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Against All Odds: Doug Martin

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Kevin C. Cox

The most amazing performance this season must have been Doug Martin's.

Doug Martin is a boss. I think we can all agree on that. His statistics this season have been amazing: fifth in the league in rushing yards, third in the league in yards from scrimmage, second in the league in receiving yards among leading rushers. And he did all of that despite a slow start to the season, and despite losing two Pro Bowl guards for most of the season. He was rushing behind the likes of Ted Larsen and Jamon Meredith, and still beating up defenses.

What's amazing isn't even necessarily his versatility, or his production, but the fact that he managed to be the workhorse back the Tampa Bay Buccaneers crave. You need more than one back to survive, but you wouldn't know it from looking at the Buccaneers. Only one running back in the entire NFL took more offensive snaps than Doug Martin, and that was Arian Foster. Only three running backs got more carries, and only two of those actually touched the football more often than Doug Martin.

Doug Martin gave this offense some consistency and the ability to sustain drives, even though he had a few down games. It was evident from opposing teams' gameplans that they realized the Tampa Bay offense ran through Martin. They made a conscious effort to stop the run and prevent the Bucs from sustaining drives. And still, Martin performed.

With a replacement offensive line, in his first season, and with defenses trying to stop him at all costs, Doug Martin performed against all odds. Which player do you think performed against all odds? That's this week's Gillette No Debate question, and you can head on over to their facebook page to discuss it -- or you can drop your suggestions right here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

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