No Sophomore Slump For Doug Martin
April 6th, 2013
One great thing about last year — granted, there were few “great” things that happened — was the emergence of running back Doug Martin.
The Bucs had not had a consistent running attack since the WD40 days, Mike Alstott’s pounding and Warrick Dunn’s escapability.
Doug Martin blasted onto the scene last to become one of the NFL’s best running backs. And he did this with a mangled offensive line.
Sophomore slumps are common in the NFL because teams adjust to rookies who shine. This was a subject in a recent NFC South chat on the servers of BSPN.
Scott (Northglenn, CO): Any reason to be concerned about Doug Martin regressing his second year? More focus on him?
Pat Yasinskas: Doubt it. He’ll have his two Pro Bowl guards back and that should make him even better.
Barring injury to Martin, there should be no sophomore slump. As Yasinskas suggested, Martin, Joe expects, very well could be improved.
Back will be a healthy Davin Joseph. Back will be a healthy Carl Nicks. Jeremy Zuttah will return to center, and there is a very real possibility the Bucs could upgrade at right tackle.
No, Martin should be just as good as in his rookie season, if not better.
April 6th, 2013 at 8:21 am
Bucs met with RB’s Christine Michael & Le’Veon Bell…which mean they plan to draft an RB in RS #2 or #3
April 6th, 2013 at 8:45 am
I agree with this take….I’m predicting a monster season from Doug.
Btw… It seems to me Yasinskas getting better at his job as time goes on.
He seems pretty sharp as of late.
April 6th, 2013 at 9:39 am
@MikeinTampa
just because the bucs have met with those 2 RB’s does not mean they forsure plan to draft one of them in the second or third rounds.
With a healthy Joseph and Nicks coming back, damn D-rex is going to have a BEAST season.
April 6th, 2013 at 9:46 am
Sign Clabo
April 6th, 2013 at 9:49 am
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/all-access-football/2013/04/06/exclusive-anthony-davis-blasts-greg-schiano
Post on this Joe? IMO it’s just another weak-minded lazy 5* recruit who wanted to be pampered in college. At least he’s developed into a good RT.
April 6th, 2013 at 9:50 am
Very unlikely the Bucs draft a RB before round 5, if even then. I Think we need to have more of a threat in the slot or recieving TE. That added weapon will give our running game even more of a chance to succeed.
April 6th, 2013 at 10:12 am
@MikeInTampa2 Says:
April 6th, 2013 at 8:21 am
“Bucs met with RB’s Christine Michael & Le’Veon Bell…which mean they plan to draft an RB in RS #2 or #3”
Not going to happen. Often, teams bring in a bunch of guys as a smokescreen.
I could see them taking a late rounder, but truth to tell, the release of Ware tells me Michael Smith is ready to step into the #3 spot.
April 6th, 2013 at 10:20 am
Also, don’t forget…the Bucs already have 4 RBs on the roster:
Doug Martin
LeGarrette Blount
Michael Smith
Brian Leonard
And those stating the Bucs do not have a backup quarterback, they are mistaken. Adam Weber is on the roster. (true he is probably tc fodder, but still technically a backup)
April 6th, 2013 at 10:39 am
Martin will do great this year, especially with Crabtree blocking.
April 6th, 2013 at 10:54 am
… an upgradt at right tackle? I wish. Seems (like so many FAs) they may have missed the boat on some pretty good tackles. Why?
April 6th, 2013 at 10:55 am
Doug Martin was a true bright spot last season, and a quality person as well. Very excited to see what he can do next season. With the O-line healthy and Eric Lorig improving at his FB position, the “Human Bowling Ball” Doug Martin should have another outstanding year. I firmly believe in going with the hot hand, but I do worry that we over work him too much.
April 6th, 2013 at 11:09 am
we have 5 running backs on the roster, Martin-Blount-Smith-Leonard-Lorig
April 6th, 2013 at 12:55 pm
Eric Lorig played a HUGE part in Martin’s success. I hope he becomes the next Lorenzo Neil who was on record saying, “I don’t want the ball, I just want to hit someone!” He made 2000 yd RB’s
April 6th, 2013 at 1:23 pm
Its a shame that Zuttah was not able to play center for a full year, The homers will scream about Freeman needing a constant Center for more than a year when he struggles next year.
P.S.
Joe, I bought a table for 100$ then found out it had shaky legs, i then turned around and sold it for 10$, did i just pull a rockstar???
April 6th, 2013 at 1:35 pm
@Buc_Realist…P.S.
“Joe, I bought a table for 100$ then found out it had shaky legs, i then turned around and sold it for 10$, did i just pull a rockstar???”
No, if you would have gotten another table and then used that table and $100 to upgrade to a $400 table…then you would pull a Rockstar.
April 6th, 2013 at 2:07 pm
@bobby lol that was funny
April 6th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
I hope everyone is right and that he has a huge season. our biggest jinx always seems to be the dreaded sophomore slump, but Im going to remain optimistic like yall and choose to believe that he is going to be just fine. one rb I really like in this draft is Stephen Taylor from Stanford. hes a solid complimentary back to Doug who we can get in the later rounds and is most definitely a buccaneer man, though I highly doubt we will draft an RBs. if we do though, hes our guy.