A No. 1 Or A No. 2?
January 3rd, 2016
What is Charles Sims’ future?
A great success story of this season is second-year man Charles Sims delivering absolute brilliance as a complementary running back to Doug Martin.
And Sims has stayed healthy and explosive.
Bucs fans have seen the 25-year-old, third-round pick reveal his golden hands, the ones that were raved about by college scouts across the country. And Sims is averaging five yards per carry, 103 rushes for 514 yards. Nobody can deny Sims has been great.
So now what? Is Sims a No. 1 back who hasn’t gotten a shot at the job? Or is he overachieving as an active backup with an offensive coordinator who knows how to use him?
Those are serious questions for the Bucs’ talent evaluators as they figure out what they want to pay Doug Martin. Surely, they didn’t draft Sims (very high for a running back) to be a backup. But it also is fantastic to have the best running backs combination in the NFL, which the Bucs have in Sims and Doug Martin.
Joe wonders how others teams might value Sims after the season he produced? Regardless, Joe wanted to take a moment to acknowledge Sims’ accomplishments. One could argue he’s now the best player out of the Bucs’ 2014 draft class.
January 3rd, 2016 at 10:48 am
lmao ill argue anyone he is not the best player in the 2014 buccaneers draft class. You forgot about mike evans? or are you serious? if your serious thats funny
January 3rd, 2016 at 10:48 am
My boy Sims rockin and rolling listen all you haters this guy could be a sure fire number one back in this league he can do it all you see his pass blocking too we got two good backs on our hands boys
January 3rd, 2016 at 10:54 am
He’s not a real #1 guy, he’s a horrible runner in traffic or between the tackles. Hes only a threat outside with space. Unfortunately he’s likely the #1 guy next year as Martin will be low balled out of town. They clearly wanted Sims as #1 when they declined Martin’s option.
January 3rd, 2016 at 10:55 am
Evans is better. His rookie campaign was great…and his sophomore slump year turned out exactly that …..a slump year. He didnt handle the #1 WR pressure well when Jackson was out. I hope he takes the time to work on his hand and eye coordination skills in the off season. I think the Bucs have to do something in free agency for WR. I dont think Jackson will be back; knee injuries after 30 are exponentially difficult to return from.
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:01 am
Lovie’s a number 2.
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:04 am
Sims is a very good #2 back and complements legit #1 back Martin nicely.
“Best player out of the Bucs 2014 draft class”???? Surely you jest
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:08 am
kstoges Says:
January 3rd, 2016 at 10:48 am
“this guy could be a sure fire number one back in this league he can do it all you”
Lovie Is Dog Poo Says:
January 3rd, 2016 at 10:54 am
“Martin will be low balled out of town. They clearly wanted Sims as #1 when they declined Martin’s option.”
Wow – the ridiculous comments are just flowing like water up in here today…
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:12 am
Oh, my! JBF now LIKES Sims? Thinking back,about a year ago, Sims was considered a wasted draft choice on these same pages?
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:12 am
@buc1987
Not only is he a number 2, But we keep flushing and it won’t go away, and now it is stinking up One Buc!!!!
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:17 am
Overachieving? How about succeeded at the role he was given this year. He is not a 30 carry per game back though. No way..
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:17 am
Pickgrin Says:
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:08 am
“Martin will be low balled out of town. They clearly wanted Sims as #1 when they declined Martin’s option.”
Wow – the ridiculous comments are just flowing like water up in here today…
And what’s ridiculous about this? That it’s true? You realize picking up the option only costs $5.5 million, and now it’s going to cost at least $8 million a year to keep Martin now? They intended on paying $2.5 million a year more for a guy? So it’s either they didn’t want Martin, or they’re incompetent. Take your pick I guess.
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:19 am
Oh yeah Forte is a likely FA and will be cheaper. Sorry guys, you are watching Doug Martin’s last game today unless he wants to take less money to stay. Which is never happening.
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:20 am
Buc1987 Says:
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:01 am
Lovie’s a number 2.
Wow….what a profound statement….really adds to the discussion….87, I hope you aren’t becoming “Realist Lite”…..I know you don’t like Lovie….but lets see you come back to your original form.
As for Sims…..he is a great example of fans calling players busts…and not accepting that injuries can cause serious impact to performance.
I’m one who likes his role and don’t think his 3rd round pick was too high for a complimentary back.
I think Koetter will use Sims even more next year….and what happens if Martin goes down?……Sims will desperately be needed.
I think we need much better production from the FB and a short yardage back…Maybe they have plans for Mike James…..I think Rainey is history.
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:23 am
I’m with the poop guy, Sims isn’t much of a running back between the tackles. In fact, he’s a detriment between the tackles as he runs like he’s tip toeing through the tulips or something. Keep the guy out on the wings, maybe even make him a slot receiver, that would be best.
Martin on the other hand tilts the field when he runs. The guy can cut on a dime, spin like a top, and often will seem to defy gravity as he bends around defenders leaving them grasping at air.
Frankly, if Sims is really loved by so many other teams, then I would trade him for another 2nd or 3rd round pick while they still can. Rainey and James have always been more than adequate when Martin has been out with injuries anyway. The Bucs never should have drafted Sims in the first place, there were and still are a lot more areas of need than running back.
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:25 am
Every winning organization is flushing the crap out after the last whistle blows tonite but not here in tampa we are going to force the fanbase to hold on to lovie and his losing record one more year… fire lovie
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:29 am
TBBF…lol I had to do it. The headline made me do it. It was calling to me.
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:47 am
I don’t think he’s a number one right now. He’s a committee back. Reminds me alot of Robert Smith, former Viking. I think his role could definitely increase as our offense evolves though.
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:52 am
Both Rainey & James did quite well when forced into the #1 role with Martin’s injury…..I suspect Sims would do well too…..we have a pretty good run-blocking line.
January 3rd, 2016 at 12:00 pm
But it also is fantastic to have the best running backs combination in the NFL
EXACTLY!!! Enuf said. It’s not just a combination either…it’s that they’re complimentary…they make a great package at running back and it gives Martin some rest.
I’m sorry we didn’t see more of Sims out wide. He could be effective in the slot as well as looping out of the backfield. I think Sims still has upside and that Koetter will find even more ways to use him next year.
January 3rd, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Not a #1 back but a good change of pace back and receiver
January 3rd, 2016 at 12:20 pm
He isn’t very good between the tackles. At least not yet. He’s a complimentary back until he learns otherwise. We’ve seen his hands but I’d still like to see him as a slot receiver like some speculated he would be. With all the receiving issues we had this year I’m surprised that didn’t happen. Might as well get him some receiver shoulder pads since he doesn’t run between the tackles anyways.
January 3rd, 2016 at 12:23 pm
Rainey busted a few long runs but is nowhere consistent enough to be a starter. I think he benefited from the defense blitzing the wrong way and losing him since he’s so small.
I loved his TD pass though. Maybe he can replace our checkdown throwing giraffe as backup qb.
January 3rd, 2016 at 12:24 pm
Not that I want this to happen, but please remember the Bucs promoted Mike James from the practice squad to protect him from signing somewhere else. I wouldn’t be surprised if they go with Sims and James next year with Mike James handling the inside/ short yardage work which is his strenght. I want Doug back, but this could be the thinking as t One Buc
January 3rd, 2016 at 12:25 pm
They need Martin. He is a MUCH better back than Simms. He’s more explosive, has better vision, and sets up blockers better.
Simms should remain the #2
January 3rd, 2016 at 12:25 pm
Franchise tag Martin. That’s all I’ve got to add to this discussion.
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:06 pm
No no no.
Sims is GREAT as a complimentary / change of pace / x-factor type back. But he is NOT a #1 primary feature back! We’ve seen him try to play that role for large durations during games and it has not worked.
We need Dougie back! Plain and simple. The combination of the two of them is the most effective.
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:09 pm
Sims is great, Martin is great. Fickle fans have in the past talked about dumping them both. They both have just had excellent years and are two of the few Bucs players to produce yardage in the wins. What’s not to like about this situation.
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:18 pm
You do not spend a third round pick on a complementary back. They drafted Sims with the intention of him taking over for Martin. Now Martin had a great year when they thought he wouldn’t. Maybe they overpay to keep him but I doubt it. If Forte or someone else costs half as much or less, they’ll go with that.
January 3rd, 2016 at 1:27 pm
F@ck signing Forte. He’s past his prime. Doug is in his prime.
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:04 pm
Are there any Bucs fans on this site? It seems all I read are posts with people hoping we loose. I hate to say this but we have such a poor fan base and this site is a great example. Sorry Joe’s you’re core fans are just clueless, hateful people who seemingly have no idea about football, and you know who you are.
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:04 pm
Dog Poo Says:
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:17 am
Pickgrin Says:
January 3rd, 2016 at 11:08 am
“Martin will be low balled out of town. They clearly wanted Sims as #1 when they declined Martin’s option.”
Wow – the ridiculous comments are just flowing like water up in here today…
And what’s ridiculous about this? That it’s true? You realize picking up the option only costs $5.5 million, and now it’s going to cost at least $8 million a year to keep Martin now? They intended on paying $2.5 million a year more for a guy? So it’s either they didn’t want Martin, or they’re incompetent. Take your pick I guess.
——————————————
I’ll take option 3 – Poo is incompetent.
Sims has a different skillset than Martin which is why he was drafted.
Martin was not worth $5.5M unless/until he proved that his rookie season was not a fluke. So Light declined the option knowing that if Dougie did prove himself as a top back in the league (which he did in spades this year) that they would have the option to re-sign him somewhere in that range anyway.
Talks are already underway with Martin’s agent for an extension and Doug Martin will almost certainly be a Buccaneer for at least 3 years to come – unless Doug so over values himself that he forces the Bucs to allow him to test the open market – where he will find that unless you are Adrian Peterson – you as a RB are not going to make more than $6-$7M per year no matter what.
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:11 pm
Bucs also have the option of making Martin prove himself again in 2016 by franchising him. But at a cost of $11M – that is not a wise move unless Doug forces their hand. $20M for 3 years with 1/2 of that guaranteed and $5M signing bonus up front is right in the range of what’s fair for both sides and likely close to where this negotiation will end up.
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:18 pm
Guy’s don’t try to respond Poo or Realist they can’t be reasoned with as they have no idea what they are talking about. Example Poo wants Sean Payton as coach whose defense is worse than ours and he was suspended for a year for cheating and cost his team draft picks, yeah I want that guy running my team. Just goes to show he has no clue what he is talking about.
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:51 pm
Over the past several years the NFL running game has become a two back system, with the exception of the Vikes and maybe Seahawks when Lynch is healthy. Our combination of Dougie and Sims is as good as there is in the League today, and we need to keep it that way to ensure Jameis’s continued development. My guess is Martin gets the franchise tag or a modest three year deal, but he returns no matter what.
January 3rd, 2016 at 2:59 pm
All I know is that I saw the signs last year of this kids effectiveness, is he a number one, naw, dances in the backfield too much, but does have a skill set that will keep him on the field. Once again, Luke Kuechly knows…