Jacquizz: Feels Like 2012
August 24th, 2017
Once upon a time, Jacquizz Rodgers was a rookie running back relied upon heavily by playcaller Dirk Koetter in Atlanta — for a pass-first offense that marched to the doorstep of the Super Bowl.
Those Falcons had the 26th most rushing attempts in the NFL, and Rodgers was steady and solid with 94 carries for 362 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 53 balls on just 59 targets.
Joe talked to Rodgers yesterday about those high-flying Falcons and how they might compare to this team.
“You can’t get a feel for our offense this year because we haven’t actually played a real game yet. That’s just how it is. Whatever is rolling and whatever is working, that’s the direction Coach [Koetter] is going to take this offense,” Koetter said. “If we get a bunch of explosive plays running the ball, then you’re going to run the ball. I think we all know that and we didn’t do that like we wanted to last year. Same thing for the passing game, if that’s working, we’ll be majority passing.
“Put it like this, with that same Falcons team, we’ve got similar weapons on this team right here right now. We’re going to be very explosive this year.”
Those Falcons had Julio Jones, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez, who combined for a whopping 264 catches for 3,479 yards and 25 touchdowns.
They also had worn down running back Michael Turner in his final season.
The Bucs march into opening day with Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson and Cameron Brate/O.J. Howard, plus Rodgers and major question marks at running back. There’s also the exciting potential of Chris Godwin and explosive wild card of Charles Sims.
Yeah, Joe would bet the Bucs lean big time on the pass this season, resembling the 2012 Falcons more than the 2015 Bucs.
August 24th, 2017 at 7:42 am
Jacquizz maybe cut……………..
August 24th, 2017 at 7:47 am
Love Doug but does anybody else think/remember that he had a great deal to do with us missing the playoffs? If he comes back he owes the Bucs 2015 numbers.
August 24th, 2017 at 7:51 am
@ BoJim
Well that’s always been the knock on dougie fresh…..is that he hasn’t been consistent from year to year
…….but yet the bucs paid him handsomely. I say it was a mistake retaining doug and we should’ve drafted a RB high this past draft, like the in 2nd or 3rd rd………………………BUT………we didn’t.
Retaining doug will be another mistake on the GMs record………just wait and see my friends
August 24th, 2017 at 8:34 am
“Joe would bet the Bucs lean big time on the pass this season” !!!! This is what we have been saying for years!!!! Pay attention sheep!!!!!!
OMG……… Its the “Realist Repost”!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Buc Realist Says:
February 15th, 2016 at 9:12 am
Let me just throw this out there!! Now that anchor of lovie smith has been casted overboard. Keotter goes more to his 4 vert offense now that JW3 is no longer a rookie and Koetter is not ordered for a heavy run game to protech lovie’s under weight exhuasted in the 3rd quarter defense?? 4 vert offense is a lot less hand off run and more pass blocking ( which is not DM22 strength) and more screen passes!! What if DM22 is not as valuable and you can pickup a 3rd round compensatory pick for 2017!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 24th, 2017 at 9:00 am
BoJim and Anthem
Licht is not nearly has emotional as the blind and ignorant low standard Doug Martin fanboys. Licht will not count on Martin again. He went all in and Martin cost Licht his first playoff appearance
August 24th, 2017 at 9:17 am
I’m OK with the Bucs missing the playoffs last year. They weren’t good enough to go beyond the Wildcard game.
And if they had gone to the playoffs, the guy who could be a huge piece of future championship puzzles, Howard, would not be a Buc.
I say Aguayo had more to do with the Bucs missing the playoffs than Martin.
August 24th, 2017 at 9:17 am
You guys have been brainwashed by JBF and media. I’ll bet you anything, the possibility of releasing Doug Martin has not been discussed for sometime in our head coaches office. You heard John Gruden, Doug might be as good as there is when healthy and motivated. That’s the guy it looks like we have right now. I’m not gonna toss away a potential Super Bowl because a small faction of fans are butt hurt about a couple bad games!
August 24th, 2017 at 9:23 am
FSUKing, 100% spot on. We’ve got a deep enough RB corps to withstand a 3 game D. Martin absence. I feel like the Bucs’ mentality is akin to New England’s, just plug someone in, and GO! I love it.
August 24th, 2017 at 9:56 am
I agree with Fsuking and ChanEpic. I would like to see Doug as a Buc this season but make a decision as to his future in 2018. I am actually a bit worried about our running game during the first 3 weeks, I hope Quizz can give us enough for the start of the season.
August 24th, 2017 at 10:02 am
Am I missing something? Still a ? Running game. Do u gus even know football? Put the personal vendettas behind and start using ur brains.
It starts with defense. If we get down 2 scores ( like every other game) then no run game. If we are up then no passing game. This is real football.
With your said ? At rb it’s more of a reason to dm. U cut him without a replacement u will have more ?????????
Dm is the starting rb unless u got to replace him with any other star rb. Sorry guys
August 24th, 2017 at 10:12 am
Everyone LOVES to pile on Martin as THE reason we missed the playoffs last season. Keep in mind he missed 6 games last year to a hamstring injury, one he was deactivated (looks like a great long term decision btw) and one due to suspension (ugly win, but a win) The 8 games he started the Bucs were 6-2. The two losses, Arizona, which was a one score game when he was hurt and Dallas. As you may recall, Elliot and Dak put up their best statistical game of the season that week, there was no answer at right tackle when Cherillus and Dotson were injured and Winston gets the bulk of the blame around here even tho he played out of his mind to give the team a lead and there was GMC who tried to do too much and put up 0’s across the stat line and Gholston was hurt.
But if you want to blame Martin for that one loss go ahead. So, if that singular loss is on Martin, then yes, he is the reason we didn’t make the playoffs. If you want to blame the New Orleans game on him, the one that Koetter deactivated him for, I might buy that. I’ve always found it odd that they did that and didn’t try to appeal that to be included into his suspension. (that might be against the CBA). One could argue that the defense allowning 31, or Winston’s (I am actually a Winston fanboy) two interceptions (both leading to scores) might have something to do with it.
Now some will call me a Martin “fanboy” from this. I’m not bothering reposting, as I don’t even know how to go back and look up. I was highly critical of him last year. Rewatching the film, the middle of our line last year was getting caved in. I have said he needed to be 2015 Martin or cut him. All appearances indicate thats what we have. I am expecting a monster year for Martin. So, just to be fair, if he plays 13 games next year and we make the playoffs, Will he be the exclusive reason that we make them?
August 24th, 2017 at 10:41 am
Like WR last year, which everyone but Jason “Ilike2ndroundkickers” (new nickname) Licht, knew was going to be a problem, RB and right tackle are going to be this teams downfall this year, DM has proven 3 out of 5 years he’s injury prone and horrendously unreliable, hope I’m wrong, but VJax fell off the cliff and ruined our season, and relying on DM and ancient Dotson feels dangerous, story of the Bucs, always a year too late trying to fix problems
August 24th, 2017 at 10:53 am
Tnew
That was great. No blame on those that u point which are bigger issues Imo. We don’t get those 2 ints and score’s we wouldn’t have this conversation. But dm got benched and the world ended?? He is frigging rb. Leave the guy alone
It’s almost like dm been sleeping w ppl wives here or dm just looks to got damn sexy and they hate him. I find no other reason. Ppl need to leave rbs alone. No one takes a beating to the body like those. Leave them alone.
August 24th, 2017 at 11:14 am
Bombs Away… So glad I was able to grab Jamies in Fantasy this year!
August 24th, 2017 at 11:23 am
Yeah, Joe would bet the Bucs lean big time on the pass this season
that would be a bad idea….did you not pay attention to the super bowl?….what happened when atl stopped running the ball…..they got WALKED DOWN!!….
the run game will be key to our success this year….if we can run the ball like we did in 2015, the passing attack will be icing on the cake…..GO BUCS!!!
August 24th, 2017 at 11:34 am
If the Bucs have a running game that averages 4+ yards per run then I can not see how(assuming we stay healthy) we do not end up with a top 5 offense this year.
August 24th, 2017 at 11:35 am
Quizz is a journeyman and is easily replaced. I think he’ll be the odd man out when Martin returns. Barber, however, is underrated and could eventually become our feature back/workhorse if Martin falters. Quizz’s skillset is covered by several of our other backs. Barber is our only pile mover, with some nice juice on top of it. I predict a breakout season for Peyton Barber.
August 24th, 2017 at 11:42 am
If Quizz was the Dolphins starting rb on opening day, would anyone here be concerned with their running game? He doesn’t scare anyone. On the other hand, opponents are not going to like having to tackle Barber once he gets established, and he should rumble with the improved interior line run blocking and all the receiving weapons.