Great News/Bad News On Doug Martin
September 23rd, 2016
So how big is the loss of two-time Pro Bowler Doug Martin to an injured right hamstring?
The Bucs will find out Sunday. But one Buccaneer shed powerful light on the subject yesterday.
Suprisingly, newcomer defensive end Robert Ayers was the guy doing the talking.
Ayers was asked on the Buccaneers Radio Network to name the Tampa Bay player that surprised and impressed him most during his brief time in town.
“Doug Martin, Doug Martin is a beast,” Ayers said. “You definitely got to go Doug Martin, man. I’ve never played with a running back like that. He’s so decisive in his cuts. He gets north and south so fast. He’s so strong, and he’s so low to the ground. He doesn’t waste any movement.
“You watch him from afar, and I played against him last year, you watch film and you’re like, ‘Man, this dude is good.” But then you go against him in practice and you like, ‘tMan, This dude is great.’ You really see that. You see how strong he is, and how hard he’s [running], who fast he is and how decisive he is. Doug Martin is definitely the first guy that kind of wowed me when I first got here.”
As Dirk Koetter said this week, backups are backups for a reason: they’re not as good as the guy playing ahead of them.
Hopefully, Charles Sims can step up and fill Martin’s shoes in the running game for a few weeks, but Joe’s not banking on that. And it seems Ayers might not be, either.
September 23rd, 2016 at 1:16 pm
All that is fine and good, next man up, however do not belittle the next man up.
September 23rd, 2016 at 1:29 pm
do not belittle
these are pro athletes not tee ball aged little kids…. it’s not belittling a player when they stink up the joint. this are highly paid grown arse men if they make mistakes they should be called out and held accountable… thin skin players are too mentally weak to win if they can’t handle a little belittling screw em…
September 23rd, 2016 at 1:32 pm
Get back soon Dougie we need you!
September 23rd, 2016 at 1:35 pm
Next man up works if you have depth. Like every other team in the NFL except the Bucs. This teams down to their 4th and 5th corners. Yet they win. Down to a 3rd string rookie QB……win. If your depth consists of young up and comers. Instead of reliable vets. You pray for players not to get injured.
September 23rd, 2016 at 2:06 pm
Losing Doug even a few weeks is huge. He did run off the field after the injury so hopefully his recovery will be quicker and the injury is not too severe.
September 23rd, 2016 at 5:58 pm
Doug is the starter for a reason. Sims will produce a little, but don’t expect a ton of yards. The good news is this…Martin is due back around the bye week…which is when the winning should really start.
September 23rd, 2016 at 6:14 pm
losing doug is a big blow, but i think what hurt us more last week was losing Stocker. I hope he’s back because other than putting a 6th lineman out there, there aren’t many other workable options on the roster to help the bucs impose their will on the ground. i don’t know how they will fill the roster hole created by ASJ, but i bet it’s with someone who can push defenders around
September 23rd, 2016 at 10:07 pm
Having your best two defensive ends out, you starting RB out and down two tight ends is going to difficult to overcome. Won’t be surprised at all of we lose
Sunday. Even though the Rams seem to have no offense, the Bucs are going to be a much weaker team than they were just two weeks ago.
September 24th, 2016 at 4:38 am
I think Jqiz could have a larger role than expected as Simms is really more of a 3rd down pass back…
September 24th, 2016 at 11:02 am
Hang tough Doug. Get well. Bucs need you..badly!