“A Liability”
May 5th, 2015
Bucs fans were treated to superior pass blocking from running backs when Earnest Graham and Cadillac Williams were performing third-down duties for Jeff Garcia and Josh Freeman.
Since their demise, life hasn’t been as good, though D.J. Ware was ok in 2012.
Joe has written previously that Doug Martin’s pass blocking is rough. He just doesn’t look comfortable, and too often looks incompetent.
With news of the Bucs not picking up Martin’s fifth-year option yesterday, former Bucs guard Ian Beckles (1990-1996) found it to be a good time to hammer on Martin’s blocking. Beckles is appalled.
“But he’s never been a good blocker. He’s a liability as a blocker,” Beckles said of Martin on WDAE-AM 620. “And if you’re a liability as a blocker, teams see that, and they’re blitzing you. And there’s times when I see him put his head down and get swum clean, and everybody puts it on McCown. But there wasn’t a lot of protection for McCown last year. There really wasn’t.”
Beckles went on to remark how slight Jameis Winston in person. The point was that the Bucs can’t afford to get Jameis knocked around in McCown-like fashion.
Listen to Beckles’ full take via the 620wdae.com audio player below.
May 5th, 2015 at 10:05 am
Jameis looks slight in person? I thought he was 6-4″ 230lbs. That’s hardly slight. Although I take Beckles point. We could put Marshawn Lynch back there to take snaps and if our Oline performed like last year Lynch would probably get hurt.
One of the things you have to give up to McCown..is that while he certainly choked away turnover after turnover, he never wimped out and took his beating like a man. Sometimes you just wanted the NFL to have a mercy rule where they tell a D line…ok boys you’ve pummeled the poop out of this poor QB you can give it a rest now.
May 5th, 2015 at 10:06 am
Cant really argue with that, he’s never been a blocker and most rookies have to adjust to blocking in the nfl, even our o line were liabilities in the pass game. no one talks about Jamaal Charles blocking ability or chris Johnson back in the day because as long as your running for 1000 yards a season who cares, now it’s time to pick at it because we didn’t pick up the 5th year option. if he explodes like his rookie season media will once again mysteriously forget about his blocking
May 5th, 2015 at 10:10 am
Yeah..poor josh mcCown was slammed on here often..glad someone else sees that he was in a helpless situation with Line malfunctions…
May 5th, 2015 at 10:12 am
Bwhahahaha…..how do you block a jail break rush from the opposing defenses….SMH
May 5th, 2015 at 10:15 am
Welp indications are that McClown is going to be starting for the Browns this coming season. Stay tuned.
May 5th, 2015 at 10:25 am
I thought the whole reason schiano started Martin over blount was because Martin was a better pass blocker? Was Blount just that bad?
May 5th, 2015 at 10:26 am
McCown sucked royally. If there wasn’t a pass rush, McCown would stand back there a la Statue of Liberty until the pass rush finally got to him. Our O Line was pathetic. Don’t get me wrong but McCown sucks something fierce. I’m not about to mince words. Let’s see how great he is in Cleveland. I’ll bet anybody Manziel wins the job back as much as he is hated.
May 5th, 2015 at 10:44 am
When Earnest byner left the building… So did Martin. Best RB coach in the league man.
May 5th, 2015 at 10:52 am
i guess there are 2 clueless NFL organizations then…McCown is anointed starter in Cleveland 🙂
May 5th, 2015 at 10:58 am
McCown gets knocked because he made stupid rookie mistakes, not because of the O-Line issues. The carolina game where he fumbled the ball then picked it up and tried to throw it with a guy drapping all over him and everyone tightly covered, resulting in that horrible interception which was probably the deciding factor in the game.
May 5th, 2015 at 10:59 am
pick 6^^ i should say
May 5th, 2015 at 11:08 am
No high-yardage RB is ever drafted to block. They are drafted to carry the ball.
If you want a blocker in the backfield, get a FB whose job it is to block.
Beckles criticism is exactly the opposite of criticism of Michael Clayton…who was a superior blocker but rotten pass catcher.
May 5th, 2015 at 11:22 am
@ Couch Fan. If you make stupid rookie mistakes and are a 12 year veteran than you, Mr. McCown, suck.
May 5th, 2015 at 11:29 am
Psst. If Martin is a liability what do you call Simms? Simms can’t block, run or stay healthy. Gimme a break.
Mccown @ Detroit. One of the funniest games I’ve ever seen. It wasn’t just mccown getting run over their RB did some damage too.
May 5th, 2015 at 12:00 pm
IndyBucFa. do you ever see Blount in pass blocking for Brady. Hardly ever.
Couchfan, I agree with you.
Out O Line was bad but it wasn’t as bad as McCown made it look and I still cringe and flinch when I think of that Carolina play. Just eat the ball stupid, you aren’t playing Leto HS for gods sake.
Also, when McCown would break from the pocket he had a tendency to hold the ball down with one hand causing the DL to start drooling and getting wood.
The climax would come in the appearance of a fumble after McCown’s arm would get whacked.
May 5th, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Anybody might look skinny to Buckles who looks like he is Shawn King’s BFF at the buffet line.
I have mixed feelings about Buckles.
He used to jump all over Barrett Rudd who would always tackle someone four or five yard after the LOS and never at the line. The problem was our DL was getting shoved back into his lap.
So we ended up getting slow-afoot Foster who couldn’t cover, was confused in pass defense and had never played the MLB position before he got here.
Thanks for listening to the radio Dummynick.
Martin does need to improve his pass blocking though and he still has time to do it. He just needs to work on it.
As for D.J/ Ware, they didn’t sign him to that fat contract to just pass block but that ended up being all he could do. Bought himself a nice red Lamborghini
with the money, too.
Another great FA pickup by the Dummy.
May 5th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
WS99, you seem to be a great fan…of other teams who play the Bucs.
It is stupid to hate on a player because he was chosen by a coach you are on record of despising for other inane reasons.
The only thing I can think of that is more childish is Tmaxcon.
May 5th, 2015 at 1:29 pm
Iosefa (7th round pick) is known for both his run and pass blocking skills. I watched some of his games and he does well. He reads the defense, sees who he has to pick up, moves his feet, squares up, and then attacks the pass rusher. I am very glad he was picked up, he will be a contributor to the team……he can also catch and is an excellent short yardage back.
May 5th, 2015 at 7:12 pm
I can’t be the only one that thinks Doug Martin is at least a decent blocker in pass protection. I’ve seen him pick up blitzes effectively tons of times. I call BS Ian.
If he doesn’t have a good year this year – then he has somehow lost it and the rookie year was an anomoly – or he was never the same after getting hurt – or whatever. But I wouldn’t count the Muscle Hamster down and out just yet. I think he’s gonna have a big year. + now he’s playing for a good contract after this year if he can earn it with good production on the field.