Needing A “Stable Backfield”
February 6th, 2019
Astute words from ex-NFL QB.
Michael Vick was in the process of asking America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, a question. However, Joe believes Vick was making a statement about the Bucs.
Vick worked for FOX Sports at the Super Bowl media center in the World Congress Center in Atlanta last week. It was a side gig from his duties as offensive coordinator with the AAF’s Atlanta Legends, which open their season this weekend.
(Joe will be very interested to see how Vick, an Andy Reid quarterback in his second life in the NFL, does in Atlanta as a coordinator. If that offense does anything, Joe could easily see Vick become an NFL assistant. Oh, and when is the last time anyone brought up the fact that Vick is an ex-con and did time in a federal lock-up? So absolutely yes on Kareem Hunt).
Vick was asking Jameis about the Bucs offense when Vick asked/stated, “I think as an offense, having a stable backfield, a stable running back is one of the key components to making an offense go.”
And in the Bucs backfield, they have, what? Jacquizz Rodgers (who is a free agent)? A guy on the verge of busting out, Ronald Jones? A guy who works his arse off but had nothing to show for it, Peyton Barber?
Right now the Bucs have nothing in the backfield but JAGs (just a guy). It’s why Joe is of the mind the Bucs need to at least sign a free agent and maybe also draft a running back no later than the second round (unless Bucco Bruce Arians thinks he can revive Jones).
Joe read one his many commenters here recently wonder why Bucs fans are clamoring for Tevin Coleman, a Dixie Chicks free agent.
The previous four paragraphs is why. The Bucs were 29th in rushing last year.
February 6th, 2019 at 10:52 am
Bang that drum Joe! Mention Hunt in every article you write… make them hear you.
February 6th, 2019 at 10:55 am
Trash is always trash….Vick and Hunt included..
February 6th, 2019 at 11:08 am
Whose battery was “worse,” Kareem’s or Jameis on the Uber driver?
Sign Hunt. We believe in redemption.
February 6th, 2019 at 11:21 am
Per usual, no mention of the trainwreck of an O line.
We still don’t know what Barber or Jones can do yet. Give them an even somewhat competent line before passing judgement on them.
Sign Kareem Hunt and build the O line. One of the three will perform.
Simple as that – Lovie Smith
February 6th, 2019 at 11:21 am
LJ Scott
February 6th, 2019 at 11:28 am
We had one of the best offenses last year. What happens when you add a PB and Kareem Hunt duo and a couple good OL? Holy shoot!
February 6th, 2019 at 11:33 am
Peyton Barber is more than a JAG. A combination of poor coaching and poor OL play doomed him. Watch the tape, the dude literally made positive yards where there were none. He is a great 1st and 2nd round back. With that being said, we could definitely use a speedier and flashier guy for change of pace. RoJo still could be the guy (he was only 21 last year, let’s not completely write him off yet). But with improved coaching and OL, Barber could thrive. If KHunt was our RB the last 2 years, I have a feeling we would be calling him JAG.
February 6th, 2019 at 11:35 am
Kareem Hunt and JayMiss in the same backfield? Uber drivers beware!
February 6th, 2019 at 11:48 am
In fairness Joe, Vick went to Federal prison for violating RICO laws for funding dog-fighting. Hunt got in trouble for girl-fighting!
So, our #1 offense needs a run-game?! Hmmm! I’ve been told differently.
February 6th, 2019 at 11:50 am
So Licht should listen. Johnny Football, Barber who is now “JAG” and now bangs the drum for Hunt. Licht is doing fine failing on his own.
February 6th, 2019 at 12:03 pm
Isn’t Barber a Free Agent?
First business is resigning Peyton. He is the perfect foundation for your RB core.
He could wind up having a long career here. He will have to play second fiddle when dymanic RBs come along but you know he’ll be ready when they go down.
Peyton is an awesome #2 to have in this league.
February 6th, 2019 at 12:05 pm
Typo…..Peyton is the perfect #1b back in this league
GO BUCS!!!
February 6th, 2019 at 12:07 pm
Ronald Jones literally got more yards after contact last year than yards in general. Barber likely had to get most everything after initial contact as well.
Multiple years in a row that our O-line is getting RBs touched / hit behind the LOS WAY more often than any other NFL team.
February 6th, 2019 at 12:11 pm
Because the story is not about the offensive line. And Joe is just so over that tired excuse. If you need five guys to pancake people on each and every run play, you need a new running back.
February 6th, 2019 at 12:47 pm
@JOE
Per football outsiders 2018 O-line stats. Not opinions. Just hard #s:
We were 30th in adjusted line yards.
We were 31st in “Stuff” ranking. That is the % of runs where the RB is hit at or behind the LOS
I don’t know how the above 2 stats are not super damning of our O-line.
I don’t know how you can blame any RB for being hit at or behind the LOS on a play.
The O-line has absolutely been a joke at run blocking. Both visually and statistically.
They are average at pass blocking for whatever reason visually and statistically (15th by this same site).
We need an adequate RG/RT who can maul BAD.
February 6th, 2019 at 12:51 pm
“If you need five guys to pancake people on each and every run play, you need a new running back.”
Pancake? LOL. How about just having 5 guys that don’t allow the most hits behind the LOS in the entire league? Is that too much to ask?
bucsfaninchina nailed it.
The o-line is absolute garbage at run blocking. Simple as that.
February 6th, 2019 at 12:53 pm
Ah, thank you Lord Corn. Same point I was just making.
For the last 3 years in a row, we have ranked between 30th – 32nd in our stuff ranking (meaning how often the running back is hit behind the LOS).
How can anyone pretend that’s not on the o-line (and playcalling)?
February 6th, 2019 at 12:57 pm
Not to change the subject but does this lift the Matt Byrant curse? I sure hope so. I wouldnt mind bringing him back
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001017154/article/kicker-matt-bryant-says-hes-being-cut-by-falcons
February 6th, 2019 at 1:00 pm
Why would they sign Hunt instead of drafting a RB? I am over the useless free agents here for a paycheck.
February 6th, 2019 at 1:00 pm
Yes, Joe. Just imagine if Martin wasn’t run out of town.
February 6th, 2019 at 1:41 pm
@unbelieveable
Our RBs have been bad but the O-line is definitely a big part of the problem.
Those stats don’t lie. They aren’t subjective opinions where the person grading it needs to know the O-line responsibilities on a specific play. It’s simply the O-line not doing a good enough job to even get the RB past the line of scrimmage.
The last time we had a good run game was 2015 and our stuff rank was 13th.
Run game sucks in 2016 – stuff rank was 32
Run game sucks in 2017 – stuff rank was 17. This was the year Doug Martin was getting carries he shouldn’t have. Staying with Martin that year was a big mistake but the O-line was still no better than average at best.
Run game sucks in 2018 – stuff rank was 31
2017 should have been a more average rushing year if we had just been starting Peyton Barber all year. But in general this O-line has been trash in the run game too often. It’d be negligent to think we don’t have to correct that unit
February 6th, 2019 at 1:43 pm
OG/OT/RB. I want to hit on all 3 of that this offseason.
DT/DE/LB/S over CB for defensive focus/rebuild IMO
February 6th, 2019 at 1:53 pm
Lord C and unbelievable- These facts cannot be denied. You need both to be successful but you can get away with average talent at RB if you have a decent Oline. Without the Oline, it’s pointless AND last I checked, Barry Sanders is retired!
February 6th, 2019 at 1:53 pm
Vick getting a gig in the NFL along with L Little and D Stallworth and their crimes and now with Hunt proves point on Kapernick that if you can play the NFL will take you, Kaep cant nor couldnt play for the starter QB money he wanted and yes hunt will be back in the nfl, ray rice was on the downside of his career and not worth the hassle
February 6th, 2019 at 2:34 pm
Most folks believe Hunt will be suspended for six games. How did JW’s three game suspension work for the Bucs? Six games?
So if RB is that important are we saying only for the final ten games? Again…if JW or Hunt get popped for another violation they are GONE!!! Hunt was suspended for the violation with the woman but he was also involved in two other violent situations.
On the positive side he was forced to go to anger management courses…perhaps it helps.
Spencer Ware averaged 4.8 yards after replacing Hunt who averaged 4.6 yards last year. Build the OL and we’ll have an improved running game with or without Hunt…and it would HAVE to be without him for six games.
We need to address our lines. Improve the OL and our running game will improve…improve the DL and our DB’s will look a lot better. As D.R. likes to say football is a team sport.
February 6th, 2019 at 2:34 pm
The first thing bucco Bruce said when asked about outside looking in about our team was that he knows the offencive line needs to improve ! And you mix in on top of that statement that my opinion is we need a real running back because barber is a pretty good number 2 , just like a guy he reminds me of Ernest Graham ! And we have a team that needs a good 3 down back and we are a team that our offencive line flat out sux at run blocking ! I don’t care if it’s zone run blocking or pulling guards or man on man blocking , they flat out suck at doing thier job !
February 6th, 2019 at 2:46 pm
And the Bucs will have him for how many more years… with less wear and tear on the tires than most third-year backs?
February 6th, 2019 at 2:49 pm
He’s never run for 900 yards in a season. Any above-average running back can and has run for 1,000 yards in a season. Not running for 1,000 yards in a season is the true definition of a JAG running back.
Shoot, C.J. Anderson ran for 1,000 yards with a truly horrible offensive line and how many teams (including the Bucs) passed on him twice in 2018?
February 6th, 2019 at 4:40 pm
Joe Says:
February 6th, 2019 at 12:11 pm
Per usual, no mention of the trainwreck of an O line.
Because the story is not about the offensive line. And Joe is just so over that tired excuse. If you need five guys to pancake people on each and every run play, you need a new running back.
Correct me if I’m wrong but
Isn’t that their job?!
February 6th, 2019 at 5:00 pm
Joe Says:
Peyton Barber is more than a JAG.
He’s never run for 900 yards in a season. Any above-average running back can and has run for 1,000 yards in a season. Not running for 1,000 yards in a season is the true definition of a JAG running back.
So the Bucs Offensive line is five JAG’s…got it.
February 6th, 2019 at 5:29 pm
“Joe read one his many commenters here recently wonder why Bucs fans are clamoring for Tevin Coleman, a Dixie Chicks free agent”
That would be me. I’m not arguing the obvious (the Bucs need better production at the RB position), but I am arguing that (I don’t think) Coleman is the guy who would provide it. I think he’s probably best suited as a team’s change of pace/RB1A RB role…basically what the Bucs already have in Barber. Maybe he proves me wrong? I don’t think so, but maybe we’ll see?
February 6th, 2019 at 5:43 pm
I say again…
One look at Druggy Fresh’s rushing stats for 2018 tells you all you need to know about our run blocking o-line.
Click, click, click, click…
February 8th, 2019 at 8:14 am
Nonsense, D Rhodes. Those other players’ LEGAL issues had ZERO to do with race in America and we’re criminal acts.. To compare those others to Kap is ignorant…at best. I’m just wondering if you’re REALLY that simple or just, slyly, playing the “race card”. Truly sad if so.