Koetter: Bucs Not Running Enough
September 25th, 2018
The Tampa Bay running game has evaporated for most of the last 11 quarters of Buccaneers football.
Joe was screaming for more of it early in last night’s game but the Bucs kept going to the air, even when Ryan Fitzpatrick was clearly rattled.
Peyton Barber’s first four carries tonight went for 26 yards, and then he practically disappeared. Trailing 16-7 entering their next drive, the Bucs went to the air big time outside of one east-west run from Barber that ended in a holding call on the Bucs.
Joe thought there was way to much east-west running from Barber who is a north-south kind of guy. Why were the Bucs not pounding the rock?
Hey, Joe’s not calling the plays and doesn’t know what Todd Monken might have been seeing. But Joe sure did see a rough day for the Bucs’ offensive line overall.
Asked about the run game in his postgame news conference, Koetter said the Bucs simply need to the run the ball more and the couldn’t do that down 20 entering the second half.
Barber finished with eight carries for 33 yards.
Frankly, Joe’s a bit disgusted that the Bucs have yet to show they can effectively use their running backs in the red zone. That part of this offense sure hasn’t been fixed.
September 25th, 2018 at 12:25 am
The Steelers had no running game either.
September 25th, 2018 at 12:28 am
James Walker
Incorrect. James Connor (who?) may not have had a huge game statistically but his first down runs killed the Bucs and the Bucs let him walk all over them when they needed to stop him the most.
September 25th, 2018 at 12:33 am
There’s a guy who was jet skiing around south beach that could help us with that.
September 25th, 2018 at 12:34 am
Ronald Jones and Brate to Pittsburgh for Bell and probably a 6th.
Don’t want to lose Brate but have to free up cap space.
Jones is a throw in since if you have Bell you don’t need another RB and you’d only get Bell to sign him to an extension.
Make it happen Licht.
Or better just do what you did this offseason and don’t address the S position and don’t get any veteran corners and certainly don’t do something wacky like trade for Talib…
September 25th, 2018 at 12:34 am
I felt like Koetter was secretly calling plays again tonight. Waaaaay too much 1st down run plays. I just don’t understand why go so conservative so early in the game. Run is clearly not a strength, so double down on the pass. Coaching was off and so was playcalling tonight.
September 25th, 2018 at 12:36 am
Koetter: Bucs Not Running Enough = I’m taking back play calling duties.
Also tonight the Bucs ran the ball exactly how Dirk ran the ball with Martin, which means pounding it up the middle on 1st down against 11 in the box for 2 yards. They did this over and over again. That was Dirk’s running game which doesn’t work, and no, the Bucs don’t need to run more, they need to run different, meaning not being so predictable when they are going to run the ball.
September 25th, 2018 at 12:38 am
WalkdaPlank:
61 yards on 15 carries is NOT a great running game.
September 25th, 2018 at 12:38 am
ShutTheBucUp
That is something very interesting…
Was Dirk calling the plays instead of Monken? The play calling tonight was unlike the first 2 weeks. One would think Koetter but who knows?
September 25th, 2018 at 12:39 am
“Why were the Bucs not pounding the rock?”
Probably for the same reason they haven’t for three years. There is no NFL caliber RB on the team. We laughed at Peterson. I’m not sure what everyone was thinking was going to happen with the run game even if OHNO worked out.
September 25th, 2018 at 12:40 am
James Walker:
He got the job done when his team needed him the most, and it’s partially due to the Bucs inability to play defense. Bottom line
September 25th, 2018 at 12:41 am
The field condition was the X factor in this game.
September 25th, 2018 at 12:46 am
WalkdaPlank
Do you watch football? It is easy to run when your up 30-10 and just need to kill clock to win. See…there is thing called “Strategy” and it really help competitors win games. I suggest you play chess. It helps develop this type of thinking. If you need lessons look me up on LiChess and I’ll happily show you how it works.
September 25th, 2018 at 12:46 am
Defense didn’t play all that bad, got an interception early in the game, Fitz shat this one away with the horrible pick 6 and other mistakes by Godwin.
September 25th, 2018 at 12:50 am
James Walker
When you’re up 30-10 and just trying to kill clock the defense KNOWS you’re running you should NOT be able to break off 10+ yard runs at will. Do you watch football?
September 25th, 2018 at 1:33 am
Shouldn’t of ran at all in the 2nd half. None of those runs went for more than a few yards and wasted time off the clock. If your 20 points behind your no huddle needs to be much faster. Like Chip Kelly fast. We might of gotten another possession. If it wasn’t for all the mistakes we would of beat them easy.. Poorer play calling and game management didn’t help either. Disappointed but the last 7 or so years this would of turned into a curb stomping when some players quit. This team at least fights till the end.
Go Bucs!!!
September 25th, 2018 at 1:57 am
Bucs. Soft as Charmin. Can’t win on the big stage, can’t handle success. Don’t get fooled again.
September 25th, 2018 at 2:53 am
I’m of the mind Koetter called the plays tonight as well instead of Monken. They just looked so last year to me out there tonight. There maybe a coaching staff shake up during the bye week. As far as the running game they need to let Quiz go he had his time here and let Shaun Wilson split with Peyton Barber imho. Koetter isn’t looking good after tonight. We should give Monken HC gig and go with Winston after the bye. Go younger now that this team has experienced a little veteran leadership. Winston should sit this next game and take in Fitz from the sidelines personally to really see how to get everyone together naturally so he won’t come off as staged
September 25th, 2018 at 3:16 am
Jason Mclaurin for GM
I agree completely- have the same take
September 25th, 2018 at 3:18 am
About the coach- fire him- play Winston
Get rid of all our garbage rbs
September 25th, 2018 at 6:21 am
Too many mistakes on offense, bad play from Conte and Grimes on defense. Both were manhandled on some of Steelers biggest offensive plays. I think its time to go with our rookie DB’s, They might get beat,but I don’t think they are going to get pushed around like ragdolls.
September 25th, 2018 at 6:23 am
Monken knows that the guy sitting down from him in the booth calling defense will give up points at will. That s why he throws the ball constantly because even when they are not behind….THEY ARE BEHIND!
walkdaplank, The reason Cnner ran at will in the end was because our defense was so afraid of Ben continuing to complete pass after pass at will against our soft coverage..
Btw, Grimes didn’t look very good yesterday. and Conte got ran over like a beotch
September 25th, 2018 at 6:51 am
Barber is a decent back we just dont use him enough. Rojo must really be sucking if he can’t beat out jacquizz rodgers, Rodgers has no business being on a nfl roster
September 25th, 2018 at 8:08 am
Here’s a thought how about we use our strength….. PASSING to set up the run, not the other way around. We have been lighting it up early with passing, the run first approach didn’t work and it doesn’t get us the “fast start” period.
September 25th, 2018 at 9:37 am
Its not to late to bring in another running back,please.
September 25th, 2018 at 9:50 am
IDK if any star RB would do anything with the Buc’s crappy Oline. They got manhandled last night big time!
September 25th, 2018 at 10:37 am
NFL has evolved to a pass happy philosophy. The rules now benefit both QB and WRs. Gone are the two back sets and full backs are rare in this league. Most offenses are running 3 or 4 WRs sets or multiple TE packages. Saints even line up their RB as a WR. Obviously there is still a need for a good running back but a franchise WR or TE may now may have a higher value.
September 25th, 2018 at 1:12 pm
So the running game with Barber looks like the running game with Martin? Barber getting hit in the backfield as soon as getting the ball?
Why, I’m shocked. (insert shocked face)
The Bucs OL got smashed last night, especially the first quarter. And I am no fan of Benenoch. He was on roller skates when he played.