It’s Rainey’s Job To Lose
November 6th, 2014
Joe wrote last week that if Bobby Rainey had a successful day in Cleveland, then Doug Martin’s days as the Bucs bellcow back were likely done.
Martin, since his rookie season, has shockingly and steadily declined as an effective rusher.
Rainey, on the other hand, gets yards and finds holes and runs to daylight, something either Martin cannot do or has no interest in doing any longer (or both). Rainey had a fine day against the Browns before he had the rug pulled out from under him by acting offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo.
But Joe has found, via film guru Andy Benoit of theMMQB.com, another reason why Rainey is now the Bucs No. 1 back. Dude can block.
#Bucs Film: Rainey several good late blitz pickups, mostly up the middle.
— Andy Benoit (@Andy_Benoit) November 6, 2014
Well now, a running back who can find and exploit holes in a defense and pick up blitzes effectively? What more do you want in a running back? Oh, and he can catch the ball, too.
Right now Joe cannot come up with a reason why Martin should start over Rainey, sans an injury or something. Until Martin, who missed practice yesterday with his bad ankle, re-learns or proves he can be elusive and exploit holes, what’s the point in starting a guy like that?
November 6th, 2014 at 9:07 am
This will be a moot point next season when Sims takes over and Rainey and Martin are the change of pace guys…
November 6th, 2014 at 9:08 am
I don’t care what the draft position was or what the salary is…..we need to bench players that don’t perform…..
Look at Cousins vs Collins
Major Wright vs Barron
Rainey vs Martin….
The list goes on…
November 6th, 2014 at 9:24 am
Maybe Schiano screwed up Martin’s head too
November 6th, 2014 at 9:28 am
I love how people have annointed Charles Sims and no one has seen him play A SINGLE DOWN in the National Football League!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 6th, 2014 at 9:30 am
The offensive playmakers we draft are just cursed, man. Whenever they have a good season their next one stinks.
Michael Clayton? Great rookie year, fell off after that.
Cadillac Williams? ROTY, then got hurt and was never the same.
Josh Freeman? Excellent the first full year he got to start, stunk the year after that.
Doug Martin? Breakout rookie year, now you see where he is.
It’s why I avoid Bucs in fantasy football. Sadly our closes exception in recent times was Mike Williams because at least he got a couple decent seasons in before we shipped him for getting stabbed in the leg.
November 6th, 2014 at 9:31 am
Tom,
I’m with you. Everyone hates Glennon, a 3rd round pick, but they expect Sims, who was picked in the same round, to be the second coming of Emmitt Smith.
November 6th, 2014 at 9:38 am
Doug Martin ran like a man possessed when I coached him. You might look at the coaching staff. When someone who was the RB of the future until he is no longer the RB of the future, maybe there is something behind the scenes we are not told.
Why put your body on the line when the coaching staff does not believe in you or support you. The amount of issues that should be handled in the locker room and (Glennon benched) by the HC that are leaked and played in the media is disgraceful.
Doug Martin does not go from a superb back to a slacker over night. The problem is Martin is not permitted to tell us the rest of the story.
Greg Schiano
November 6th, 2014 at 9:44 am
@ForgetAboutDre
Hopefully Mike Evans will break the curse…..I think so, he looks like the real deal to me….
But…so did Doug Martin….I am shocked at Martin’s decline….
November 6th, 2014 at 9:46 am
I saw enough of him at Houston and WVU to know he’s more athletic and has better hands than both Rainey and Martin. Rainey was a practice squad guy on Cleveland….Cleveland and Martin was good for a 1/2 a season. Sims has the athleticism and size that neither Rainey nor Martin possess. My only trepidations about him are he is prone to lower body injuries, and I wish he’d put ion about 10lb of muscle.
November 6th, 2014 at 9:59 am
Joe
A back with a bad ankle should not be playing until it is completely healed, they can’t cut on it.
November 6th, 2014 at 10:07 am
I’m hopeful on Sims but the guy has yet to play a down. Rainey is doing a great not good job at RB. I see no reason to not start him other than tanking for that #1 draft pick. Also, those you are still calling for Mike James…JUST STOP IT
November 6th, 2014 at 10:41 am
If the Browns can trade Trent Richardson, Bucs should not be opposed to a draft day trade for whatever they can get, even a fourth rounder
November 6th, 2014 at 11:29 am
Besides the Raider and Viking games in Martins rookie year his numbers have been less than stellar so why is anyone surprised that Rainey is getting a look? If the Bucs could have gotten any value for Martin come the trade deadline I suspect he would already be playing elsewhere, maybe the injury took all relevant trade offers off the table; who knows with L&L driving the bus toward a one or two win season……
November 6th, 2014 at 11:44 am
Dear Joe
Lovie has already told you, when the starters are healthy they get their job back. Performance isn’t important, the future isn’t important.
November 6th, 2014 at 11:49 am
In the final analysis, it’s Lovie Smith’s job to lose.
November 6th, 2014 at 1:35 pm
People seem to forget that Martin was pretty disappointing early in his rookie season. He turned it on in game five and overall had a great season, but still had some real stinkers sprinkled in amongst the gems. he’s never been a model of consistency right from the start. For example, here’s a string of 5 games in Martin’s “good season”
Game 10: 24 carries/138 yards/5.4 yards per carry
Game 11: 21/50/2.4
Game 12: 18/56/3.1
Game 13: 28/128/4.6
Game 14: 9/16/1.8
In other words, Martin had occasional flashes of brilliance that make people overlook that he sucked most games.
November 6th, 2014 at 2:26 pm
It’s Rainey’s Job To Lose
same thing they said about glennon!!! Charles sims is going to take snaps from everyone because he was the most electric 3rd down runner we had before he got hurt
November 6th, 2014 at 5:55 pm
I’ve been very disappointed in the coaching staff thus far but maybe Lovie saw something that a lot didn’t, hence the Simms drafting.