CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- If you thought Doug Martin was washed up, think again.
With one run, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back showed that he still can be dangerous. That play came in the first quarter of Tampa Bay’s 19-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Martin, who has been quiet all season, broke off a 63-yard run that set up Tampa Bay’s first touchdown. Martin finished the day with a season-high 96 yards on 14 carries.
There might be a reason Martin looked a little bit like the player he was as a rookie in 2012, when he ran for more than 1,400 yards. It might be because Martin is fully healthy for the first time this season.
“Starting with the first game of the season, I’ve been battling with the knee,’’ Martin said. “After that, it was my ankle. But now I’m feeling the healthiest I’ve felt.’’
That’s why Tampa Bay’s running game looked better than it has all year in the first half. In the first two quarters, Martin gained 92 yards on eight carries.
“That’s what we wanted to do coming out was pick up the running game,’’ Martin said.
With Demar Dotson moving from right to left tackle, the Bucs came out running the ball effectively. They averaged 9.5 yards per carry in the first half.
But the weird thing is the running game went silent in the second half. Martin got only six carries after halftime. Part of the reason for that was because the Bucs fell behind and had to start passing.
But maybe the Bucs should have stuck with the running game more because it looked like Martin finally was playing up to his potential.
