Tampa Bay Buccaneers

WR Vincent Jackson says RB Doug Martin has shown 'spark' from 2012

Published Sep. 8, 2015 1:36 p.m. ET

foxsports

The hype is building, or re-building, for running back Doug Martin. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers No. 1 back is heading into the year with a chip on his shoulder. While he'll look to silence critics, more importantly, he's looking to help the Bucs get some wins this year.

After the Bucs chose to decline Martin's fifth-year option, making him a free agent after this season, it seems to have flipped a switch in the young running back.

As SiriusXM NFL Radio quoted on their Twitter, wide receiver Vincent Jackson is expecting some big things from Martin in 2015.

#Bucs WR @VincentTJackson: I'm very excited for Doug Martin and I promise you he has shown that spark and juice that you saw in 2012.
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) September 8, 2015

Jackson has seen what so many other fans saw during the 2015 preseason. Martin looked just like the player we saw as a rookie in 2012, who rushed for 1,454 yards and 11 scores, while catching 49 passes for 472 yards and another touchdown.

Expectations are high, but there's reason to believe in a turnaround from Martin in 2015.

(h/t @SiriusXMNFL)