Hint Of A Bellcow
July 30th, 2018
Peyton Barber?
For you fantasy football players trying to decide what Bucs running back to pick for your team (why?), here is a good hint that Dirk Koetter is leaning towards one guy.
Koetter is borderline obsessed with running backs being able to block. So much so that Joe is nearly convinced that for Koetter, blocking is the key trait of a running back, more so than, you know, running the ball.
(Sort of like how back in the day former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik re-signed wide receiver Michael Clayton to a mega contract citing how Clayton was a strong blocker, ignoring the fact the guy couldn’t catch a cold.)
Evidence of Koetter’s fetish for running backs’ blocking goes back to when he was offensive coordinator of the Dixie Chicks. “Hard Knocks,” which was in Atlanta’s camp that summer, showed Koetter griping often about how Devonta Freeman, then a rookie, couldn’t block thus Freeman had few carries.
The next year, when Koetter moved to Tampa Bay, Freeman blew up as one of the NFL’s best running backs. You know, running the ball?
Last year when Muscle Hamster Doug Martin was shatting the field, Koetter explained he wasn’t using Peyton Barber because he wasn’t Gale Sayers.
(That’s still one of Joe’s favorite one-liners from Koetter.)
Joe, however, heard through the grapevine Barber wasn’t getting touches because Koetter was dissatisfied with Barber’s blocking. Well, fast forward to yesterday and Koetter is now raving about Barber’s blocking, noting it is his most improved trait this summer.
“For all the young backs, until you’re in there on third down when you’re getting the exotic blitz looks – the first and second-down protections are fairly basic – but when you get in there on third down it’s a little tougher. Peyton had a couple good pick-ups today; he missed a couple yesterday, so he learned his lesson.”
Koetter’s history with rookie running backs is sketchy. And with Ronald Jones struggling early catching the ball, and then fumbling yesterday when the pads came on, Koetter giving Barber props for blocking should be a blunt hint to you fantasy football types which back will be toting the rock most.
July 30th, 2018 at 8:21 am
Thanks Joe. I’ve been undecided when it comes to picking a RB to fill out my bench in the later rounds of my fantasy draft but both Jones and Barber are on my short list.
July 30th, 2018 at 8:24 am
First off, Barber EARNED his carries. So, I have no problem with him getting the bulk of the touches. Secondly, I had envisioned a 2-back system similar to N.O.’s Ingram/Kamara.
Note to Ronald Jones: Hold on to the football.
Note to HC Koetter: Running backs are supposed to, um run!
July 30th, 2018 at 8:27 am
Koetter also said he wants more explosive plays…
both Jones and Barber will play- it’s early for the rookie, he’ll learn
July 30th, 2018 at 8:37 am
Bucsfanman
Nobody on a roster that has spent the last decade in the basement has earned a DAMN thing… loyalty to mediocre to bad players is EXACTLY why this team OWNS the NFC south basement trophy every year
July 30th, 2018 at 8:44 am
Wasn’t it Kareem Hunt who fumbled the 1st carry in a real game?
Then he led the NFL in rushing.
Glad it was just in practice!!
July 30th, 2018 at 8:52 am
Koetter’s other problem is that he goes with a running back for a series or quarter, then switches. Why not rotate them in and out every couple plays? We didn’t draft Jones to sit on the bench.
July 30th, 2018 at 8:55 am
Relax, Chill, Breathe Deeply….Medicate & Breathe Deeply again…..now, isn’t that better?
July 30th, 2018 at 8:57 am
RioB- No “loyalty” to anyone. When the bullets start flying, we want our best players out there. If Jones wins out, well then it’s Jones with the rock. The rookie’s got to show he deserves it.
Either way, I’m convinced that 2 backs will get the bulk of the carries.
July 30th, 2018 at 9:09 am
You would have to be out of your mind to select any Buccaneers running back for your fantasy football team.
July 30th, 2018 at 9:54 am
make r.jones earn it…..barber had to earn his….nothing wrong with that….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
July 30th, 2018 at 10:04 am
That’s funny go deep!
July 30th, 2018 at 10:06 am
That’s the worst aspect of his game, he has no clue about the run game unless he has a bellcow back. No one else in the NFL worries about the 3rd or 4th back on their roster getting 3 or 4 carries a game and riding the hot hands only applied to Doug Martin even when he wasn’t hot. But he’ll make changes or he won’t be here.
if you can’t have a winning season with this roster you don’t deserve to be a head coach.
Signed Jeff Fisher
July 30th, 2018 at 10:34 am
You might say that Blue Oyster Cult-lovin’ ex-GM Mark Dominik was “burnin'” for Michael Clayton.
July 30th, 2018 at 11:42 am
Ummmm…..I’ve been playing fantasy football for 12 years. Not sure any Buc RB will be drafted.
July 30th, 2018 at 11:52 am
I’m with Dirk on this one. You can’t have a RB on the field in this ofoffenseor 400-500 plays if he can’t provide protection. Not sure about Devonte Freeman if he made improvements in protection or if a new offense took that responsibility away but here in Tampa Dirk likes to roll 2 TEs from a 1back set set he damn well better be blocking or its game over.
July 30th, 2018 at 12:03 pm
There is too much at stake for Koetter to not be flexible. RoJo, and Barber will get their touches, maybe not equally but none the less he will use his (Alvin Kamara)
July 30th, 2018 at 12:54 pm
Guess what?! I got a fever, and the only prescription is more bell cow. I gotta have more bell cow, baby!
July 30th, 2018 at 7:55 pm
Would have taken Guice over jones all day.
Then I would have 1,000,000 % taken Bo Scarborough over Cinchy.
We would have had a sledge hammer running game