns. The next two years were injury-filled. A torn labrum in his shoulder wiped out 10 games in 2013. Knee and ankle injuries prevented him from playing in five games in ’14."
Let me remind you of his stats:
| Games | Rushing | Receiving | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Tm | Pos | No. | G | GS | Rush | Yds | TD | Lng | Y/A | Y/G | A/G | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | Lng | R/G | Y/G | Ctch% | YScm | RRTD | Fmb | AV |
| 2012* | 23 | TAM | RB | 22 | 16 | 16 | 319 | 1454 | 11 | 70 | 4.6 | 90.9 | 19.9 | 70 | 49 | 472 | 9.6 | 1 | 64 | 3.1 | 29.5 | 70.0% | 1926 | 12 | 1 | 14 |
| 2013 | 24 | TAM | rb | 22 | 6 | 6 | 127 | 456 | 1 | 28 | 3.6 | 76.0 | 21.2 | 24 | 12 | 66 | 5.5 | 0 | 13 | 2.0 | 11.0 | 50.0% | 522 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2014 | 25 | TAM | RB | 22 | 11 | 11 | 134 | 494 | 2 | 63 | 3.7 | 44.9 | 12.2 | 20 | 13 | 64 | 4.9 | 0 | 20 | 1.2 | 5.8 | 65.0% | 558 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 2015*+ | 26 | TAM | RB | 22 | 16 | 16 | 288 | 1402 | 6 | 84 | 4.9 | 87.6 | 18.0 | 44 | 33 | 271 | 8.2 | 1 | 25 | 2.1 | 16.9 | 75.0% | 1673 | 7 | 5 | 11 |
| 2016 | 27 | TAM | RB | 22 | 8 | 8 | 144 | 421 | 3 | 17 | 2.9 | 52.6 | 18.0 | 16 | 14 | 134 | 9.6 | 0 | 27 | 1.8 | 16.8 | 87.5% | 555 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Career | 57 | 57 | 1012 | 4227 | 23 | 84 | 4.2 | 74.2 | 17.8 | 174 | 121 | 1007 | 8.3 | 2 | 64 | 2.1 | 17.7 | 5234 | 25 | 9 | 35 |
In 2013, Martin posted 76 yards per game before injuries derailed his season. If you take that number and project it over a season, it comes to 1,216 yards. In did go down in 2014, where his 44.9 yards per game project to 718 yards over an entire season.
Even look at 2016. Overall, the season was his worst, and certainly his least explosive. 2.9 yards per carry was Martin’s lowest number by a wide margin. However, in the first two games of the season, prior to his hamstring injury, he averaged 3.4 yards per carry, half a yard better. He only averaged over three yards per carry once after returning, but it could be argued that he wasn’t recovered from the hamstring.
If Martin is truly healthy, maybe he can be the player he once was. Despite the fact that they can release him easily, now that his contract isn’t guaranteed, they have the luxury of not doing so. Rodgers has proven he can hold down the fort until Martin returns. If Charles Sims is healthy, he will contribute. The committee is there at the running back position. Martin has the group around him that will help him get through and keep him going. If it doesn’t work out they can let him go. That’s the flexibility that they have.
Next: How the Bucs addressed off-season needs
If it works out, the Bucs offense will be even scarier than we think. Do you think Martin can get back to the top rusher he once was? Sound off in the comments.