Healthier, leaner Bucs RB Doug Martin flashes old form 
Doug Martin broke two tackles during the Bucs 25-11 victory over the Bengals to turn what looked like a short gain into a 30-yard run to the Cincinnati 1-yard line. JASON BEHNKEN / STAFF By Roy Cummings | Tribune Staff Published: August 26, 2015 at 05:59 PM TAMPA — It is only a few pounds. So few, in fact, you can barely even tell they’re gone. That’s why you wouldn’t think the loss would make that much of a difference. Doug Martin certainly didn’t think it would.The Buccaneers are convinced, though, that Martin’s decision to lose a few pounds this summer is one of the biggest reasons the 2012 Pro Bowler has suddenly regained the burst and agility that once made him one of the most feared running backs in the NFL.“The No. 1 thing is, he’s got his weight back where he wanted it,’’ Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said.There’s more to the resurgence than weight loss, though. Martin, who said he’s dropped only about seven or eight pounds, down to 208, is healthy for the first time in two years and running with a greater sense of confidence, Koetter said.There’s also a contractual matter, which Martin admitted has been in the back of his mind. And well it should be. The Bucs decided over the summer not to pick up the fifth-year option on Martin’s rookie contract, which means he’ll be a free agent at the end of the year.That would spur anyone to play better.But Martin agrees the weight change is probably the biggest reason he’s run 11 times for 78 yards this preseason, though his success is not so much a result of weight loss, he said, as weight distribution.“I don’t know if it’s playing lighter,’’ Martin said. “I’m just leaner. I definitely wanted to shed the weight, but I wanted to make sure I kept the power, as well. That’s something that I had to keep in mind as I (lost the weight).”Martin cut pizzas and Chinese food from his diet, and replaced them with foods higher in proteins and carbohydrates.The dietary changes have given him an energy boost that was evident Monday night, when he broke two tackles during the Bucs 25-11 victory over the Bengals to turn what looked like a short gain into a 30-yard run to the Cincinnati 1-yard line.“I got a little leaner and I got a little faster,’’ Martin said.Koetter compared the offseason transformation to one three-time Pro Bowl running back Maurice Jones-Drew often went through when Koetter was with the Jaguars.“Maurice could bulk up as high as 235 pounds in the offseason, but his prime playing weight was between 208 and 212,’’ Koetter said. “So, now you have Doug, who is a powerful guy to begin with. But he’s got his quickness back.’’He’s also got his finishing touch back. Along with his quickness and lateral agility, Martin seemed to lose that while nursing shoulder, knee and ankle injuries the past two years. But now, he is finishing as well as ever.“We’re constantly telling our guys to finish, finish, finish,’’ Koetter said. “Now, that’s coach speak, but if you watch the practice tape of Doug Martin you see him finishing all the time. We do these comment sheets after every practice and as I’m writing mine up, I’m going, ‘Nice finish No. 22; nice finish No. 22.’ That’s on my sheet about 50 times a day.“From Little League through pro football, we always tell the guys, ‘You play like you practice.’ And when you combine the way he’s practicing with the weight loss, with being in top shape and having the right attitude, being positive, it just looks like Doug in for an excellent year.’’It’s been three years since Martin had one of those. Derailed by that string of injuries, the Boise State product who accounted for 1,926 total yards as a rookie accounted for only 1,060 yards the past two seasons combined.Already, though, Koetter is seeing a different Martin.“You have to remember that I was in the same division when Doug was a rookie, and that’s the Doug Martin I know,’’ said Koetter, a former Falcons coordinator. “Plus, I’m a huge Boise State fan, so that is the Martin I know. And that’s the Doug Martin that I’ve been seeing here since Day One.’’ 
