Martin Is Nine Yards Off Rushing Lead
December 21st, 2015
The Buccaneers are neither relevant (Lovie Smith’s short-term goal when he got the job) nor good on the NFL stage.
But they have a few very relevant and great players.
One is Doug Martin, one of three potential Pro Bowlers this season from the Bucs’ 2012 draft haul. He’s been the best running back in the NFL in 2015.
However, Martin is nine yards behind Adrian Peterson for the league lead in rushing. Martin has 1,305 yards on 256 carries (5.1-yards average rush). Peterson 1,314 yards on 286 rushes (4.6). Peterson has coughed up the rock six times. Martin has three fumbles. The Muscle Hamster has 13 runs of 20-plus yards, which leads the NFL. Peterson has nine.
So how do the Bucs proceed? Do they alter the offense at all to try and help Martin win a rushing title? Do they cut his carries and let Charles Sims gain more experience?
One could say setting Martin up to win the rushing title will catapult his value on the free agent market. And Martin is free in a matter of weeks. But Joe wrote weeks ago that the Bucs have no fear there because they can just drop the franchise tag on Martin and make him prove himself all over again in 2016.
It’ll be interesting to see how this develops. Martin wants that title. The Bucs’ offensive line wants it, too. America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, the ultimate team player, also wants to see glory for his backfield star.
Lovie Smith might have other ideas.
December 21st, 2015 at 10:55 am
This race would be a difference of 100 yards if the “Deefense” didn’t give up early leads the last two games. All the games when we had to change game plans playing from behind or the OC thought it was time for a “Sims” break
December 21st, 2015 at 11:19 am
Yes, it’s amazing that he can get the yards he has because the team has played from behind so much and has to pass more.
December 21st, 2015 at 11:23 am
If it weren’t for Winston succeeding despite L. Smith, this would be a 2 win team (again). Winston is no rookie, he plays better than over half of the experienced QB’s out there.
December 21st, 2015 at 11:29 am
@schmoie
You’re an idiot. How is Jameis succeeding despite lovie? You realize lovie wanted him right? Guess you give no credit to the guy that picked him. You know the guy that has complete personnel control. Yea lovie smith. You may not like lovie but to say Winston is succeeding despot lovie is plain stupid and shows you’re an idiot moron that’s just plain stupid on top of it.
Stfu you buc hater and gtfoh. Stupid moron.
December 21st, 2015 at 11:49 am
Go bottle rocket muscle hamster. Has to be bucs MVP.
December 21st, 2015 at 11:52 am
sign his ass . simple as that. why do they make these things difficult? give him 7mil a year range and be done with it
December 21st, 2015 at 12:02 pm
Because the Cardinals are going to the playoffs with no name RBs. Because all the best teams don’t put big money into RBs. because RBs are worthless in today’s NFL. I like Doug, but giving him a long term deal won’t work out. Franchise him and let him go after next year if they wanna bring him back, I do question whether they truly want him back, I tend to think they want Sims being the #1 guy.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:25 pm
Usually when a running back has a season like this, the next year they’re not as good.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:38 pm
Agree w Scott, but I think 5-7 is reasonable and works for both parties.
Couple things working against him: the market last year w top RBs proved to not be worth the money and he’s been injured a lot.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:43 pm
It makes the most sense to franchise tag him.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:45 pm
I wonder if the fact that the reigning rushing title holder has been marginalized on his current team will play in to contract negotiations
December 21st, 2015 at 12:47 pm
can we get another cream-puff schedule next year?
December 21st, 2015 at 7:30 pm
This is a no brainer. Feed Doug the rock…get him the title. The Bucs need every promotable star they can get. Having the league’s leading rusher would be a feather in the Bucs caps and help the Glazer boys sell some tickets next year.
We could actually have an exciting offense next year!
December 21st, 2015 at 9:05 pm
Not many RBs that get the rushing title are ever able to duplicate it in the future. I would much rather tag him, especially considering his medical history.
December 22nd, 2015 at 2:04 pm
The Bucs have plenty of cap room to re-sign Doug Martin. The guy has played his heart out on some really bad teams and he deserves to be rewarded with a top tier contract. How the Bucs treat Doug will also show the younger players what to expect when their contracts are due for renewal, so there is more to this than most fans realize at first glance.
The bar will be set if the Bucs apply the franchise tag on Doug. If they do, then Doug is going to earn $11M guaranteed for 2016 with the opportunity to cash in again in 2017, so there’s no way he accepts a contract valued at even $7M a year. On the other hand, if the Bucs don’t tag him, he will receive offers in the $7M a year range and the Bucs could get into a bidding war. Not to mention, Doug may even prefer a change of scenery.
If the Bucs can’t sign Martin to a $7M a year contract between the end of the season and the franchise tag deadline, they absolutely have to tag Doug and it’s likely he would play out 2016 for the $11M and both parties will have to reevaluate at the beginning of the 2017 season.