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Buccaneers' Lovie Smith: Doug Martin to be lead running back

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin hasn't been able to recapture the sparkling form with which he took the league by storm as a rookie, but he's still holding onto his starting job.

Martin ran for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2012, but has only totaled 950 yards and three scores since. Still, head coach Lovie Smith told Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times on Monday that Martin is still the Bucs' go-to back.

"We talked about being able to establish the run," Smith said. "Doug will be the lead guy doing that, so it's very important that we open up some holes and let him do his thing."

Martin missed 15 games over the past two seasons because of injuries, but even when he played his yards per carry were well below the mark he set during his rookie year.

"I don't know about 2012 and, last year, none of us performed the way we needed to," Smith said. "I just know Doug has been great through the offseason program. Seems like he is running hard out there right now. No complaints. Again, he, like the rest of us, plans on performing a lot better this year and he'll get an opportunity to."

Smith seems confident the 26-year-old can bounce back, and he's not the only one. Martin himself sees signs that he's back on track.

"I already feel that way; I've always felt that way," Martin said. "I've had to deal with nagging injuries. That's not an excuse. I need to keep my body in shape and do the things out here that the coaches want me to do and play my role, and things will fall into place.

"Contract year, (but) I've got to put that behind me. I've got to grind, just play. I've worked my butt off in the offseason and I can't wait to get back on the field. I just want to get back out there and show the world that I can be the Doug Martin that I was in 2012."

Martin knows there is an immense amount of pressure on him in what is potentially a make-or-break season, but he remains focused on simply doing the best he can.

"I'm just going to do my thing," Martin said. "I'm going to go out and play my hardest and try to be as consistent as I can. And, hopefully, turn the doubters into believers."

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