“I Know He’s Going To Do Great”
October 3rd, 2017
Expectations discussed.
Joe got a cool look inside the new Buccaneers indoor practice facility today as Tampa Bay practiced there in shorts in advance of their prime time showdown with the Belicheats on Thursday.
Among the action on the field was Doug Martin doing his thing.
After practice winning head coach Dirk Koetter shut down multiple reporters who asked about Martin’s readiness and timeline for work.
Koetter said Martin is a pro, the Bucs will go from there and the head coach has no clue what to expect of Martin since the team won’t practice in pads this week.
America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, was much more upbeat.
“Obviously, we love to have Doug Martin in the locker room. That’s the best part. What he does on the field. I know he’s going to do great,” smiling Jameis said.
Joe figures Martin will get six or seven carries Thursday, if the game stays close. It’s almost unfair to throw the guy into extreme action after a long layoff. Martin sat the Bucs’ final preseason game and only had two carries for two yards in the preseason Game 3 on August 26.
It’s also been about six weeks since he’s thrown on pads. Martin may be a pro, but not giving him time to be human is a great way to get an injury-prone guy injured.
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:14 pm
I’d be happy with 7 carries and 7 play-action deep throw with Martinl in there…
Unless he’s feeling it and ripping off nice runs consistently, then feed him the rock
We gotta mentally prepare for a shootout and come out guns blazing all night or we don’t have a chance against Brady.
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:20 pm
Joe, i dunno if your thoughts on how the organization will handle doug martin has been very accurate lately. I read somewhere else doug had most 1st team reps today? Can you verify?
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:21 pm
hope Koetter realizes his fetish for field goals and field position wont work against the pats
pats and brady is going for tds and every possession to brady no matter where they start is bad for the bucs
need to score and score tds
offense needs over 30 pts to win
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:21 pm
Is it known what the color rush uniforms will look like?
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:25 pm
Probably the ones that make each player look like a giant bottle of ketchup. The only thing worse that our horrific regular uniforms are our dreadful color rush specials.
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:29 pm
I think he will probably get about 15 carries in his first game back. His presence alone should force the LB’s and Safeties to respect the run, allowing for a more effective play action passing game.
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:31 pm
Screw that….playing conservative is what got ray jay known as the den of depression.
Put Doug back there and drop the hammer and dont let up until you cross the finish line of blow something up.
PEDAL TO THE MEDAL FOR 60 MINUTES AND THEN A 10 DAYBREAK
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:33 pm
I thought i heard while back they were going white on white. Could be wrong tho. Hope im not cuz those others dont look good. Also hope dougie looks good n gets more than 7 carries. Guess we will find out soon. Cmon dougie we need someone to get ball n go. No more pitty pattying around back there. This defense of the patsies is pretty bad. No need to give them early confidence. Go Bucs
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:37 pm
Just looked it up. Pats will be wearing all white. Guess bucs will be that all nappy red. Wish theyd go old school orange instead of red. Then again Im biased. Id prefer old school orange over anything. They gota figure out the helmet deal so we can get a throwback game every year again. Go Bucs
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:47 pm
#22 144 yds Thursday night
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:49 pm
all white uni’s will be a visual advantage that night….contrasting with every back
ground…advantage Brady on finding his teammates
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:50 pm
I don’t get this he needs to get practice reps. He is a pro he wasn’t injured and said he has been working his butt off in California staying in shape. So he can come in and play a lot right away. This game shape thing cracks me up. You think because they play for 3 hours on Sunday that they are more conditioned. You can’t simulate game conditioning. Why can’t you why can’t he run running plays for three hours everyday into tackling dummies. Or pull heavy weights while running to drag him down. I think he will be fresh and ready to go. If he doesn’t get at least 10-20 carries there’s a problem. I like Rodgers as a backup. Just watching him he doesn’t have he burst. Doug Martin actually makes people miss. And joe you keep saying about his yards per carry last year. Of course they are going to be horrible. He was on drugs the whole season. That’s why he went to rehab. If you were high all the time all your articles wouldn’t be so great. They would go on long rants about how a 2 time pro bowl running back coming back fresh for game 4 is a bad thing and we should cut him to not mess up the 80 yards a game flow of our other running backs. Quit writing Doug Martin stories while at Abe’s place. Just like I quit changing my DraftKings lineups Saturday night during college football when I’m drinking too many beers. I just don’t get while no one brings up he was high all last year thus affecting his job.
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:54 pm
Who says he hasn’t been wearing pads down at IMG practicing with wanna bees? not game speed, but I bet he’s ready. He has soo much riding on the rest of this season, he is almost “done” he has a few more years to get paid for the rest of his life.
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:54 pm
High all last year? Try injured all last year. That’s your reason, not excuse for bad numbers. A convenient omission to serve a particular narrative
October 3rd, 2017 at 4:58 pm
Six or seven carries tomorrow? I hope he gets a few on Thursday too.
October 3rd, 2017 at 5:00 pm
“IF”…..BIG IF we do not get any pressure on Brady we may need to score 50 to win it.
May need Martin to rush for 200 yards. Please someone on the “D” step up and deflate Brady like his preferred footballs.
October 3rd, 2017 at 5:02 pm
Joe figures Martin will get six or seven carries tomorrow, if the game stays close.
The game is Thursday Joe..
October 3rd, 2017 at 5:16 pm
7 tomorrow would be fine. Love a couple more on Thursday though
October 3rd, 2017 at 5:25 pm
Man the comments section has been especially amusing the last few days.
I think you gotta feed Martin a minimum of 13 carries Thursday night. I don’t think he’ll get any tomorrow though, Joe 😉
October 3rd, 2017 at 5:36 pm
I’d give Joe a pass thinking the game was tomorrow. I wish it was too.
October 3rd, 2017 at 5:36 pm
“offense needs over 30 pts to win”
They would have last week against a much better defense if they just hit their kicks. That’d have been 32 points even with the f*ck up on the 1 yard line. 36 if they convert the TD as well.
believe!
October 3rd, 2017 at 5:42 pm
J0E, I think I can clarify something for you, in theory.
I’ve heard you wonder why Dirk did not name Martin as the starter or make any kind of commitment to him in press conferences recently. I believe I can shed light on that…again, in theory.
I’m guessing that Dirk told Rodgers he could earn the permanent starting gig if he played well enough during Doug’s absence. If that is the case, Dirk could not make any sort of commitment to Doug. Too many ‘IFs”.
October 3rd, 2017 at 5:43 pm
Can anyone tell me who was cut to make room for Doug?
October 3rd, 2017 at 5:46 pm
Never mind. They waived TE Alan Cross.
So much for a fullback roll being filled. How is Martin going to do well with no lead blocker? Certainly Stocker is not the answer!
October 3rd, 2017 at 5:52 pm
btw, Patriots are scoring a lot of points. With Kwon and David out, does anyone really think the defense can stop Brady from scoring TDs?
I don’t, which means Winston will have to have a great game…which means the Bucs will be passing more than running. Don’t expect Doug to be used very much…or any other running back.
Unless the defense surprises us. Expect Brady to pick on VHIII a lot.
October 3rd, 2017 at 5:54 pm
Bonzai that’s a great point about the fullback. That always made Martin much more effective. Stocker will have to do I guess….
October 3rd, 2017 at 6:08 pm
They are not all in on Dougie though. I think if they were Payton Barber would have gotten cut instead of Cross.
October 3rd, 2017 at 6:21 pm
He’s gonna get more the 6 carries. C’mon…
October 3rd, 2017 at 6:25 pm
Judging by all the excitement of Martin’s return….you’d think the Bucs just got Barry Sanders back or something…give me a break.
I don’t get it. 2 decent years out of 5. Sorry if I’m not excited too.
Go Bucs!
October 3rd, 2017 at 6:25 pm
7 carries? maybe in the 1st quarter. I could care less if he gets beat to he55. He is Dougie fresh and now has 10 days to rest. 20 carries 87 yards 1 td.
October 3rd, 2017 at 6:28 pm
Koetter is really starting to make some really weird statements……… He was a pro last year, Eddie Lacy is a pro, Lawrence Phillips was a pro…………..
Pro hasn’t a lick of relavence , The player during a particular time line is relavent and it’s a Pro Coaches responsibility to know and understand that , not the player !!!
That is truly a statement of disallusion , guess and lacking responsibility !!! Like Koetter but these lil Weird statements may be showing a lil head coach overload because I’ve never really heard these types of nonsense statements before.
Also it appeared the grass at the stadium was giving the kickers problems, I wonder if our kicker has been over there with the grounds crew, that grass should be exactly the way our kicker likes it ………… Joe please ask this very relavent coaching 101 question !!
There were about 5 balls hit terribly by pro kickers on Sun ?? Why ??
Answer…….. The Turf
October 3rd, 2017 at 6:29 pm
First and 10….Doug Martin is in…..the whole world and the Pats expect him to run……time for play action…..fake them right out of their jocks.
As a matter of fact….I think every time Martin is in….go play action.
October 3rd, 2017 at 6:30 pm
Joe, I think Doug is gonna get at least 10-12 carries … more if he gets on a roll. The 2 teams who beat the Pats this year (Chiefs & Panthers) showed very clearly how to do it (they both used a similar gameplan): run 25-30 times (averaging 5 yds/carry), use the short passing game effectively (at least 75% of your passes short), at least break even on the TOP, and sack Brady 3 times.
Pats are the #2 offense & #31 defense at this point. Brady is Brady & he’s gonna put points on the board (Pats are AVERAGING 32 pts/game this year), so if Bucs offense doesn’t produce, we’ll get our butt handed to us. He’s also averaging 350 yds/game passing … scary good, especially considering that he’s thrown ZERO INTs & is averaging almost 14 yds/completion. Of note however, he’s been sacked 13 times this year … over 3 times per game average.
Chiefs showed how to beat the Pats, and beat them convincingly. Chiefs scored 6 TDs against them (2 rushing & 4 passing) … no FGs (yeah). Ran 27 times for 185 yds (7 yds/carry), most of which the rookie Kareem Hunt gained (138 yds). Chiefs ran almost exclusively to the right side BTW. Alex Smith crucified the Pats with short passes (25-of-28) plus sprinkled in 7 deep passes (completed 3 for 178 yds & 2 TDs). And yet, TOP was virtually equal for both teams. What hurt the Chiefs the most was that they had 15 penalties for 139 yds & only converted 4-of-11 third downs.
Pats can be beaten. Chiefs & Carolina showed us how.
October 3rd, 2017 at 6:34 pm
TE Alan Cross back on the practice squad. RB Hansbrough released. Per Jenna Lane.
October 3rd, 2017 at 6:35 pm
#22 will set a Thursday Night rushing record….
October 3rd, 2017 at 6:52 pm
7 touches? Tv sportscasters must be liars. Just seen on a fox show say look for Martin to right the ship with 20+ carries… all the freaking fake news
October 3rd, 2017 at 6:59 pm
Did you not here the man say he’s a pro? He’ll get as many carries as he deserves. If he looks Rusty yes ok but if he looks hungry for the Rick I say feed the beast. We will need the juice if he can provide it… You can tell by the way they there the ball to him so much in preseason what they have planned
October 3rd, 2017 at 7:01 pm
Come on Joe, it’s Doug Martin.
6-7 touches?
That’s a clown statement bro
October 3rd, 2017 at 7:04 pm
But seriously, can anyone confirm if he’s really going to be the sole, lead back?
I have him in 2 leagues…
October 3rd, 2017 at 7:51 pm
I would sit him for this week mike10 if I were you unless you don’t have better alternatives. Rarely does a RB come back from missing four games and have a stellar game.
October 3rd, 2017 at 7:52 pm
Thanks for that tidbit Pick!
October 3rd, 2017 at 8:19 pm
I think Doug will come out strong. Given his past performance he is due for a big year. I’m going to go crazy and say he blows up and goes for over 200 yards rushing and three TDs.
October 3rd, 2017 at 8:22 pm
I am really looking forward to seeing a healthy Doug Martin alongside healthy Quizz…4 here, 3 there, 5 year, 4 here….
Eat some clock. Deprive the deflator.
Get six now and then, nopefully plenty of good trips inside the red zone.
Bucs are going to have to put up 32 points to win this. Or let Brady work for 22 minutes or less and hope we keep him to 24.
October 3rd, 2017 at 8:43 pm
Keys to the game:
1. Winston must score TDs when he gets his red zone chances. Martin pass blocking will help; he is really good in tight spaces when chipping on the edge. “He’s a Pro”
2. DEFENSE!! Can this team get a sack from the edge? The answer is NO so far and its not close. The Bucs secondary cannot get torched frequently. They need to keep NE WR in front of them. AND please Bucs CBs stop playing 8-10 yards off the line of scrimmage (Vikings game). Grimes will take away Cooks for the most part. Cooks plays at another level than most so I expect him to score. Evans plays at that level too.
3. This game will be close or a NE blow out. With that said, special teams will be key. Anger must punt well when the Bucs 3 and out on our side of the field, which seems to be happening more frequently this year. Field position is a way of controlling Brady to some degree(see Pittsburgh’s D methods v Brady). The Bucs will not win if Folk misses anything. Its that simple. Go Bucs
October 3rd, 2017 at 9:15 pm
I bet Bucs get a few sacks a pick/fumble also I bet they win and again Jameis is gonna go 300+ yards 3 TDS and no turnovers Doug I can see around 50-80 yards again Sec 147 we gonna be lit screaming our heads off all game join us.
October 3rd, 2017 at 9:16 pm
Asked on the other thread ,I’ll ask on this also Ghost. How exactly are you gonna pressure 2.5 seconds??? I’ll answer again,you can’t. If I drop 8 in coverage I bet I can make him increase that time. Look,brady does not fold under pressure. I actually think he excels with pressure. Seattle couldn’t rattle him with pressure in the superbowl. The gmen (strahan and crew) barely beat him with constant pressure and hits in that superbowl. The broncos year before last were pounding brady in the afc championship with likes of ware and miller. That game still came down to the wire. We are not as talented up front as any of those units. But if we drop 7 or 8 all game I don’t care how pen point of a passer you are or how great you are at reading defenses. You will not have a great completion percentage seeing is how the passing windows will be too small.
October 3rd, 2017 at 9:19 pm
Go review chiefs/pats opening night. It was there formula for success against brady thru out that game.
October 3rd, 2017 at 9:30 pm
I anticipate Doug getting the lions share of carries. He was the number one back in preseason for a reason and showed he is ready. I have no concern with him being game ready except with the lack in prep without contact is his ability to hold on to the ball… Hopefully that is a non issue….
October 3rd, 2017 at 9:32 pm
WRONG Joe! Doug Martin will tote the rock early and often. He’ll get 12+ carries.
October 3rd, 2017 at 9:41 pm
If he doesn’t run into his own lineman with his head down early ,he will get 15 plus carries
October 3rd, 2017 at 9:45 pm
Give y’all another example. The falcons in the superbowl.
October 3rd, 2017 at 9:47 pm
They forced him to hold the ball more than 2.5 seconds and were killing him as a result of it.
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:16 pm
Very simple: Physical shape is not the same as football shape. With the possible exception of running down the street and letting moving cars hit you from all angles, not too sure of any gym that offers football training shape.
A guy can jump through cone drills all day long but it’s vastly different trying to dodge linebackers, run over safeties and absorb hits from linemen.
October 3rd, 2017 at 10:39 pm
The real question is… can Doug Martin play DE?
Our pass rush sucks. If they can’t fix that, this team is going nowhere.
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:15 pm
Joes hate them some Doug Martin. Wrong about him so far, hopefully guys like Licht and his coach and teammates know a bit more about winninf NFL football than the Joes.
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:15 pm
Joe do you seriously just look at stats? Pathetic
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:22 pm
He has been running the football his entire life. This football shape nonsense is so overblown. Don’t be surprised if Koetter plans to feed him the rock all night long, especially if he is effective and busting off a few good ones. We all know why the Doug Martin narrative is so skewed. A good showing by Martin Thursday is bad for that. Good for the Bucs though!
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:26 pm
Deemis y’all can continue stressing that and I’ll continue knocking that premise down. falcons were the 27th rank defense last season,34 total sacks. But they were stifling brady in the superbowl why??? Because of this umbrella defense I’ve been describing the last two days. brady couldn’t get the ball out quickly,thusly giving grady jarret time to win his one on one. He was pounding brady early on. This is the method for beat ing brady not a mean pass rush. Extra DBs all game is the answer. To be honest with pass happy offenses in our division we should be doing this all year going forward. The instinct and tendency of a QB is to pull the trigger. If he is not mobile i.e tom brady he will force some balls. See the pick 6 and the edlmen catch from the superbowl which was thrown into triple coverage. The first person to touch that ball was a falcon defender.
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:34 pm
Hump looks like a top MMA fighter, not a Slot WR. Kid is Jacked and Ready!!!!
Good time to be a Bucs fan!. Of course that is only said with 41 years following.
October 3rd, 2017 at 11:54 pm
He needs football reps. Needs to get feet under which takes a few carries. I’ll predict 25 carries he will be effective or should be effective by then. No way in history of football playing you can not right out the gate explode. It’s football u need rhytm also as a back
October 4th, 2017 at 9:34 am
I think if there are 25 carries for the Bucs this game, Doug will have 10 or more of them, especially if be has a couple 5-10 yard carries.
October 4th, 2017 at 10:23 am
First Joe says he won’t see the roster and now he’s active and playing on Thursday. Now Joe says he won’t get but six carries if the game is close. Probably wrong again, Joe. If the game is close and Doug is running well, he will see plenty of action… he might see as many as 30 snaps if the game is close and get 15 carries or more. It all depends on his effectiveness and the flow of the game.
October 4th, 2017 at 1:48 pm
The primary factor that could limit Martin or any other TH carries is getting behind on the scoreboard quickly.
October 4th, 2017 at 8:05 pm
Thanks SB