Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5 X-factors for making the leap in 2017
2. Doug Martin needs to be productive
This is as simple as the title sounds: Doug Martin needs to be productive in 2017. There are rumblings that Martin is not what he once was, and he has had a tumultuous past year to say the least.
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From the perspective of Martin, this may be the biggest year of his career, and as is the nature of the position due in part to health, the title of starting running back is fluid and ever-changing.
Once he is done with his suspension, he needs to step in and contribute right away. Martin needs to average at least four yards per carry once he hits the field. This may seem like quite a tall order given his recent numbers.
He has only averaged four yards per carry in a season twice (2012-4.6 and 2015-4.9.) If the Buccaneers want to make the leap in 2017, they need him to be the 1,000-yard rusher he once was. If he has another down year, that could prove to be problematic for the Bucs. Yes, they have a deep running back group, but Martin has proven that he has the ability to be a game-changer.
Now he needs to do it again.