Running Game Out Of Whack
December 22nd, 2018
Bucs RB Peyton Barber.
You want to know one reason why the offense is struggling? This graphic is borderline revolting.
Joe had a hint this might be an issue when in two of the last three games, your franchise quarterback, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, considered by many to be a lumbering, slow, herky-jerky runner led the Bucs in rushing yards.
That was a bad sign. Here comes a worse sign:
Per Chase Stuart, proprietor of FootballPerspective.com, the team through 14 games with the least rushing yards strictly from running backs is the Bucs. In fact, the Bucs are the only team in the NFL that has less than 1,000 yards rushing total from its running backs.
That’s pretty shameful.
Currently, Peyton Barber has 762 yards rushing. Barber has played in all 14 games. Jameis, who has only played in nine games (starting seven), is the Bucs’ second-leading rusher with 244 yards. The No. 3 rusher for the Bucs is journeyman backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. He has started eight games and played in seven, running for 152 yards.
Man, if your top two quarterbacks are Nos. 2 and 3 in rushing, and the top running back doesn’t even have 800 yards through 14 games, that’s a major problem.
Joe doesn’t think it’s a stretch to suggest this is why the Bucs rack up yards on offense but cannot score points. Defenses have no reason to be scared of the Bucs’ rushing attack because they have no rushing attack.
You’ve heard the (untrue) saying that you can find running backs off the street? Hell, the Bucs can’t even do that.
Can’t draft ’em; can’t sign ’em; can’t develop ’em; can’t find ’em.
Can’t do it.
Bucs legend Derrick Brooks and Sage of Tampa Bay sports Ira Kaufman dive into the Cowboys-Buccaneers match-up and the state of the Bucs on this episode of TAMPA TWO, a production of The Identity Tampa Bay and JoeBucsFan.com. As always, TAMPA TWO is presented by Caldeco Air Conditioning & Heating.
December 22nd, 2018 at 8:06 am
SF is number two on this list… so does it really matter???
I think being able to run inside the the red zone is what really matters and we aren’t very good at that.
December 22nd, 2018 at 8:21 am
I wonder if the O line doesn’t own some of that shortfall?
December 22nd, 2018 at 8:30 am
It does matter you have to have a run game to make your team balance. We need a top running back bad to take the pressure off the passing game.
December 22nd, 2018 at 8:34 am
We need a running game to take pressure. It would open up our passing game and it will gave JW another weapon
December 22nd, 2018 at 8:47 am
Another example of Koetter doubling down on failure rather than trying to succeed.
Worst D in NFL history? Keep Mike Smith.
Worst running game? Run Peyton Barber 200 times.
Any competent coach in Koetter’s situation would’ve given Ronald Jones way, way more than 23 carries.
December 22nd, 2018 at 9:26 am
an OL that is horrible and a RB that would be 3rd on any legit team, funny the joes told us the OL was a strength as is 76 and barber
December 22nd, 2018 at 9:46 am
I thought it was all Doug martins fault?
And Peyton barber just needed a chance?
Blah blah blah
I kept saying this o-line was the problem but all you experts disagreed.
Thank god most of you are just keyboard warriors or writers.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:28 am
I do not disagree with the general observation. We NEED to find some RB’s for next year. Barber is competent but then what.
It’s the then what however that I think I disagree with folks here.
I know that as Joe posted JW has a rep as a slow lumbering runner and not all that good….I thought about this a lot when he was coming out. And lo and behold I would watch and FSU game and JW would turn in a magical running play.
He’s done the same thing with the Bucs. No he’s not fast but he’s very coordinated and just has a great feel for running.
I’m not sure why we haven’t gotten more from JW’s running…because we are afraid? He HAS the talent. He’s also been quite durable over his career.
So we roll him right…he looks at the field…open target complete the pass…otherwise just run if it’s open. No pass and no run available…toss it out of bounds!
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:31 am
I like this article because it reinforces my humble opinion that a team can’t rely only on it’s passing game and defense. I was anxious to see Jones and Barber this year but that failed. Jones in effect has been a bigger bust than Aquyuo. Another problem I could see developing early on was too many top receivers. Other than Mike the rest were not getting their fair share of targets. With the exception of Mike and Hump I would have gladly traded Jackson and one of our TE’s for a decent running back. Finally IMO one of the big problems with the Buc’s season was the team lacked balance. Too much DL, not enough DB, and inconsistency plus injury bug at LB. I don’t blame the Players, I blame Management for its inability to balance our resources, use players where they had a chance to succeed, and compensate for weaknesses as they developed. Adding a few key players and coaching that can create balance will go a long way toward a quick fix so drastically needed in Tampa.
December 22nd, 2018 at 10:50 am
This is where Licht lost me. There have been so many very good RBs in the past two drafts and we wound up with Ronald Jones and two corners that don’t seem to have it.
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:02 am
Barber is a good, not star, running back IF some linemen could only do what they call run blocking? Like, open holes?
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:16 am
Red zone struggles are because of no running game. Pretty simple, two years at least of not making defenses worry about the power running game. Easy to defend the pass in a short field with seven guys.
December 22nd, 2018 at 11:51 am
Oakland is even ranked higher with Doug Martin.
December 22nd, 2018 at 12:02 pm
We don’t pull Guards or Center enough to help create mismatches like the Ravens did running all over us. We run right up the gut over and over when we know that goes nowhere. And how many trick plays has our Great former OC called all his years as HC here? I don’t remember any. How many double reverses? Warhop and Koetter have no clue at how to develop a solid running game and Licht is no judge of RB talent. That together is a perfect storm of ineptness. We could have moved up into the bottom of the first round two years ago and gotten Cook. Remember the Giants had their 1st round RB this year study Cooks moves to get him up to speed right before they ran all over us! But Licht told us before the 2016 draft he had to take the players that would put us in the playoffs. That would have been Cook, Licht.
December 22nd, 2018 at 12:16 pm
You are right Fun Guy, but there is another reason for our Red Zone woes. Jameis does a good job passing for yardage, but down in the Red Zone and having to pass you can see how nervous Jameis gets and his throws are off target. Fitz by contrast is cool when in the end zone because he knows he can score with his short quick lazer like passes right on target; so if Koetter had been smarter in trying to win enough games to keep his job he would have let Jameis rest as soon as he entered the red zone and trotted in Fitz for some dependable red zone magic. In our last game that would have given us enough points without the field goals to beat the Ravens by one point!
December 22nd, 2018 at 12:19 pm
We missed on CJ Anderson…this guy is a 1000yard rusher and yet we decided to go forward with camp bodies.
Also, looking at this chart and eliminating the best SEA and worst TB RB yrds, we only need a 1300yrd rusher to keep us competitive.
Koetter thinks we can get away with using the pass to create run opportunities…this is disasterous if that is our only weapon and our record proves it.
Run first teams, even with the most potent offenses(NO) look indestructable. TB is playoff bound if the run game is made the cornerstone of our offense. It takes the pressure off the entire team by keeping our defense fresh.
December 22nd, 2018 at 1:09 pm
Y’all couldn’t wait to run Sweezy out of town, but now Seattle rules the league on the ground.
Bucs fans can be idiots.
December 22nd, 2018 at 1:12 pm
Doug Martin is averaging 4.3ypc on a bad team. Peyton Barber is averaging 3.8ypg.
December 22nd, 2018 at 1:36 pm
Owlykat,
You say that Koetter and warhop are inept at developing a run game, then point out the missed opportunities to aquire a RB. My question is how can you judge the coach and the scheme inept then acknowledge that the team lacks a quality RB. I’d throw in a RG , it’s vital for the scheme that the interior line be solid.
So no RG and RB and you blame scheme?
December 22nd, 2018 at 2:28 pm
Yeah but the Jameis haters do not think a running game matters. That, coupled with inept kickers & absolutely ZERO DEFENSE other than 8 games in the second half of the 2016 season is why we have a losing record but EVERYONE wants to hang every loss on out QB! If I was Jameis, I would want to be with an ORG that has a CLUE on how the draft works and also a team that has a balanced attack philosophy on OFFENSE! Denver would be great, the Giants as well. Oh Jameis will succeed & thrive in the NFL no question & if the BUCS were smart they would make sure Jameis stays but Jameis is smart enough to know what the real issues are w this team!
December 22nd, 2018 at 2:58 pm
“We are a pass first team”. —- Dirk Koetter.
This is why the most important thing for a back is pass pro in a Koetter offense. Should’ve kept Stocker and made him a running back.
Lovie made Koetter run the ball.
December 22nd, 2018 at 4:13 pm
Jimmy,
I have noticed recently a convergence of 2 separate things into a single all encompassing
impregnable monolith.
Winston , team, wins. On their own they all can be judged, measurered, quantified. But somehow, it’s not hard to trace the origins of this action, any discussion of winston now is inclusive of all three .
If it’s about team wins, Winston is part of the data set , but by no means is winston and wins a single metric by which someone can evaluate him.
Team is not limited to a QB or any particular grouping of players . The entire roster is in the discussion or its not about team.
This is the part that’s faded away or been obscured . Winston can be evaluated and graded separate from wins, seperate from team. Yet its becoming more and more difficult to find a player analysis amongst any comments related to winston.
I also see a certainly ,from fans of winston, about the future, that is impossible to know.
And going that direction is an indication of an emotional investment in being right about a player.
Being right ……….is obviously more important than ever. If not here with the Bucs the next team or the next offers validation and that oh so sweet…I told you so..opportunity.
Whatever side of the issue if your waiting on the future………stop and get your husband to take you shopping.
December 22nd, 2018 at 8:38 pm
Ah, I see we’re still blaming it all on the running backs and not our pathetic, under performing o-line?
Why are you so afraid to criticize the o-line? They are the biggest problem with our offense!!!
Meanwhile Doug Martin averaging over 4 ypc in Oakland, but he’s probably the reason our running game still stinks, right? Right?!?!?!
lol what a joke this is
December 23rd, 2018 at 9:47 am
Barber closes his eyes. That is a big part of the running game problems.