Whether it's Martin's running that keeps his team out of such early deficits, or a closer game that keeps the ball in Martin's hands – that is, whether it's cause or effect – the Buccaneers are going to continue to feature their fourth-year back. His streak of sub-20-carry games will probably not last much longer, perhaps not throughout the weekend.
"We’ve talked about Doug since the offseason type of camp," said Head Coach Lovie Smith. "He was one of the few bright moments we had, but that was the case. He ran hard, the way he’s been running throughout. For us to get out of this hole, we need to get the running game going and stay in games where we can continue to run the football."
Given that he averaged 4.7 yards a carry and had two other long runs called back by penalties, it's fair to believe that Martin's 52-yard opener would have been his first 100-yard game of the year under more favorable scoreboard conditions. In 2012, when the then-rookie was at his most effective, he rushed for 100 or more yards five times and the Bucs won four of them, the story said.
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