Bad Running Attack
October 7th, 2018
Struggling.
The Bucs running game is just not good.
While the Bucs have one of the better offenses in the NFL, largely fueled by the passing game, the running game (69 yards a game) is one of the worst in the NFL.
Currently, only the Cardinals (66 yards a game) and Vikings (63 yards a game) have fewer yards per game than the Bucs have on the ground. One reason for that could be Bucs running backs seem to be easy to tackle.
Per the good people of NFL Films, by way of BSPN NFL Matchup, the Bucs are tied with the Cardinals for the worst yards after contact on running plays.
Joe is not a math major, but if a running back can’t break a tackle, it’s hard to get a decent run.
October 7th, 2018 at 12:17 am
So much for the theory that our running game would miraculously get better just by getting rid of Doug Martin.
October 7th, 2018 at 12:19 am
One of two things is true. Either this offensive line isn’t opening NFL caliber holes to run through, or Peyton Barber isn’t quick enough to hit the holes before they are closed by defenders.
I’d love to hear some of the contributors here “who watch the film” offer their opinion on this. Koetter certainly knows which it is, but he’ll never say it.
October 7th, 2018 at 12:23 am
@schwiftybuc
DM was a hot pile dude so stop that please. More Bucs fans making excuses. This is coaching! and part maybe some hex placed on us. I dont even know anymore to be honest. sick of this. football aint fun anymore. sigh
October 7th, 2018 at 1:11 am
I know this is an exaggeration, but it sure seems like we really only have one running play.
How about giving us the same creativity in the run game that we get in the passing game coach?
October 7th, 2018 at 2:45 am
Some teams are cursed with Cleveland like fans:
“The Columbus Dispatch referred to Belichick as a “clown” in 1993, and disgruntled fans marched on Berea, Ohio, to protest the coach with signs that read “Waive Belichick.”
(http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/ct-patriots-bill-belichick-browns-20180128-story.html)
No team can be successful in perpetual hire a new coach mode.
October 7th, 2018 at 2:52 am
Paul
It’s not Barber he’s the only on the offense that get yards after contact. Barber and Godwin certainly do. As for RoJo and Rodgers, not so much.
October 7th, 2018 at 2:52 am
According to Football Outsiders, the Bucs O-Line rank 32nd in run-blocking, 9th in pass protection.
But what makes this so dumb
The Bucs has George Warhop as O-Line coach
Tim Spencer as RB coach
The same coaches Lovie hired back in 2014
I have mention this countless times, the Bucs fired Lovie, but kept some of his coaches
This don’t make sense, as I stated back in 2016, when they fired Lovie
They should have cleaned house, fired all of the coaches and the GM
October 7th, 2018 at 3:36 am
Ah the stench of Lubby is still in the building. You may be on to something.
October 7th, 2018 at 4:21 am
Barber is the only back that gets yards after first contact and when he doesn’t it because there’s two or threes defenders on him. Oline hasn’t been poor blocking for Barber. You can see the frustration on barber every Sunday. #justblock
October 7th, 2018 at 5:07 am
@Joe … “One reason for that could be Bucs running backs seem to be easy to tackle.”
CLASSIC Bucs’ analysis: Focus on the SYMPTOMS, not the CAUSE, then finger some SCAPEGOAT & all be be fixed. Hmmm, nowhere in there do I see the words “Our OLine sucks at run-blocking and it’s going downhill fast in pass-blocking too.”
Lakeland, I agree with you about Warhop & Spencer (they should’ve been replaced in Year 1), BUT … they’re not the root CAUSE. Dotson’s a shell of his former self this year, and Benenoch needs to go back to the Practice Squad. Evan Smith is a decent backup IMO, but not a starter. Jensen, Marpet & Donovan Smith SHOULD be solid as a rock, but half an OLine doesn’t work. That’s on Jason Licht.
Plenty of us called for Licht to grab a quality RB (Peyton Barber could be a very good #2,3 or 4 but isn’t a lead dog). So Licht used our 2nd rnd pick on RoJo. Not a lead dog for sure, and most likely never will be. Is ANYONE starting to see a common thread YET?
October 7th, 2018 at 6:21 am
Wow, the Vikings suck at running too?
Don’t they have Dalvin Cook?
October 7th, 2018 at 6:30 am
Joe , again, ignores the poor offensive line execution on running plays.
Baldy’s breakdown on NFL app illustrates the poor blocking decisions by the Bucs OL and why he ranks the Bucs running game as worst in NFL.
Time to hold OL coach accountable?
October 7th, 2018 at 6:39 am
“Not only is drafting a bust a detriment to the teams future but it is 5 times worse because the coaches HAVE TO play those busts so the GM wont look bad to the fans and especially to the OWNERS”
Benenoch, Ryan Smith, 199lber, Nowhere Spence should not dress
“The reason Smitty isnt fired is because the TEFLON GUMP will be exposed as the real reason of this putrid defense, as the defense will look EVEN WORSE than with Mike Smith as DC ”
Kobe Faker
October 7th, 2018 at 7:00 am
It’s pretty hard to evaluate Rojo when our RBs have no success.
And, is there some rule that when we get to the red zone we have to run up the middle on first down……that has never, ever worked….and it is a wasted play.
October 7th, 2018 at 7:55 am
Bucs have been changing players and coaches and still not making the play offs for ten years. Maybe it’s something else…
October 7th, 2018 at 8:35 am
So the Buc running game was not because of Doug Martin, and Peyton Barber and Jones didn’t fix it.
I, for one, am not surprised.
October 7th, 2018 at 9:13 am
So word they picked a Charles sims like back in the second round. It meant barber was given the starter job and this coach simply does not believe in a complete back who can do it all. 100% on the coach, Doug Martin bailed him out his contract and at his age they once again didn’t think future. GM and coach are done for me. Thought dirk should have been fired last year but he wasn’t so I supported him now I’m right back where I was midseason. No excuses and the best part about getting a new voice is they will make the hard decisions about this roster dirk and the gm wont. For some reason they think this roster is better than it really is despite getting blown out every year multiple times and licht is so concerned with locking up average players
October 7th, 2018 at 9:29 am
Defense Rules
Lovie hired Jason Licht, he seen a lot of himself in Licht
The first thing they did together was to strip the team of it best players
And bring in a lot of bums
After firing Lovie, Licht has continue the dumb and dumber act
With another Lovie hire (Dirk Koetter)
October 7th, 2018 at 9:33 am
The Top 6 teams on that list would FAIL to make the playoffs if it started today.
A sign of the times with modern NFL?
— Hope not, and I definitely think we need to run the ball better!
October 7th, 2018 at 9:35 am
Along with Mike Smith at defensive coordinator and “most” of the other D coaches, we need to get rid of our running back coach. If Koetter will not fire them in this season or during the offseason, then the owners need to let him walk too. We should only retain Offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Dline Brentson Buckner.
October 7th, 2018 at 9:36 am
The Bucs replaced DL coach and we’re seeing improvements.
The OL is not gelling on running plays- and this has gone on for 3 years now-
has to be coaching.
October 7th, 2018 at 10:36 am
There is absolutely nothing in Warhop’s CV that says he should be the LC for an NFL team. Period. Please read his bio: he was actually rejected as a candidate for the OL coach opening at FSU! Fired mid-season by the Niners and replaced by Chris Forster!
And while you’re at it, please answer this question: “Who coaches the coaches?”
October 7th, 2018 at 12:16 pm
Ayyyy and no mention of the Oline too. Good post, Joe.
October 7th, 2018 at 1:01 pm
So I guess it’s still not the o-line, right Joe?
We only blame running backs around here?
Lulz.
October 7th, 2018 at 2:48 pm
@Alanbucsfan … “The Bucs replaced DL coach and we’re seeing improvements.” Are we really Alan? The ONLY improved performance that I’ve seen on the DLine is from JPP, although my gut tells me that JPP did quite well long before Buck started coaching our DLine. The guy I want to see Buck coach up is Noah Spence (instead he’s sitting on the bench). I’d like to see Buck coach up DEs like Gholston, Nassib, Clarke … so that JPP & Curry don’t have to play almost the whole game, every game. I want to see Buck coach up Vea, our 1st rnd pick, now that’s he’s healthy of course. That young DT is a monster, and the Bucs’ DLine coach needs to find ways to unleash him. IF our DLine can CONSISTENTLY pressure QBs, this’ll be a whole different defense in terms of POINTS ALLOWED … the REAL bottom line (according to Derrick Brooks, but hey, what does Derrick know).
Lakeland, good to see someone else ‘gets it’ (CAUSES as opposed to SYMPTOMS?).
October 7th, 2018 at 4:16 pm
So let’s get rid of our coach because our gm is subpar
October 7th, 2018 at 5:37 pm
From what I can tell the line is not great at run blocking because of talent, coaching (play calling) and opponent. They will play better this year but won’t likely be very good until we get better run blockers. I will say this, they have the ability to be serviceable run blockers, but haven’t hit anywhere near their potential. In the end it’s about wins and this year I think we have a better chance to get more wins, run production or not. Go Bucs!
October 7th, 2018 at 7:50 pm
GM is the reason our team sucks. No defense, d line sucks, linebackers are average, db’s suck. Flex hargraves is a bust.. Winston is a bust. 5-11 here we come
October 8th, 2018 at 9:20 am
Our Oline “coach” has only had 3 winning seasons in his entire oline coaching career. And only 1 double digit wins season in his long NFL career. When will he get his personal review on the unit he coaches and is responsible for? Soon I hope.
October 8th, 2018 at 12:09 pm
In baseball terminology, none of our RBs would have a positive WAR. You grab any RB off any other teams practice squad get the same results. They get you the yards the blocking gives them. Nothing extra. There is no explosive speed. There is no tackle breaking power. There is no tackle missing elusiveness. And there’s no great vision to always pick the right hole and timing to make up for the lack in other areas. There is no pass catching ability. I don’t know if they pass block better than average or not, so maybe there’s that.