Another Rough Day On The Ground
September 30th, 2012
Somebody please tell Joe why the Bucs can’t run the ball?
Maybe it’s the choice of running back? Maybe it’s the run calls? Maybe it’s the predictability? Maybe the offensive line is way overrated?
Today was another game in which the Bucs couldn’t do what they wanted to do on the ground. Sure, the Bucs avoided the “negative runs” coaches talk about. But there was no rhythm to the rushing attack, and very little threat from it as a result.
Buccanneers Radio Network analyst Dave Moore, the former Bucs tight end, noted that Doug Martin is getting tackled repeatedly by the first guy that hits him.
Doug Martin had eight carries for 33 yards. LeGarrette Blount had six carries for 17 yards and a touchdown.
And Mike Sullivan treated fans to the infamous Benn’d around again. Arrelious Benn needed a heck of a juke move and effort for five yards.
When the Bucs needed to move the chains with two minutes left in the fourth quarter and march for a clock-eating, game-icing touchdown drive, the running game wasn’t there for them.
Unless Josh Freeman is going to start to put together complete football games, the Bucs desperately need to find an above average rushing attack.
September 30th, 2012 at 9:24 pm
It’s the Two-Headed Monster approach Joe. Bad and worse. I say give Blount a shot some kind of consistency. Hell, give DJ Ware a shot what we’re doing just isn’t working. Just change something. What’s the word when you keep doing the same thing and expect different results? Einstein was a smart man.
September 30th, 2012 at 9:24 pm
“Somebody please tell Joe why the Bucs can’t run the ball?”
Because we hired a Greg Olsen clone as our OC and if Freeman was playing better, our RB’s would be as well.
September 30th, 2012 at 9:25 pm
Because Blount should be getting most of the carries…
September 30th, 2012 at 9:26 pm
Good thing we won that offseason championship. And two weeks to practice toe lines.
Trying to stay positive.
September 30th, 2012 at 9:27 pm
“Maybe it’s the choice of running back? Maybe it’s the run calls? Maybe it’s the predictability? Maybe the offensive line is way overrated?”
All of the above.
September 30th, 2012 at 9:29 pm
As of right now, Jon Gruden is still the best OC in Bucs history.
That’s pretty sad.
September 30th, 2012 at 9:30 pm
“Unless Josh Freeman is going to start to put together complete football games, the Bucs desperately need to find an above average rushing attack.”
As soon as Free starts beating teams with his arm and his legs the run game will open up. We’re not talented enough up front (Zuttah, Larsen, Dotson) to dominate in the run game against 8 man fronts when everybody knows we want to establish the run.
September 30th, 2012 at 9:35 pm
is Eric and Miguel 2 Trolls together as 1 ? maybe they are the same Troll?hmmm
September 30th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
I wonder when the TBA core beliefs are thrown out the window and the players lose faith in the coaching staff.
September 30th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
“Buccanneers Radio Network analyst Dave Moore, the former Bucs tight end, noted that Doug Martin is getting tackled repeatedly by the first guy that hits him.”
I’ve been saying and thinking that same thing since game one, and have been ridiculed for saying it. You know who never gets tackled by the first guy? Blount and every other starting caliber running back that we face. I would bet $100 that Martin would not have gotten in on the TD run that Blount had. I think we now have a good enough sample of Martin’s production. 1st round picked used on him or not, he would be more effective as a 3rd down back. Hell, look what a 6th round pick did to us today.
September 30th, 2012 at 9:56 pm
I think it has something to do with Larsen and Dotson starting.
September 30th, 2012 at 10:03 pm
I think losing Davin Joseph has been worse for our team than we thought.
September 30th, 2012 at 10:30 pm
Love my Bucs, but any real fan can see:
1. Blount should be the started to warm him up. He needs to lay contact early on the opposing defense, this wears them down by the 2nd half of games. Martin is OK, but he is in the wrong type of offense.
2. Freeman is one dimensional. No scrambling or good pocket movement. He stares doen recievers and is veryinaccurate when he gets pressured. With no pressure and a quick drop back and throw he completes deep passes(like he did to Jackson & Williams). I admit he isnt making major mistakes, but this dude is a straight robot on the field. He just doesnt look 100% comfortable out there to me. f
3. The Bucs are a STRONG-WILLED team like their coach. This stubborn coach should fit the offense to his players strengths if he wants to be in games from start to finish.
September 30th, 2012 at 10:31 pm
Look at all of our conjecture. I’ve got another one… did anyone see martins runs after those long throws by freeman? He was getting some really good yards probably because they weren’t stacking the box against him.
I hope this second half gives freeman the confidence that his TALL recievers will help bail him out. Even that dumb play call at the end where freeman was nearly picked off, it was williams who saved him.
In other words Martin will excel when Freeman trusts his recievers.
September 30th, 2012 at 10:54 pm
@Raphael
“is Eric and Miguel 2 Trolls together as 1 ? maybe they are the same Troll?hmmm”
Thomas is banned and so are all Homers and the Amen Chorus until the Bucs can rise above their ugly heads above the .250 winning % Mendoza line.
I especially liked that 4th quarter clock management by the Little General. Can anyone explain why he called that last timeout? I guess he needed
extra time to draw up that 3 yard pass in the dirt when it was 3rd and 9.
When Blount scored that TD he had so adrenaline going running through his veins, I thought he was going take a lap around the stadium and hurdle the goalpost. It was a wise decision for the coach to take him out and cool his jets, wouldn’t want to get any Redskin defenders hurt.
September 30th, 2012 at 11:19 pm
You know what the secret is to having a good running game? Having a RB that gets great yards after first contact. Somehow Blount was able to go for over 1000 yards behind an o-line far less intimadating than what we have now. He showed that again today, but unfortunately I think it fell on blind eyes again.
September 30th, 2012 at 11:41 pm
6 carries for 17 yards….yeah he showed something……
October 1st, 2012 at 12:19 am
Yea, he had 6 carries for 17 yards, but we all know certain RBs need at least 15+ carries to get going. Sooner or later he is going to break one after he softens the defense. Also the team seems more energetic with Blount in the backfield. Martin is boring because he needs to have good QB and WR play to show his skills. Blount is going to force his will and gain yards.
October 1st, 2012 at 1:15 am
@ Caleb
Then either you didn’t watch the game or you don’t know how to interpret what you saw. Blount moves the pile, Martin trips over it. Runs that Martin gets three yards on, Blount gets five. I honestly don’t know how it can be any clearer.
A wink is as good as a knod to a blind man.
October 1st, 2012 at 3:10 am
The only thing that depresses me more than watching the game is reading everyone’s posts after the game. The Carolina game seems like such a long time ago.
October 1st, 2012 at 10:15 am
@Hawaiian
It’s the penance you pay for being an unabashed Homer and for bullying people who question the inconsistancy and blatant stupidity of the NSO.
October 1st, 2012 at 11:53 am
Boy you people sure have a short memory. Remember last week? It’s not the Bell Cow or Blount. It’s a on Lorig. It’s his fault. He’s no good as a FB.