Doug Martin, Robert Ayers Could Get Concussion Clearance Tomorrow
December 6th, 2017
Time for accountability
UPDATED: 4:46 p.m. No more gifts.
There’s a chance Joe could suffer a concussion Sunday after running full-speed, head down, into a wall.
Yes, that’s what will happen at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters if Doug Martin is the starting running back and/or gets more carries than a healthy Peyton Barber.
It’s time for Dirk Koetter to wave the white flag on Martin and surrender to reality: that Martin had no business being a gifted a job this season.
Barber delivered with a stunning complete performance last Sunday against Green Bay, which had a solid rush defense entering that game. Sick of hearing Joe on this topic? Fine. Hear ex-Bucs tight end Anthony Becht break down the Xs and Os of why Barber brings the running style Tampa Bay needed.
Martin skipped Sunday’s game with a concussion. But he was back practicing today, along with Robert Ayers, and Koetter said they both could be cleared from the NFL concussion protocol tomorrow after meeting with an independent neurologist.
Joe sure hopes both of those guys have their domes cleared for contact.
The Bucs sure could use Ayers, whose legs should be freshened. And Joe wants to see true justice for Barber and Jacquizz Rodgers, who was benched for Martin’s October return after earning the game ball for his performance against the Giants.
Martin strictly should be an emergency option in the running game. He won’t be back next season, and the Bucs are 4-8. It’s a no-brainer.
UPDATE: Missing practice today were the following: T.J. Ward (concussion), Josh Robinson (hamstring), Clinton McDonald (back), Joe Hawley (illness), Vernon Hargreaves (hamstring).
December 6th, 2017 at 4:34 pm
Barber deserves the start. If hes benched for Martin, Koetter should be fired immediately after the game
December 6th, 2017 at 4:45 pm
Barber delivered with a stunning complete performance last Sunday against Green Bay,
—————-
Sure, except for that play where barber didn’t know his pass blocking assignments and let Clay Matthews come untouched and almost rip Jameis head off. But yea other than that he did great.
To those who keep asking how Jameis has improved, he actually evolved by growing eyes in the back of his helmet. Next he’ll grow 4 extra arms in order to pass block for himself.
December 6th, 2017 at 4:46 pm
For all you losers who want a Buc loss for a better draft pick…..maybe you are hoping Bucs play Martin and he has no success.
For me, one reason to play Martin and hope for big games out of him the next 4 games is that it might get us a draft pick in a trade. If not, we cut him and get zip.
December 6th, 2017 at 4:51 pm
My my my. Thanks Joe for this one
Dm fanboys …..i admit it. I was wrong. Joe was eat. Time to admit yall were wrong too. Dm is washed. Put in ir. And release him. Immediately.
December 6th, 2017 at 4:58 pm
What about the entire team Joe..Coaches included. Will they also get concussion clearance to play and WIN..Sunday?
December 6th, 2017 at 5:07 pm
Just an observation for those hoping Buc’s tank for a draft pick; based on teams with worse records and schedules left the best pick we would probably get is 7-8. Personally I would rather see the close out with 4 wins, play spoiler in NFC South, and still get a decent pick. There are going to be a lot of QB needy Teams picking ahead of them.
December 6th, 2017 at 5:19 pm
Ive been disagreeing with you Joe becuase I think its obvious that Martin is more talented of a back but Barber just wants it more or has more heart or the intagible that makes great backs great. I am not saying he is a great back but he certainly leaves no yardage on the field. When Peyton Barber gets stuffed you KNOW there was nowhere to go. He seems to get every available yard out of a run and you have to admire him coming from far down on the depth chart and with Simms and Martin ahead of him the whole time. Peyton Barber you definitely deserve the starting job no argument from me!!!!!
December 6th, 2017 at 6:02 pm
That is so AWESOME News. We’ve had droughts on sacks and 100 yard rusher games.
Now that these guys are back we can…
Lose some more.
Notice how the O line without Marpet at center had a much better run game. I don’t think the difference was Barber over Martin.
Nothing against Barber, but one good game and folks are ready to annoint him the feature back? I’m not saying Martin is the answer either. I just hope we’re not pinning false hopes on one game.
December 6th, 2017 at 6:05 pm
I admit I was/am a Martin fan BUT there is ZERO reason to play him AT ALL! We are in 2018 mode so if Martin does start the Glazers need to do exactly what Mara and the Giants did….pull the trigger!
December 6th, 2017 at 6:09 pm
All eyes should be on next year! Also bench Baker & Jackson! This Bucs team was not ready to hit the free agent market and waste money. Too many holes that need to be filled through the draft first. Keep it young until it is really time to pull the trigger.
December 6th, 2017 at 6:18 pm
Listen , no matter how good Martin might be these last 4 games no one and I mean no one will trade for him..and oh him and robert clears protocol , who effin cares..both should be thrown out with the rest of the trash ! Which should fill a roll-off bin
December 6th, 2017 at 6:19 pm
Bench Martin start Barber!
Joe was spot on with this one and Howard was way off base
(arguing that Martin would have a great 2017)
December 6th, 2017 at 6:21 pm
This is not a tank season.
Bucs need to try and turn it around asap
1.) To save jobs
2.) To evaluate for next year
3.) We’re not getting a top 5 pick even if we lose out
December 6th, 2017 at 6:24 pm
Robert Ayers return will have a huge impact on our pass rush. The Lions can be beat Sunday. Only if the Bucs don’t beat themselves. As it stands right now the Bucs would draft 6th or 7th in the draft. The Broncos (3-9) play the Jets at home this weekend and the Texans (4-8) play the Colts (3-9) in week 17. Very possible if the Bucs lose out they could get the 5th pick in the draft. This draft is loaded with talent this year.
December 6th, 2017 at 6:26 pm
On another channel read some great news that the 2018 has some excellent RBs through about the 3rd rnd. Barber will be back next year, as will Jacquizz most likely (if Koetter survives), but I’m confident that Martin (and possibly Sims who’s in a contract year) will be gone. Little doubt in my mind that Bucs will draft a RB as high as the 2nd rnd, but more likely in the 3rd rnd (I’m expecting a DE in Rnd 1 & hopefully another DE or a DT or CB in Rnd 2. Or an OLineman … good heavens we have sooo many needs.
December 6th, 2017 at 6:44 pm
McCoy could have been able to get us two or three middle round picks! Probably a second and a third. Whether you like him love him or hate him he HAD value before the trade deadline and the Bucs need to fill so many holes. He is now past his prime and at 30 and the value decreases with every loss!
December 6th, 2017 at 6:48 pm
tmapabaybucfan
a pick for martin… i get that you are blind optimist and you love every player everyday but really man… Harvey Weinstein has a better chance of winning Cosmopolitan Magazine Man of the Year award and a life time achievement award from the academy than any nfl team giving up anything for a washed up has been that never was great in the first place…. martin is joke and has been for years. he had a few good games scattered over a his first few seasons but has NEVER been consistent or even dangerous.
December 6th, 2017 at 7:12 pm
Dirk has to be fingered with the problems we have had over the last two seasons in the running game. He doesn’t look like much of an offensive guru when he can’t even figure out which RB to use.
It’s not new from this year. We seen he use Charles Sims last year as a feature back which was an experiment that never fit him to begin with. Then he kept throwing Sims out there game after game while a better back(Quiz) was collecting dust…….Its the same thing this year with MARtin and these poor decisions are costing us yards and most likely wins.
His use of Charles Sims really bothers me. In 2015 Sims showed how effective he can be catching balls in the flat and making plays in open space……That’s his Mitch and it’s the only way he is effective as a weapon…….So why are we wasting him in the slot, line him up with Your HBin the backfield like you did in 2015 and keep the defense guessing. Dam sure need to quit putting him in the slot……It’s a complete failure and a waste, he hasn5 made a play all year in the slot just knock it off.
I just really hate what this offense has become in the last two years. It just feels like Dirk doesn’t understand his team. Winston is great on the move so use it……roll the guy out more often………..He doesn’t know how to complete 2nd,3rd,4th and 2…….Why not let Evans cut across the middle instead of running flys 25 yards down field? He had made numerous plays getting open for Winston if nobody’s open but he needs to be in the same zip code to make it happen………Anybody else notice that Winston is much more accurate when throwing the seam route? Maybe…..just maybe, Winston has better accuracy if the play is in front of him. I’m not sure if I’m way off base with that but I darn sure know that We rarely see Winston trying to hit his deep balls to wideouts on the post. It seems like a nobrainer that we quit trying to hit the sidelines and call more posts. Dirk has no ability to adjust it seems and his game planning bites the big one.
December 6th, 2017 at 7:47 pm
This is why koetter has to get packing
Koetter will start martin vs detroit if he is available
Klueless has absolutely no idea how to use his players correctly
December 6th, 2017 at 8:02 pm
Agree Jameis and also fitz throw better between the hash marks. Also think post
routes are a good idea. Also think he struggles on the go routes down the sideline.but when he rolled out to right ,he was able to throw a dart to OJ for a TD
down the left sideline.
Then again he seems to plant his feet better when he sets up after a run.
December 6th, 2017 at 8:12 pm
Green bay was giving up 112 yards per game on average to their opponents before we played them.
We had 102.
Great work by Barber, but to act like he had some godly performance against a stout run defense is completely dishonest. I know, there’s not a narrative to keep pushing or anything…
December 6th, 2017 at 10:16 pm
The only barber doesn’t play more is he can’t block and he’s had enough time to develop and we can’t be the only ones who see he’s obviously a better runner than Martin at this point so what other reason could they have for benching him. Time to draft two backs
December 6th, 2017 at 11:41 pm
Spot on Jimmy Jack
December 7th, 2017 at 1:38 am
Doug Martin at this point in his career is a poor mans Leveon Bell. Whatever happened to the Muscle Hamster….
December 7th, 2017 at 8:34 am
Start Martin.
Just to tick off the trolls and bruise J0E’s forehead 😉
December 7th, 2017 at 11:34 am
Let’s see more of Barber, Howard and Godwin. I love, Brate, Jackson, Evans, Hump and Jacquiz but let’s really show other teams our depth and give the kids more experience.
PLEASE NO MORE Martin. I understand the worry of Barber blitz pick up. But let the kid see the assignments with his own eyes and experience it. We can always bring in Jacquizz to support on 3rd down.
The current starters are not winning the games. SO why stick to the payers losing the game.
Fire Smith and force Koetter to give up play calling.