Todd Monken Has Eye-Opening Take On Run Game
November 30th, 2017
Peyton Barber’s second rushing TD on Sunday
The Bucs’ rushing attack has had fans pulling their hair out (if they have any left) for weeks.
But it was better Sunday in Atlanta, so Joe asked offensive coordinator/receivers coach Todd Monken what was the key to the improvement.
Here’s Monken’s verbatim response:
“I think it starts off with alignment/assignment, first of all,” Monken said. “That gives you a chance. Alignment/assignment gets you mismatches, it’s being on the right people. And then having a sense of urgency to move people. You know, you can talk about run game and who you’re going to double team here, and we’re going to bring the receiver down to do this, but when you get no movement, it’s not really a double team; we’re just leaning on people. We’re not moving anybody. I thought we moved people. I thought our backs ran downhill. So I thought we did a better job at the start that way. So I think that was probably a part of it. Not that we haven’t, it’s just I thought that we had a better sense of urgency at the start of that game on the road. And you’ve gotta have that.”
Joe’s going to take editorial liberties here and translate Monken. “The running backs, and the offensive line, finally came out look to punch defenders in the mouth.”
Joe sure hopes everyone associated with the rushing attack like the taste of a better running game. Bucs running backs averaged 3.5 yards per carry with two touchdowns and some tough short-yardage running — though at 2nd-and-2 from the Falcons’ 19 yard line, Dirk Koetter had no use for a handoff.
Joe suspects a run-first attack in Green Bay, in part to protect America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston. Hopefully, the Bucs have turned a corner in that area.
November 30th, 2017 at 1:17 pm
I am not buying what Monken is selling. What a load of coach-speak. My BS-speedometer just broke. This coaching staff is incompetent and the failure to get 2 yards on 3 downs last week in the redzone proved it. USF has better coaches!
November 30th, 2017 at 1:27 pm
@DoNUTS BOOM well said. Seems like a lot of double speak aka CYA throw players under the bus kind of deal. Wonder if the Glazers can see past the smoke screens these coaches are hot boxing at the moment.
November 30th, 2017 at 1:48 pm
Doubtful now that Ali Marpet and Demar Dotson are done for the year.
November 30th, 2017 at 2:17 pm
Sounds like the are kinda running away from the real issue: dm is being paid top 5 money and no production. The day the admit thier mistake is the day they realize it that dm is no longer a starting rb. And oline is bottom 5 run blocking unit , collectively.
November 30th, 2017 at 2:31 pm
I 100% agree with his assessment as it never looks like they actually want to knock people backwards. In this league you have to want to physically dominate someone not just get in their way. It starts with want to then comes down to ability and I am not sure our line has had the want to it at any point in the season. Just watch them and they are going thought the motions.
November 30th, 2017 at 2:42 pm
Lamarcus- Those units are not independent of one another. Based on what I’ve seen Doug’s lack of production is a symptom of a horrendous offensive line, at least in terms of run blocking.
Doug’s what 29-30 years old. I assure you that a wise GM would’ve been eyeing his replacement already.
#BuildtheTRENCHES
November 30th, 2017 at 3:05 pm
Hawley will do a better job at center. He’s healthy now, and a better center at present than Marpet was. Marpet was improving, but slowly.
That will help the run game.
November 30th, 2017 at 3:10 pm
At the beginning of TC – players were talking about JR Sweezy being a beast of a blocker. “Just look at him” was one of the quotes I believe.
Soooo – where has that beast run blocker been all year? Sweezy has started every game but looks more like a has-been or a wanna-be than a beast to me.
PFF has him as the lowest rated run blocker on the team with Pamphile not much better.
Sweezy’s contract carries close to a $2M cap hit if released next year (or $5.875M if he stays) which sucks because I think we need two new starting guards moving forward.
Pamphile has done himself no favors with his obvious drop off in play coming into a new contract off season. Bucs are going to have a tough decision as to whether to re-sign Kevin or not. I guess it will depend on how much $ he thinks he is worth- because right now to me, Pamphile looks like an experienced and versatile back-up level guard/tackle and not much more.
The play of both our starting Guards has been a major disappointment in 2017 and LT Smith has had way too many “screw ups” as well.
Marpet and Dot have played well but both are now on IR and Dotson will be 33 next year.
Geez – seemed like we had some talent and depth on the Oline coming into this year – but based on the play through 11 games, it now looks like there are more holes and needs than solid starters…
November 30th, 2017 at 3:25 pm
It’s not all the oline. When dm has daylight the MF can’t even stay on his feet. Dm drugs smoked HIM. Dm can’t even break a tackle.
There was 1 play that summed dm atheletic ability. Bills game. Everything was perfectly blocked and humhires missed his blocking assignments and dm was solo tackled. Ppl obviously blamed hump for missing the block. I blamed dm cuz he could of broke that tackle and went td. Dm is just washed.
November 30th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
It’s both Lamarcus, no doubt. He’s an aging RB. I will say this though, for a guy who is constantly being met in the backfield 4 yards deep, he does a pretty good job of getting at least something.
November 30th, 2017 at 3:42 pm
Good analysis Pickgrin. Put simply: ‘We got problems … big problems’. Even worse, I doubt we can fix them by next year because our draft priorities will be on D-E-F-E-N-S-E (if not, we’ll be 4-12 again next year). Marpet & D. Smith are the only 2 clear-cut starters on our OLine. In a perfect world, I’d love to see Marpet back at Guard & D. Smith at either the other Guard or over at RT. Joe Hawley or Evan Smith are probably acceptable at Center for a year or two, but that’d still leave 2 critical holes on the OLine if D. Smith moves to Guard: LT & (probably) RT. Good luck filling either with a FA or draftee (hopefully Licht has learned that waiting until Rnds 5-7 to grab OLinemen isn’t the best strategy).
November 30th, 2017 at 3:44 pm
Been screaming soft all year, they just don’t have that Mankins type mentality of wanting to physically abuse your opponent until you break his will to compete..
Way too many runs with DL just knifing through untouched meeting the RB 3 yds deep…normally between Sweezy and Pamphile, they do a HORRIBLE job of keeping the inside/out protection rule when running the ball and many times Marpet gets tied up in the garbage when trying to get outside or to the second level.., much better in Pass block sets, but still give up a lot of quick pressures getting walked back into the pocket…
This OLine just looks slow footed off the ball (except Ali) and does not have good pad level awareness, hence the easy bull rush moves that collapse the pocket so quickly –
I am only a HS level coach, but the fixes look easy enough to recognize for people getting paid 100 times what I do
November 30th, 2017 at 4:23 pm
LaMarcus. Even if DM would of broke the tackle he would of gotten run down as usual. Always wanted to see Martin and Vincent Jackson in a race.
November 30th, 2017 at 4:30 pm
Dewey
Lol. Dm is slooowww
November 30th, 2017 at 5:36 pm
Pick
Welcome back bro seems like you disappeared for a while. Funny thing, I was reading some old posts yesterday from October where you and I were pointing out how bad the oline was performing and there were poster saying we were wrong and didn’t know what we were talking about. So to you good sir I tip my cap and welcome you to use the tag line – but wtf dik. Lol. ✌️
November 30th, 2017 at 10:34 pm
Translation: oline finally got off the ball for the first time all year. Thank you monken for telling is the teuth and callin out the real culprits to our pitiful run game. The lazy o line that hasnt got any push save for a hand full of plays.
December 1st, 2017 at 5:46 pm
Please stop making things up. –Joe
December 1st, 2017 at 5:56 pm
LOL at this being “eye-opening”
Only to the J0es 😂😂😂